Hornady 4DOF app not useful without cell service

[500grains]

I used the Hornady 4DOF app on my phone this summer for practice. I used an older Kestrel to input the wind by hand. It worked well.

Then I got a surprise while hunting. I was hunting in an area without cell coverage (typical).

There was a deer 482 yards ahead of me, downhill shot, 29 mph. I wanted an aiming solution from the app.

I pulled out my phone and found out that the Hornady app dropped me. It wanted me to log in again. I tried to log in but that requires cell phone service.

So I have learned that the Hornady 4DOF app is not useful without cell phone service.

So I will switch.

 

[camocorvette]

I had a 4dof elite and swapped it for the AB. Not because of that specific issue, but bullet selection and target card primarily.
Who ever is designing the program is not a shooter or thinking of all situations

 

[6.5SH]

I used the Hornady 4DOF app on my phone this summer for practice. I used an older Kestrel to input the wind by hand. It worked well.

Then I got a surprise while hunting. I was hunting in an area without cell coverage (typical).

There was a deer 482 yards ahead of me, downhill shot, 29 mph. I wanted an aiming solution from the app.

I pulled out my phone and found out that the Hornady app dropped me. It wanted me to log in again. I tried to log in but that requires cell phone service.

So I have learned that the Hornady 4DOF app is not useful without cell phone service.

So I will switch.

I just now put my phone in airplane mode to test if they changed something. The app recognized it wasn't connected and opened up with no login prompt. All my rifle profiles were still present and usable.

 

[500grains]

I just now put my phone in airplane mode to test if they changed something. The app recognized it wasn't connected and opened up with no login prompt. All my rifle profiles were still present and usable.

If you get dropped / logged out by the Hornady app, are you able to get back in using airplane mode?

 

[6.5SH]

If you get dropped / logged out by the Hornady app, are you able to get back in using airplane mode?

I just tried signing out then closed the app and went back to airplane mode.
The app will allow continue without account, but yep, none of your favorites will be accessible. So yeah that would a nasty surprise if you needed to re-enter things by hand to use it.

 

[KnowNothing256]

I ran into this issue too and found it very irritating. My fix was to go into Settings (iPhone) and disable the app's access to cellular data. Now it just opens in Offline mode, and all my favorites are stored locally on the phone.

Obviously it won't pull down new info like new bullets in the library, app updates, etc., but that's a small price to pay (especially since most of their updates are milquetoast at best).

 

[powdahound76]

I did not make an account on the app.
I just turned off cell and wifi and opened it.
Favorites are there and it gave me solutions for 3 rifle without issue.

That said, I use a different one for hunting and most of my shooting.
Easier to true up and range card is better for me.

I also have made a range card and just kept it in my bino pouch to keep from using the phone.
Has worked fine many times for killin stuff

 

[Baron23]

I just turned off cell and wifi and opened it.
Favorites are there and it gave me solutions for 3 rifle without issue.

This ^^.

In iPhone, to Settings and:

1. Turn off WiFi
2. Under Cellular, turn off Cellular Data

I never log on at all (didn't create an account to my recollection). Another approach to try is to go into 4DOF Settings and turn on "Offline Mode". Personally, I also turn off Auto Sync.

Works for me

 

[500grains]

I ran into this issue too and found it very irritating. My fix was to go into Settings (iPhone) and disable the app's access to cellular data. Now it just opens in Offline mode, and all my favorites are stored locally on the phone.

Obviously it won't pull down new info like new bullets in the library, app updates, etc., but that's a small price to pay (especially since most of their updates are milquetoast at best).

 

[500grains]

Thanks for the reply. As I can once in a while find a spot with phone service, I like to keep the phone in regular mode. When I find those spots, I can catch up on texts in case there has been an emergency.

I guess I could buy a second cell phone to run the Hornady app. Or Hornady could fix this.

Maybe Hornady does not know people hunt where there is no cell service?

 

[kilizyrag]

Thanks for the reply. As I can once in a while find a spot with phone service, I like to keep the phone in regular mode. When I find those spots, I can catch up on texts in case there has been an emergency.

I guess I could buy a second cell phone to run the Hornady app. Or Hornady could fix this.

Maybe Hornady does not know people hunt where there is no cell service?

I use 4DOF weekly at my range that has ZERO cellular service. This on a lowly iPhone 12.

 

[Mike Casselton]

It would take about 5 minutes to print out a dope card for maximum distance in 25-50 yard increments.
Laminate it and keep it with your binos or in a shirt pocket.

It pays to have a backup plan.

 

[Baron23]

Thanks for the reply. As I can once in a while find a spot with phone service, I like to keep the phone in regular mode. When I find those spots, I can catch up on texts in case there has been an emergency.

The offline mode in 4DOF will not effect your phone service or ability to download txt, etc.

It only keeps 4DOF from timing out if there is a too-weak-to-download but present signal that it detects.

I just turn it all off at the range (4DOF and cellular data) as the present but very weak signal does occur at my range. Just the offline mode should work but I'm a suspenders and belt kind of fella. haha

 

[powdahound76]

I use 4DOF weekly at my range that has ZERO cellular service. This on a lowly iPhone 12.

I run it on an iphone 7……
And still wish I had a flip phone or even better, no cell.

OP, get a Garmin InReach for emergencies.

 

[Wade]

I use mine all the time with no service and it opens and works fine. When I am hunting, I do like to take a screenshot of about 300y out and save it as my background so I won't have to open anything if in a hurry.

 

[taliv]

I’m glad there are a lot of decent options these days. It’s a good time to be a shooter. But there is certainly a LOT of room for improvement in all of the ballistic calculators.

I really want to like 4DOF, and i get good solutions out of it, but they desperately need to make some major changes to make it useful
- make it a separate app
- fix the bugs (mine never opens without errors)
- get rid of the login
- hire someone who understands data structures to organize rifles, ammo, and range cards
- completely redo the UI (too many issues to list here) to focus on minimizing the time and clicks it takes to go from opening the app to a firing solution in the field

But I do like the transparency in the solution you eventually get in their table. I wish AB would also break out all the components that add up to your total hold.