Using electronic whistles

[OVR Ref Chair]

If you have experience using a particular brand of hand-held electronic whistles (e-whistle), please share your experience. If appropriate, include the brand and a link to where you purchased it.

I've already had a report from one of our referees:

The Windsor Electronic Single Tone Whistle. It was $30.00 and it is AWFUL!!!! It doesn't have an on and off switch so you must take the batteries out after every use or bring new batteries to each match. It is only one tone and that is not very loud. We have trouble stopping play because it just doesn't get anyone's attention. I would NOT recommend anyone getting this particular electronic whistle, especially to use in a venue with multiple courts.

With this in mind, I have heard that the 3-tone Windsor whistle is better. Tone #2 is apparently the one most referees prefer.

[big scotty]

I have the Windsor 3-tone. It does have a 4-position switch: 3 different tones & off. It uses two AAA batteries. I did my 1st match of the season (NAIA) Tues. using tone 1 (traditional whistle sound) for the 1st set. (I was the R1.) I switched to tone 2 for the 2nd set and asked the players if they could hear it better (different tone, same loudness) and they said yes, so I used that for the rest of the match. Even without fans, the teams' subs were loud enough to make it sound like there were plenty of fans in the gym (lol). After the match, I asked my partner how my electronic whistle sounded. (He used a regular whistle.) He said tone 1 was more recognizable as a whistle-tone, but it seemed the players responded better to tone 2. He couldn't hear it very well when the benches were cheering. I used the batteries that came with the whistle (generic "heavy duty") but will compare them to two new Duracell Alkaline batteries to see if the better ones are louder. I bought the whistle at "CreactiveKids.com"; note the spelling. It was $21 & $8 shipping.

[OVR Ref Chair]

Regarding the Windsor 3-tone, I have heard the same thing — use Tone #2.

Thanks for sharing, Scott!