Serious Problem With V-Tek 300 Clocks

Running Chess Tournaments
1

Micah Smith messaged me a short time ago with 3 problems he is having and has noticed with his beta version of the V-Tek clock.

I just had the time to pull out my production model clock and sure enough 2 of the 3 problems he has exist in my production models.

One of the problems is not too big of a deal, to me at least. If the tenth of a second display is turned off, a person can have less than a second left but the clock will display all zeros, and the clock will continue until the fraction of the last second is gone, unseen by the display.

The second problem is a deal breaker for using the increment, and the reason I am posting this in this forum for TDs to be aware. This problem is when a player runs out of time. There is a “Time Expired” sign at the bottom of that player’s display, as expected. However, if the player hits his button, the clock adds the increment time to his clock, eliminating the time expiration. So if the no one notices the time has expired before the player hits his button, the increment will be put on the clock.

Shelby Lohrman has been notified about these problems. The problem is that he needs to contact the manufacturer in Texas and they need to arrange to have the clocks returned for the fix. Until then, the clock is not reliable for increment time control games where the time might expire. This problem does not exist with delay.

2

I recently noticed the problem with increment also occurs when using the Bronstein form of delay.

One way around this issue right now is to use the custom mode rather than the US Chess or FIDE modes and set the freeze function on, although having the freeze function off is preferred under US Chess rules (when using the US Chess or FIDE modes, the freeze function is off, although under FIDE rules, the freeze function should be on). The clock will not automatically add the increment time for move one when using the custom mode (I’m not sure why but it only adds the increment time for move one when using the FIDE mode) and thus the increment time will need to be manually added to the base time so you get the increment time for move one. The only way to manually add seconds to a time control before the game starts is to use the TD adjust feature. Unfortunately, the seconds will not be saved if you access the time control again from your favorites or the recent list but it will be saved if you access it via the last game feature. For time controls with delay, another way to get around this issue is to use the countdown form of delay instead of Bronstein.

On a side note, another thing about this clock that can create problems is that the Bronstein form of delay is found under an increment option in the preferences (there are options of Fischer and Bronstein). When you set a time control, what you set it for is listed on the bottom of the screen, such as “G90 I30”. It looks like the clock is set for G/90;inc30 but in reality it could be set for G/90;d30 with the Bronstein form of delay if that is the current setting for the increment option in the preferences.

3

This problem has been fixed with the new version of the clock. Anyone with an older version of the clock can send their clock to visual-tek to be upgraded. Send an email to americanchesseq@yahoo.com to get the required form.

4

Not only did they repair the problem, they also made a few changes to the programming in the form of an update which you get at the same time.

In my opinion, this clock with its latest update is the best chess clock on the market.

And I either currently own or have owned pretty much all the digital clocks made except for a few of the very cheap and low quality ones. So, I humbly submit that I know about digital chess clocks.

5

How about dollar-for-dollar value, Ron?

I loved my Chronos and miss it dearly since I sold it in September 2014 due to bleak financial times—two days before being offered my current job.

Since then I bought a DGT NA for less than $40 to use as my main tournament clock, and a gently used Excalibur Game Time II for $30-something to use as a back-up.

The two together cost a few bucks less than I got for my late-'90s vintage Chronos—and much less than I would pay for a high-end clock today, such as the DGT 3000 or the Chronos if they ever make a new batch of them…and for the $139 to buy a V-Tek you could buy almost four DGT NAs. ($35.80 as of today; it varies from $35 to $40.)

Like you I like to experiment with digital clocks and like to know the basics of the popular models in case anyone asks. (The silver Saitek Competition Pro almost cured me of that.) I would like to someday either buy another full-length Chronos if they go back into production and prove reliable, or else find the next Chronos, so to speak.

But there are so many decent clocks out there now it will be hard to replicate the magic feeling a Chronos owner felt at the dawn of the millennium: Knowing you had the one clock that truly worked well for the time controls seen in the new age of rated chess…and just felt right, unlike all others.

Those days are gone, which is to the good, sentiment aside.

So how to justify buying a clock that costs more than the imperfect but perfectly adequate DGT NA, for patzers of middle-income and below?

6

I empathize with you.

I also have owned and used the DGT NA and still use the Excalibur GameTime II in our local and my scholastic club. In fact last night, as the TD, I had to set an Excalibur GameTime II for a player.

I actually used my Chronos II last night for a G/80, d/5 game. When they are available, and they are often, they can be had for about $100 at best price. Please understand that I refuse to buy any equipment without a discount or major sale price.

The V-Tek 300 can be had for just under $130. The DGT 3000 can be found for right around $80.

The V-Tek has that great feel of the Chronos. It has the exact same buttons and the exact same metal for the body, so it also feels identical to the feel of a Chronos.

The V-Tek is 3000% easier to set than the Chronos. The display is the exact same type as the Chronos but is larger with a smaller second line of print to be seen when necessary.

The least important thing to me is the LED indicator(s). In the V-Tek it is different colors depending on what mode it is currently in. During play, the color of these is always Green, compared to the constant Red of the Chronos.

The latest update of the V-Tek includes an instant memory access to the last time control used. This is particularly nice for tournament play. The last time control I used on my V-Tek was G/90, i/30. At the next round of this event (we have weekly rounds) all I need do is to press the center button and either side button at the same time to turn the clock on, and that G/90, i/30 is ready to start, immediately with no other button presses at all.

Of course they do have preset or memory settings for favorite time controls that you can easily get from that area, but this latest thing makes the clock very easy to use.

With the exact same feel and sturdiness of the V-Tek to the Chronos, long, and with the design and programming improvements, the V-Tek is indeed to current version of that first Chronos you like so much.

Sure, if you want to spend less you certainly can. However you do get what you pay for in this case. The metal body is stable and strong compared to the cheaper plastics. The button feel (remember these are the exact same buttons in the Chronos and V-Tek) is unbeatable compared to the plastic lever arm of the DGT clocks. And now the ease of setting the clock in this V-Tek makes it superior to the less expensive ones. And the DGT 3000 at $80 does have a better display than the DGT NA and it is easier to set for the various time controls we use. But it doesn’t have the quality build or feel and its display is not as nice as the Chronos II or V-Tek 300.

In all honesty, the V-Tek is worth a bit more than the Chronos. And the Chronos is a bit more worthy than the DGT 3000. And the DGT 3000 is a bit nicer than the ZMF-II or DGT NA, so the prices do reflect the quality you receive.

The higher range of price clocks show better characteristics for the better price. From what I see (and remember that I currently own and use ZMF-II, DGT 3000, Chronos GX, Chronos II and V-Tek 300 clocks) each clock we have discussed does have a good value for the money spent.

7

Aw, darn. I thought you were going to say that it was green for increment and red for delay, or something like that.

Bill Smythe

8

This works on my beta test version of the VTEK300 so I don’t think this was a new features added from the latest update.

9

Is there a way a TD or an opponent of a player with a V-Tek 300 can determine whether the clock has the upgrade?

Bob

10

Yes, by checking the “about” section in the preferences. If it has been upgraded to the current version of the clock where this issue was fixed, it will be version 1.0.3.

11

Thanks!

Bob