Shot timers (Android and iPhone)

Skyhawk

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I noticed there are a lot of phone apps for IPSC timers. Are these adequate for practice and recording of results, or should I invest almost $200 in a real timer?
 
I noticed there are a lot of phone apps for IPSC timers. Are these adequate for practice and recording of results, or should I invest almost $200 in a real timer?

In my experience software timers are not reliable and the devices aren't built for the range conditions.

You can use software app to beep the par time for dry firing, but at the range a real timer is irreplaceable.

RUready timer is $119 at http://www.ruready.com/cat1_1.htm
CED 7000 - $119 at http://www.cedhk.com/shop/products/CED7000T-Tactical-Timer.html
 
mine for my android system works well for bb guns and airsoft,...but it does not have a loud beep and I would not trust it for a match.
 
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Get a real timer.

Besides all the good points above, here's one more.

The range is not an electronics-friendly environment. Timers sometimes get dropped on the concrete & rocks, often get dirty and sometimes they get wet.

Better for these bad things to happen to your $150 timer than your $700 smart phone.
 
The CED7000 has great features and lots of optional bands, lanyards and belt clips for holding it. I consider it a superior practice unit with more detailed options but I can never remember how to access all the features quickly and its harder to get people who are not familiar with it to use it. It also has a different beep than the R u ready timer. I find for range use I always go to my RU ready time because its easy, tough and anybody can use it. I would recommend buying the one that gets used by the RO's at your local matches as that is the one most people will be familiar with and its the same beep you will mostly be hearing. You really can't go wrong with either one.
 
I prefer the ced7000 over the ruready model, we had 2x ru redies and both failed after less then a year of service, plus the hassle of 9v batteries (think they should have a "AA" or a CR123 model), also it took a year to get the monitors returned after repair from RU Ready in Ontario.

The 7000 is rechargable and yes out of the 3 we own we have had one fail but it was less then 10 days and ced had us a new one (the button on top stopped working, the actuator broke off the motherboard inside) so yes they break but CED has AWESOME customer service.

some other things I like about the CED 7000 is that they have skins for them so every timer can be a different color, the ability to link to a sky screen and the ease of use of the newer models when set in "RO" mode, also ced has different clips, cables, lanyards for mounting this thing anywhere you could ever want it and the beep is loud.
 
I downloaded Free Shot Timer for iPhone, it's free but I doesn't seem to work even with sensitivity at 100%.

I have a CED 7000.

Download this to your PC for dry fire practice: RU Ready for PC No viruses from this link.
 
I prefer to practice with the timer we see at almost 100% of the matches we shoot (the RU Ready)

I have been to a few practice sessions when people were using different timers...and the different tone can throw you off a bit.

RU Ready all the way...
 
Thanks guys. For the cost of timers, I think I'll take your advice and just spring for the real thing. Sometimes we can go a bit overboard trying to turn our smart phones into other things. I'd getting too old and cranky for frustrations I don't need anyway ;)
 
I tried the freebie available for Android, but couldn't get it to work indoors reliably. Each shot would register 2-4 times.

The RU Ready Timer does this on our indoor range, so we use the CED7000 on out Indoor range.

A simple solution to this problem with the RU Ready Timer is to hold it against your body.
 
The RU Ready Timer does this on our indoor range, so we use the CED7000 on out Indoor range.

A simple solution to this problem with the RU Ready Timer is to hold it against your body.

There is a sensitivity adjustment on RUready you can play with...
 
I bought most of the iPhone shot timers. They work ok - if you're in a firing line, they will probably pick up other shots and count them. My iPhone 4 has a noise cancelling mic as well on top - I had to cover it with tape to get it functioning properly.
 
Not sure if the previous commentators own the apps. I own all of them, and they have definite merits. I have written reviews. If you want info pm me and I will provide a link.
 
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