USB Mode failures

[bonvivantva]

I bought my dad a skytrak almost two years ago. I set his up using direct mode, and we've been very happy with gameplay.

I bought myself a skytrak recently. I first had it set up in USB mode as it seems most convenient (always stays charged, faster to connect the box, can use wifi for internet, etc.). However, the unit is practically unusable this way. I have to raise and lower the device when I tee up a ball just to have a chance at registering shots. Iron shots mostly register. Chipping is maybe 50%. Today my dad and I got through about 6 holes with maybe 75% of our shots registering before we couldn't take it anymore. In order to even get skytrak into Direct Mode from USB, I had to do the following:

Disconnect ethernet (no idea why this is necessary, but I couldn't get into direct mode when my ethernet was plugged in)
Connect to skytrak wifi with unit unplugged (running on battery only)
Connect box
Reconnect ethernet
Plug skytrak usb into computer to maintain power (not power strip as that caused the laser to flash on and off) (not necessary to play, but just fyi you can power the unit in direct mode and play)
Play TGC2019

After doing the above, I played 9 holes without a failure to read a shot. I never had to adjust the unit, and all shots seemed to fly as expected. I've used the search function and read other posts, so I know I'm not the first to have issues with USB mode. I've been trying to fix my lighting, adjust the position of the unit, etc., but the only problem was USB mode. I assume there is no fix, and that I just need to do all those crazy steps each time to run the unit in direct mode, right?

Hopefully this helps someone out that is having trouble figuring out how to switch to direct mode.

[Morini]

Most USB issues to date have been static related. Typically, it will work fine, but after say 20 minutes (when static has built up), there will be issues. The indicator light will flicker etc. I have never heard to having to raise or lower the unit. Maybe doing so discharges the static, not sure.

Direct mode is probably the most reliable mode to connect in. No idea why had to go through those procedures. You do need to remove any network modes that have been setup, or it will default to that.

[bonvivantva]

Most USB issues to date have been static related. Typically, it will work fine, but after say 20 minutes (when static has built up), there will be issues. The indicator light will flicker etc. I have never heard to having to raise or lower the unit. Maybe doing so discharges the static, not sure.

Direct mode is probably the most reliable mode to connect in. No idea why had to go through those procedures. You do need to remove any network modes that have been setup, or it will default to that.

I bought a Furman SS6B line conditioning surge protector, which is suppose to manage EMI/RFI noise attenuation. I paired that with an Anker Powerline mini usb. Even so, I'm having lots of failures in usb mode. The constant flashing I agree is likely due to static/noise, but even using the best equipment I find way too many failures to read in usb mode. The laser doesn't flash with good equipment, but the unit will still fail to read a significant percentage of the time. When I'm in USB mode, the unit will not detect a teed up ball ever when the unit is level with the mat. I found that if I elevate the unit a few inches above the mat, say by placing the unit on a book, it will read teed up balls about half to 75% of the time.

I played another 18 this afternoon in direct mode. I had two failures; a drive and a chip. Then later I played some with my daughter. I put the unit in USB mode and we each had at least 10% of our shots fail to read.

[Morini]

Case would be off for testing only. The chance of hitting it if you are reasonably skilled is maybe 30,000 to 1. I really do think static is the issue.

[Morini]

You could be one of the few people that have high tee and high driver trajectory, and actually need to put your driver on the dot, or even in front (not behind) because your trajectory is above the field of view, not below.

[bonvivantva]

No matter where I place the driver, in UBS mode I'm lucky to get half of my shots to register. When I'm playing, it's a killer because mentally and physically, it's hard to hit three great drives in a row. What always seems to happen is I hit a great one that doesn't register. I tee it up again and make perfectly reasonable contact, but nothing. Then on the third try I'm frustrated so I swing too hard, make poor contact, and my 180 yard low pull does register. Then I'm faced with the decision to rewind the shot and risk more failures to read, or just play the bad drive even though my first two would have been 240 out and either fairway or just off. In direct mode, I've never had two failures in a row.

If the case is the issue in USB, I don't really care to find out. I can't actually use the unit regularly sans case, so knowing that's the problem wouldn't help me at all. Playing in direct isn't a problem. Just a slight inconvenience.