Takedown Advantage
Takedown Advantage holds two monitors back to back, and the monitors aren’t included. Here’s what to look for when you buy them, and what not to pay for.
What the monitor must have
- 24″ to 32″. Don’t go bigger than 32″ or smaller than 24″. 27″ is the sweet spot.
- 100 mm VESA mounting holes. The Advantage monitor mounts use the 100 × 100 mm VESA pattern. Check the spec sheet before you buy.
- Less than 15 pounds. Stay under the Advantage weight limit for each monitor.
- A flat screen, not curved.
- An HDMI input.
Recommended: a built-in power supply. Monitors that run from an external power brick work, but the brick is one more thing to pack and plug in.
What not to pay for
- High refresh rates. 60 Hz is all a scoreboard needs. A faster screen costs more and does nothing on Takedown Advantage.
- Extra inputs. One HDMI input is all you need. Don’t pay for inputs you won’t use.
- Built-in speakers. They’re generally not powerful enough for a gym. Don’t pay for them.
Where to buy
- Free is the best price. Schools often have spare monitors like these. Check with your school’s administration first.
- Used works fine. eBay is a good source for used monitors. Look for sellers with several units available and a high seller rating.
- New: Amazon is a good source.
- Watch the price. Monitor prices move all the time. Keep an eye out for temporary price cuts.
The stand
Takedown Advantage sits on a tripod stand, which isn’t included. Buy a speaker-style tripod stand with a 35 mm pole, rated for 50 pounds or more. They’re inexpensive on Amazon, and a collapsible one is easier to store.
The iPad adapter
The iPad connects to the HDMI splitter through an adapter. For a Lightning iPad, use the Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter; non-Apple Lightning adapters do not work in this application. For a USB-C iPad, this USB-C to HDMI adapter is known to work.
The Mat ID sign
The Mat ID holder takes a sign made from 4 mm material. Corrugated plastic works well.
Coaches: don’t wait until the last minute. Buy the monitors, the stand and the adapter well before your first home event, so there’s time to assemble and test the whole setup.
See Takedown Advantage for what’s in the box, and the assembly instructions for putting it together.