Skytrak no longer reads shots

[Shardak]

I have been away from golf for a few months, trying to let me back fully heal from an injury.

I fired up the Skytrak today for a session, it prompted me to update to the latest version (3.4.1 on PC) which I did. During the upgrade, I got an error that that database failed to convert, I skipped it, as I dont really care if my old shots are lost. After that, the new version launched and connected to skytrak in Network mode.

All lights are green, red laser is on, ready to go.

When I hit a ball, the red laser turns off for just a second or 2, and the shot is not displayed in the Skytrak app.

I have tried the following steps:

- Reboot PC and skytrak
- Uninstall Skytrak app and re-install (both 32 and 64 bit versions)
- Hard reset of Skytrak unit
- Using USB mode
- Using network mode
- Removed from metal case
- Cleaned front window of dust

Here is a video of the issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4374gjVRRyk

Any help appreciated.

[Shardak]

I have also tried it in TGC 2019 and get the same result. The laser light turns off briefly when I strike the ball, then it turns back on, and no shot is recorded in TGC.

[Morini]

Strange. Did your GIP expire?

[Shardak]

Nope, renewed it in March.

I called skytrak, they had me do all the troubleshooting I had already done then suggested I send it in for repair.

Odd that it happened right after a software update. I hope I dont end up paying for failed software.

They said it will take a couple weeks to give a diagnosis.

[Ceedee]

I've actually same kind of problem. ST reads like first ten shots nice, but after that.
"serching network, all lights are green, doesn't read shots and etc..."
I just hope ST woulnd/t be so married with network.
And same again here. All these things started after update.

[Morini]

As far as I know, the software update does not touch the hardware. Second, TGC2019 has not changed. But very coincidental.

You could try rolling back to older software. You could try installing on a phone or ipad to ensure that it is not the PC having some type of conflict. Finally, try a left handed shot.

[enigmamatt]

I had a similar issue a while back and had to send it in for repair for a laser curtain I think is what they called it. Took about 3 weeks to get it back to me but has worked properly ever since. Cost was somewhere in the $100-$200 range I think.

[Shardak]

I had a similar issue a while back and had to send it in for repair for a laser curtain I think is what they called it. Took about 3 weeks to get it back to me but has worked properly ever since. Cost was somewhere in the $100-$200 range I think.

I just got the same diagnosis...laser curtain. $199 cost for the repair. I am glad they can fix it, I was worried it would become a $2000 paper-weight!


It has been determined by our technicians that the unit is in need of a RH 850 trigger laser replacement. The repair quote for your device is $199.00

[Morini]

Good to hear that it is fixable. Hitting left handed (or vice versa) is the way to diagnose laser curtain failure. It seems to be happening a lot.

[Shardak]

The thing is, I did try hitting left handed, and it also failed to register shots. I asked the support rep today why only the right hand laser trigger is getting replaced..he sounded unsure but said it would get tested after they get it back from the factory. I dont play left handed, so I guess I dont care if the left side trigger is dead, but to have both of them die at the same time has me thinking that there may be something else going on.

[Morini]

There is no way they failed independently at the same time, right after a period of no use. And if you don't play left handed, why did it fail. Should be as new. Something else might be at play. I assume that they test and diagnose rather than guess, so not sure what is going on.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

My first thought was that it was the laser trigger. As stated above, any software update (that doesn't contain a firmware update) will have no effect on the hardware. But with 40,000+ units out there in the field, a hardware failure is bound to happen by coincidence to a handful of users around the time of a software update. But the troubling part is that it wouldn't read in LH mode either. Please let me know how this works out once you get the unit back.

[Shardak]

I received my skytrak back from getting repaired and it is now working in both left and right hand modes.

Due to a water leak flooding the 1st floor of my house, my golf sim area is currently full of household items pending my house getting rebuilt. So I only tested chips (with an Almost Golf Ball in the living room), but I assume if it reads chips it will read anything.

Thanks to skytrak for getting it sorted out.

[Whiskeyjack]

Did they give you any explanation of what the problem was ?

[Shardak]

Did they give you any explanation of what the problem was ?

They said the right hand laser trigger was replaced.

[Whiskeyjack]

Wow, I wonder why the left one stopped working too? Pretty strange.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Man, glad to hear that it was sorted. I agree it is strange that the left stopped working as well.