Sky Caddie trouble

[Clemson]

Was looking into getting a skycaddie, so I borrowed my dads to try out at my home course. It took 5 minutes to get connected. It kept searching for satellites the entire time. I finally got tired of waiting on it on the 4th hole so I cut it off. I never cut it back on until I got to 15, a short 355 par 4 up hill. I nutted my tee shot so I tried to cut the caddie back on to mark ball to see my actually distance of my drive. I didn't have anyone behind me so I waited and waited for it to connect but it kept saying no signal. I finally got fed up and cut it off. the drive was over 300 yards I was only probably 35 yds from edge of the green. I never hit it that far.

Have any of ya'll had trouble getting a signal with your skycaddies or is just me out in the sticks?

[Pa Jayhawk]

I don't have the skycaddie, but an iGolf. In general with a gps, you will need to leave it on, and not turn it off after it registers. Also where are you putting the thing while it initializes. Should be out in the open to some degree, although even a drink holder or something should be fine. If you have traveled a ways from the last time it may take longer, if you are within the same course it should register pretty quick.

I turn my on when I prior to stepping up to #1, put it in the drink holder in a cart, and it is almost always registered before I get to where I hit my tee shot.

[Johnny Par]

Agreed with the above mentioned. I have an SG3. I believe per the manual, you should turn it on 10 minutes prior to the start of your round so it can search and acquire a signal.

This past saturday, it was cloudy which meant it took an extra 5-10 minutes to get a good signal. No problems afterwards.

[Clemson]

I will try it again. I did leave it on for the first 4 holes and every time I looked at it nothing was registering.

thanks guys

[Pa Jayhawk]

I will try it again. I did leave it on for the first 4 holes and every time I looked at it nothing was registering.

thanks guys

Again, where are you keeping it when it is on???

If you have it somewhere covered, like your pocket, that may be the problem. Although once it is initialized it does not quite have to be as out in the open all the time.

[Clemson]

I kept it on the seat of my golf cart. When I drove to the next ball I held it in my hand. It was in the open at all times. I went out yesterday after work but I forget to grab it so I will have to go out again after work for some trial and error.

[Pa Jayhawk]

The only other recommendations that may help is to not touch anything or scroll through any of the menus until it acquires satellites, if I do that on the iGolf it doesn't always register quickly. Also heck the site and see if there is a way to reset the device or change settings. The igolf has a couple functions like WAAS and a Stablizer function that effect how the device initializes.

[Dave Ireland]

Yeah I agree, I've the Sureshot GPS and I turn it on maybe 10 mins before I get on the #1 tee. Mine tracks 12 satellites of which it needs 9 to provide accuracy under 1 meter/yard .. great thing about Sureshot is no sub fees and free downloads for courses worldwide ... there's 250 courses mapped in Ireland alone so it's a great benefit this side of the pond..

[Eracer]

Not to be a slimey little threadjacker or anything....

My laser rangefinder is always ready to go in about 0.3 seconds.

[Dave Ireland]

Not to be a slimey little threadjacker or anything....

My laser rangefinder is always ready to go in about 0.3 seconds.

Threadjacker !! off with ya ... I used to have a laser rangefinder ... which was well and grand when measuring to trees and bunkers, but hell just never got to zap a pin with any great certainity .. used to zap a guy as he took out the pin ... he's probably wondering why all his hairs fallin out and grown a tail...

[warbirdlover]

he's probably wondering why all his hairs fallin out and grown a tail...

Dave Ireland

Classic!

[Pa Jayhawk]

Not to be a slimey little threadjacker or anything....

My laser rangefinder is always ready to go in about 0.3 seconds.

Yeah what Dave I said. I likely spend more time trying to zap a flag with any shot than what the GPS takes to initialize, but the GPS only takes .3 seconds to give me the distance.

I still have no profound preference for either and still use both depending on the circumstances. Actually I use both on the same course in many instances. If you have the time to program all the points, there is no substitute for the iGolf. It is all I ever use on my home course. If you don't, and are on a new course the Range Finder has many pluses but I prefer using both. The iGolf has many of the same benefits Dave mentioned on the Sure shot. Actually the ball finder I ordered and mentioned in another thread is made by the same company as the Sure Shot, and the Sure Shot is rated as the top Golf GPS but was considerably more (close to double) than that of the $229 I paid on the iGolf.

[Eracer]

It sure would be nice if golf courses would put reflectors on the flags. I played one that had them - very unobtrusive cylindrical things attached to the stick - and I was getting yardages from 250 yards out, just, it seemed, by pointing the laser somewhere near the flag. It was extremely easy to "shoot the flag". I agree that it's otherwise a PITA to hit the flag from anything over about 150, so I - like Dave The Hater(:laugh just blast the fat guys holding the flag in the group ahead.

Haven't seen any tails lately, but my ass has been itching lately...

[wirehair]

My Skycaddie wouldn't acquire a signal once, but thereafter all has been well. Just an elecronic brainfart.

[MGP]

Haven't seen any tails lately, but my ass has been itching lately...

I've heard Preparation H works wonders... :laugh:

Or you could just break down and get a golf GPS.