Fix for Skytrak's unrecognized shots with USB direct connection?

[Bryndom]

I've seen a few threads, though nothing too recent. When using a USB cable to my PC in direct connection mode, I am seeing a large number of mis-reads or shots that are unrecognized. Due to the spotty nature of wifi in the sim room, I would very much like to use a direct USB cable, if possible. Is there a fix/update since 2.4.x that addresses the issue or some other workaround that has been identified?

[Vincent_Vega]

New SkyTrak owner here. Got my unit last week in the UK.

I've had several issues with unrecognised shots.

I'm connecting directly by USB to a Windows 10 PC (more reliable than WiFi).

I have carefully checked the setup. Camera window is clean, unit is level (I have the case with spirit level) and same height as ball.

This afternoon I wanted to hit 20 shots with PW. SkyTrak was missing over 50% of the shots.

I then switched to a 52 deg wedge and SkyTrak did not miss a single shot out of 20.

The PW is a Mizuno MP-69 which is shiny. The 52 degree wedge is a Titleist SM5 which is black.

Could this be the reason? Anyone having issues with shiny chrome plated heads?

On the unrecognised shots, the unit definitely picks up something. The top LED goes red, matt laser dot dissapears, then a few seconds later the unit gives up and it is back to ready mode again.

It's like the unit is analysing the photos and there is not enough information to measure the shot.

Has anyone made the side of the iron black with a marker or paint?

It's the USB connection, not the type of club. The light turning red means the shot was picked up but the data was lost in translation or interrupted for some reason. Connect via wifi and those issues will disappear. Nobody knows as of now why that's the case. I'm sure Seth and the team are looking for a fix.

[Varry Hardon]

OK, but I have issues with the WiFi.

Second light (WiFi) goes from green to orange. It's just a pain. I moved my WiFi router closer to the unit to alleviate this but still it's a problem.

USB mode has improved reliablity, though the unit might be missing more shots in that mode.

Really seems to be happening with my MP-69 irons.

Not so much with black headed hyrbids, 3 woods and driver.

Did another 20 shots this afternoon with another black headed wedge (52 degree) and the unit was fine.

I really don't think this is down to USB mode. Could be wrong.

[Varry Hardon]

Having further issues with unrecognised shots.

This time, Mizuno MP-69 9i.

So I blacked out the front edge. This seems to have improved things quite substantially. Pretty sure all shots were recognised after that.

Also tried a Mizuno MP-H5 4i. This club has not been blacked out. All shots detected apart from a duffed shot.

I really think my issue is down to the clubs.

I've attached images of my setup and the black out of the front edge.

[Smudge_si]

I can't see how blacking out the front edge as you've done in the picture would help that much as it's hardly facing the camera when hitting the ball.

Also It's hard to tell from the picture but is the unit level with your hitting surface.

Are you striking the shots that don't get picked up cleanly? I've had people over who hit the ball quite fat off the mat and that tends to increase the mis reads.

Is there anyway you can address the wifi issues , i tried a plug type wifi extender but was abit iffy, in the end I had to run a 75m Ethernet cable from my house to a new router in the garage which works a treat. I would try to get a good wifi connection then do some more testing to eliminate the strange USB mis read phenomenon.

[Varry Hardon]

I was hitting hybrid, 3 wood and driver this afternoon. Think I had a single missed shot from around 60 shots.

It's definitely something to do with my MP-69 irons.

I'm not that interested in the WiFi connection. It is too slow to display the shot on screen after hitting. USB much faster.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Interesting on the MP-69's. I think he was talking about direct Wi-Fi connection, not Network Mode. Direct Wi-Fi should be the same speed as USB since it's not going through your network. Either way though...just cable or no cable.

[loll_l]

Shouldn't the SkyTrak be level with the hitting surface (as Smudge asked).... doesn't look level on the photo... perhaps that's the problem.

[Varry Hardon]

Shouldn't the SkyTrak be level with the hitting surface (as Smudge asked).... doesn't look level on the photo... perhaps that's the problem.

I have the legs raised quite a bit to match the hitting surface.
The protective case has adjustable legs.

[iskuo]

Has 2.4.2 fixed the USB misread issue?

[GmanJeff]

No. I still get occasional no-reads while connected via USB even though I am on the latest software version. It happens seemingly at random; nothing changes between a shot which is captured and one which is not - lighting, club, etc. The red dot usually goes out, but the shot data is being interrupted/disrupted somewhere before the shot is registered for display, presumably something related to the USB connection.

[FredR]

Hi - New member on the forum, and just got my ST this week for my attic golf simulatory project. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to get Skytrak to register ANY shots (laser does not turn off, all LEDs stay green) when connected to my PC with the USB. Has there been any fix (now 7/2018) to this issue that seems to have been identified 2 years ago? Thanks.

[colinjm18]

Could be a environmental issue. Do you have any light areas behind you as they tend to screw the skytrak up with no reads.

[FredR]

I don't think it is the lighting, as I was able to get 100% reads with Skytrak using the direct connection and the network mode (to my iPhone). It is only when attached via USB that there is no detection of any shots (laser stays on, all LED's remain green). Thanks.

[frodaddy00]

My USB problems were solved by getting a nice power strip for my laptop. It seems any type of electrical interference really causes problems. The laser doesn't respond or it starts blinking in and out. I still get occasional misreads but dramatically better with a new power strip.

[Greasegun]

One thing I have found is that just because something seems to be working fine one day on the skytrak doesnt mean it will the next day. Are you still getting 100% reading via wifi connection?

[Greasegun]

Do people still have more problems with noreads from USB than wifi or other way around? I have read on more recent threads that USB is more reliable than wifi.