Update: New Garmin Chronograph
- Thread starter The Norseman
- Start date
Garmin is eating LabRadar's lunch!
Hairtrigger
Member
Oehler is a great chronograph
I keep mine set up on a tripod and have color-coded the plugs making it very easy to set up in just two or three minutes
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Chubbs103
US Veteran
It arrived via fedex this afternoon. I'll see how it works on Sunday. I doubt I'll have the rifle loads worked up I really want to test, but I'll still see how it works with a couple of handguns.
Nemo288
Member
"Be interesting to see if that price doesn't become permanent."
I wonder if the LabRadar holiday sale will last longer than December 31st.
$500 may be getting close to their cost to manufacture.
Remember the LabRadar and the Garmin are somewhat different instruments.
The LabRadar has a much bigger antenna which (I suspect) is focused in tighter beam and a more powerful transmitter judging by how fast it can chew a set of normal batteries.
The LabRadar will still be useful to the long range shooter who wants to know how the velocity tracks all the way down range.
The Garmin looks to be a great solution for those who want an easy muzzle velocity but I don't think it's signal is going to make it 100 yards and back after bouncing off that tiny bullet base.
Here is a short PDF example from an indoor range of the data you can get from each shot off a LabRadar.
Notice how the SNR dropped off as the bullet approached the end wall and the interference it created.
What I really meant by that statement is:
I wonder if the LabRadar holiday sale will last longer than December 31st.
$500 may be getting close to their cost to manufacture.
Remember the LabRadar and the Garmin are somewhat different instruments.
The LabRadar has a much bigger antenna which (I suspect) is focused in tighter beam and a more powerful transmitter judging by how fast it can chew a set of normal batteries.
The LabRadar will still be useful to the long range shooter who wants to know how the velocity tracks all the way down range.
The Garmin looks to be a great solution for those who want an easy muzzle velocity but I don't think it's signal is going to make it 100 yards and back after bouncing off that tiny bullet base.
Here is a short PDF example from an indoor range of the data you can get from each shot off a LabRadar.
Notice how the SNR dropped off as the bullet approached the end wall and the interference it created.
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Chubbs103
US Veteran
Range report added.
Good news, ordered direct from Garmin Oct 25, received email late last night that unit has shipped, be here Friday!
A friend brought his new Garmin chronograph to the club last Sunday. He just set it on the bench next to him and it picked up every shot. I'm impressed. The app doesn't work like the LabRadar in the sense that you don't "run" the chronograph from the app. It's primarily used for batch mode data downloads and processing. You run the chronograph with the buttons on top of it. This is simple enough since they're on top and the chronograph is in reach. This is unlike the LabRadar which is out by the muzzle and the buttons are on its face. Pushing them can cause the LabRadar to move around. I'd say the app is essential for using the LabRadar (clunky as the app is) but not required for the Garmin.
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I don't know exactly what an app is, but apparently I've never needed one to operate my LabRadar for the last 7 or 8 years or so. I don't recall it moving around and I use it regularly.
I got the same email, but noticed that UPS hasn't picked it up yet. I'm guessing it won't get here until next week because UPS will pick it up today, not much will happen tomorrow because of the holiday, and UPS doesn't usually deliver over the weekend.
All that said, I'm glad it's on the way!
Nemo288
Member
I have one of the early LabRadars that does not have BlueTooth so no way to use a phone anyway.
The onboard SD card performs the function of data collection and transfer to your computer for further analysis.
The unit is big and heavy enough I also have not had problems with it moving once set up.
The main pain is remembering to reset the triggering if it times out.
Dunno how many shots I have missed because the transmitter timed out to save battery.
Yeah there is a setting for that but like I said above, I am slow.
If I was still shooting the way I was 10 years ago and had the money I'd definitely get a Garmin but for now I'll just have to be envious.
Anyone tried chronographing a shotgun with the Garmin yet?
That's one of the trickiest situations.
The magnetospeed will do it if you futz with the settings all the way sensitive.
Sometimes.
Never willing to brave aiming a shotgun at an optical chrono and I never tried with the LabRadar
just guessing the return signal, what there was of it, would be a mess.
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I read this has a non-replaceable battery Lithium-Ion battery. Is that a concern at all?
I read that you will realistically get 3 years out of one of the batteries. I can't tell if the factory will replace batteries or if it is just a paper weight once the battery dies.
I read that you will realistically get 3 years out of one of the batteries. I can't tell if the factory will replace batteries or if it is just a paper weight once the battery dies.
Nemo288
Member
Unless you freeze or roast that battery, especially when fully discharged, it should last a lot longer than 3 years.
The Li-po battery in my Olympus camera is still working after 20 years.
I can't remember when the last time a Li-ion battery has failed me.
We use them in our smoke detectors and they have not gone bad for many years.
Mrs. older iPad is still working after 10 years.
I could go on but you get the idea.
The Li-po battery in my Olympus camera is still working after 20 years.
I can't remember when the last time a Li-ion battery has failed me.
We use them in our smoke detectors and they have not gone bad for many years.
Mrs. older iPad is still working after 10 years.
I could go on but you get the idea.
I got mine a week ago and found it works well on an external battery pack that you charge a cell phone. If the internal battery goes bad, I suspect the Garmin will still work.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
I kept watching Cabelas/Bass Pro, and they showed up in stock at Cabelas last night. $60 off with the military discount, free shipping, and it shipped last night right after I ordered.
I don't know if its the same battery that they use in their GPS units but I have had one of those for 8+ years and other than the charge doesn't "seem" to last quite as long it works fine.
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