Hornady Kestrel 5700 Ballistic Weather Meter 4 DOF Official Support Thread
- Thread starter Kestrel Ballistics
- Start date
What I understand from using the 4 DOF software in the Hornady App is that the axial from factor is used opposed to a BC. In the app it provides a simplistic way to "True" your data at distance on a chart. Would anyone be able to provide any insight on how this (Truing Data) is accomplished in the 4 DOF Kestrel? Photos and screen shots are greatly appreciated.
Sorry for the ignorance, but I shoot long range and have a Kestrel 5700 Elite.
1.) can I use my current 5700 Elite or do I have to purchase a Kestrel/Hornady 4DOF?
2.) do I have to have a smart phone to run this ballistics program?
3.) how do you obtain the shooting angle? Is that included in the Kestrel/Hornady app or is it an app for a smart phone?
4.) if I have to have a smart phone to run this program (Kestrel/Hornady), what are the phone requirements?
Your current Elite has the Applied Ballistics solver. The Hornady 4dof is only in the HornadyKestrel 5700.
Smart phone paired with a Kestrel with Link is the best way to run the ballistic program. The Kestrel is a stand alone, but you will need to build your gun profiles in the phone app using the bullet library and transfer them to the Kestrel. Firmware updates also load through the phone Link. You can use a computer and a special USB cable, but it is a workaround at best.
Angle can be computed in the phone app with the Elite in the Range Card or use a phone app for other applications or enter manually with data from LRF, some LRF can auto enter range and angle.
The free Kestrel Ballistics app requires Android 4.4 or newer and iPhone 5S or newer. Remember phone operating systems get updated and features added. As the Ballistic app gets enhancements older phones may fall out of the minimum requirements due to Android and IOS standards.
First post from a new shooter ... interested in the 5700 Elite Hornady Model ... want to link to a Leica range finder and the Hornady IPhone app. Shoot Hornady 6.5mm 140 ELD-M which I assume is in the Library but also want to use with Federal GM Match 190G with my .300WM. Two active gun profiles but perhaps a few more.
1. Which Kestral 5700 version do I need?
2. For old school use, can I print out and modify DOPE data?
1. Which Kestral 5700 version do I need?
2. For old school use, can I print out and modify DOPE data?
You have some options you need to evaluate, look here for what each meter provides and then ask some questions about some specifics. If you are OK with $699 the Elite is the quick answer, more limited solutions are available at lower prices.
Kestrel Ballistics - Weather Meters for Long Range Shooting
The Kestrel line of ballistics weather meters are the best ballistic weather meters on the market and combine environmental measurements with a ballistics calculator, allowing for higher target shooting accuracy.
kestrelinstruments.com
Printing out dope cards is not a feature of the Kestrel. Range cards are on the screen, only an AA battery away.
You have some options you need to evaluate, look here for what each meter provides and then ask some questions about some specifics. If you are OK with $699 the Elite is the quick answer, more limited solutions are available at lower prices.
Kestrel Ballistics - Weather Meters for Long Range Shooting
The Kestrel line of ballistics weather meters are the best ballistic weather meters on the market and combine environmental measurements with a ballistics calculator, allowing for higher target shooting accuracy.
Printing out dope cards is not a feature of the Kestrel. Range cards are on the screen, only an AA battery away.
Can the 4DOF Bluetooth to the rangefinder? On the range cards, can one do a screen print or do I need to take a photo of the screen? Can I display/scroll through the inputs to build a paper model?
4DOF LRF are listed here : https://hornadykestrel.com/support
With an Elite you could screen shot the phone app range card, not pretty, but might work. Yes you could copy the info to a paper model.
With an Elite you could screen shot the phone app range card, not pretty, but might work. Yes you could copy the info to a paper model.
Or a Hornady Model being a software upgrade to the Elite? I’m sure I read some on Snipershide that a “dopler” Model was being added to the AB library ... is this the same as the 4DOF?
Still no decision on the future of the Hornady Kestrel. I believe that both AB and Hornady use "dopler" radar to create their custom curves and 4DOF solvers, I am not aware of any "dopler" specific model.
The 4DOF library is growing every day. If it is not listed then you would need to see if AB has a custom curve for the bullet, if yes, you would need a Kestrel Elite to get the custom curves. If the bullet is not in the custom curve library you will end up building your own profile in either model.
I currently do not have a smart-phone. Does anyone know what phone requirements are needed to operate the 4DOF program? I do have a Kestrel 5700 Elite. I only need the phone to use with the 4DOF and not for anything else, so I want the least expensive option.
They'll give you a smart phone that's capable of running the apps if you're willing to part with the jitterbug
You need a phone or tablet that runs these operating systems:
Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch requires iOS 10.0 or later.
Android requires 5.0 and up.
Since the 4DOF Kestrel only holds 3 "guns" at a time (and gun=load), is there any plans to more easily save trued profiles within the app? When I true a load with the kestrel and then use the app to pull the trued profile, it creates three duplicates for every "gun." I then have to try and figure out which is trued and which was just my starting point. This is enough to make a man lose his mind and kind of defeats the purpose of the thing because I always end up second guessing whether I'm actually looking at the trued profile. I have 9 rifles with two or three loads each. I'd suggest being able to actually build a rifle profile and a load profile under it like with the AB app.
Another suggestion would be to add a notes section so the user can enter some info about the load.
Thanks.
Another suggestion would be to add a notes section so the user can enter some info about the load.
Thanks.
When you upload profiles from the Kestrel to the app, all files on the Kestrel are uploaded so if 3 profiles are on the kestrel and also on the app, you will end up with 2 sets of identical 3 profiles in the app. Managing names is key. Try deleting the profile from the app first or change the name of the trued profile, maybe add a T so it is different when it gets uploaded to the app. The Kestrel memory is limited and naming conventions end up necessary for multi-loads.
Is there any way to change the target range increment from 1 to 5 or 10? I see in the app the option is titled "range swipe" but I can't find the setting on the Kestrel. Thanks.
Loving my Hornady 4-DOF Kestrel! I've got many other solvers and Kestrels and this one consistently reads true to where no adjustments or truing are needed.
Great job Hornady and Kestrel!
Great job Hornady and Kestrel!
Range swipe is part of the phone app, it is not in the Kestrel, so no setting for it in the Kestrel.
I don't think so, all of the features of the phone app would need to be created in a computer program and the special USB cable would need to be purchased so the library and firmware updates could be accessed. Link is a big focus now due to all the connectivity with range finders, HUD and who knows what else.
If I am running factory ammo, and have chronographed my ammo, will the 4DOF app still compensate for temp/muzzle velo changes if I turn on ammo temp sensitivity and give it a baseline temp that I recorded MV? Or, is this for custom loads only?
To use the Temp Table you need to select a powder from the list. I don't know how you would know what powder to select for factory loaded ammo.
Is there any directions, or explanations on how to set up the data with the powder temp sensitivity? I have not found anything. Not sure on if.makes too much difference, but it is there, would like to understand how it works.
Also, does anyone have any update on when the 4dof database will be updated with some of the newer bullets?
Also, does anyone have any update on when the 4dof database will be updated with some of the newer bullets?
Does this link help: https://hornadykestrel.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/359/
We don't have any update however about additional bullets at this time.
Yes, thank you. Does the Baseline Muzzle Velocity override the the MV under the "Gun Data" , or do we have to make sure it matches when we transfer over to the kestral? I think that was what I was confused about.
Thanks!
It doesn't overwrite the MV under gun data. The Kestrel only adjusts the MV when MV-Temp is set to ON on the Kestrel. Otherwise it uses the MV under the gun profile.
The compatible rangefinders listed on hornadykestrel.com show only 3 for the 4DOF, but the kestrel website shows 11 are compatible with the 5700 and/or Elite. Can you help me understand why only 3 of the 11 are supported? Or, is the hornady website list outdated.
LRFs must write software to connect to the Kestrel. Some choose to connect to the Kestrel firmware system and some choose to write a connection directly to the Solver. Those LRFs connecting to the AB solver only, chose to connect to the Solver, those connecting to the Hornady chose to connect to the Kestrel (Tech guys would have a better, longer explanation). The Hornady software is newer and I would expect more LRFs to expand coverage to the Hornady Solver or the Kestrel firmware. Look to the SHOT Show for announcements. Remember, the AB Solver Kestrel has been out for years, while the Hornady Kestrel is in its first year.
If anyone did the 1.35 firmware update in your 5700 4DOF and are having issues with gun profiles, I just spoke with them. They are aware of the problem, and are on top of it.
Please don't panic
Please don't panic
Cant seem to get mine to show a new update is available. Current firmware is 1.31 but the app never shows there's an update. I've tried uninstalling the app on my android and also trying on my ipad. However, it never says a firmware update is available.
It'll show up at some point. Make sure your Kestrel is connected to your phone, and the app is open. One of the updates last year didn't
show up on my 5700 elite AB until about 4-5 days after it released.
Sometimes it is a caching issue. Uninstalling and Reinstalling should fix this issue but you can also try on Android going to Settings->Applications->Storage->Clear Cache and then reconnecting.
Here is what I tried this morning
Android Galaxy S9
1. Clear cache and reconnect = no prompt for update
2. Uninstall and reinstall app on Android= no prompt for update
3. Reset Kestrel back to factory cleared cache on app and sent gun profiles back to kestrel = no prompt for update.
iPad
1. Delete Kestrel Ballistics app and reinstall = no prompt for update.
Are you using the same wifi connection for both devices? This is a guess but could be some kind of security with the router that is blocking the firmware file request. Can you see if you turn off Wifi and just use cellular and reconnect to see if the result changes?
@Kestrel Ballistics
Are you accepting trade-in units at SHOT again this year, sorry if you already posted it, I have not seen it.
I have an old model I can use to trade in
Are you accepting trade-in units at SHOT again this year, sorry if you already posted it, I have not seen it.
I have an old model I can use to trade in
Since we are not going to be selling any units at SHOT, we would not be taking trade-ins. You would just need to use the standard process: https://kestrelinstruments.com/kestrel-trade-in-trade-up
Turned off WiFi, and no luck. Reinstalled, restarted devices with wifi off and still no luck.
Hey, Kestrel folks. I’m having the same problem as Bronc. Followed the same steps and can’t get the firmware to update. Do I need to send the unit back for service?
We are looking into why this is happening. Can anyone with issues not getting prompted for fw update let me know:
Current FW Version
Current Hardware Version (HW)
BOOT version
BLE
These can be found in the Kestrel under Main Menu->About->Version
Thanks.
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