Deadline extended! Last chance to ENTER "I Want the Cox Box Mini!" contest.

Public Displays of Affection can be rewarding. Show us some love in public and we’ll love you back with a chance to win the all new Cox Box Mini!

The Cox Box Mini is a compact, waterproof, personal audio amplifier designed to be worn for hands-free mobility and flexibility. It’s the perfect match with other NK products to build the system YOU need. Plus you can personalize and protect your Mini with different bumper colors. Wear it, pair it, personalize it- the Cox Box Mini is just for you.

Make it Stand Out.

The sign can be as creative as you wish: big, small, glow-in-the-dark, wearable, edible, digital, etc. Extra points for outrageous.

Make it Public.

Public is considered any place where people openly and regularly gather or pass through. Boathouses, local Burger King, highway, school, mall, etc, is all considered public. Your parents’ house is not. Be bold!

The Winner.

We’re looking for the most creative and bold photo showing your desire for the Cox Box Mini. The winners along with runners up will be published on our web page as well as in Rowing News Magazine. Best of all, you get your hands on the all new Cox Box Mini!

Deadline for Submission.
June 30, 2011.

*Entrants must abide by all laws (local/state) regarding public behavior, personal and/or property safety, trespassing, etc. Entrants assume full responsibility for lost, stolen, damaged property or injury

Why Do I Carry a Small Disk Magnet with Me to Regattas?

One of the most common questions we are asked at the NK regatta booth is how to troubleshoot SpeedCoach wiring. The seat sensor is easy to troubleshoot on land, but what can be hard to test before a race is the speed sensor and impeller. One tool I suggest that many coaches have in their boathouse is a portable air compressor so that they can blow air across the impeller when troubleshooting the speed sensor and impeller.

Since it is not practical to bring an air compressor to regattas I had to find a better way. I already carry a seat magnet in my bag for checking the seat sensor and since the impeller is magnetic, I realized I could use one magnet to test both sensors.

The best way to do this, is to pick up a disk magnet at a local hardware store, then glue or tape some string around the circumference such that one end of the string extends an inch or two away from the edge of the magnet (adding some extra on the part you intend to twist). The impeller sensor detects the oscillating magnetic field created by a spinning impeller so you can spin the string and magnet to create a transient field that the sensor sees as a spinning impeller.

With the boat guts up in slings, spin the magnet right next the blue speed sensor. If the speed sensor is not easy to reach, angle (cant at 45 degrees) the boat so you can read the SpeedCoach and reach the impeller at the same time (this will allow you to see the SpeedCoach readings while your helper spins the magnet).

Now if you need to test the speed sensor and impeller, simply spin the disk magnet near the sensor and look for a speed to appear on the SpeedCoach.