Any Android users having connection issues?

[elight]

I've had my OG Skytrak for about a month. After some initial fits, it was working pretty well. Added a wifi extender nearby which helped the connectivity a lot, and no-reads and disconnects became pretty rate.

Hand't used it in about two weeks or so, and pulled it out today. Every time it connected, it got disconnected almost immediately. Sometimes I could get one shot in, but most of the time it would revert to disconnected within a second or two. Tried switching from network mode to direct wi-fi to no avail. This was on a Galaxy tablet. Tried using my Pixel phone instead, same thing. Finally did a hard reset. Same thing. Odd thing is that the ST lights would get "stuck" on whatever they were on at the time of the disconnect - either red-green-green or green-green-green. So I couldn't even try to reconnect without power cycling it.

I'm a loss and have a ticket in to support. I've read every thread ever created about Skytrak connectivity issues. But I know that in the past, Android updates have broken connectivity with ST and we had to wait for an update. Curious if anyone is suddenly having the same issue.

[Bubba22]

Did you get this resolved?

[elight]

I was eventually able to get this resolved after a 45-minute call with tech support. The resolution was something that I have not seen explained anywhere throughout my extensive Internet searching for connection issues, so I will explain it here in the hopes that it will help someone else down the line.

There were actually TWO issues. After first having connection issues in network wi-fi mode, I then switched the unit to direct connection mode. My thinking was that this eliminated variables and was the simpler connection time, and should result in a stronger connection. It turns out, it's usually the exact opposite. Tech support explained that direct connection mode is designed for an environment where there is no wi-fi present and a network wi-fi connection is not possible. In this environment, absent other wi-fi interference, the direct connection method works well. But, for reasons unexplained (but almost certainly related to the generally weak/old wi-fi hardware reported elsewhere), the Skytrak struggles with wi-fi interference. So if there are other wi-fi networks within range, it could create issues for the direct wi-fi connection.

So we switched it back to the network wi-fi mode, but of course this just brought us back to the original issue. It turns out that often, and especially with wi-fi extenders, it sometimes does not automatically select the correct wi-fi security type. To make matters worse, when the security method is wrong, it's possible that it could *look* like the connection is successful and even work for a short period of time, but eventually the router will figure out that something is wrong and end the connection. So we manually added the wi-fi network instead and selected the correct security type, and this seems to have solved the issue. I then hit balls for about 30 minutes with only one connection drop (compared to previously when the connection wouldn't last long enough for even a single shot).

[elight]

I should also add that they told me that, in the future, if you do a hard reset, you should first uninstall the app from your device, then do the hard reset, then re-install the app. This way, the re-installed app will trigger a firmware update on the device. If you don't do this in this order, the app may "remember" the device from before the hard reset and think that it already has given it the firmware update (which it may have, but which may not have been successful and could be causing an issue).

[elight]

Well, FWIW, this was not the issue after all. After sitting for a week, I pulled out the ST to have a little practice session. And we're back to the original issue. Typically, it connects and immediately disconnects. Whatever state the ST is in at the time of disconnection, it stays in that state. So it usually gets stuck with lights red-green-green or sometimes green-green-green. After getting "stuck", there is nothing that will get it unstuck other than turning it off and on.

For kicks, I took it to my basement and plugged it into my PC via USB. It exhibited the same exact behavior. So it appears not to be a wi-fi issue.

I will try ST support again next week when they reopen. But unless they have some magical fix that the person last time didn't think of, I feel like I have very bad luck and bought a unit with issues. At which point my option may be to pay to repair it (if ST thinks they can), or maybe put in a Paypal Goods & Services claim and hope they take pity on me. I'm not sure if this will qualify for buyer protection, but the item was presented as working and it never really has.

This is very frustrating. I don't really blame Skytrak, but certainly would make me think twice about buying something like this used without a warranty again.

[elight]

Another update for anyone who cares. Tech support says that they've tried all of the troubleshooting steps and is unable to diagnose the issue. They say I can send it in for analysis, which will cost $99. If it can be repaired, that cost will be on top of the $99. If it can't be repaired, I still owe them $99.

I reached out to the original owner on the off chance that he's experienced this before and has a solution. I decided not to submit a PayPal Goods & Services claim, as the unit was working when I first received it, even though it worked less than a month. If I won the claim, they would take the money away from the buyer, which I don't think is right, since I do believe that it was working when they sold it to me, and sold it in good faith.

I think unfortunately, I have to suck it up and send it in for repair. My alternative is to throw it in the trash and buy something else, but that "something else" will cost more than the repair, and there's not really anything else that I want (in my price range for a camera-based unit, with no subscription). Even if I do decide to eventually upgrade to something else, the ST has enough value that it's worth repairing and then re-selling. But I would hope that, if it is repaired, I get at least a few more years out of it. The only risk is that it can't be repaired and then I'm left with a $1,000 brick AND I'm out $99 for them to tell me this. The only saving grace would be that they would theoretically offer me a discount on a new one in this case.

Very frustrating, but I suppose a lesson learned. I went with SkyTrak because of its track record over the years and wanted something that "just works". But buying something of this value used without any sort of warranty is a risk. Although even the SkyTrak warranty (6 months for new, 90 days for preowned) doesn't instill much confidence.

[evild0er]

Has this been settled or resolved for you?

Over the past few months my OG Skytrak has been exhibiting the same issues. Will connect, everything's working fine, and then after a few shots it just disconnects, or all the green lights are on with no laser, or will just refuse to read.

All these issues started happening around the time Golftec took over and made that big server switch in the summer.