FX Radar

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Everyone,

PA and Airgun Depot have pre-orders with a tentative ship date for an "initial shipment" by July 15. You can pre-order and get on a waiting list and no coupons at PA, and not sure about AG Depot. Price at both is $199 w/o tripod. Tripods you can get at a good camera store or on Amazon. I am researching a Manfrotto Pixi Mini this afternoon for a Tripod at $26. 

Anyone else have better information on pricing for either, please post. 


 
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Fx radar is the same as the cheaper Chinese radar. But fx program it to read up to 1300fps and make it double the price smh. The Chinese one is for paintball and airsoft so it's up to 500. My shooting beta chrony I bought for $99 can read over 2000fps. It's good for even real guns. If you only shoot airgun the fx will do fine but don't expect it to be good for real guns. 
 
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Anyone know what the latest firmware version is on theirs? Mine is version 1.1.25. It only goes up to 1099 FPS. Not that I’m going that fast with any of my gun... ;)

1562377081_9124661705d1ffb79252512.07401035_E6F4676C-DF3F-4849-9927-89E8CC3FB999.png

 
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The FX unit is not the same as the DR Chrono. The FX had to be redesigned internally for a wider bandwidth to cover the higher velocity range. In some cases it may involve a firmware update if the bandwidth can be expanded using the existing components. But that could come at the cost of losing distance or accuracy, and in some cases it just not going to work below or above a certain velocity (signal frequency). Good designs require matching the electronic components to the bandwidth, like 100-1300fps for PCPs. 

I am curious if Centercut has an early firmware that was set at a lower velocity range or just a typo in the app software. Can you confirm that you are shooting at velocities over 1100fps? My unit supposed to arrive tomorrow and will check the firmware version for you. 
 
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I just recieved mine today, and the size suprised me. No credibility at all....lol

Unfortunately, it's raining so I cant test yet as I'm suseptable to melting.

I did set it up some, and like all software created by children these days, I find the ergonomics lacking. But I'm old and set in my ways. You young people that grew up on cell phones, rather than real computers will probably like it :p

I did not like that you have to connect to the device to do anything. I thought the setting up of new profiles could be better implemented. I don't yet know why there is a place for scope height. Perhaps some ballistic feature will be revealed once I have data

Since I'm adverse to melting, I'll have to wait a couple hours before I can test.

If this ultra cute chrony performs like all the highly experienced, and unbiased reviewers (sales people) say, it will be just perfect for my needs. I wish it came in pink to match my Impact though. An oversight I'm sure.

The LabRadar was too powerful for my home range, and my hatred for optical chronys has grown to the point I actually dread using mine. I actually shot my Caldwell on purpose, multiple times, because of all the errors. The Comp Electric is better, but still a pain.

I do wish the FX had a DC power port, or better yet a USB port to use a battery pack.

I do have rechargeable batteries with a usb charger, but still would've been nice. I suspect the batteries will last a long time if you remember to turn off the unit, but I have the memory of a gnat, and am easily distracted by shiny things so I forget those sort of things often.

Someone posted that they wish the software was open source to add desired features, I concur. It would be awesome to have a linking program for this, strelock, some weather device, and whatever other cool programs.


 
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I finally got to test the device. It paired up fine, and I was shooting right away.

Other than that I was very disapointed. The software is borderline useless for me. Even a crony 25 years old has more features.

It does no calculations at all, retains only the previous 10 shots, makes you reconnect if you change anything at all, and forget about saving multiple shot strings.

The software is poorly designed and badly implemented for serious airgunners. Period.

Having said that, I got no errors at all and it registered every shot. The potential here is great, and I suspect future releases of the software will improve. I just hope that's soon.

I hope in the next rev that it will keep an entire shot string, calculate FPE, SD, and ES at the very least. 

I mean sheesh, my Crown has a 16 round mag and it only displays the last 10 shots. Lame!


 
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PerkyVal I hope you did not melt! :) I started a thread under Manufacturers Feedback. Added one of your suggestions about the external power supply. (I am also using rechargeable AAA batteries) 

Right now, the FX app certainly looks and works like a 5 year old child made it. FX needs to make a decision: invest in this one of a kind product or open it up for crowdsourced improvement (open source). 

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/fx-wireless-chronograph-issues-and-suggested-updates-welcoming-anyone-to-add/#post-528070
 
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I was a bit alarmed by the FPS the FX Radar was telling me. I was thinking I had something amiss with my Crown. With a 10 shot string I was getting as much as a 60 fps spread.

Last time I checked was last summer with the LabRadar, and was getting great numbers. I havent shot it much since I started spending time with the Impact, but I thought maybe something broke.

I fished out the comp electronics ProChrono DLK to see if I got the same spread.

10 shots on power wheel #4

832 average FPS

4 FPS Extreme Spread

1 FPS Standard Deviation



One of the Chronographs is a liar. Since I sold my LabRadar, and purposely shot the Caldwell to death, I have no way if knowing for sure, but last I checked the ProChrono was within a cpl FPS on the LabRadar. 

I will mess about with the power levels on the FX Radar, as well as the unit positioning. I'll even try a different phone. 

This is puzzling indeed. I may go buy another freakin chrony just to see what's going on.






 
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PerkyVal Yes, try the power settings. if you are outside make sure there aren't any items nearby (especially metal). if you are inside, then go outside first and test in the open field. When inside, you may have too many obstructions in the room (especially metal) , or the pellet catcher (backstop) is too close to the FX radar and too many signals are bouncing back. Try to have as much space as possible between the radar and anything it's facing like the pellet catcher, but at least 4-5 feet minimum (more if it has mostly metal) , Try to reduce the power setting for the doppler as well. 
 
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I’m probably going to burst some FX Fanboy bubbles here, but while the FX Radar is novel and cool, is just “OK”. And it’s not the best thing since sliced bread that you hear all the paid FX sponsored people raving about. 

Now I’ll preface my statements that I bought mine from Penchetta Pen and Knife. Super fast shipping and great customer service. However, it appears their stock is “old” perhaps some of the first versions in the USA. Mine is version 1.1.25, and @perkyval just got one that’s 1.1.38. Perhaps the 13 additional firmware upgrades make a difference, not sure....

I set up my .22 Cricket mini, normal ES about 10 FPS or so, and was getting between 844 and 881 FPS. So I moved to a different location, same story. Plus, every now and then a shot wouldn’t register. The Chrony is set up EXACTLY as directed. Radar return set at factory setting of 20%. So I got out my old green Caldwell, set it up and my ES was between 859 and 867 FPS. Pretty much where is should be and where it was last time I checked. 

Perhaps FX will come up with a way to flash update the firmware via Bluetooth since I don’t see any connections on the unit. 

My advice to you all is to hold off and don’t become an FX “beta tester”. Wait for a while until they work the kinks out of this unit. As with most things FX, it was released before it was really ready for prime time. Sorry if I offended any FX Fanboys. FYI., I have two FX guns, a Crown and a Bobcat.
 
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Centercut I believe that the version displayed on the bottom of the screen is the software version of the phone app. Try to uninstall the "FX Radar" app from your phone and download the latest one from the app store (Apple or Google). Check the version again on the left bottom of the screen.

With this said, the app software is definitely lame and rudimentary only. The good thing that it can be improved quickly and lots of features can be added to it.

The firmware, which resides on the unit itself, may only be updated via bluetooth or may have a connection port inside that is not user-accessible. 

The unit should work without any issues outdoors with the default setting and with the proper suggested setup. Indoors, that's another issue because of the many reflections due to the small space and various materials.

Mine seems to work fine with a 500 fps air pistol and a backstop 5 feet away with nothing else in a 3 feet radius around it. But I did not setup my optical chrono yet to check how close the readings are.
 
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