DGT Centaur connection to Computer

Greetings. I purchased the DGT Centaur about a year ago and I really enjoy it. I find it hard to believe that there is no ability to connect to a computer to export games, etc. Does anyone have any information if the capability already exists or if DGT is planning on creating this capability as an update?

thanks! 

Because the Centaur cannot communicate with a PC/laptop via its USB micro port it cannot be updated. I have plugged it into a PC to see what happened and the result was nothing other than charging the battery.

In one of the threads about the Centaur there is a photo of a Centaur disassembled with two versions of the internal main board laid on a cloth next to the main unit. Zooming into the photo reveals that both the original and replacement main boards have a SD card reader and one has an SD card in that reader. One might presume this is where the chess program is stored.

Whether the last game played is stored on the card too or on the computer’s volatile memory (as the battery is always connected) is another question.

Either way, as a way to retrieve the data for the last game or as a way to update the device (or hack the program) by removing the SD card it is destructive - requiring disassembly of the Centaur.

Pokaż mniej

Short answer: no. 
99% of people will not bother hacking the Centaur as those requirements are already met using a Millennium Exclusive, a Certabo or the DGT smartboards, wood or plastic versions. 

Yes but I'm not sure if you can get Certabo boards outside of US, both certabo and dgt smartboards work just as an input device that needs seperate chess computer to be attached if you want to play against engine, after doing that they are 2x as expensive as centaur and the readability of tiny corner lights vs what they did in Centaur is uncomparable to the advantage of the latter. Centaur is a very well designed piece of hardware. I've been coding in python and know my way arround linux systems so I'm thinking about getting one just to tinker with it. Its opensource - it teases to be played with plus there are lot of opensource chess projects out there that you could pottentially use to turn centaur to something that meet your requirements. Hardwarewise - its all there (maybe except wireless interface. Getting the memory card out to copy recorded games from it can be a little daunting.

^^ Of course you can get them outside of the US. We live in the age of the internet, with a global economy. Did you assume Certabo was American? The company is Italian. I live in Australia and bought one several years ago. A 5 minute look at the website would answer your questions.

The DGT e-shop is based in the Netherlands.

As far as I know, Certabo can only be purchased from their Italy store.

Ok. True. Checking the website right now. But that doesnt change the fact that those are only input devices. If you want to buy a set with a chess computer addon (which is just a raspberry pi 3) you'll have to pay 650$ + international shipping whereas you can get centaur for arround 380$ total (You can buy these in my country). Unless you buy a board for 500, Rpi for arround 15 bucks and set it up yourself using open projects but thats still over 500$ + shipping.

I think the Centaur is too expensive to risk trying to modify it myself. I’m happy with it as a first stand alone computer. However, If I were to send a list of wish-list features of a “Centaur 2.0” it would include: 1) grid labels a-h 1-8 2) microchipped pieces (to make it easier to setup a puzzle or starting position), 3) make games exportable to an sd card or connect to computer for analysis 4) make a flip board option (In analysis mode it assumes white on the same side of the screen) 5) Give illegal moves a meaning (currently “???” when I tried in 1 game to castle kingside and don’t understand why, no issues castling queenside) 6) Display an estimated rating the computer is playing/played at for a game. 7) if we really want to go fancy online computer / bluetooth / phone play on chessdotcom. What are your wish list features?

Certabo works with Chess for Android which is free.

Certabo also works with a Raspberry Pi which costs  as low as $35 for the older 3b+ model. Get a cheap $10 SDCard for it and download the software for free.

Certabo works as a direct connection to Android, Windows and OS X. The manufacturer can handle all the needed changes to the firmware or driver as these operating systems evolve over time.

I got a spare Rpi3 lying arround somwhere so I guess I'll just wait for a bargain price or buy a used certabo board. These boards cost a lot.

Uchideshi You say that you can change the engine to another Stockfish version. Do you think that another engine other than Stockfish could be installed?

Here is a little demo of "El Professor", working on a DGT Centaur:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMP4Fp14RFs