With Target Practice mode, it is possible to differentiate between target surfaces, even for épéistes! Let's dive deeper.
Watch this post summed up in 30 seconds!
1. Set up the app
Make sure that the app is in the right discipline (that is, épée or foil). To change discipline, tap the weapon icon in the middle. After this, go to "Mode selector" and tap on "Target practicing". Then, connect your Calibur pocket boxes to your smart device.
1. Open mode selector by tapping on the selected mode (1v1 bouting by default)
2. Choose target practicing as mode
2. Set up your targets
Connect a piece of conductive material to the C-branch of the pocket box. You can do this with your body wire, or any other wire with a banana plug at the end. See an earlier DIY tutorial here! This mode allows a lot of creativity, but we collected some ideas for you:
Practice flicks & wrist hits with electric cuffs
Upgrade your target cushions
Train for precision during lessons
Preorder discounts extended until 25/09!
One more week to get the next generation pocket boxes at a discount. Don't miss your chance!
Open the Calibur app, then the Calibur Remote Controller app on a second smart device.
Connect both devices to the same wireless network. This network can be an online or an offline hotspot as well (we recommend using less frequented networks).
Turn on remote control mode in the Calibur app: - Tap "1v1 bouting" at the top of your screen to open the Mode selector - Tap the switch to allow "Remote control mode"
Copy the appearing IP address to the Remote Controller app and tap "Connect".
Some sidenotes
Reworking the user interface of Calibur Remote Controller is on our bucket list. We're planning to make the app easier to use by adding the sound control button (which is normally on the side of the smart devices) to the list of controls. We're also going to redesign the sizes and spacing of the buttons on the remote controller.
Armband sets are needed to enhance the accuracy of the devices. They need to be in direct contact with your skin while fencing, and connected to the pocket boxes 4th (standalone) socket. We recommend putting on your armband to your unarmed upper arm (but will work anywhere else as well).
We recommend fencers to have their own armband sets trainings because of hygienic reasons and for convenience. The armbands can be washed.
Settings
Currently, the default setting is "on" for autoscoring while using the app. Tap the "Menu" icon at the bottom of the screen, go to "Settings" (left hand side) and turn off "automatic touch count".
For épée and foil, there is nothing extraordinary to pay attention to while dressing up in fencing uniform. For sabre, armband sets are needed. The armbands need to be in direct contact with the fencers' skin - don't forget to put them up before the fencing jacket and lamé. We will release a separate guide for sabre in a week at this link.
We recommend using body wires and lamés that are in a good condition for the best fencing experience.
Downloading & using the app
Find the free "Calibur" app in App Store, Google Play Store or Amazon Store. After downloading it, launch it and go through the tutorial steps.
Calibur
Turn on the pocket boxes by pushing the button on the side, then tap the (right or left) fencer icon:
(left side)
at the bottom of your screen. The pocket box will automatically connect the closest pocket box to the respective side. After connecting, the LED on the pocket box will turn green.
After connecting both devices, you are ready to go.
Settings
To switch between disciplines, tap the weapon icon in the middle. Choosing discipline is only possible when the pocket boxes are disconnected. To disconnect the pocket boxes, tap the same button as for connecting them and then tap "disconnect", or simply turn off the pocket box by the button on the side.
Tap the icon at the bottom and in the middle of your screen to go to open the Menu, and then go to Settings to tailor the app to best fit your needs.
We’d like to thank you for all the feedback we received from you during the past years. We spend most of our time incorporating changes and new features based on users’ experiences. Explore the novel features of Calibur 2.0 below!
Summary
To put it short and simple, here's a list of the new features:
Redesigned buttons
USB-C charger port
Easily replaceable battery
More accurate scoring on all 3 disciplines
Simpler sabre mode
Let's dive deeper into it! See the description below and our product showcase on YouTube.
1. New button
We've received many feedback about issues regarding old button - sometimes it was hard to push and turn off the pocket box. As a solution, we replaced the button to the side of the device.
The pocket boxes will now turn on and off with a single push instead of double, and it will be possible to turn off even if it's connected. Don't worry - it won't turn off accidentally while fencing.
2. USB-C charger port
Especially if you're dealing with children, Micro-USB ports are easier to break and a lot of users reported they don't even have them around anymore. We'll still include a double-headed charging cable in the packages.
As you might have noticed, we love to improve. However, we believe it is extremely important that our devices are reliable and durable for as long as possible.
So we decided to put a lot of work into making battery replacement possible with a simple screwdriver.
Exchange batteries can be used to prolong the products' lifespan and as a quick solution in case a pocket box would run out of power while fencing.
4. More accurate scoring on all devices
The best part of the Calibur system is that we can keep on working on adding new features and modifying old ones without having to collect all the devices, replace chips, etc. We do this by releasing software updates to the free Calibur app and firmware updates for the pocket boxes. The next generation pocket boxes make it easier for us to design leaner firmware and keep up with the occasional changes of regulations (e.g. timeframe of double touches).
For example, our latest firmware update made it possible to check the remaining battery life of the pocket boxes when connecting them to the app. However, with these updates we can also work on getting rid ofuser reported inaccuracies in unique circumstances.
Why can there be any inaccuracies?
There are some environmental factors which do not affect traditional scoring systems, but pose engineering challenges for wireless systems (e.g. electrical noise near radio stations, moisture in tropical areas). In regular cases, Calibur system is accurate and reliable.
Simpler sabre mode
Sabre fencing with the older hardware version (1.4.1) needed an extension set with an adapter, a magnetic cable head, an armband an extra cable.
In the next generation models, we managed to "build in" everything. From now on, sabre fencing is possible with only an armband set and a pocket box (and regular fencing equipment) with the help of a 4th socket.
We will soon publish a guide to setting up your wireless sabre system at this link. Until then, you can check it out in our showcase video.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact roland@caliburfencing.com
Smart Target Practice DIY
Ever wanted to have your own responsive fencing targets? Here's a quick guide to Calibur Target Practice to test the accuracy of your attacks with minimal to no additional costs.
Body cords or banana cables with an alligator clip
Two-sided glue tape
A pair of scissors
Step-by-step guide
Once you have a piece of conducting material (recommendation at the end of the post) you can get creative right at this stage. What you can see below is a medium-sized target, which is ideal for beginners and for high-intensity lessons.
Once you have your target surface, take a piece of tape and attach it to wherever you like it.
Connect your pocket boxes to your smart device (via Calibur app). Then, if you are an épée fencer, switch the mode on the top of the screen to "Target practice (experimental)". If you're a foilist, you only have to choose the weapon type in the middle of the screen and leave it in "1v1 bouting" mode.
Connect one pocket box to your weapon via the corresponding body cord.
Connect the second pocket box to the target surface by a banana cable with an alligator clip(the banana plug goes into the "C" socket of the box) or Use an épée body cord and install an alligator clip to the "C" branch of the cable to connect it to the target surface. (Épée)
Connect the second pocket box to the target surface by a banana cable with an alligator clip(the banana plug goes into the "A" socket of the box) or Use an foil/sabre body cord and clip it to the target surface. (Foil)
+1 Pro hint
To get a real feeling of challenge, use your target surfaces during lessons and fencing too! Lead the cable through your fencing jacket to make valid fencing targets at the wrist or shoulder - take a look at our suggestions below.
If you have an older piece of hardware (that's still DVT 1.4.1.): connect device -> "Firmware update" -> "Load test firmware" - this way, you will have the firmware with which the new sabre mode is available. Each time, you connect your pocket boxes with this firmware, a message box will inform you that it does not match the latest publicly available version. You can ignore this and go on with the test version.
This tutorial will be updated soon...
New Sabre Mode
The time has come: Calibur Sabre is here! Here's a quick tutorial for you to get familiar the world's first completely mobile scoring system for sabre.
Requirements:
DVT 1.4.1. Calibur pocket boxes
Calibur Sabre Adapter and magnetic plug (micro-USB), conductive armband with banana-snap cord
1 smartphone or tablet running Android 8.0 (Oreo)/above or iOS 10.0/above
Right firmware version (more details below)
After downloading Calibur (App Store, Amazon Store, Google Play), take the following steps to set up your wireless sabre scoring set:
Make sure that your hardwares are DVT 1.4.1. and their firmware is not older than 12 (after successfully connecting your pocket boxes, a message box will pop up with information regarding your hardware and firmware version).
If you have an older piece of hardware (that's still DVT 1.4.1.): connect device -> "Firmware update" -> "Load test firmware" - this way, you will have the firmware with which the new sabre mode is available. Each time, you connect your pocket boxes with this firmware, a message box will inform you that it does not match the latest publicly available version. You can ignore this and go on with the test version.
Turn on this switch in Settings: “New sabre mode (with armband)“. (Update the app if this switch doesn’t exist).
Make sure that the application is set to sabre: you can change between weapon modes by tapping the weapon icon in the middle (only when no pocket boxes are connected).
Plug the magnetic cable head in the USB connector of the pocket box.
Attach the adapter to the pocket box.
Connect the banana plug-snap connector cable into the 4th (next to C) banana socket of the adapter.
Pull the conductive armband onto your arm, under the fencing jacket (whichever arm you prefer) so it's tight on your skin.
Attach the banana plug-snap connector to the conductive armband.
After successfully connecting your pocket boxes to your smart device and having your armband connected to your pocket box via the adapter, continue just as it were your regular scoring machine - connect your bodycord to the box, take on your fencing jacket and lamé and fix the alligator clip of the bodycord to the lamé.
Once both you and your opponent are ready, test your equipment. Remember that both of your pocket boxes have to be connected in order to register hits on the scoreboard.
En garde ! Prêts ? Allez !
This is how your devices should be plugged in
In case you followed the instructions step by step but the device doesn't work properly, check if the banana-snap cable is still attached to your armband. If it is, please contact our customer support at calibur@caliburfencing.com.
Connect a bigger display via cable
Having a larger display for the Calibur scoreboard is possible through cables and wirelessly. Depending on what device you own, the opportunities are various. Here’s a quick summary about the possible ways to extend your scoreboard to a second screen by cables!
Connecting Apple devices
Mac
First things first, you have to identify the ports on your device. This guide can help you to do so.
HDMI - if you have such a port, you'll only have to see if your desired screen has a matching input. If not, it is most likely that it has a VGA input, so what you will need to do so is an HDMI-VGA adapter.
If you are using devices powered by Android, you are likely to have either a micro-USB or a USB-C type of output. It's very important to check whether your device supports MHL, which is a technology needed to connect to an external TV or monitor via HDMI.
If it does so, all you need is the correct adapter (micro-USB to HDMI, USB-C to HDMI) - after plugging them in, you should be ready to go.
What is the firmware and why is it important? Here’s your quick guide to update your firmware for getting the most out of your wireless fencing experience!
The firmware is a software that runs on your Calibur pocket boxes. It is important to keep the Calibur application, as well as the firmware updated, because we are constantly working on making Calibur easier to use while adding more features and with each update, you will get more out of your device!
After connecting the pocket boxesan automatic message will pop up. If you’re not connected to the internet, it will ask you to be so - in the other case, it will show the current version of the installed firmware and the latest available one.
If your current firmware doesn’t match the latest version, you should tap “update”. Remember, for this, you have to be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network!
The update takes a few seconds and you can follow the progress on the screen. Don’t worry, if during the update, the LED on your pocket box goes dark - it means it’s in update mode.
Once the update is done, you can see the LED in green again. Restart the application, and you are ready to fence!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
