Where is E6 Connect & what happens if SkyTrak releases Connect during subscription?

[bob-p]

When we purchased our SkyTrak last summer, I contacted both E6 and SkyTrak about plans for supporting Connect on SkyTrak, and it appeared they were waiting for SkyTrak to provide the software support.

E6 Golf has a different subscription model than E6 Connect. E6 Golf has multiple Course Packs that are purchased for lifetime use (one of the golf courses we play is in a Course Pack). E6 Connect provides a different set of standard courses, with most of the additional courses available through an annual subscription, and a smaller set of courses requiring a one-time purchase.

Because the subscription models were different, I asked both companies how SkyTrak/E6 customers would be transitioned from E6 Golf to Connect. What would happen for customers who purchased the Course Pack (when those courses would either become standard or be part of the new annual subscription)?

E6 indicated this would be up to SkyTrak - and SkyTrak said they couldn't provide any information or even confirm if/when they would ever support Connect.

Our SkyTrak/E6 subscriptions are coming up for renewal. Just got off the phone with SkyTrak.

They can't confirm if/when they'll ever support Connect, however should they start offering Connect, we would likely have to pay another subscription fee to use Connect. And that if we wanted to avoid double paying for a subscription, our only choice would be to let our E6 subscription lapse - and wait to see if SkyTrak offers Connect in the future - and then only pay for Connect (and not waste money on an E6 Golf subscription).

This seems pretty unreasonable. Wouldn't it be better to provide a buyer's assurance policy - such as customers with active E6 Golf subscriptions would be able to convert over to E6 Connect for the remainder of their subscription, if Connect was introduced during their subscription.

What was clear was that SkyTrak would NOT make full or partial refunds for an E6 Golf subscription. So if we purchased E6 Golf for another year, we could be stuck with that subscription, even after Connect came out.

Plus it also appears that purchase of a Course Pack would NOT transition over to Connect - so Course Pack purchases on E6 Golf also look like a waste of $$$.

We like our SkyTrak - and despite the areas noted by other where the hardware/software could do better on shot tracking, we'd like to continue using E6 - but the possibility we'd be charged $299 and then shortly after that be asked to purchase a new subscription for Connect does make it much harder to renew subscription for a simulator that has already been replaced by a newer product.

Perhaps SkyTrak would handle this situation better if others who've purchased E6 also press them to do something reasonable to protect their E6 subscription purchases...

[BigJohn]

I know, SkyTrak's inability to answer E6 Connect questions is nuts!! Their support team just gets annoyed when you ask.

I talked to E6 and they said the version of E6 Connect for SkyTrak is complete, tested and ready to rock.

I'm guessing that E6 & SkyTrak are still trying to hammer out a deal (i.e. SkyTrak is the only simulator that waives the $2500 buy-in fee that others charge). If so, why won't they just say so?

I don't want to get E6 1.6 only to find that I have to pay $2500 to continue with E6 Connect (or continue to pay $300/year for 1.6, which is no longer supported).

[Gazpacho]

$2500? Where did you get this figure.
E6 and Skytrak both have serious business issues that can’t seem to be worked out, it’s been 1.25 years. I blame Skytrak for this with what little info I have. Either way, with Skytrak, we get what we pay for. $1700 only goes so far.

[BigJohn]

Non SkyTrak launch monitor companies charge $2500 for E6 1.6 and have an annual subscription fee after that. SkyTrak (due to their volume) negotiated a deal with TruGolf and do not charge their customers this $2500 fee. Don't know if this will be the same deal with E6 Connect; perhaps the negotiations to continue this discount are what's holding things up.

[Paul Logue]

Just pay the one time $895 for TGC 2019. You won't be disappointed.

[flightscoperick]

Hopefully skytrak will post a comment on here soon. E6 Connect is a great sim software have been playing it for a few months. Yes there are a few bugs but they come out with updates frequently. When the Demo comes out for skytrak give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

[penrose]

e6 connect reads skytrak soon on the e6 web site for about 3 months now. I am not sure if you will ever see connect on the skytrak. I hope we do as an option...nothing makes great products like competition.

[penrose]

TGC2019 now had tee box choice...you can play one tee box and the person you are teeing it up with can play another which to me is huge. You can now play match play and skins in tgc2019. You can also have ghost players which e6 does not have. It is nice to have e6 and play a course and know the course is a very good example of the course in real life. TGC 2019 the 4 course I have played are very good in that regard.

[Kevin_C]

I wish ghost players worked like it did in TGC1. There are never any ghosts available in TGC 2019

[bob-p]

E6 confirmed that E6 Golf is a dead product - so renewing an annual subscription for our SkyTrak makes no sense at all, especially if SkyTrak won't provide any assurance that the subscription will transfer over to Connect if/when they offer it.

One of the courses we play regularly and several other courses we've played are available with E6 Connect - those courses are not currently available with TGC 2019.

We've got another month before our current subscriptions run out - and if I haven't heard anything from E6 or SkyTrak by early June, will make another pass at both companies to press them on Connect/SkyTrak.

The fallback could be TGC 2019. The annual subscription is higher than E6, but the purchase price is considerably lower (assuming they don't hit owners with an upgrade fee every few years, like they did going between TGC and TGC 2019; using a year in a product name could indicate they plan to do that every few years...).

[bob-p]

Getting closer to our renewal deadline...

Still no progress...

[Jeff50316]

Well this just sucks! I may not be able to get TGC19 because my internet sucks at home. So I was thinking about e6, but I’m not going to pay 1800$ plus the courses packs for some thing that won’t be supported at all. I guess now it’s time to look into creative golf.

[mikemcd22]

All of this is making me look at Uneekor and TCG2019. I have TGC2019 with Skytrak now and I understand it's a simple phone call to get the license files switched over (though I'm skeptical). Also, Uneekor is already set up with TruGolf and Connect as I understand it (I hope I have that right). Couple that with the fact that, the two skytraks I have (Yes; two... I bought a new one to replace the broken old one and had the old one repaired - Both will be for sale soon) are both under-reporting irons by a full club at this point and both are missing shots every 8 or 9 attempts... I'm ready to get out. Before anyone says "how can they both be off, must be your swing...etc." I know my distances. I've been playing 3-5 times a week all season and I know how far I hit my irons.

The only big drawback is the added cost for Uneekor. You only live once gang.

[wbond]

Have you confirmed it's off a full club outside as well?

All of this is making me look at Uneekor and TCG2019. I have TGC2019 with Skytrak now and I understand it's a simple phone call to get the license files switched over (though I'm skeptical). Also, Uneekor is already set up with TruGolf and Connect as I understand it (I hope I have that right). Couple that with the fact that, the two skytraks I have (Yes; two... I bought a new one to replace the broken old one and had the old one repaired - Both will be for sale soon) are both under-reporting irons by a full club at this point and both are missing shots every 8 or 9 attempts... I'm ready to get out. Before anyone says "how can they both be off, must be your swing...etc." I know my distances. I've been playing 3-5 times a week all season and I know how far I hit my irons.

The only big drawback is the added cost for Uneekor. You only live once gang.

[ganders75]

I anxiously looking forward to the "uneekor is under reporting distance by a full club" thread...haha

I have gc2 and skytrak - there is very little between them for accuracy IMO. gc2 has a slightly wider field of view (it's further from the ball, to be fair) but I don't see misread or no reads with either. I always use skytrak unplugged from charger and USB, in network mode (not direct mode). I keep skytrak because I love the range and skills challenges.

[mikemcd22]

wbond Absolutely. It rained here yesterday and I spent 1.5 VERY Frustrating hours on the sim. Went out this morning thinking "how can both skytraks be off". I hit my numbers on every club/every hole. Where my 9 iron on ST was going 115, I hit 127 this morning (130 is my number). Where I could barely get my 7 Iron to go 140 on ST yesterday, IRL today: 155. Same thing with 8 Iron; 130 on ST, 147 today (slightly downhill) IRL.

I don't know if it's some environmental issue in my sim room (lighting, alignment, smudges on the lens cover, etc...) but I promise you, skytrak is under-reporting my irons by at least 1 club. I suspect it is software related but I'll experiment to see if I can fix it. Thing is, nothings changed recently (I've had this room set up for a couple of years now).

[mikemcd22]

ganders75 Very funny! Believe me gang, I've been on this forum long enough to know a few things...

• I don't hit my driver as far as I think I do "IRL",
• The "indoor swing syndrome" is real!
• And my swing sucks indoor and out!.

I'm just saying... what I'm getting on ST right now, just doesn't add up IRL. Anyone who's been on here long enough will truly appreciate (including me) the "can't wait for the 'Uneekor is under reporting distance by a full club' " comment. I'm just sayin it like it is... I'll be the first to admit if it was me. (Stay tuned for full confession or I told you so thread, whichever comes first).

Cheers.

[Gresh12]

I’m not a huge Skytrak defender (although I feel I’ve had good value from the purchase) and the moment a non-permanent option for $5k or less exists that has accurate club/ball data I’ll switch.

That said I think distances being off are mostly environmental. I’ve put my Skytrak up against Trackman side by side and distance was spot on (magnitude of curve was bigger).

Most people are vocal when it’s short but I actually find mine reads a touch long (half a club). My thoughts on both short and long are environment and in most cases vs “on course” comes down to grass vs mat. I’m guessing my irons spin more off grass than my mat so I get slightly longer flight at home.