I don’t have anything super technical to add. I’ve been perfectly pleased outside of the fact of having to write down what string belongs to what. I have yet to get it to actually connect to the app on my phone, that does not seem to want to work.
Precision Rifle Gear New Athlon Rangecraft Chronograph-Garmin Xero Killer?
- Thread starter Steel+Killer
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I'd meet up with you if it's possible.
Other than that I'd say drive to a nearby Starcucks and get a teenager to give it a go.
Mine are all 12 and 13, but they ain’t got no phones yet. Might be smart enough, I might ask the oldest. He’s the one who’s always wanting to go shooting.
My second unit won’t sync, even though it shows connected on both devices. Hasn’t been my favorite feature.
Yep. I am having the same problem. I have an iPhone and, even though both devices show they are paired, pressing "sync data" just causes a refresh wheel to pop up for a fraction of a second and then nothing happens (i.e. no data is imported).
I thought maybe it's because my phone is older (although the IOS version should be compatible according to Athlon) so I tried using my wife's brand new iPad. When I try to pair with it the chronograph freezes, nothing imports, and I have to reset the chronograph by holding the power button.
I tried reaching out to Athlon but they have hidden their e-mail contact info on their website. The funny thing is, they hid it in a really amateur way that if you highlight the text on the page the e-mail contact will show up (see below). Anyway, I called their number a couple of times. Whenever I explain my issue to the receptionist they say, "Just a minute..." and transfer me to a number that never picks up or calls me back. I assume they are getting bombarded with calls about this.
Anyway, the device itself works flawlessly. It would just be great if I didn't have to manually copy the data from the chronograph to my computer every time I use it.
This is weird to me. Maybe because I'm running the app on my macbook.
But, as soon as I connect I can see all the recorded sessions and shot strings in the app from the devices. I don't need to press the sync button to make it happen, the data is just there in the app for me to rename and download.
I do have to download it to the computer to use it, I haven't found where the app is tucking the session files but the data is visible for me in the app even when the chronograph is powered off so some kind of transfer has happened. Maybe it's being kept in a database inside the app.
The app definitely needs some work.
I sent an email with some critiques on the app to the address on the web site and received a reply back saying they'd pass the feedback along. Maybe to the bin but it was a reply.
[email protected] is the email address from the manual and the website.
I also need to verify the battery is not being drained when the unit is off. I thought it had a decent charge left on it when I put it away last week but when I took it out this week the battery was completely drained. I didn't turn off the chronography bluetooth before putting it away but I wouldn't think I should have to if I'm powering off the entire unit.
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The email address is hidden on their website on my PC and my phone (when go to the contact page it only shows a phone number as shown in my original post). I’m not sure why you’d even feel the need to email them if everything works for you. The battery on my unit was completely full. I looked online and many people are experiencing the same sync issue. My wife has a MacBook. I’ll give it a try on there and let you know if that works.
My battery was completely full when I got it. It was only completely drained after I stored it away. But I just now checked it after charging it a day or two ago and putting it back in the case and it's still charged so mea culpa ... I probably put it away while it was still on.
"works" ...
One example.
I can "rename" the recorded sessions in the app to something meaningful to me instead of the default name of "rifle" for all the rifle sessions but when I export any of the sessions to my computer they are all named "output.xlsx" ... not the name I gave them and not even the default name that is visible in the app. They all have to be individually renamed as they are being exported even though I renamed them in the app. The name of the session isn't even included in the output. It "works" but it's less than desirable.
Why even allow the session to be renamed in the app?
There are more examples, they bug me, they may not bug everybody.
Suboptimal programming in the app is why I felt the need to contact them.
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I tried e-mailing them and they got back to me saying it was an issue with the app and that I should keep an eye out for updates. It turns out they actually released an update of the app today and I installed it. Even with the update I still can't sync. I also tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and getting by phone's bluetooth to "forget" the device. I still have the same issue.
I e-mailed them back about it. They said they will call me about it tomorrow. Anyway, at least they are responsive if you e-mail them.
I also tried to see if I could install the app on my wife's computer. It isn't compatible with the app, unfortunately.
It seems like this is a big headache for them. They accidentally copied me on an e-mail where the person responding to their generic contact e-mail wrote, "Oh boy..." to the senior marketing manager in response to me telling them the sync didn't work after the update. Lol.
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Cool, mine may have the latest firmware already. I preordered it back in Feb or March. May just depend on which production run it got pulled from.
The iphone app will only work on Apple silicon, if it's an intel chip it won't run. Also no guarantee every iphone app will run on a mac with Apple silicon.
I assume it might run on an ipad with Apple silicon also.
You broke it already. This is why we can't have nice things.
Something deep in the firmware could be holding on to something that is preventing it from working even after the update. Sometimes the only way to clear issues like this is a complete removal of the power source not just a power off with the button. Unfortunately the battery is integrated and would require disassembly, voiding warranties, yada yada ... if this is what they suspect to be the problem that could be the reason for the 'oh boy' ... 'oh boy' could mean a trip back to the mothership.
Yes, apparently I have the latest firmware (or so the app tells me).
I assume if you need to completely cut the power supply you could accomplish this by running the battery down to 0%. I guess we'll see what they say tomorrow.
In my mind it's not the end of the world that I can't sync. It is a "nice to have" sort of feature. The chronograph itself has performed flawlessly for me so far. It would just be nice if their app were solid too.
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Si.
This is the first chrony I've owned that could reliably clock .177 cal pellets without a lot of fuss, setup or dropping shots.
The app is functional for me but could be much better. I'd like to see it as a standalone app away from all the optic stuff but if it would just work better that would be a start.
OMG, that is hilarious. The number of periods........ I can feel his frustration.
I have to feel for gun companies when it comes to apps. In almost all cases these apps are contracted by the gun company with a third party software company and these software companies seem to have a very silicon value standard for performance and reliability. This standard is quite noticeably variant from that of the firearms industry where a malfunction of the industries namesake product often has fatal consequences. I don't think I have yet reviewed a product that had an associated software app that did not have some pretty major bugs in it. At this point, that is quite a lot of products and apps to have such a universally unimpressive software track record. I'll admit that when I an reviewing a product that has an app but does not require that app for it's function, such as a chronograph, I tend to put off that part of the review until near the end of the process as I so far have with the Athlon chrono. Apps are never my favorite part of a review and I feel for those in the industry who I can imagine have a substantially more unpleasant time with them than I do.
The whole issue with apps reminds me of a popular trail camera company (exodus) recently going out of business because their chinese OEM and app creators quit supporting their stuff and was basically extorting them for little breadcrumbs. Sad.
I haven't even downloaded the app or my athlon chrono yet. So far i don't trust the results as much as my labradar but they seem close enough for my uses and its magnitudes more convenient.
Did you try swapping locations between the two? That seems to impact readings occasionally..
I didn’t that outing, but I did the time before and it didn’t seem to make any difference.
Just to update you. They told me last week that they'd call me the next day (the 11th) to talk to me about it. They never called...Then again, why should they be any different than everyone else?
Finally manage to get one.
I have FX TB with the best US software on it, so i will take a look, how the Athlon is doing vs to FX.
I have done test with my FX vs US bought Garmin, and the result were one on one, identical.
But when my FX was on Eurosetting, it was useless.
After i did uploaded the best software to the FX, it has been awesome, and i love that it does analyzes a bullet’s trajectory.
It does work, even that you dont have any specs of the bullet, it does get it and it works.
I have the new Lapua MaxRange Target 144gr pills, this one do not have the bullet in the radar file, since it is so new bullet.
But just shoot few rounds, and it does calculate the bullet G7 value and i have been used over a 500-meters and it does work.
Just love it, but it is quite large.
So small one that comes in the range with easy, so let´s try the Athlon.
I have FX TB with the best US software on it, so i will take a look, how the Athlon is doing vs to FX.
I have done test with my FX vs US bought Garmin, and the result were one on one, identical.
But when my FX was on Eurosetting, it was useless.
After i did uploaded the best software to the FX, it has been awesome, and i love that it does analyzes a bullet’s trajectory.
It does work, even that you dont have any specs of the bullet, it does get it and it works.
I have the new Lapua MaxRange Target 144gr pills, this one do not have the bullet in the radar file, since it is so new bullet.
But just shoot few rounds, and it does calculate the bullet G7 value and i have been used over a 500-meters and it does work.
Just love it, but it is quite large.
So small one that comes in the range with easy, so let´s try the Athlon.
Still love my Garmin and no, I’ve not gone down the firmware upgrade path with it. The damn thing gets me MV and downloads a csv file which is pretty much all I want from a chrono.
Gun mount vs. static (tripod) makes a difference:
Chronograph Comparison: Gun Mounted vs. Static
In preliminary testing, in preparation for a larger scale analysis, I haven't been able to as definitively promote positional sensitivity for any "reasonable" static position or direction nearby the rifle. More data to follow, however.
Interesting. I’ll follow.
Well I also still like my Garmin even though I did unwittingly go down the path of upgrading. I honestly preferred it with the original software. I’m not fond of the “analyzing shot” bit that keeps popping up that delays recording. If I shoot two shots quickly in succession it will drop or miss the second shot. And that’s from a bolt .22.
I did drop one of 80 rounds subsonic .22LR., but that’s not the end of the world.
In all, I do wonder about why the upgrades.
Timing this for the different units is part of my matrix also, but still not complete. Observationally, the updated firmware on the LabRadar LX's are the fastest I've witnessed, Athlons behind them, and the Garmins slightly slower, but all of them have processing delays.
I'm kinda curious though - my Garmin was shipped in the first release when they dropped, and has always had the "analyzing shot" processing display. Is yours a pre-commercial issued unit?
I honestly do not know. I bought it from an obscure reseller early on for less than retail. It’s genuine and always worked in a way I considered flawlessly.
Mine has seemed a bit sensitive about location to pickup shots lately.
Last weekend it missed the first few shots off bench with a suppressed bolt 223. Moved it 6” forward to be within about 6” of suppressor muzzle end and it caught them all.
Weekend prior there was a prone stage at a prs match with a mat for shooting position. Placed off to the side of the mat so it was maybe a couple feet from the barrel and it missed half the shots. Might have been some grass in the way on that one but I still expected it to do better.
Last weekend it missed the first few shots off bench with a suppressed bolt 223. Moved it 6” forward to be within about 6” of suppressor muzzle end and it caught them all.
Weekend prior there was a prone stage at a prs match with a mat for shooting position. Placed off to the side of the mat so it was maybe a couple feet from the barrel and it missed half the shots. Might have been some grass in the way on that one but I still expected it to do better.
Placing the unit "a couple feet from the barrel" is definitely outside of spec for the unit. They'll often pick up shots wider than the 5-15" (or 4-10") specs state, but of course, we're risking more cross-fire capture the wider is the beam.
Good question, V. Are discrepancies something Athlon ( or maybe Garmin as well ? ) looking at or trying to address? Of course, it seems to me that it’s a short trip to the “ Who’s REALLY most accurate, and how do you know? “ question.
I thought this is what varmint was trying to prove with his earlier posts but I misunderstood.
varmint's data highlights who's is more "consistent" between shots and between devices
to argue whether the "consistency" is the flaw is another conversation but it's probably not the flaw
I don’t know that there’s a DEFINITIVE standard. If there was, a lot of conversation wouldn’t be necessary. We’d already know. Not only the consumers but the companies as well.
The version of the App itself for me is 1.0.25 but I'm running it on Apple silicon not Intel and haven't updated it for a couple months so there may be a difference between the two.
The latest version available to me appears to be 1.0.30 but, again, I'm running it on a Apple silicon MacBook.
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The point of what I posted was consistency of readings between devices, not which one was "right". The Garmin devices generally have a lower SD for the exact same rounds fired side-by-side than the Athalon devices based on the data I've seen posted here and elsewhere.
Someone, here or on another forum or in another thread, posted the claim that Garmin tested their devices against some hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of downrange equipment owned by NASA or some other agency/company but I've never seen anything to corroborate that claim. Haven't looked for it much either.
Garmin claims their units are verified against a "certified" reference device to be 5fps accurate at 2999fps and 2fps accurate at 300fps. They don't say it's a NIST device so the pedigree of the device is unknown.
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I'm sorry - I wasn't very clear before - the 1.0.74 is the app version on the phone, but within the manage device tab, looking at the DEVICE firmware itself, the app will show the firmware version installed on the chronograph, 1.40.XX.X
Two of my Athlon units had issues with notably high readings, teens to 20's higher than 2x LabRadars & 2x Garmins, until I upgraded the firmware on the device.
The communicated "precision" for the Garmins, as well as the LabRadar LX's and the Athlons, is supposed to be +/-0.1% for rifle cartridges (I'm not terribly certain why the precision specification would quadruple for slower projectiles, other than a potential for lower integrity frequency shift - but in theory, the units should be able to hit the projectile more times and do better interpolating velocities). "within 5fps on 2999" would be wider than +/-0.1% by almost double.
But... Given hundreds of rounds in testing with 6 or more chronographs operating side by side, and comparing the disparity between the two units of each brand, and between the units themselves, after ALL of those rounds fired and compared, Garmin is the only brand which could POSSIBLY be within their published specification for accuracy.
How I'm comfortable stating this - example: say I have a true velocity of 2807.0fps. One unit, landing within +/-0.1% of that, +/-2.8fps, could read 2809.8 as the absolutely highest reading which could still be within the specified accuracy, while another unit could read 2804.2fps, as the absolutely slowest reading which could still be within that specified accuracy. In that case, if I believe both are telling the truth, then I could know the 2807.0 is the true velocity, because no other velocity could be shared by the two while still achieving their published specifications. But more realistically, if the two units EVER displayed anything larger than 2x 2.8fps apart, larger than 5.6fps spread between the two units, then at least ONE unit MUST be reporting outside of the published specification for accuracy, in other words, a spread of larger than 5.6 between two units would suggest at least ONE unit is failing to achieve the specified accuracy to truth. In multiple 30, 50, and 100rnd experiments, the Garmins are the only units which have consistently reported velocities close enough together to have both units within the specified accuracy. The LabRadar LX's have been loosely just outside of their published accuracy on average with the max spread doubling the acceptable band, and the Athlons have been MUCH farther outside of their published specification for accuracy - with the Average difference between the two units often being farther apart than the specification would allow.
So this is a non-definitive method, such that ALL of them could be wrong, relative to true velocity, however, in my testing so far, with hundreds of rounds fired, the Garmins have been the only units which have the potential to actually be right. The Garmins MIGHT be reliably within their published spec for accuracy to truth, but by default, I can prove at least one, if not both, of the other brand units are NOT close enough together for them to both be within spec of truth.
Had my Athlon out the last two days, yesterday with a friend who had an Garmin and today just me. Had some weird shit happen yesterday. Had 20ish rounds that were 25-35fps slower than I expected BUT that turned out to be a different problem. Here is the weird shit. First when no one was shooting the unit would randomly go into analyzing mode with no reading. It also missed I think 3 shots. But the strangest thing of all, when I grabbed my buddies Garmin and put it on the opposite side of the rifle I got several readings that were 75 to 150 ish fps faster than the garmin. Today other than one missed shot it seemed to be working fine.
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