Garmin Xero C1 Pro chrono

[jasper2408]

That's good news, Jasper. So it's not a brick when the inevitable happens.

That looks pretty easy to change actually.

I've changed batteries in Garmin GPS units. Non issue.

Thanks for that info Legionnaire.

[Klem]

Jasper,

Thanks, that settles it then. The capacity is guaranteed for years to come. I've had a Labradar since they came out in 2015 and can imagine the same use with the Garmin. Might never need to change the battery but like an old IPhone the years fly by and you end up with a choice, but a new one or open it up.

In the photo of the opened Garmin it is 820mAhr capacity, so if ever it needs changing we need to be careful which replacement to get. The dimensions of the 750mAhr dog collar 361-00056 look slightly different due to the blue plastic packaging. I found this 820mAhr one with the same yellow high-temp teflon tape, and exposed circuitry on the side with the plug. Bit more expensive but the higher capacity and packaging matches the one in the photo. The space in the radar where it sits looks pretty tight so as long as it is exactly the same it'll be a snap.
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The Garmin rep in the podcast called the battery a "Lithium Polymer", but the 361-00056 is Li-ion chemistry. He might have been talking his product up (more expensive chemistry), or maybe not know the difference. Now we know the replacement battery it's a non-issue.

Makes sense they would build in a power-down mode.

Also like how it works without needing to have the app on at the time. Can imagine situations where you don't have your phone but it can still give velocities. If you want to record just use a pen and paper - old-school.

[jasper2408]

I went back and changed the battery link so it would reflect the correct battery that Klem pointed out. The link is on Ebay and the battery is shipped from California and not China.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185686910266

Garmin 361-00056-15 820mAh 3.7v 3.034Wh

[SDW]

uh oh. Only 10 left! We better buy our spares now...

Kidding. Hopefully there are more to come. Since that vendor already had a bunch, can we assume this battery is common to other Garmin products? Hope so.

I'm glad they're replaceable with a little effort. I'd expressed this issue as being my only concern, back in the original thread discussing this new chrono.

[jasper2408]

I did some testing to see if the unit turns itself off or not and found out the following:

I turned on the unit and let it set without doing anything else to it. The unit goes from bright to dim in about 30 seconds and then exactly 1 hour after turning the unit on it turned itself off completely.

I then saw a video that said the unit powers down after 30 minutes when a session has been started so I started a session and just let it set. At exactly 30 minutes this screen popped up and you have to physically push a button to either start the session again or end the session so that part is true. I did not see what happens if I didn't do anything and just left it set there. This is good enough for me.


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[Klem]

Excellent.

So far, apart from not being able to give downrange velocities there doesn't appear to be a downside. Be a good time to pick up a cheap Labradar or Magnetospeed.

[lazyengineer]

Sold my LabRadar to get one of these. While I'm excited, beware if buying from Cabellas/BassPro, as they automatically do Signature Required on the FedEx delivery, and I'm discoverying that FedEx lies and says they tried to deliver and no-one home (when they didn't try at all), to pad their driver stats; depending on your driver. So I was supposed to get it yesterday, and am still waiting. If you can buy from someone other than FedEx and/or avoid Signature Required, that may be a better experience.

Also, I'm disappointed to discover that the app will only install on the latest phones. I have a good Android cell phone a few years older (but far from uselessly obsolete) and it won't install. So if the hope was to use last cycles retired beater phone as the dedicated device for this that won't work. I'm a little irked at that, as there's no logical reason for that - but oh well.

[mtnlvr]

My Cabelas/Fedex Xero C1 delivery was attempted today when I was away for a few hours. I don't mind the required signature in this case. I just wish that Fedex had some better scheduling options without having to charge additional fees. In a signature situation, I could have avoided them making a stop just to have to stop again tomorrow had they given the option.

[lazyengineer]

Heh, today my FedEx driver on attempt number 2 did what I suspected he would do - He dropped it on the front porch and ran like Hell. So much for Signature Required! Ah well, at least I got it. So I had chance to run up to the range today and fire a few hundred rounds with it. A few repeated items everyone else has said.

1- this this is REDICULOUSLY Small and Easy. It literally the size of a thick set of playing cards, and the bipod is tiny as well. It's a sweet little rig
2- a few simple reliable consumer grade product. Turn it on, point it sort of down range, and let it go.
3- The interface is a million times better than the antiquated LabRadar interface, but also a bit limited. the processing power and speed and write speed in this rig is literally 1000 times faster. That's not hyperbole. My Labradar would take 5 seconds at times before it would track the shot, calculate the MV, and write it to memory, and then display it. This guy does it instantly, in probably about 5 hundredths of a second after the last track is read from the bullet in flight - it's so much faster.
4- The App kind of sucks. The link connection is FAST and reliable. Instant, but you don't actually see your shot numbers until you push buttons on the unit and proceed to the next string; you don't see them live displayed on the app. Also, you can't use the app/phone to progress to the next series. And worst of all, as noted, you have to have the latest modern smartphone to even have the app. And you have to have the App, to update the firmware of the unit, which mine had to do.

That said, the App is kind of unnecessary to use the unit in general, as the unit is steady small, right there, and easy to interface; and doesn't' mind if you move it any while interfacing - it'll still track just fine. I guess the App logs the data, but not the actual track readings, just each shot's MV that it calculated internally (from the 50 or so distance readings + time values at reading it did per shot, and then backed out the MV for each shot). I suppose you could just shoot, and then pull the readings when you get home; but really - who does that? If you are doing a bunch of strings, you really need to be recording that right there in the field along with your target information etc, to keep it all straight, and also to see if anything is amiss right there as you are going.

Anyway, all in all, this isn't just next generation over LabRadar, this is at least 2 next generations, over LabRadar. This is a flip phone in a world that was bag-phones. A very worthy upgrade. Especially since you can dump your LabRadar in any working condition for close to $400 easy, making it just a $200 upgrade. If you are going to dump your LabRadar - do so quickly, because those things are going to fall in value fast and hard, once Garmin's production catches up and they start having sales on these tiny little guys. It tracked everything. no aiming. No "ERROR No Track Collected", if not just overtly missed. None of that any more.

[jasper2408]

And you have to have the App, to update the firmware of the unit, which mine had to do.

You can also install Garmin Express software on your MAC or Windows PC to update the chrono firmware using the chrono cable.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/software/express/windows/

[Cowdog]

Be a good time to pick up a cheap Labradar or Magnetospeed.

My Magnetospeed Sporter will be for sale shortly.
I ordered a Garmin Xero C1 Pro from EuroOptic and will be here Wednesday.
They require a signature also on deliveries over $500. It was shipped UPS so hopefully they are more reliable than Fedex.
I am seeing Labradar's for $375 and Magnetospeed Sporters for $100. I think the used market for Labradar's and Magnetospeed will hurt both of them and the even cheaper Chrono's.

[stonehog]

I love my Xero C1 - best purchase of the year for me. So far I have shot strings from air pistol to 7mm Mag and it missed nothing. I will probably keep my shot up Competition Electronics unit for shot load testing as the Xero doesn’t pick up shotgun loads outside slugs. The MagnetoSpeed is not going to be around for much longer…

[mtnlvr]

Just got mine today. Cabelas got some in Christmas Eve and I was able to apply a code for $75 off. That combined with some gift cards and Cabelas Bucks only set me back $130 out of pocket.

Tried it out today. Too easy! 22lr subs through a narrow shooting lane...like ~20" wide in spots and only ~17 yds long. It registered every shot! I will try those same rounds in a more open environment and longer range to see how similar the results are as it registered 86 fps spread.

I wish it would have come with a small case. I ended up ordering a cheap case to stash it in my range bag. Looking forward to getting some more time with it over the weekend.

[jasper2408]

I wish it would have come with a small case.

Here is a link to a thread on Snipers Hide that shows a bunch of different cases that people used to store their Garmin chronos.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/thr...t-11208107

I chose to use this case. You have to select "With Foam" to get the foam insert version. This outfit is still offering free shipping and you can print 2 lines of anything you want on the case lid for free. Also, if you get anything printed on the lid then they will not take the case back for a refund. This case is $30.00 but I figure it is going to protect something that is $600.00 so it was worth it to me.

https://evergreencases.com/collections/a...6007700525


How I setup the inside of my case:
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My text on the case lid:
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[mtnlvr]

I chose to use this case.

Very nice, solid, well protected setup. The way I plan to store and transport, that case would be more than needed and consume too much real-estate in my range bag. I suppose it would still take less space than my old school chrono, but that one didn't live in my range bag, this one will. I'll use a smaller ballistic nylon case until I find a small hard case case.

[SDW]

That Seahorse one is nice, for sure. I also like the Cole-Tac soft case, which unfortunately is also the most expensive of the ones shown in that SHide thread. What I like about the soft case is, it's no bigger than it needs to be. So more pocket/pack friendly, maybe? I dunno. I intend to throw my Xero (a Christmas present from my wife) in some kind of case, into my main shooting bag or possibly my "optics" Pelican case for transport to/from shooting trips.

[Zeneffect]

Ordered one.

Can't transfer from the magnetospeed xfr anymore after last android update... I've had enough...

[jasper2408]

Here is another cover option that a fellow on Snipers Hide 3D prints and sells for 25 bucks. Says that it protects and doesn't rub the screen.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/thr...s.7195579/

[SDW]

I ended up getting one of these SnHide-suggested clamshell cases since I was placing an amaz order anyway. $8. It works. Holds the Xero + tripod, cord, and paperwork nicely. Not as sturdy and waterproof as a Pelican or Evergreen case, but it's rigid enough to keep the Xero from getting pressed on should it drift to the bottom of the shooting back or between the seats, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E70SBB8?ref...tails&th=1

[SDW]

Random question for guys planning to, or are already attaching these radar chronos to your rifles: How does the recoil jolt and muzzle rise not affect read accuracy?