Speed Stacks Cable for G4 Timer (2.5 mm - 3.5 mm)

Speed Stacks Cable for G4 Timer

Speed Stacks Cable for G4 Timer is a data cable for Speed Stacks timers. It connects the timer to the dedicated Speed Stacks display (Tournament Display), which shows the time in large digits. One end has a 2.5 mm plug that fits the data port on the timer. The other end has a standard 3.5 mm plug. It comes in handy if the original cable from your set gets lost or damaged. It's also worth keeping a spare for competitions and club practice sessions.

Display and computer

The cable is primarily designed to work with the display. However, you can also use it to connect the timer to a computer. In that case, you plug the 3.5 mm jack into the microphone input, and a program such as csTimer reads the times from the timer automatically. You don't have to type in your results by hand, and the whole session is saved straight to your statistics.

When connecting to a computer, keep a few things in mind:

• You need a separate microphone input. Many laptops have only one combined headset jack, in which case an audio splitter will help.
• The time on the screen may appear with a slight delay compared to the timer. According to some users, csTimer sometimes stops the time a few milliseconds differently than the timer.
• The timer sends its signal through the audio input. If microphone monitoring (listen to this device) is enabled in your system, you may hear a loud buzzing from your speakers.

Which timers does it work with?

The cable fits Speed Stacks timers with a 2.5 mm data port, i.e. the StackMat Pro Timer G4. The G5 timer uses the same type of connection. Timers without a data port don't transmit a signal, so the cable won't work with them.

Who is it for?

The cable is useful for competition organizers and clubs that use Speed Stacks displays. It's also a good choice for cubers who practice on a G4 timer and want their times to go straight into a program on their computer.

Tested with our timer

We tested this connection with our free cube timer ("Cable timer" tab): you start and stop with your hands on the timer, and the times are saved automatically in a session with ao5 and ao12 averages - just like in csTimer.

• SpeedStacks G4: newer units send data twice as fast as older timers (2400 instead of 1200 b/s) - our timer reads both versions.
• Work via cable: SpeedStacks G4 and G5, QiYi, QiYi Mythical and Sengso.
• Don't work via cable: MoYu and YJ timers - in our tests they didn't send any signal through the port.
• Laptop with a single jack (headphones and microphone combined): you need a TRRS splitter, and you plug the timer cable into the "microphone" side. On some laptops this jack doesn't detect a microphone at all - in that case a USB sound card with a separate microphone input will help.
• Windows: in the sound settings, select the microphone from the jack (not "Microphone Array" - that's the built-in microphone), set the input volume to about 30%, set microphone boost to 0 dB and turn off audio enhancements. If the signal is too loud, the time on the screen freezes.
• Phone: a timer plugged directly into the phone's jack doesn't work - the phone doesn't recognize it as a microphone. With a splitter the signal gets through, but in our tests it was too loud and distorted. On a phone, the QiYi Timer Bluetooth Adapter works best - no cable needed.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Speed Stacks
• Type: data cable timer - display / computer
• Connectors: 2.5 mm plug (to the timer) and 3.5 mm plug (to the display or computer)
• Length: approx. 2 m
• Compatibility: Speed Stacks StackMat Pro Timer G4 (and G5)
• Color: black