Tired of awful Applied Ballistics products

[wake.joe]

I have a Kestral 5700 Elite and now a Garmin 701.

They are plain awful. Interfacing with a computer, or a phone, are terrible. Nothing ever works like it's supposed to. I am done with these products until AB figures out that we're not in Windows 3.1 anymore.

What else is out there for a hand-held computer? Am I limited to an app on my phone?

 

[Dthomas3523]

5700 elite works great with the app. No computer needed.

Have run a 5700 elite for almost two years with zero issues.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Kestrel with hornady 4dof is an option.

 

[Powder_Burns]

 

[wake.joe]

5700 elite works great with the app. No computer needed.

Have run a 5700 elite for almost two years with zero issues.

I have it. Firmware 1.27.
Bluetooth decided to just stop working all of a sudden. Resets of various types will not bring it back.

 

[wake.joe]

View attachment 7355216

Fortunately I have and do this already so I haven’t been left without data yet.

 

[craigos]

if only you know the stories of these connectivity technologies ... i was there. and its no wonder BT is a POS.

 

[Powder_Burns]

My kestrel is on v1.4 firmware. If your bluetooth isn’t working, have them fix it. My garmin 750 has a busted screen, I don’t think its a pos, just needs to get fixed.

 

[1911hombre]

I have it. Firmware 1.27.
Bluetooth decided to just stop working all of a sudden. Resets of various types will not bring it back.

Current firmware is 1.39.

 

[wake.joe]

Current firmware is 1.39.

I realize that. I have no Bluetooth ability to update it.

 

[wake.joe]

if only you know the stories of these connectivity technologies ... i was there. and its no wonder BT is a POS.

I bought the elite immediately at release. I am well aware of all the issues

 

[JMGlasgow]

Wouldn't the Bluetooth be part of the Kestrel, and really nothing to do with AB?

My 5700 Sportsman works great and connects fast. I've never had it drop either.

 

[47guy]

I just bought the HUD...way faster update time from the kestrel to the HUD than the kestrel to the app...stays linked up to about 90’ but needs clear line of sight and is weak....up to 70’ is no issue.

I will get it out in the field this weekend and run it through it’s paces but pretty happy with it as of now.

 

[wake.joe]

I just bought the HUD...way faster update time from the kestrel to the HUD than the kestrel to the app...stays linked up to about 90’ but needs clear line of sight and is weak....up to 70’ is no issue.

I will get it out in the field this weekend and run it through it’s paces but pretty happy with it as of now.

Super cool stuff but my 5700 Elite bluetooth is not working anymore so no dice anyway.

I guess I am just going back to phone apps. Thanks guys

 

[Steel head]

5700 elite works great with the app. No computer needed.

Have run a 5700 elite for almost two years with zero issues.

I will flat out say I’m beyond impressed with how my new 5700 is treating me.
I resisted getting one thinking apps worked just as well.
I was a fool.
Pretty easy to true up and far more durable than a phone.
I’m a believer now.

 

[LawnMM]

I haven't had any issues really, but I keep it updated.

If you didn't buy the BT version than get the data cable and update it.

 

[BigTex]

5700 elite works great with the app. No computer needed.

Have run a 5700 elite for almost two years with zero issues.

Do you have to re calibrate the compass every time you turn it on?

 

[Matches Malone]

Do you have to re calibrate the compass every time you turn it on?

I don’t know about him but I do, when I drive somewhere. It’s magnetic interference I’m pretty sure. To be fair you have to do the same thing with drones or anything else with similar digital compass. Personally it’s just part of my set up now. Once I go into the field or on the range I just take it out and recalibrate the compass just to be sure anyways. I know amazon prime has everyone wanting perfection for every good in service at a moments notice, but i have no issue with taking the time to set things up properly every trip.

 

[BigTex]

I don’t know about him but I do, when I drive somewhere. It’s magnetic interference I’m pretty sure. To be fair you have to do the same thing with drones or anything else with similar digital compass. Personally it’s just part of my set up now. Once I go into the field or on the range I just take it out and recalibrate the compass just to be sure anyways. I know amazon prime has everyone wanting perfection for every good in service at a moments notice, but i have no issue with taking the time to set things up properly every trip.

I don't know anything about amazon prime, but I have a Samsung Galaxy with a compass in it that doesn't have to be re calibrated all the time. Doesn't seem like much to ask for from a $700 instrument.

 

[wake.joe]

Mine has to be re calibrated every time I pick it up. I'm not sure what the difference is but my Iphone never has an issue.

 

[Steel head]

I’ve never checked my compass since I first set it up.

Just fired it up and compared it to phone compass.
Within 10 degrees.

 

[BigTex]

I’ve never checked my compass since I first set it up.

Just fired it up and compared it to phone compass.
Within 10 degrees.

Mine will only show a few (5 or so) degrees difference when moved 90 degrees until I re calibrate. For example if I turn it on and set the target(12'oclock) and then try to set 1 9'oclock crosswind it will only read 1130 crosswind. Same exact thing for several guys I shoot with.

 

[rockmyglock]

I don't know anything about amazon prime, but I have a Samsung Galaxy with a compass in it that doesn't have to be re calibrated all the time. Doesn't seem like much to ask for from a $700 instrument.

Your phone also has a GPS radio and accelerometers to work with the calibration process in the background. Not to mention the gobs of code and processes to make it all work.

The Kestrel is a mission specific piece of equipment with ruggedness in mind.

Yes, I have to calibrate mine regularly as well.

Get a base model kestrel that takes atmospherics and run dope cards in the @Jack Master style.

I have started using my GShock Rangeman for DA and learned to read the wind a bit better.

 

[Powder_Burns]

I keep a lensatic compass in my range bag. If its that critical, I can manually enter a heading.

 

[_Windrider_]

I don't know anything about amazon prime, but I have a Samsung Galaxy with a compass in it that doesn't have to be re calibrated all the time. Doesn't seem like much to ask for from a $700 instrument.

Your phone also has gps and knows the magnetic variation of where it is.

the kestrel works great. I rarely have to recalibrate but I do every time I use it because it’s just good practice to do so.

 

[BigTex]

I have to re calibrate it EVERY TIME I use it. I wouldn't even care that the compass wasnt accurate, but it should be able to tell the 90 degree difference between reading 1 and reading 2.

 

[Matches Malone]

I have to re calibrate it EVERY TIME I use it. I wouldn't even care that the compass wasnt accurate, but it should be able to tell the 90 degree difference between reading 1 and reading 2.

Why “should it” tell the difference between reading one and two?
As to you other post, how would YOU make a compass that doesn’t need to be calibrated (Ie a non-magnetic digital compass)

 

[BigTex]

Look man, I'm not an electronics nerd, I just want the shit to work the way it should. I'll leave it to them to figure out the how, and I'll pay for it. Hell put a GPS in it and charge an extra hundred. Having to spend 10 minutes calibrating the POS every time I want to take a shot is a waste of time. I bought a Kestrel to save time over paper charts and data books, but the hard copies are actually faster, so the Kestrel rarely comes out of the pouch. There are multiple people in this thread saying that they never, or rarely ever have to calibrate theirs. Too much inconsistency.

 

[Matches Malone]

Look man, I'm not an electronics nerd, I just want the shit to work the way it should. I'll leave it to them to figure out the how, and I'll pay for it. Hell put a GPS in it and charge an extra hundred. Having to spend 10 minutes calibrating the POS every time I want to take a shot is a waste of time. I bought a Kestrel to save time over paper charts and data books, but the hard copies are actually faster, so the Kestrel rarely comes out of the pouch. There are multiple people in this thread saying that they never, or rarely ever have to calibrate theirs. Too much inconsistency.

There are multiple people on this forum that are idiots. I don’t follow the path of the majority and can careless about their opinions. I don’t even care if you do or do not like the product. My questions are rhetorical because I know you don’t know the answer, and that if you want someone to blame, blame yourself for your own ignorance. You don’t seem to even know why you need to calibrate the damn thing in the first place, which is the batteries electromagnetic interference. Even a regular ass compass can have issues. These were made for field use where gps and other signals would typically be lost by the terrain. They weren’t thinking of YOU and you desire to be lazy when it was made. It literally takes 3 minutes.

I’m not saying you have to like it, or like kestrels, or want a kestrel. I’m not even arguing that they shouldn’t innovate. Just that you bought something, and you didn’t do enough research to make sure it suited your needs. That’s not the products fault. The rest of us, we understand the kestrels and the technologies limitations, applied ballistics software quirks, and we adjust accordingly. It’s a precision tool, but at the end of the day, I don’t need a impact wrench to weld a pipe.

 

[BigTex]

There are multiple people on this forum that are idiots. I don’t follow the path of the majority and can careless about their opinions. I don’t even care if you do or do not like the product. My questions are rhetorical because I know you don’t know the answer, and that if you want someone to blame, blame yourself for your own ignorance. You don’t seem to even know why you need to calibrate the damn thing in the first place, which is the batteries electromagnetic interference. Even a regular ass compass can have issues. These were made for field use where gps and other signals would typically be lost by the terrain. They weren’t thinking of YOU and you desire to be lazy when it was made. It literally takes 3 minutes.

I’m not saying you have to like it, or like kestrels, or want a kestrel. I’m not even arguing that they shouldn’t innovate. Just that you bought something, and you didn’t do enough research to make sure it suited your needs. That’s not the products fault. The rest of us, we understand the kestrels and the technologies limitations, applied ballistics software quirks, and we adjust accordingly. It’s a precision tool, but at the end of the day, I don’t need a impact wrench to weld a pipe.

You sure have a weird way of flirting.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Do you have to re calibrate the compass every time you turn it on?

I’m not sure. I rarely use mine for wind/shot direction. Wind needs to be pretty gusty or higher than I’m comfortable estimating.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Even when I do, it doesn’t take 10min. Pretty quick and simple.

 

[CavReconScout]

Set the direction to zero and input the clock direction of the wind. Then set wind 1 to zero. Turn spin drift off. Unless you just like to bitch and make easy shit harder than it is. In that case carry on.

 

[johnrice]

why do you need the compass to shoot? i run a 701 and never mess with the compass, it could be 180 degs off and i would not know.

 

[CavReconScout]

I have a Kestral 5700 Elite and now a Garmin 701.

They are plain awful. Interfacing with a computer, or a phone, are terrible. Nothing ever works like it's supposed to. I am done with these products until AB figures out that we're not in Windows 3.1 anymore.

What else is out there for a hand-held computer? Am I limited to an app on my phone?

I will give you $50 for your POS Garmin 701

 

[LawnMM]

If it takes you ten minutes to calibrate the compass you're doing it wrong. That should take about 30 seconds, 60 if you fuck it up the first time.

 

[338dude]

I’m still running a Kestrel 4500 with Applied Ballistics,

Bluetooth night vision capable and I’m very happy with it I will not replace something that still works I have several rifles in it my dope matches up just fine if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

 

[Steel head]

I’m not sure. I rarely use mine for wind/shot direction. Wind needs to be pretty gusty or higher than I’m comfortable estimating.

I use wind in two ways on the kestrel
Directly in winds over winds approximately 15 mph or more, I find it’s quite effective then.

I also input wind into it to match my holds for notes.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I have to re calibrate it EVERY TIME I use it. I wouldn't even care that the compass wasnt accurate, but it should be able to tell the 90 degree difference between reading 1 and reading 2.

ive had to reset mine pretty often as well, kestrel told me if its close to large chunks of metal it will cause it to need to reset it.. So like a car or truck hahahah

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I have a Kestral 5700 Elite and now a Garmin 701.

They are plain awful. Interfacing with a computer, or a phone, are terrible. Nothing ever works like it's supposed to. I am done with these products until AB figures out that we're not in Windows 3.1 anymore.

What else is out there for a hand-held computer? Am I limited to an app on my phone?

you need to call kestrel, they will fix it

 

[bunsen27]

I have it. Firmware 1.27.
Bluetooth decided to just stop working all of a sudden. Resets of various types will not bring it back.

@Kestrel Ballistics

<[email protected]>
Nielsen-Kellerman
21 Creek Circle
Boothwyn, PA 19061
(610)447-1555

 

[47guy]

My buddy @Gwain knows how to make these kestrels hold the compass setting...I would probably F it up so I’ll let him explain

 

[338dude]

I only ever have to reCalibrate mine when I remove the battery

 

[47guy]

I only ever have to reCalibrate mine when I remove the battery

Or update it but I had the same issues these guys are talking about before

 

[1911hombre]

If it takes you ten minutes to calibrate the compass you're doing it wrong. That should take about 30 seconds, 60 if you fuck it up the first time.

THIS^^^^^^^

 

[kimbergoldmatch]

I have occasional problems connecting to my iPhone Xs, to fix it I turn off the Kestrel, reboot the phone, turn the Kestrel back on and then “Elite - and my serial number” shows up again under Connect Device in the Kestrel app on the iPhone.

The only time I’ve ever had to recalibrate the compass is after I get a Kestrel firmware update. (I have a 5700 Link Applied Ballistics on FW 1.39)

 

[natdscott]

I can appreciate that everybody has their own way...

..but damn. I sometimes wonder if some if you ever SHOOT the rifle with all the time spent on angst and widgets.

 

[rockmyglock]

I can appreciate that everybody has their own way...

..but damn. I sometimes wonder if some of you ever HIT WITH the rifle with all the time spent on angst and widgets.

FIFY. I don't think shooting is the problem for most.

A Kestrel or any ballistic calculator is an excellent tool.

However, it's important to understand the limitations of your equipment. And if it is an "issue", replace it with an appropriate solution or resolve the issues through training or a manufacturer resolution (when the equipment is at fault).

 

[Steel head]

I can appreciate that everybody has their own way...

..but damn. I sometimes wonder if some if you ever SHOOT the rifle with all the time spent on angst and widgets.

I typically shoot twice a week
Including tomorrow it will be three this week

 

[47guy]

I’ve put 1900 rounds through my current barrel sense Christmas...shit I’m slacking going to have to pick it up