SkyTrak Missing Shots

[IowaCat89]

Hello Everyone,
SkyTrak newbie here. I've been using a brand new SkyTrak with FMJ enclosure for about 3 weeks. I have the E6 software loaded also (30 day trail). I'm using a CCE hitting strip that is surrounded by carpet (medium plush, light brown color). Sometimes I get good readings, especially when I first start up the equipment (using network mode now, but have used the others also). On a couple of occasions it has picked up almost every shot until about shot 40 to 60 using the SkyTrak software, then it started missing over half the shots. It almost seems like the unit starts having issues after it warms up?

Yesterday I ran an experiment and started the unit up with the E6 software. It was missing nearly half the shots right from the start. Switched back to the SkyTrak software and it worked much better, but still missing some shots. Playing the E6 simulator seems to work for.a few holes, then the misses become so common that you can't hardly continue. Putting is nearly unusable most of the time (misses about 75% of the time).

I am inclined to think I have a defective unit, but I would like to get some second opinions before I return it. Not much point in sending it back if I need to fix my setup. Could you guys give me some tips to try? Thanks

[IowaCat89]

So I turned everything off for a couple hours and then started it back up (in network mode) just like it was with the wedge, except this time I used a 3 hybrid. The SkyTrak software read the first shot perfectly, and then missed everything after that. Maybe it would read 1 or two out of 10? So, I closed the SkyTrak software and opened the E6. The E6 caught the first shot perfectly, then started missing more than half of the shots. After a while, the ratio improved a bit, but nothing like the wedge which was well over 90%.

The artificial lighting was identical, but the sun was up for the first session, so there was a bit a sunlight coming in through some closed shades on the windows. The sun was down for the second second test, so it would have been a little less bright at the SkyTrak.

Most misses were 3 green lights, but about 20% of the missed shots turned the red light on for a moment, then back to 3 green. It makes sense to me that the shots with the red red light could certainly be network errors, which might be addressed by a long USB cable. I can order one of those. Anything else I should try while I wait on the cable?

[colinjm18]

What colour is the background behind you because if it is white or a very light colour then the skytrak can have difficulties picking the ball up.

[Morini]

Sorry if I missed it, but what type of wifi connection do you have? Direct or through router. If you haven't already, try a direct wifi connection to a tablet or smart phone. Just download the ST app first. This won't help you with E6, but will help you trouble shoot. I think the intermittency of your your no reads call for an intermittent cause. As we all know, medium/long range wifi has a mind of its own. And you can of course connect directly from PC to ST (if you haven't already).

I really don't think artificial lighting has anything to do with read errors (unless it is so bright that it interferes).

[IowaCat89]

What colour is the background behind you because if it is white or a very light colour then the skytrak can have difficulties picking the ball up.

I'm hitting in a Cimmaron cage with a black net. Beyond that the wall is white ribbed tin. I now have a green blanket on the wall to see if that will help. It certainly catches all the shots when it's working, and then misses a ton when it's not. Seems like it really can't be the wall since it's not changing?

[IowaCat89]

Sorry if I missed it, but what type of wifi connection do you have? Direct or through router. If you haven't already, try a direct wifi connection to a tablet or smart phone. Just download the ST app first. This won't help you with E6, but will help you trouble shoot. I think the intermittency of your your no reads call for an intermittent cause. As we all know, medium/long range wifi has a mind of its own. And you can of course connect directly from PC to ST (if you haven't already).

I really don't think artificial lighting has anything to do with read errors (unless it is so bright that it interferes).

I'm using an AC router that is about 12 feet from the SkyTrak. I have the ST app on my phone, so I might try that next when it acts up? I'm also going to order a USB extender that will let me run that mode.

[Morini]

The AC WiFi could be there culprit. Try direct wifi connection from PC.

[Wizard of Coz]

Have you tried putting 12-15 inches behind the red light. I spot putt outdoors so I use the red light as my spot and it's seems to pick up my putts real well. I'm not sure why but maybe the putter head makes it difficult to read the ball when putting at the red light. It's worth a try works for me.

[IowaCat89]

Have you tried putting 12-15 inches behind the red light. I spot putt outdoors so I use the red light as my spot and it's seems to pick up my putts real well. I'm not sure why but maybe the putter head makes it difficult to read the ball when putting at the red light. It's worth a try works for me.

Very interesting. I had given up on putting, but this certainly seems like something worth trying. In general, I am having pretty good success with my current setup, but I'm not sure why.

[IowaCat89]

So I've now tried every possible communication hookup, USB, Direct and Network. I've performed a hard reset. I've played with different backgrounds. I've used both E6 and ST software for many hours. The performance I am getting is simply unacceptable to me. It might be fine if a person just wants to hit 20 or 30 balls on the practice range in a session. However, when you try to play a round of golf about 6 to 10 holes is all that I can get though with 2 players. After that, you are hitting 2 or 3 shots to get one to register. It takes so long and gets so frustrating that I can't stand to do it. Please tell me that you guys get better performance than this out of your SkyTrak's and that I just got a lemon. I think I need to send this back for repair or replacement. Or maybe GC2 is required if you want to play sim golf? Do you guys think I will have any luck with SkyTrak customer service? Thanks for any comments, I'm really frustrated with this thing.

[Wizard of Coz]

I would have already called support.
I use 1x4 fiberbuilt.
My skytrak works very good. If I hit a flop shot I have to put the ball an inch or 2 in front (left)of the red light to get it to read and I always put my tee to the right of the red light when hitting driver. My skytrak is on concrete next to my mat so it doesn't get moved during the shot. Is your skytrak impacted by mat movement from the ball strike? Do you have it on your hitting turf?

[IowaCat89]

Wizard,
I'm on concrete also and the unit is isolated from the mat. It's not moving at all when the ball is struck. The hitting strip is in a frame that keeps it perfectly still also. When it's working, it picks up nearly every decent shot. Completely acceptable. However, when it decides not to work, performance is much different. It may act up when you first start it up, but it is much more common for it to work for 30 minutes for so and then "get in a funk" and start missing over half of the shots.

Thanks for all of your comments. I found where you posted a pic of your setup and it got me thinking about how I could improve mine a bit. How old is your SkyTrak? What software are you using?

[Wizard of Coz]

My skytrak has to be around 3 years old. I just added TGC this year and run it with a 1070 card. I think my skytrak is up to date with the latest fw update.

[IowaCat89]

My skytrak has to be around 3 years old. I just added TGC this year and run it with a 1070 card. I think my skytrak is up to date with the latest fw update.

I'm using a laptop with a Radeon 8790M card, which compares with the Geforce 1060. Certainly a notch below the 1070, but I see no reason that the graphics card should play a role in this. The most common miss is when the red light comes on after the shot, but then it goes back to green pretty quickly. For shots that it catches the red light stays on longer. If you top the ball, the lights stay all green about 90% of the time. It almost never registers a topped shot with a 3 wood.

[trhuke]

I attached a gooseneck desk lamp that illuminates the ball from behind the SkyTrak and that seems to cut down on my no-reads considerably. Alao make a point of keeping the logo or something pointed toward the SkyTrak of course..

[wbond]

Never had an issue with mine. For me, I used an old router that only had a 2.4Ghz band. It was hard wired to my main router and the only thing connected to the wifi signal on it was the skytrak with a password that followed the skytrak requirements. It was probably about 20' away from the skytrak with a wall between it. It was used exclusively in network mode. If you have an old router, it may be worth a shot. Even if you have a dual band, i think you can name the 2.4 and 5 differently and then connect only to the 2.4.