Hello all, can’t recall a specific thread for these yet
The AGM StingIR has been of some interest to me since being released. I’ve been looking for a dedicated HMT instead of trying to use my Iray RH25 for every role.
The StingIR appears to be feature rich and at a competitive price, but per usual I try and research as much as I can before making a purchase.
The purpose of this post is to inform potential buyers of some issues with the devices that aren’t being widely talked about (to my knowledge), as well as general discussion of them. User feedback highly encouraged.
It is advertised as being a compact multi-use/general purpose thermal: Handheld, Stand-alone, HMT, and Clip-on
Issues:
In clip-on mode, users are reporting inability to collimate their StingIRs with their daytime optics. They have concluded that clip-on software in the menu is non-existent while emails from AGM indicate that there should be clip-on settings in the menu.
Here is an email with menu directions from AGM to one user (issues starting with #5):
Sting-IR
1. Zero daytime optic (on X)
2. Keep daytime optic steady on target (X) using a gun vise, tripod or bipod.
3. Install StingIR in front of daytime optic. Ensure you install carefully as to not move the rifle off point of aim (X).
4. Single press the center button to open the menu.
5. Go to Display> Clip-on> single press center button then up or down buttons to turn on.
6. Once in clip on mode you will see (x,y).
7. Single press center button to deselect on/off. Press down button to highlight x. Center button to select x. Then using the up/down buttons align your x axis.
8. Repeat steps for y axis.
9. Scroll down the Exit and press center button to turn off x,yselections.
10. Take StingIR off and ensure your daytime optics reticle was still on target (X) and repeat steps 6-9 again if minor adjustments are still needed
Upon calling AGM to confirm these issues, I found out that none of the stingIRs on first release have the collimation/screen margin software, nor would the zero settings in stand-alone mode save after turning the unit off and back on. This would be a major disappointment for anyone who bought one. They then told me that users can send in their units for a software update.
Curious to know what the status of new off-the-shelf units, I recently asked a large vendor for AGM products to pull a new stingIR from inventory and check to see if the unit had a new software update that fixed the issues, but he reported back to me that it lacked the clip-on settings under the “display” setting in the menu.
Therefore it’s my theory that large quantities of these “Gen1” StingIRs are in inventory with many various AGM vendors, and those who unknowingly purchase them will be disappointed to find that they technically do not work as advertised without an RMA/Warranty claim. Not only that, but it’s been reported that AGM requires customers to pay for shipping of the unit in for warranty.
Customer service answered my questions right away and offered to try and work with a vendor to sell me a newer updated one, and they were seemingly really professional. I didn’t have to wait for a long time to get ahold of a customer service rep.
That said, AGM really dropped the ball on this in my opinion. I don’t know if they are actively informing customers and vendors of this issue or just choosing to handle it one at a time as unhappy customers call in.
Conclusion:
If you wish to purchase one I highly recommend checking with your vendor to ensure that the StingIRs they are selling are the very latest model with the updated software for clip-on use, and also that the stand-alone zero settings save after a power cycle.
No one should have to buy a new product only to immediately need a RMA and ship on their dime for warranty. Especially when the manufacturer and/or vendor has the means to prevent it. Hence the reason for this long-winded post, I hope to save people some grief and educate them on the status of this product.
If I find that a vendor is knowingly selling these faulty units to get them out of inventory, I might rethink wether or not I want to do business with them. The vendors are a line of defense that should be protecting their customers and vetting the products before they are sold. AGM should be held accountable to fix these issues before they get into the hands of customers, and it is the vendors job to apply that pressure on AGM in a professional manner. Anything less is an agreement between AGM and their vendors to waste the time of their customers.
Perhaps AGM could offer a discount on these with a disclaimer that states “without an RMA they are only usable as HMT & Handheld”.
The AGM StingIR has been of some interest to me since being released. I’ve been looking for a dedicated HMT instead of trying to use my Iray RH25 for every role.
The StingIR appears to be feature rich and at a competitive price, but per usual I try and research as much as I can before making a purchase.
The purpose of this post is to inform potential buyers of some issues with the devices that aren’t being widely talked about (to my knowledge), as well as general discussion of them. User feedback highly encouraged.
It is advertised as being a compact multi-use/general purpose thermal: Handheld, Stand-alone, HMT, and Clip-on
Issues:
In clip-on mode, users are reporting inability to collimate their StingIRs with their daytime optics. They have concluded that clip-on software in the menu is non-existent while emails from AGM indicate that there should be clip-on settings in the menu.
Here is an email with menu directions from AGM to one user (issues starting with #5):
Sting-IR
1. Zero daytime optic (on X)
2. Keep daytime optic steady on target (X) using a gun vise, tripod or bipod.
3. Install StingIR in front of daytime optic. Ensure you install carefully as to not move the rifle off point of aim (X).
4. Single press the center button to open the menu.
5. Go to Display> Clip-on> single press center button then up or down buttons to turn on.
6. Once in clip on mode you will see (x,y).
7. Single press center button to deselect on/off. Press down button to highlight x. Center button to select x. Then using the up/down buttons align your x axis.
8. Repeat steps for y axis.
9. Scroll down the Exit and press center button to turn off x,yselections.
10. Take StingIR off and ensure your daytime optics reticle was still on target (X) and repeat steps 6-9 again if minor adjustments are still needed
Upon calling AGM to confirm these issues, I found out that none of the stingIRs on first release have the collimation/screen margin software, nor would the zero settings in stand-alone mode save after turning the unit off and back on. This would be a major disappointment for anyone who bought one. They then told me that users can send in their units for a software update.
Curious to know what the status of new off-the-shelf units, I recently asked a large vendor for AGM products to pull a new stingIR from inventory and check to see if the unit had a new software update that fixed the issues, but he reported back to me that it lacked the clip-on settings under the “display” setting in the menu.
Therefore it’s my theory that large quantities of these “Gen1” StingIRs are in inventory with many various AGM vendors, and those who unknowingly purchase them will be disappointed to find that they technically do not work as advertised without an RMA/Warranty claim. Not only that, but it’s been reported that AGM requires customers to pay for shipping of the unit in for warranty.
Customer service answered my questions right away and offered to try and work with a vendor to sell me a newer updated one, and they were seemingly really professional. I didn’t have to wait for a long time to get ahold of a customer service rep.
That said, AGM really dropped the ball on this in my opinion. I don’t know if they are actively informing customers and vendors of this issue or just choosing to handle it one at a time as unhappy customers call in.
Conclusion:
If you wish to purchase one I highly recommend checking with your vendor to ensure that the StingIRs they are selling are the very latest model with the updated software for clip-on use, and also that the stand-alone zero settings save after a power cycle.
No one should have to buy a new product only to immediately need a RMA and ship on their dime for warranty. Especially when the manufacturer and/or vendor has the means to prevent it. Hence the reason for this long-winded post, I hope to save people some grief and educate them on the status of this product.
If I find that a vendor is knowingly selling these faulty units to get them out of inventory, I might rethink wether or not I want to do business with them. The vendors are a line of defense that should be protecting their customers and vetting the products before they are sold. AGM should be held accountable to fix these issues before they get into the hands of customers, and it is the vendors job to apply that pressure on AGM in a professional manner. Anything less is an agreement between AGM and their vendors to waste the time of their customers.
Perhaps AGM could offer a discount on these with a disclaimer that states “without an RMA they are only usable as HMT & Handheld”.
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