Microset watch timer en route!

Big news (well, to me at least) - I just spent, ugg, $450 on a Microset watch timer:

(Image credit: Microset)

I was reading this excellent WUS thread about the Chinese Witschi clone, the TYMC Timegrapher MTG-1000:

(Image credit: Timegrapher)

Pros and cons:

• The TG is $275 from AceTimer. That's really cheap.
• TG has beat error and balance wheel amplitude measurement
• No computer or printer interface = no way to document or save data to computer

The Microset:

• More expensive (450$ with comparable sensor)
• Smaller, less info on the display
• Balance wheel amplitude is an extra $50, despite not requiring more hardware
• Windows software is an extra $175, ouch

So why did I spend the extra to get less?

Well, I emailed the author (having bought from him before), and asked about the serial protocol on the microset. I'm pretty good at serial programming, and if it's simple I can hack some Python to save the data myself. His reply:

The serial output is ASCII text and not secret.

Sold! This should be fun, and while it's a setback on saving for the One Watch, it advances the website agenda enormously. More science! More measurements! Easier tuning of movements! And a small coding project; win!

I'll probably keep fiddling with LabVIEW and the sensor, but now it's less urgent. Cool.