SkyTrak will not register shots when plugged in via USB

[frodaddy00]

I've noticed this issue lately and it seems to happen more regularly now since the 3.x release.

My SkyTrak unit seems to go haywire if I plug it in via USB to my laptop *and* my laptop has its power cable plugged in. I have a metal protective case for ST unit. I believe someone mentioned this before but my question is... why should this be a problem?

I use SkyTrak in my garage therefore I need a portable computer to use it with TGC (gaming laptop). Everything works great when the SkyTrak is connecting wirelessly but the SkyTrak battery runs lows frequently. I've noticed that when I plug my SkyTrak in via USB and try to get everything reconnected it just flat out stops working.

How does it stop working? The unit thinks it is connected (2 bottom lights are green) but the top light is red and the laser dot goes bonkers just blinking in and out... even if the laser dot stops blinking momentarily it fails to record shots -- 100% of the time.

If I unplug USB and reconnect everything it starts working again. Also, if I remove my laptop power supply it also seems to be happy. The good news is these workarounds are successful but its irritating that it just doesn't work plugged in.

Any thoughts on why? I don't recall other USB devices being so finicky regarding power and outside interference.

[Rizzo777]

I just got my skytrak on Thursday and the same thing happens to me. I started off with it connected via USB which I would prefer to do but only 30% of my shots register when it's plugged in. It registers 99% of shots in network mode.

[JWK]

My direct connection does not work when using the FMJ case and SkyTrak did not provide an explanation as to why this is the case

[BWJones]

I use my ST on the wireless network only, and plug the USB into a wall charger just to keep the battery charged. I saw similar issues until I went exclusively wireless.

[frodaddy00]

I was more willing to accept this when these metal cases were just after-market parts not affiliated with SkyTrak. However, they have now started selling the FMJ metal case as an approved accessory - https://shop.skygolf.com/p-2361-skyt...tive-case.aspx

I'd really like SkyTrak to look into this and figure out how to make their device work while plugged in to a computer.

[Sandbar]

I have the FMJ and hook up via USB to my laptop for TGC and skytrak since I am in a garage as well. Are you plugging in the USB after the skytrak unti is already matched up with your network, ie you get the solid yellow prior to opening the skytrak program or TGC on your computer? My steps are turn on the skytrak unti, let it cycle through the various steps of trying to connect to my wifi. Once it can not, the middle light goes from flashing yellow then to red. If it is solid yellow it means it connected to your wifi. Once red, I hook up the USB to the skytrak unit and computer and don't have any issues. If I try to plug the usb in when there is a solid yellow light in the middle, I run into issues, the USB doesn't appear to override the already connected wifi if plugging it in as a second step.

[frodaddy00]

I have the FMJ and hook up via USB to my laptop for TGC and skytrak since I am in a garage as well. Are you plugging in the USB after the skytrak unti is already matched up with your network, ie you get the solid yellow prior to opening the skytrak program or TGC on your computer? My steps are turn on the skytrak unti, let it cycle through the various steps of trying to connect to my wifi. Once it can not, the middle light goes from flashing yellow then to red. If it is solid yellow it means it connected to your wifi. Once red, I hook up the USB to the skytrak unit and computer and don't have any issues. If I try to plug the usb in when there is a solid yellow light in the middle, I run into issues, the USB doesn't appear to override the already connected wifi if plugging it in as a second step.

Interesting. I do have the WIFI configured on my SkyTrak because sometimes I just like to practice so I use my iPhone or iPad.. no need/desire to plug into my computer via USB.

I could disable the WIFI configuration so that SkyTrak has no chance to connect via wifi. The only downside of that would make it more of a chore when I want to switch between my two setups: 1) skytrak + computer via usb and 2) skytrak + iphone/iPad via wifi.

You raise a valid point. I assumed the issue was electrical with the metal case somehow running interference with my USB connection. It seems like the issue may just be conflicts between WIFI and wired connection.

[dmsimm69]

What Sandbar stated is the likely cause. The metal case has no impact on a USB connection, in fact if there were any issues with the FMJ, it would be with the wireless connection since it is actually broadcasting a signal and could be degraded going through the case. Computers don't often like trying to work through a dual network connection, so just ensure wifi is disabled when you connect via USB.

[Shifty]

Last night the exact same thing was happening to me (I have the skytrak armor case). Seems I had my xbox one going at the time, and perhaps the wifi from the xbox was screwing with the skytrak even though it was plugged in to the usb. As soon as I turned my xbox off the top red light turned green instantly. So I think other devices that are searching for wifi could be a possible reason.

[pennypepper]

I only use USB mode and also have the FMJ. Ive havent noticed a decrease in registered shots with the upgrade. My steps are similar to Sandbar. I first power on the Skytrak, then walk over and power on my computer. By the time my PC boots up the Skytrak middle light is RED. I have it set to DIRECT MODE so I dont think it even tries to connect to my home wifi. Works like a charm in this sequence.

[awisnia]

Wifi direct connection to the skytrak is the most reliable. I have wired connection for internet, and a wifi adapter to connect to the skytrak. I have none of the issues that I had with the USB connection. (I think someone determined it was windows power saving timing out..maybe not) I think that it's likely possible to add a second small wifi adaptor on a wifi connected pc and use the second to connect to the skytrak. It would cost less than $10 to try.

[frodaddy00]

Update on this issue of mine...

I have disabled SkyTrak access to my wifi router and just rely on plugging the device in via USB. This hopefully rules out the dual-network connections as a culprit. Unfortunately I still see the bad behavior where my red laser dot will start blinking in and out and fail to register shots. This seems to get worse over time to where eventually 100% of shots start failing until I go through a series of reboots of SkyTrak and TGC interface.

I used to think this was purely some type of issue with SkyTrak itself but now it seems like something to do with TGC.

I was trying to finish the weekly tournament last night and started having fits with SkyTrak laser blinking in and out or recording bad shots. I was able to finish the tourney by doing a bunch of reboots of reconnections to SkyTrak and TGC.

Afterwards I shut down TGC and went back to the SkyTrak range app and it worked perfectly. I then loaded up TGC again and saw the same blinking in and out. Went back to SkyTrak app again, and once again it worked without problem. So.. unless its just incredibly unlucky it seems that TGC is part of the problem.

Are there any diagnostics/logs available to SkyTrak app or TGC that could clue me in to why it starts blinking in and out??

[Golfer1204]

I am only getting about 10 percent of my shots to read. I have tried everything that is recommended on this board. I have just requested to return the item. I have spend so much on all my equipment and building a sim room. Very Very sad day with skytrak. I cant get the skytrak to connect using wifi. I have to hook up a USB to the computer. I am not using tgc, I am playing jnpg, just a bad experience.

[Waterplx]

I have not experienced this specific issue with the SkyTrack before. We only use them in USB mode with the FMJ and a laptop. However, I have seen a similar issue on another device and another laptop. The device had a rapid charge mode and the laptop I was using only supplied enough voltage for the rapid charge mode if the laptop itself was plugged into the wall. When the rapid charge activated it would often disable certain functions of the device. In the end, it was a fault in the device itself. I found a setting on my PC in the BIOS that allowed me to disable the rapid charge feature on one of my USB ports and that fixed the problem for me. You could also try plugging it into a USB 2.0 port (instead of a USB 3.0) since the 2.0 ports don't usually support the rapid charge. If all you have is 3.0 ports and cannot figure out how to disable the rapid charge, then you could try an external USB hub that doesn't support rapid charging.

Hopefully this gives you a few other ideas to try. I hope you get things figured out soon. It is a bummer to have issues with the Golf sim right in the middle of winter.

[frodaddy00]

Thanks for the info... I will try to switch to a USB 2.0 port since my laptop has that.

I am skeptical though since my SkyTrak hardware seems to work just fine with the SkyTrap app itself. It is only when I load up TGC that I start to see the flakiness regarding laser dot blinking in and out.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Thanks for the good troubleshooting/feedback everyone! What Sandbar said is correct - if the unit is plugged in via USB when you power it on, then it will default/override to USB mode. If you plug in the USB after the fact, then it remains in whatever wireless mode it was in and simply uses USB for charging. Hopefully that solves the connection issues. As stated, the metal case should have no effect on the connection.

Another interesting piece of info mentioned was the rapid charge on USB 3.0. When you said that it works better without the laptop power supply plugged in, it would make sense to me that the laptop disables rapid charge when running on battery...shot in the dark?? I can look into this.

How about we start a different thread for laser blinking when using TGC - it will be easier to track/search/resolve.

[frodaddy00]

Thanks for the reply. I agree that I've uncovered two separate issues.

Issue #1 (original issue) - SkyTrak laser starts blinking when using USB mode and unit is simultaneously connected/connecting to a WIFI network.

I first thought the metal case might be a culprit but this problem went away when I disabled my SkyTrak access to my WIFI router. If I only use the USB connection then my SkyTrak seems to have no problems using the SkyTrak app.


Issue #2 (new issue) - SkyTrak laser starts blinking when using USB mode with TGC software.

I thought this was the same issue #1 above but some of my recent testing showed that SkyTrap app was working fine while TGC was experiencing the dreaded blinking laser.

I'll create a new thread for this new issue.. but I'm wondering if this belongs in SkyTrak forum or TGC forum?

[Jb50]

I wonder if a powered USB hub or a power supply conditioner would help?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-10-Port-Adapter-Including-Charging/dp/B005NGQWL2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516980064&sr=1-3&keywords=external+powered+usb+hub

https://www.amazon.com/PCO850-Conditioner-Mountable-Protector-Outlets/dp/B00BQO5G4O/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516980671&sr=1-2&keywords=Pyle+rack+strip

[frodaddy00]

It's worth a try.