Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

[Wheres-Waldo]

Im looking for some feedback from anyone who might be currently using FFS 3,4 or 5 (with or without the HP iPAQ 111) and thier thoughts on the calculator.

I was concidering either FFS or Pentagonia LB3, and while LoadBase is cheeper by not a HUGE margin and does have more features, it seems like LB3 has ALOT of features Im NOT looking for. Just the same as FFS 3 has what I THINK I'm looking for, while FFS 5 has way more than what I need, even if it were at the same price.

Cory Trapps' video's on FFS 5 have me thinking while its not an immediate plug-n-play set-up, an accurate calc. wont be. It didnt seem cluttered with crap I dont need/want (ofcourse he did his demo with version 5 I think, but stayed within the relm of 3), I'm not going to be interfacing an LRF or designating team member rifle profiles. His videos' also have me under the impression its farly user friendly while still being extremely "feature rich" as he put it.

Anyone using FFS and can comment on how user friendly they though it was once they started using it, customer service, running FFS on a laptop via SD Port to build a profile, possible problems running it with the HP iPAQ 111 even though they reccomend it?

http://www.precisionworkbench.com/comparison.html
http://www.patagoniaballistics.com/index.html

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

Bump.... Anyone?

 

[skinney_7]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

i just talked with Blaine on the phone a month ago and updated my delta IV-LE to Delta V, its very user friendly and has a printout of instructions on basically every feature the program has, i played with mine for a couple days and u get used to it fast... i would send you a pm of the program in use out to 1200yds BUT UR INBOX IS FULL.

 

[cruze5]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

i purchased FFS 3 when it was still available for sale. It came with the software to load on my laptop, and i could also load it on my windows mobile 6.1 phone. i primarily use it on the laptop. then print out the data

I purchased the software to compare alongside Exbal.


I still use the calculator, but if i were to start right now in my same setup FFS would not work for me as I primary use the software on my pc.

If you are a strict pda user it is still an excellent solution. Otherwise my suggestion would be to switch to Pentagonia. As it still offers the desktop computer software. It is much easier to use...

just my experience and opinion

 

[CoryT]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

If you don't need any of the advanced field features, just use Delta 3. To run it on your desktop from the PDA, I use MyMobiler. The program only runs on the PDA, but you use the big display, mouse and keyboard. That's how the demos were created.

MyMobiler for Windows Mobile

For 800-1000 and in, it's pretty plug and play, set the info on the Presets page then start running solutions. Some minor tweaks to the BC/velocity should get you effectivly sopt on pretty quickly.

For maximum precision, or for extended ranges, you'll need to calibrate the scope, do temp charts of velocities, possibly compute the DK, etc.

The iPaq works just fine, I use one sometimes when I don't need the Nomad.

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">BUT UR INBOX IS FULL</div></div>
All clear, sorry about that.

If the PDA can be displayed on my laptop, as I wouldnt want to bring my laptop to the range, and I can see myself being alot faster and more fluent on a laptop, I dont see any reason why FFSIII wouldnt fit the bill just about perfect.

All in all, $500 - $600 is about at the top of my Ball.Comp. budget, I wouldnt fathom dropping MSRP on a Nomad, even though it looks like a tough piece of gear.

CoryT, if the HP-iPaq111 is loaded with the basic model FFS3-1Gb, about how much room is there for saving bullet/velocity/ect. combinations?

 

[CoryT]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

A 1GB card will be 99% free space, enough to put years on data on. My primary Delta V card still has 1.8GB free, after a couple years and dozens of rifle profiles.

 

[goober]

Re: Field Firing Solutions 3, 4 or 5 & HP iPAQ 111

I recently purchased the Patagonia Ballistics program .

I have Exbal -shooter -ballistics FTE -Pejsa Ballistics -Litz program from his book -Berger ballistics on my desk top -mmm a bit fanatical collecting it appears.

Patagonia is cheaper than FFS and has more modules for different shooting applications you can choose to use or not use.
The applications are under their own heading so when you open the ballistics program that is all there is there -you have to close the ballistics module to open the library for example while on the PDA .The program is proving to be very good , so far I am only shooting out to 1100 yards. One thing I have not mastered with this program is ease of getting it onto my desk top at will.My computer died when I did have it on there and I havent been able to get it onto my new machine -this inst Gustavos fault at Patagonia but my lack of computer knowledge.If your machine isn't spec'd correctly it wont run the program and a simpleton like me would need to ask for help from someone a little more computer savy .I do ask you why would you want to spend 350$ on FFS when you can spend $150 On Patagonia for a bigger collection of tools ?