RFID Poker Table - Home Games (7 Viewers)

[jb182]

Hi all,

Anyone got any experience with ordering custom tables from china via alibaba?

I basically am wanting a round table with RFID cut outs in the underlay. Once received I'll order RFID readers etc and install.

Any advice about ordering such tables? Good and bad reviews?

 

[SmiLee]

I’m considering a project similar to this… I have a table and would be doing my own routing any update on your end?

 

[jb182]

Hi,

Table has arrived from china. No complaints with table and excellent quality. Cut outs needed to be routed slightly larger but now all RFID fits snug. All RFID calibrated and working very well. Waiting on mounting arms (Elgato multi flex arms) for webcams to mount to base of table to minimise shaking on the cameras. Going to get Elgato key lights, microphone over the table with the board camera. Side cart with ST1000 has arrived and will mount an Elgato stream deck and tablet to monitor game. Also currently designing custom felt (using this one as too hard to communicate custom felt to the Chinese)

If you need any assistance, let me know. There's been lots of trial and error with this project.

 

[Colquhoun]

I’ve seen people want to do this over the years and I’ve always been surprised that home game players are ok with sharing how they play every hand.
Have you guys had any pushback at the idea from your players?

 

[jb182]

Our game has been running close to 20 years so there is a good degree of trust and I think we all wanted to make this dream come true (although I funded the whole project). I have had to explain to some of the less tech savvy guys what is actually happening but all is okay.

Looking to start a stream of the game once table is set so will post more in coming weeks/months.

 

[SmiLee]

Hi,

Table has arrived from china. No complaints with table and excellent quality. Cut outs needed to be routed slightly larger but now all RFID fits snug. All RFID calibrated and working very well. Waiting on mounting arms (Elgato multi flex arms) for webcams to mount to base of table to minimise shaking on the cameras. Going to get Elgato key lights, microphone over the table with the board camera. Side cart with ST1000 has arrived and will mount an Elgato stream deck and tablet to monitor game. Also currently designing custom felt (using this one as too hard to communicate custom felt to the Chinese)

If you need any assistance, let me know. There's been lots of trial and error with this project.

Did it come with a software? Only one I’m aware of is PokerGFX but this won’t run on any third party hardware is my understanding.

 

[SmiLee]

People are currently on board with the idea, the current plan is to record then during the next week record over and treat it like a live broadcast before uploading.

The idea of playing on a 'featured table' is a draw. In practice if/when this happens could be different.

 

[SmiLee]

*record with a voice-over / broadcasting style.... Proof before posting. Yikes!

 

[jb182]

Yeah that could work. My idea is catalogue the games for posterity sake and stream each game. That way the guys can review the game on the online vods to eliminate the need to provide them copies.

Yeah it's a PokerGfx set up. I believe the hardware locks you in to their software. I do have plans to explore alternatives in the future as PokerGfx business model isn't something I particularly like. For example, you get the bare bones features with the base version. To get the pro version you have to pay $1800 a year. The standard version also stops updates after a year, has no commentary features etc. I have been chatting with a guy on smart poker tables.com and looking at chip tracking etc. He is developing a less commercial product and targeting punters who want to record home games on the cheap with the game fully tracked with chip tracking etc.

Also, PokerGfx has other limitations, for example. If you want to track the betting and checking actions you have to input data during the game. It would make it damn near impossible for a player to do all of this and concentrate on the game, meaning you'd need a dedicated person to do it or do it all in post production. Our idea to get around this is to only input actions the first hour of the game and then run in auto mode. Auto mode cycles through the cameras but doesn't have any betting or other actions.

Have fun with it!