Do the older models with a switch on the bottom not have an option like AN-1 on the switchless models to set a time control with more than 99:59 of base time and/or more than 9 seconds of delay time?
A major issue with AN-2 is that you can’t put in the number of moves you have to make in the first time control so it will always go to the secondary time control once the first time control has run out. As far as I can tell, there is no good way to set the Chronos for a time control with at least two periods to where it show both the delay countdown and the base time.
The older models have a (little-known, apparently) option known as DL-2B. In that mode, when the main time gets down below 1:00:00, it begins showing the delay as a discrete digit, and the main time as mm:ss – just like CH-A2 (or CH-A1 on the newer models). When the main time has not yet gone down below 1:00:00, DL-2B shows the delay as a flashing colon, and the main time as h:mm:ss. Thus, the delay switches to discrete-digit mode precisely when it most needs to, i.e. when the main time is getting low.
Unfortunately, DL-2B works only for a delay of 9 seconds or less. Also, it is intended for 2 time controls. With just 1 time control, you can set the second control for 0:00:00.
That is either an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on whom you talk to. With the secondary time being added when the first runs out, at least you won’t have problems with an off-by-one move counter triggering the new control prematurely (or post-maturely).
I’m sure you got it right, and it looks complete. I hope you’re not planning to add something about the older models with a switch on the bottom. Mine may be the only such clock remaining in captivity. It would just add unnecessary confusion and complexity for the vast majority of Chronos owners with the switchless models.
Increment is a poor choice because some clocks can’t handle it. The fact that some clocks can’t handle d/15 (or handle it well) is irrelevant.
Increment is a poor choice because the rounds might run too long. The fact that rounds ran over with his chosen time control is to be ignored. (I wonder if he even bothered to read viewtopic.php?p=309998#p309998).
I can see the point of d/10, at least in a longer time control game. I’ve seen more than a few fairly strong and experienced players get panicky at d/5 and play like it’s d/2. d/10 gives you time to render a move in comfort and possibly even make a stab at keeping score if the position isn’t too complicated. d/15 just seems odd to me. Unlike 5 seconds, where you have to “feel” how much time you still have, and 10 seconds, which is at least somewhat similar, 15 is starting to get long enough that you might want to really know how much time you still have to make that move. The fact that quite a few clocks do a lousy job of providing that information is a strong argument against long delays. With increment, you make the move when you feel comfortable making the move so you can bank the extra time. I think the point is well-taken that once you’re beyond d/10 (some people argue d/5), you should be looking at increment controls as a superior alternative.
I never said it was irrelevant that some clocks can’t handle d15 perfectly (I don’t know of any popular digital clock used these days that can’t handle d15 at all), just that’s it’s not as big of an issue as the popular blue saitek not being able to do increment.
Yes, a few games from tournaments I’ve run have gone long (but still finished before the start time of the next round) but I’m not ignoring this. I understand this is a possiblity that will happen very occasionally with a longer delay. However, with increment, it would be an even greater issue.
It would be a greater issue if you don’t make the proper adjustment to the main time. The scheduling error that you made wasn’t d/15 by itself; it was d/15 combined with G/120 with five hours between round starts. Yes, G/120 with a 30 second increment wouldn’t work. But the “four hour session” increment time is G/90 plus 30 second increment. Even G/100 with increment will top out less than your time control.
I think that schedule is fine. Most players were eager to get started with the second game each day. Pushing the round time back would have made them wait too long and would have made the tournament go later into the evening than i would want it to.