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Buzzer system, buzzer, and lockout system are the common names for the device used to indicate which player has signaled their desire answer a question first. Such systems are necessary for all standard quizbowl games because they make it clear which player was the first to attempt to answer a question.y
While using a buzzer system, players are prevented from buzzing ("locked out") after one player has buzzed until the system is reset.
A buzzer system consists of a control unit that sits near the moderator, which connects to individual buttons or paddles held by each player. When a player buzzes in, the system produces a sound and activates a light indicating which player buzzed. Many more expensive systems have individual lights next to each player, while most lower-priced systems have smaller lights or light only on the control unit.
Almost all tournaments require some number of teams to bring buzzers in order to have enough to run the tournament properly; for this reason, Tournament directors usually offer a discount to teams that bring a buzzer. When too few buzzers are present, teams must play slapbowl, where buzzing is indicated by slapping the desk or saying something like "buzz". This is no longer common in the vast majority of modern quizbowl tournaments.
Choosing a buzzer system
There are many things to take into consideration when deciding which buzzer system to purchase including price, durability, portability, and other factors. Below is a brief overview of Emily Gunter's Guide to choosing a buzzer system that can be found on the high school quizbowl forums. This covers 4 of the most commonly seen systems that can still be purchased as of March 2020.
Anderson Buzzers: [$250-$265]
Anderson buzzers come in two versions: daisy-chained boxes and individual hand-held indicators. purchasing the daisy-chained version is suggested due to their ease of use and high durability. When disassembled these buzzers only have 4 parts making it nearly impossible to accidentally leave part of the system lying around. The control unit is a simple box and each strip of buzzers connects on either side of the unit. These buzzers are extremely durable and are only known to fail in cases of extreme negligence. Andersons are the cheapest and most reliable buzzers that can be purchased and are often recommended over any other system. In general, it is a much better idea to purchase two sets of Andersons rather than a single set of QuikPros or Zeecrafts due to the far superior build of the Andersons. The one downside, however, to Andersons is that the AC Adapter for the system is extremely short so purchasing an extension cord is highly suggested.
Buzzersystems.com Buzzers: [~$299]
The Buzzers from Buzzersystems.com feature a control unit with individual activators contained within boxes that connect to the control unit by audio cables. The control unit features a reset button and 16 ports to allow the support of up to 16 players which is higher than any other system that I know of. Set up of this system is slightly more complicated than the Andersons because you have to plug a cable into each individual activator and a port on the control unit. Players who enjoy holding their activator but are seeking a higher quality or cheaper set will most likely prefer this set over Andersons. The main downside to this system is the quality of the cables that come with the set when you purchase it. When purchasing this system it is recommended that you additionally invest in a set of replacement cables that can be found at Amazon or a local electronics retailer.
QuikPro Buzzers: [$289-$489]
QuikPro buzzers come in two general types. You either have hand-held activators directly connected to the control unit from a single connection or individual lights with hand-held activators attached. The version with hand-held activators but not lights are generally far more reliable than the version with individual lights. QuikPro buzzers use cables similar to those used for home telephones and the connectors are often prone to snapping. The reset button on QuikPro Buzzers can often fail due to poor wiring and may require the splicing of new wire in for continued functionality. The set up of this system is fairly simple but there are many cords that can easily get tangled or damaged which can increase set up and tear down time significantly compared to other systems.
Zeecraft Buzzers: [$465-$730]
These are by far the most expensive buzzers you can buy and while they look extremely nice they don't hold up very well. Many people have experience with these sets as they commonly show up at various national championship tournaments. Zeecraft systems have 8 individual lights with individual hand-held activators. The individual lights themselves are extremely fragile and will crack or pop off if they fall on the ground or jostle inside the case. The buzzers connect to the control unit using telephone cables and the clips on these tend to snap off quite easily. The craftmanship of Zeecraft buzzers is inferior to that of other systems. The soldering is often messy and these systems fail significantly sooner than other systems available for purchase. Additionally, Zeecrafts are incredibly time-consuming to set up and take even longer to put away due to the barely-big-enough case designed for the system. Taking into account the very high cost and lack of durability it is suggested that you stay away from Zeecraft buzzers for individual team use.
Purchasing a buzzer system
New quiz bowl programs commonly ask how and where to buy a buzzer system. Overtime all buzzers break down, so it is often better to purchase more durable systems such as Andersons, which are the cheapest and provide good warranties, than to a more expensive system because it looks better or you have heard rumors that it is less likely to fail. Local civic organizations are a good place to reach out to if your school division denies funding for a buzzer system.
There are other concerns about buying a buzzer system for quiz bowl:
- Quiz bowl does not use "self-resetting" systems; you should buy a buzzer with a moderator reset button.
- Wireless buzzer systems are inappropriate for tournament play due to the potential for lag.
- Phone- and tablet-based buzzer systems are inappropriate for tournament play and serious practice due to the potential for distraction or cheating by using such devices' other functions.
- Battery-operated buzzer systems will require you to always keep spare batteries in the case in the event of a mid-tournament battery failure. For tournament use, systems plugging into building power are preferred (it helps to keep an extension cord in the case because some rooms have inconveniently-located power outlets).
- Individual player lights on or next to each player's buzzer make it easier for everyone to recognize who has buzzed in first.
Matt's Buzzers
Matt's Buzzers is a charity set up by Sheryl and Mike Cvijanovich, the parents of Matt Cvijanovich. It awards grants to teams seeking to buy buzzer systems. These grants are given in Matt's honor.