Wireless Fencing

By foilflame from Westport, NY

We purchased the Hitmate for our fencing club as an inexpensive way to expand our electric epee material. [...] So far it has been excellent- no problems to speak of, very easy to use and seems to get very long life from the batteries. The one year warranty is a real plus as well. The only drawback we've found is that as the unit is grounded through the human body, it does not register hits on the back hand. This is easily remedied by the epeeists wearing gloves on their non-epee hand as well. Overall I'd give the Hitmate 5 stars.

The Hitmate set consists of two transmitting units and one receiver. Each fencer plugs their weapon into a transmitting unit which can then be put into the breeches pocket. The floor-standing receiver Console is placed on the floor.

The Console listens to radio signals from the Hitmate units and flashes red or green score lights whenever a hit is made. There's also an audible signal.

For near-simultaneous hits occurring within a twenty-fifth of one second, the Console resolves the timing and displays Red, Green or both score lights to announce the result.

Hitmate detects hits to an opponent's guard and inhibits the score light when such hits occur.

The Console receiver has a range up to 15 metres, and the extra-high-brightness LED indicators can be easily seen at a distance in daylight conditions.