Labradar Interface with iPhone/iPad

[JimGnitecki]

I follow these rules as well!

My Labradar must be a golden child, because I have very few issues with it. Best change I made was running it from my iPad instead of my Android phone.
. . .

Since when can the Labradar work with either an iPad or phone?? I am asking because (a) I have a Labradar, and there is no mention of iPad or phone display, and (b) I just checked the Labrdar website and it does not mention any new iPad or phone connectivity. Did I misunderstand what you meant to say?

Jim G

 

[Kaldor]

Since when can the Labradar work with either an iPad or phone?? I am asking because (a) I have a Labradar, and there is no mention of iPad or phone display, and (b) I just checked the Labrdar website and it does not mention any new iPad or phone connectivity. Did I misunderstand what you meant to say?

Jim G

Yup, works like a champ. Way less prone to disconnecting. Doesnt need you to reboot the chrono whenever it disconnects. I see disconnects at times, but only because I switch to a web browser for my ShotMarker, and when I switch back, it requires me to reconnect which only takes a minute.

Just search "labradar" on the Apple app store, and youll find it. The interface is different from Android, and arming it is done from a non obvious screen, but it works.

Im hoping they will update the Android client as its very out of date and my phone yells at me if I try to run it.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Yup, works like a champ. Way less prone to disconnecting. Doesnt need you to reboot the chrono whenever it disconnects. I see disconnects at times, but only because I switch to a web browser for my ShotMarker, and when I switch back, it requires me to reconnect which only takes a minute.

Just search "labradar" on the Apple app store, and youll find it. The interface is different from Android, and arming it is done from a non obvious screen, but it works.

Im hoping they will update the Android client as its very out of date and my phone yells at me if I try to run it.

Wow, that is interesting! The simultaneous use of the Labradar and the Shotmarker is also very interesting to me, as I have a Shotmarker on order (I've already built a super-light and fast/easy to set up and take down 4' x 4' target frame with Coroplast target surface.

What advantages does the Labradar's iPad interface offer over the Labradar's built-in interface?

One thing I would have liked to see in the Labradar which it lacks is the ability to "go back" to previous strings and add to them. This would be very helpful when running comparisons of different handloads, and wanting to fire 5 of one, then 5 of another, then 5 again of the fist, then 5 again of the other, in order to take out any shooter fatigue issues over time.

Jim G

 

[Kaldor]

Wow, that is interesting! The simultaneous use of the Labradar and the Shotmarker is also very interesting to me, as I have a Shotmarker on order (I've already built a super-light and fast/easy to set up and take down 4' x 4' target frame with Coroplast target surface.

What advantages does the Labradar's iPad interface offer over the Labradar's built-in interface?

One thing I would have liked to see in the Labradar which it lacks is the ability to "go back" to previous strings and add to them. This would be very helpful when running comparisons of different handloads, and wanting to fire 5 of one, then 5 of another, then 5 again of the fist, then 5 again of the other, in order to take out any shooter fatigue issues over time.

Jim G

The built in interface works fine once you know the exact order of buttons to press to create a new series. Its just very awkward and non intuitive.
I mostly use mine to read data from the chrono. Its alot easier to connect the iPad to the Labradar which will update everything stored locally on the iPad, and then look at it there, instead of dragging the chrono out to read it.
Once thing I have seen is the more strings you store on your Labradar, the longer it takes to connect. I generally go out, shoot a bunch, data will be on the iPad, get that data where it needs to be which is generally either on the target or in my Google Drive. When I start shooting the next time I delete anything I havent recorded somewhere else. iPad also allows you to go back and edit strings and add actual useful info to them like a name other than the generic "series XX" name.

I tried to do a side by side app window with my Labradar and Chrome web browser connected to Shotmarker so I could run both apps at the same time, but it doesnt work. Its one or the other...

OK, now that Ive gone far enough off topic...

 

[JimGnitecki]

The built in interface works fine once you know the exact order of buttons to press to create a new series. Its just very awkward and non intuitive.
I mostly use mine to read data from the chrono. Its alot easier to connect the iPad to the Labradar which will update everything stored locally on the iPad, and then look at it there, instead of dragging the chrono out to read it.
Once thing I have seen is the more strings you store on your Labradar, the longer it takes to connect. I generally go out, shoot a bunch, data will be on the iPad, get that data where it needs to be which is generally either on the target or in my Google Drive. When I start shooting the next time I delete anything I havent recorded somewhere else. iPad also allows you to go back and edit strings and add actual useful info to them like a name other than the generic "series XX" name.

I tried to do a side by side app window with my Labradar and Chrome web browser connected to Shotmarker so I could run both apps at the same time, but it doesnt work. Its one or the other...

OK, now that Ive gone far enough off topic...

Thanks for the reply and the education!

Jim G

 

[lordpaxman]

One thing I would have liked to see in the Labradar which it lacks is the ability to "go back" to previous strings and add to them.

The App does not allow that. I run the Apple version.
Their first version of the App was not great. Their current iteration is better but still lacks in certain areas. Make sure your firmware is up to date.
I’ll take an App version over the clumsy controls on the unit anyway. As @Kaldor mentioned, the App makes you hunt around for things but once you know the paths it’s ok. You can create and name series, arm/disarm, and change the bullet weight easily which I do frequently when running load development. It also gives you controls to the settings so if you’re switching between rifle and pistol or anything else it’s all on a touch screen.
The values are stored both on the device and LabRadar/SD card. I’m not sure what the delay is, but I had about 60 strings and the first 5-10 took seconds to move and then the last 50 was less than a second.
Net for me is I use the App, have sent them suggestions, but don’t expect changes as it took them years to update their first version.

 

[Chuck R.]

Since when can the Labradar work with either an iPad or phone?? I am asking because (a) I have a Labradar, and there is no mention of iPad or phone display, and (b) I just checked the Labrdar website and it does not mention any new iPad or phone connectivity. Did I misunderstand what you meant to say?

Jim G

By any chance do you have a LabRadar "Lite"? For a while at least they offered a model without Bluetooth:

LabRadar Lite Ballistic Velocity Doppler Radar Chronograph

The LabRadar Lite Ballistic Velocity Doppler Radar Chronograph was developed by Infinition Inc of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada. Infinition has been...

www.midwayusa.com

Note:

Not Bluetooth compatible

Cannot be used with the LabRadar Mobile App

I'm using the new APP and the latest firmware now, little bit of a learning curve with the new APP, but I'm getting it sorted out.

I do like the ability to add notes to the series and the latest firmware has corrected the commo issues my phone had.

Normally when chronographing I'm tracking temp pretty closely by series, so I really don't know how much use I'd get being able to go back and add to a previous series.

 

[Kaldor]

The App does not allow that. I run the Apple version.
Their first version of the App was not great. Their current iteration is better but still lacks in certain areas. Make sure your firmware is up to date.
I’ll take an App version over the clumsy controls on the unit anyway. As @Kaldor mentioned, the App makes you hunt around for things but once you know the paths it’s ok. You can create and name series, arm/disarm, and change the bullet weight easily which I do frequently when running load development. It also gives you controls to the settings so if you’re switching between rifle and pistol or anything else it’s all on a touch screen.
The values are stored both on the device and LabRadar/SD card. I’m not sure what the delay is, but I had about 60 strings and the first 5-10 took seconds to move and then the last 50 was less than a second.
Net for me is I use the App, have sent them suggestions, but don’t expect changes as it took them years to update their first version.

You have any issues with the app crashing when trying to switch between pistol and rifle settings? Mine does. I just do that directly on the chrono now as I got tired of fighting with it.

I am happy with actually being able to name a series now though, which saves me a little grief on remembering what was what a week or even a month later.

I think there has a been a host of users that have sent them suggestions, but they dont seem to care. The entire Apple app looks like it was programmed at times by someone that doesnt understand basic flow of applications. As an example, it would be like looking at THR, hitting post, but having to login everytime before you post and the post button is on that screen. Its just un-obvious and slightly annoying. And the Android app is still a mess even though functionally the application flow was better.

I never have understood why the bluetooth connection was so janky with the Labradar as a whole. Its not like this is a new technology. The only conclusion I can come up with is that they went with an inferior bluetooth module on the unit itself as bluetooth on phones has been pretty established for a long time. Or perhaps its a keep alive signal to maintain the connection? When I can pair a cheap speaker and carry it out to my garden and leave my either my iPhone or Android phone on the porch 40 yards away and it never drops, that tells me its a limitation within the Labradar itself or its programming.

 

[Theinkman]

Have had a Labradar for quite a while a love the unit and what it does. Also have the Android app and have had that since it first came out. At that time the app was just short of useless; constant disconnects, very un-intuitive to navigate through, and generally just a pain in the butt.

The updated app is much better but far from great. I agree that the unit's bluetooth apparatus is weak and I suspect without an upgrade to the unit itself will probably not get better. I believe since the Labradar was first introduced that the idea of making the interface user friendly was not a consideration and it seems that little has changed since.

Still like what it does however.

 

[JHTexas]

Have had a Labradar for quite a while a love the unit and what it does. Also have the Android app and have had that since it first came out. At that time the app was just short of useless; constant disconnects, very un-intuitive to navigate through, and generally just a pain in the butt.

I had the same experiences when it came out so I stopped using it and haven’t even tried the updated app.
I guess I’m always close enough to the unit to manage it and that is the path of least resistance for me.

 

[Theinkman]

I had the same experiences when it came out so I stopped using it and haven’t even tried the updated app.
I guess I’m always close enough to the unit to manage it and that is the path of least resistance for me.

I see there was a new update for Android posted in September. I will try that out see if it works better. They are getting there with the app, but very slowly.

 

[lordpaxman]

You have any issues with the app crashing when trying to switch between pistol and rifle settings? Mine does. I just do that directly on the chrono now as I got tired of fighting with it.

I am happy with actually being able to name a series now though, which saves me a little grief on remembering what was what a week or even a month later.

I haven’t had crashes when switching between pistol and rifle, again I’m on the iOS version. Bluetooth is a contrast problem with this unit. The latest firmware and App have improved, but, it still drops occasionally and there’s really no telling why. Fortunately reconnection isn’t an issue and there’s no data loss. I did notice a “Logs” setting, but haven’t explored what could be in there.
I sometimes name the series, but, more often than not I just create a new folder on my desktop with the current date, copy the LBR folder over and then back it up. If I don’t name the series, I use the chrono series name + date as a UID.
Regardless of how poor the App is, I still regard it as a plus for the unit, and won’t be going back to a shoot through!