Notable Buzzers
- Skepticism and Animal Feed
- Auron
- Posts: 3209
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
- Location: Arlington, VA
Notable Buzzers
Am I correct in saying that the present day is a nadir for buzzer diversity in quizbowl? Seems like due to a combination of other buzzer companies going out of business and Anderson having a superior product at a lower price, everyone is just using those Anderson buzzers now? Certainly, the last quizbowl event I moderated seemed to be exclusively run on Anderson buzzers.
Back in my day there was an astounding amount of buzzer diversity. There are two in particular I wish to discuss, and I invite others to come talk about buzzers they have known.
The first is UChicago's giant modular buzzer, which was used at practice while I was there (2004 - 2007) and for many years later. You could plug like 20 different buzzers into this system, and further the system was modular so you could plug different kinds of buzzers into it. This meant that on the same "team" one person could have a judge paddle style buzzer and their teammate could have a thumb plunger. I recall that when I was an officer of the UChicago quizbowl team, I looked into buying additional buzzers for this system and learned that you could even plug in "seat" buzzers, i.e. buzzers where you sat on the buzzer and "buzzed" by standing up. Alas, I foolishly did not order any of those. Given the great utility of this buzzer system and the many great players who have used it over the years, I might one day nominate this specific buzzer set for the Carper Award.
The second, far less well known buzzer I want to discuss is something that the MIT team had in its possession circa 2008-2009, and brought to at least a few tournaments. This was a homemade system, I think, and the notable thing about it is that the noise it made when somebody buzzed in was a "ding!" similar to the bell at the front desk of a hotel. This whimsical buzzer set brought great joy the first few times you heard somebody buzz in, and great annoyance every subsequent time. As I recall, there was a silver bell and a little arm that moved to strike it each time somebody buzzed. I bet there are no homemade buzzers in quizbowl in 2019.
Back in my day there was an astounding amount of buzzer diversity. There are two in particular I wish to discuss, and I invite others to come talk about buzzers they have known.
The first is UChicago's giant modular buzzer, which was used at practice while I was there (2004 - 2007) and for many years later. You could plug like 20 different buzzers into this system, and further the system was modular so you could plug different kinds of buzzers into it. This meant that on the same "team" one person could have a judge paddle style buzzer and their teammate could have a thumb plunger. I recall that when I was an officer of the UChicago quizbowl team, I looked into buying additional buzzers for this system and learned that you could even plug in "seat" buzzers, i.e. buzzers where you sat on the buzzer and "buzzed" by standing up. Alas, I foolishly did not order any of those. Given the great utility of this buzzer system and the many great players who have used it over the years, I might one day nominate this specific buzzer set for the Carper Award.
The second, far less well known buzzer I want to discuss is something that the MIT team had in its possession circa 2008-2009, and brought to at least a few tournaments. This was a homemade system, I think, and the notable thing about it is that the noise it made when somebody buzzed in was a "ding!" similar to the bell at the front desk of a hotel. This whimsical buzzer set brought great joy the first few times you heard somebody buzz in, and great annoyance every subsequent time. As I recall, there was a silver bell and a little arm that moved to strike it each time somebody buzzed. I bet there are no homemade buzzers in quizbowl in 2019.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Re: Notable Buzzers
Ann Arbor Skyline High School owns, and has brought to tournaments, a homemade buzzer system housed in a bright red metal toolbox.Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:44 pm I bet there are no homemade buzzers in quizbowl in 2019.
Conor Thompson (he/him)
Bangor High School '16
University of Michigan '20
Iowa State University '25
Bangor High School '16
University of Michigan '20
Iowa State University '25
- Whiter Hydra
- Auron
- Posts: 1327
- Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Fairfax, VA
- Contact:
Re: Notable Buzzers
It has occurred to me that it's been a really long time since I've seen "The Knot". It was a 16-player buzzer system, obstinately for four teams of four, but with all 16 cables coming out of a central console. The cables naturally became tangled up in a way that seemed to defy 3-dimensional Euclidian geometry, and thus it got its name. The worst part about the system was that only the moderator could really tell who buzzed, so they would have to call out "B3", and you would have had to remember that written on tiny print on your own buzzer was "B3", which meant that you were the one to get there first.
Harry White
TJHSST '09, Virginia Tech '13
VP of Technology, PACE
Owner of Tournament Database Search and Quizbowl Schedule Generator
Will run stats for food
TJHSST '09, Virginia Tech '13
VP of Technology, PACE
Owner of Tournament Database Search and Quizbowl Schedule Generator
Will run stats for food
- Skepticism and Animal Feed
- Auron
- Posts: 3209
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
- Location: Arlington, VA
Re: Notable Buzzers
No that's exactly the UChicago practice buzzer I described in my OP. The little tiny printed "B3"'s wore off so what happened is at the buzzer check at the start the moderator would tell everyone what their letter and number was.Haaaaaaaarry Whiiiiiiiiiite wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:39 pm It has occurred to me that it's been a really long time since I've seen "The Knot". It was a 16-player buzzer system, obstinately for four teams of four, but with all 16 cables coming out of a central console. The cables naturally became tangled up in a way that seemed to defy 3-dimensional Euclidian geometry, and thus it got its name. The worst part about the system was that only the moderator could really tell who buzzed, so they would have to call out "B3", and you would have had to remember that written on tiny print on your own buzzer was "B3", which meant that you were the one to get there first.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
- Stained Diviner
- Auron
- Posts: 4894
- Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2004 6:08 am
- Location: Chicagoland
- Contact:
Re: Notable Buzzers
This is even before my time, but I am told that there were no commercially available buzzers in the 70s, so part of being a tournament host was building a couple of buzzer systems. Because buzzer systems were rare, tournaments would only have ~2 matches going on at a time, which meant that larger tournaments had to be single elimination.
When I started coaching in the 90s, most teams had a Quik Pro connected by telephone plugs, and there were some coaches who carried around equipment and parts so that they could replace the plug at the end of the cord when the plastic tab broke off. Other teams just taped the cords into the plug to keep them from repeatedly falling out.
When I started coaching in the 90s, most teams had a Quik Pro connected by telephone plugs, and there were some coaches who carried around equipment and parts so that they could replace the plug at the end of the cord when the plastic tab broke off. Other teams just taped the cords into the plug to keep them from repeatedly falling out.
David Reinstein
PACE VP of Outreach, Head Writer and Editor for Scobol Solo and Masonics (Illinois), TD for New Trier Scobol Solo and New Trier Varsity, Writer for NAQT (2011-2017), IHSSBCA Board Member, IHSSBCA Chair (2004-2014), PACE Member, PACE President (2016-2018), New Trier Coach (1994-2011)
PACE VP of Outreach, Head Writer and Editor for Scobol Solo and Masonics (Illinois), TD for New Trier Scobol Solo and New Trier Varsity, Writer for NAQT (2011-2017), IHSSBCA Board Member, IHSSBCA Chair (2004-2014), PACE Member, PACE President (2016-2018), New Trier Coach (1994-2011)
Re: Notable Buzzers
Oh man, I remember using one of these at my first (and only) HS pyramidal tournament at Wilmington Charter in 2007. Quite the experience to get our butts handed to us by a mask-wearing Charter G team on such a whimsical contraption.Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:44 pm The second, far less well known buzzer I want to discuss is something that the MIT team had in its possession circa 2008-2009, and brought to at least a few tournaments. This was a homemade system, I think, and the notable thing about it is that the noise it made when somebody buzzed in was a "ding!" similar to the bell at the front desk of a hotel. This whimsical buzzer set brought great joy the first few times you heard somebody buzz in, and great annoyance every subsequent time. As I recall, there was a silver bell and a little arm that moved to strike it each time somebody buzzed.
Andrew Nadig
Mannhiem Mannheim Manheim Township, 2005-11
Carnegie Mellon University, 2011-15
Carnegie Mellon University, 2011-15
- Mike Bentley
- Sin
- Posts: 6174
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:03 pm
- Location: Bellevue, WA
- Contact:
Re: Notable Buzzers
It's less novel on the hardware side of things, but I know of 3 separate people besides me who have created custom software to turn the PS2 Buzz buzzers into quizbowl buzzers. Interestingly, one was by the Indian Quiz Club I sometimes participate in at Microsoft.
Also I have a custom version of this that uses parts intended for MAME arcade cabinets. It works and is low-cost, but to make it functional (i.e. longer than 1 foot cords) I'd need to order some custom parts from China.
Also I have a custom version of this that uses parts intended for MAME arcade cabinets. It works and is low-cost, but to make it functional (i.e. longer than 1 foot cords) I'd need to order some custom parts from China.
Mike Bentley
VP of Editing, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
VP of Editing, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Re: Notable Buzzers
I assume we're speaking of this: http://c-e-d-inc.com/products.htm? I call it the Certamen buzzer, since it is the standard machine for Certamen. It may be composed of 12 or 16 buzzers (for three or four teams), though the version I own, due to my prior background in Certamen, has 12. Yale has been forced to use it at least once at a tournament in the past few years when we were one short on buzzers. It's not great, but it's better than playing slap-bowl.Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:50 pmNo that's exactly the UChicago practice buzzer I described in my OP. The little tiny printed "B3"'s wore off so what happened is at the buzzer check at the start the moderator would tell everyone what their letter and number was.Haaaaaaaarry Whiiiiiiiiiite wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:39 pm It has occurred to me that it's been a really long time since I've seen "The Knot". It was a 16-player buzzer system, obstinately for four teams of four, but with all 16 cables coming out of a central console. The cables naturally became tangled up in a way that seemed to defy 3-dimensional Euclidian geometry, and thus it got its name. The worst part about the system was that only the moderator could really tell who buzzed, so they would have to call out "B3", and you would have had to remember that written on tiny print on your own buzzer was "B3", which meant that you were the one to get there first.
Michael Kearney
Yale '20
Yale '20
- Wartortullian
- Rikku
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:02 pm
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Contact:
Re: Notable Buzzers
This is the standard buzzer system for the 3-teams-to-a-match-clusterfuck that is Colorado Knowledge Bowl, so we see a lot of them out here.Haaaaaaaarry Whiiiiiiiiiite wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:39 pm It has occurred to me that it's been a really long time since I've seen "The Knot". It was a 16-player buzzer system, obstinately for four teams of four, but with all 16 cables coming out of a central console. The cables naturally became tangled up in a way that seemed to defy 3-dimensional Euclidian geometry, and thus it got its name. The worst part about the system was that only the moderator could really tell who buzzed, so they would have to call out "B3", and you would have had to remember that written on tiny print on your own buzzer was "B3", which meant that you were the one to get there first.
Matt Mitchell
Yale 20xx
Colorado 2020
Treasure Valley 2016
QBNotify creator, Colorado Quiz Bowl founder, PACE member
Yale 20xx
Colorado 2020
Treasure Valley 2016
QBNotify creator, Colorado Quiz Bowl founder, PACE member
- Rufous-capped Thornbill
- Tidus
- Posts: 719
- Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:03 pm
Re: Notable Buzzers
In the fall of 2009 we went to Univeristy HS in Morgantown, WV to play a tournament directed by Fred and one team there had a buzzer system that I believe they had made themselves, with each buzzer housed in really beautiful wood cases. Whoever made it was a real craftsman and I don't recall there being any problems with the system.
Jarret Greene
South Range '10 / Ohio State '13 / Vermont '17
South Range '10 / Ohio State '13 / Vermont '17
- gerbilownage
- Lulu
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 2:03 am
Re: Notable Buzzers
In North County Academic League back in San Diego, "THE JUDGE" was always the gold standard. I think you had to push downwards to buzz. It did feel satisfying pressing down on the buzzer with all your might.
Laurence Li
Westview HS '13
Yale '17
Harvard '20
Westview HS '13
Yale '17
Harvard '20
- Skepticism and Animal Feed
- Auron
- Posts: 3209
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
- Location: Arlington, VA
Re: Notable Buzzers
I was never a big fan of the Judge (the grippy part of the judge paddle seemed to always come off, making it a sticky mess) but many players of my era have fond memories of it. I'm told that in the years immediately after 9/11, it was often difficult to get the Judge through airport security.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Re: Notable Buzzers
Actually, this is incorrect--the practice buzzer Bruce described in his OP was modular, but The Knot (which Chicago also had one of) had sixteen buzzers that were permanently affixed to the central console.Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:50 pmNo that's exactly the UChicago practice buzzer I described in my OP. The little tiny printed "B3"'s wore off so what happened is at the buzzer check at the start the moderator would tell everyone what their letter and number was.Haaaaaaaarry Whiiiiiiiiiite wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:39 pm It has occurred to me that it's been a really long time since I've seen "The Knot". It was a 16-player buzzer system, obstinately for four teams of four, but with all 16 cables coming out of a central console. The cables naturally became tangled up in a way that seemed to defy 3-dimensional Euclidian geometry, and thus it got its name. The worst part about the system was that only the moderator could really tell who buzzed, so they would have to call out "B3", and you would have had to remember that written on tiny print on your own buzzer was "B3", which meant that you were the one to get there first.
Susan
UChicago alum (AB 2003, PhD 2009)
Member emerita, ACF
UChicago alum (AB 2003, PhD 2009)
Member emerita, ACF
- ValenciaQBowl
- Auron
- Posts: 2495
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2004 2:25 pm
- Location: Orlando, Florida
Re: Notable Buzzers
Quik Pro systems are still the most common systems used in the Florida CC circuit. I have two working systems and around 4-5 broken down systems in a closet, as they do break down eventually.When I started coaching in the 90s, most teams had a Quik Pro connected by telephone plugs, and there were some coaches who carried around equipment and parts so that they could replace the plug at the end of the cord when the plastic tab broke off. Other teams just taped the cords into the plug to keep them from repeatedly falling out.
Going through airport security in Orlando with strongly built Ahmad Ragab carrying the USF judge system on our way to Chicago led to a lot of concern from TSA personnel, not that they'd ever profile or anything.I'm told that in the years immediately after 9/11, it was often difficult to get the Judge through airport security.
Chris Borglum
Valencia College Grand Poobah
Valencia College Grand Poobah
Re: Notable Buzzers
QuizCo was a local buzzer system company that went out of business several years ago. A lot of local high schools have their buzzers, although I don't know how many are still around.
When the INL sponsored science bowl, I think one of their electrical engineers built a custom buzzer system for them (that "ding"ed not buzzed, and was a bit touchy sometimes).
When the INL sponsored science bowl, I think one of their electrical engineers built a custom buzzer system for them (that "ding"ed not buzzed, and was a bit touchy sometimes).
Colin McNamara, Boise State University
PACE
Idaho Quiz & Academic Teams
PACE
Idaho Quiz & Academic Teams
- The Stately Rhododendron
- Rikku
- Posts: 472
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:18 pm
- Location: Heart's in the woods
Re: Notable Buzzers
My old QB coach and MD alum Casey Reterer told me a story of once leaving THE JUDGE in a classroom overnight and coming back to discover that the university had called the bomb squad, which drilled a hole clean through it.
IKD
Yale 18
Oakland Mills 14
"I am the NAQT beast I worship."
Yale 18
Oakland Mills 14
"I am the NAQT beast I worship."
- Mike Bentley
- Sin
- Posts: 6174
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:03 pm
- Location: Bellevue, WA
- Contact:
Re: Notable Buzzers
I suspect Casey was pulling your leg here. I've never heard this story.The Stately Rhododendron wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:47 am My old QB coach and MD alum Casey Reterer told me a story of once leaving THE JUDGE in a classroom overnight and coming back to discover that the university had called the bomb squad, which drilled a hole clean through it.
Mike Bentley
VP of Editing, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
VP of Editing, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
- pray for elves
- Auron
- Posts: 1060
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:58 pm
- Location: 20001
Re: Notable Buzzers
The one with the bell wasn't a homemade buzzer -- it was a Quiz-A-Matic. There was a different MIT homemade buzzer but it made a beeping sound.Skepticism and Animal Feed wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:44 pm The second, far less well known buzzer I want to discuss is something that the MIT team had in its possession circa 2008-2009, and brought to at least a few tournaments. This was a homemade system, I think, and the notable thing about it is that the noise it made when somebody buzzed in was a "ding!" similar to the bell at the front desk of a hotel. This whimsical buzzer set brought great joy the first few times you heard somebody buzz in, and great annoyance every subsequent time. As I recall, there was a silver bell and a little arm that moved to strike it each time somebody buzzed. I bet there are no homemade buzzers in quizbowl in 2019.
Evan
Georgetown Law Alum, Brandeis Alum, Oak Ridge High Alum
Ex-PACE, Ex-ACF
Georgetown Law Alum, Brandeis Alum, Oak Ridge High Alum
Ex-PACE, Ex-ACF
-
- Tidus
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:59 am
- Location: Hoover, AL
Re: Notable Buzzers
I have had a couple of students in the Engineering Academy at Hoover build buzzer systems as a senior project. One was wireless and mounted inside a hollowed-out hardcover classic edition from a Barnes and Noble.
Joshua Rutsky
Past President, Alabama Scholastic Competition Association
Hoover HS Coach, 2007-2019
Member of the Qwiz Team!
Past President, Alabama Scholastic Competition Association
Hoover HS Coach, 2007-2019
Member of the Qwiz Team!
Re: Notable Buzzers
If only there were a team version of this...
I can attest that it works quite well for ocean science bowl practice
I can attest that it works quite well for ocean science bowl practice

Eric Yin
Ladue Horton Watkins '21
Ladue Horton Watkins '21
- the return of AHAN
- Auron
- Posts: 1967
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:40 pm
Re: Notable Buzzers
These seem to prevail in Illinois High School circuit, though Anderson is definitely making inroads as you can't beat their portability and price.
https://buzzersystems.com/
I like using the Slam-In system, but the price and lack of portability make it a non-starter for most programs. Nevertheless, it's what's used in IESA State Series (scoreboard and kid who buzzed is projected for everyone to see!).
Zeecrafts have become less and less common in Illinois ever since they lost their IESA contract, and their prices edge ever upwards...
http://www.zeecraft.com/
https://buzzersystems.com/
I like using the Slam-In system, but the price and lack of portability make it a non-starter for most programs. Nevertheless, it's what's used in IESA State Series (scoreboard and kid who buzzed is projected for everyone to see!).
Zeecrafts have become less and less common in Illinois ever since they lost their IESA contract, and their prices edge ever upwards...
http://www.zeecraft.com/
Jeff Price
Barrington High School Coach
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barrington High School Coach
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------