Kestrel Customers – We have had roughly a dozen reports of Kestrel Ballistics units “locking up” or “hourglassing” when compass-related functions such as wind capture are accessed in cold temperatures – around freezing or below. We have confirmed that the source of this problem is an intermittent internal failure in the compass sensor in cold temperatures. This compass sensor is rated to -40C/F, so we are working with the manufacturer to determine why we are seeing performance issues far above this temperature. In the interim we have identified an immediate code fix and are actively working on developing a firmware update to provide to customers experiencing this issue. We will provide information here as soon as a firmware update is available and appreciate your patience. In the meantime, if you observe this behavior: 1) You should be able to get through your session by warming the Kestrel back up and keeping it warm (such as tucking it inside your shirt), only exposing it to the environment to take readings and calculate your solution. Make sure to swing or wave the Kestrel when capturing environmentals to ensure air flow over the sensors and accurate readings. 2) Contact Kestrel at 610.447.1555 or [email protected] to obtain an RA and return label – your Kestrel will be replaced under warranty at no charge.
