Discussion: what SI stick ("finger stick") for American O?

Which SportIdent "finger stick" is the current standard for American O-meets? Which one will be the most universally usable at both local and A-level meets?

Berman O-Supply lists these:

SI-8: 30 controls plus clear, start and finish, plus name; 0.115 ms response. Cat# 21008 $39.25/$38.50

SI-9: 50 controls plus clear, start and finish, plus personal data; 0.115 ms response. Cat# 21009 $56.50/$55.50

SI-6: 64 controls plus clear, check, start and finish, plus personal data; 0.130 ms response. Cat# 21006 $71.00/$69.50

Recommendations?

I'd say that the standard is the SI-8. Unless you're planning on doing a lot of rogaines or mega-control courses, you shouldn't need more than a capacity of 30 controls before downloading.

And while most clubs putting on A-meets use the controls and control firmware capable of accepting all of the SI-cards, there may be a club or two which still has the older equipment which they use at local meets.

So, it may be good to ask the local club if their equipment is compatible with the SI-8 or -9 cards. If not, then an SI-5 or -6 will be what you need for that club's events.

Also note that the SI-6 is now discontinued, and is being replaced with the SI-10 which will hold 128 punches. If you plan on doing longer/blue level courses, get one of the 6s before they run out, or get a 9.
Also those times should be 115ms not 0.115ms.

Dammit 115ms is just not fast enough for my pace requirements.

So, SI-8 or SI-9 and I should have no problems, other than a club with very old hardware?

Well, if you run M21-A or some of the special races like the Billygoat--or maybe the Highlander, than you should probably go with the SI-9 because you may need more than 30 controls. I'm no expert but I have heard that if you double punch a control (for instance, if you didn't see the flash or hear the beep and you reinsert your SI), than that will use two of the available spots on the SI. So, even if you have an SI that can take 30 controls and your course only has 28 controls, you can run out of space becasue of double punching.

I wound up getting an SI-9. First chance to use it will be at a meet in 2 weeks.

How do I get it programmed so that it has my name in it?

that has to be done through sportident .... or know the command codes to send a master station via some good ol' fashioned hacking (it's easier on a *nix os but you still need to know the byte stream to send the station)

There are some people around (like Valerie Meyer) who could do that for you.

There is a program, SIPersonal that can be used to set the name data on the stick. Its a bit hard to find, but is on the memory sticks they hand out with all their datasheets on it.

It looks like you can download the SI Personal Software here. It's the bottom link.

It's a little hard to use that software if you don't have a station, though, right?

Doesn't everyone carry around a master station with them?