Cox box
Encyclopedia
A cox box is an electronic device used in competitive rowing
that combines a digital stroke rate monitor and elapsed time readout with a voice amplifier. Although the term "cox box" is commonly used as a generic descriptor of this type of device, the name 'Cox-Box' is a registered trademark of Nielsen Kellerman, one of the several companies that manufacture this type of unit others include Australia
's Coxmate .
Cox box is the commonly used name for all the coxing amplifiers. Other brand names include CoxVox, MiniAmp, CoxAmpPro, Coxmate SRT+, Coxmate SX. All deliver amplification of the coxswain's voice using a microphone and series of wired loudspeakers.
to monitor the performance of the crew and manage the race. This is of particular importance in head (time trial) races where the crews race line astern and so performance of other crews cannot be easily gauged.
The amplifier is linked to one or more loudspeakers along the boat making it easier for the crew to hear commands, this is particularly important for the rower in the bow seat as they are often furthest away. The coxswain typically wears a headband-mounted microphone, which is attached by a wire and quick release to the cox box. Some units allow a walkie-talkie
connection to the coach so he can use the amplification to speak directly to the crew as well.
Rowing shells fitted with speed measuring impellers or GPS can report boat speed to a cox box unit, typically measured in Meters/second or 500 meters predicted split time. GPS speed measurement is presently only on Coxmate SCT and SX units.
, showing the strokes per minute (SPM). On most Cox box systems, a magnet is positioned under the stroke man's seat. In bowloaded boats, the magnet is placed under the bow man's seat. As the rower moves up the slide (moving forward to prepare for the next stroke), a measurement is taken, and fed to the cox box. The stroke seat (first rower in the stern
) sets the rate of rowing for the whole crew so this is very important. The Cox Box also usually features a timer which can be stopped, cleared, and reset, along with a stroke counter. For early morning or late evening rows, the Cox Box is also equipped with a backlight.
as they are hurried and this will unbalance the boat. If the balance of the boat is not good, then the rowers will not be able to cover the blade properly, meaning that a smaller amount of water would be displaced, moving the boat a distance which would be less than that of a boat which is perfectly balanced. If the stroke rate is continuously excessive, there is less of a chance of winning the race at all as distance is lost every stroke.
Rowing is not just about the sheer power, but also about technique and precise timing. These are easier to manage using a Cox box.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
that combines a digital stroke rate monitor and elapsed time readout with a voice amplifier. Although the term "cox box" is commonly used as a generic descriptor of this type of device, the name 'Cox-Box' is a registered trademark of Nielsen Kellerman, one of the several companies that manufacture this type of unit others include Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Coxmate .
Cox box is the commonly used name for all the coxing amplifiers. Other brand names include CoxVox, MiniAmp, CoxAmpPro, Coxmate SRT+, Coxmate SX. All deliver amplification of the coxswain's voice using a microphone and series of wired loudspeakers.
Use
Mainly used in Eights and Fours the read outs are used by the coxswainCoxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
to monitor the performance of the crew and manage the race. This is of particular importance in head (time trial) races where the crews race line astern and so performance of other crews cannot be easily gauged.
The amplifier is linked to one or more loudspeakers along the boat making it easier for the crew to hear commands, this is particularly important for the rower in the bow seat as they are often furthest away. The coxswain typically wears a headband-mounted microphone, which is attached by a wire and quick release to the cox box. Some units allow a walkie-talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
connection to the coach so he can use the amplification to speak directly to the crew as well.
Rowing shells fitted with speed measuring impellers or GPS can report boat speed to a cox box unit, typically measured in Meters/second or 500 meters predicted split time. GPS speed measurement is presently only on Coxmate SCT and SX units.
History
Before the development of the cox box a megaphone strapped to the head of the coxswain was used to make the cox easier to hear.Strokes per minute (SPM) or rating
Almost all modern cox boxes have a liquid crystal displayLiquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
, showing the strokes per minute (SPM). On most Cox box systems, a magnet is positioned under the stroke man's seat. In bowloaded boats, the magnet is placed under the bow man's seat. As the rower moves up the slide (moving forward to prepare for the next stroke), a measurement is taken, and fed to the cox box. The stroke seat (first rower in the stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
) sets the rate of rowing for the whole crew so this is very important. The Cox Box also usually features a timer which can be stopped, cleared, and reset, along with a stroke counter. For early morning or late evening rows, the Cox Box is also equipped with a backlight.
Relevance of stroke rating
The stroke rating is extremely important when competing in long race events, usually called head races. An excessive stroke rating would mean that the strokes of the rowers will be less than perfectAnatomy of a rowing stroke
The two fundamental reference points in the anatomy of a rowing stroke are the catch where the oar blade is placed in the water, and the extraction where the oar blade is removed from the water...
as they are hurried and this will unbalance the boat. If the balance of the boat is not good, then the rowers will not be able to cover the blade properly, meaning that a smaller amount of water would be displaced, moving the boat a distance which would be less than that of a boat which is perfectly balanced. If the stroke rate is continuously excessive, there is less of a chance of winning the race at all as distance is lost every stroke.
An excessive rating will also cause the crew to tire too quickly, as a result their technique may suffer further.
For example: If 400 strokes are taken in 3 kilometre head race, and due to poor technique the boat loses 1 m a stroke they will fall behind around 400 m compared to a perfectly rated opponent crew in the same time period, even though the rowers of both crews have put the same amount of effort into taking the strokes.
Rowing is not just about the sheer power, but also about technique and precise timing. These are easier to manage using a Cox box.