Lab Radar Chronograph

[Joe R]

FYI, below is my report that I posted yesterday on another thread. I have Firmware v1.1.3 :

I received my LabRadar on Thursday and took it to the range on Friday to compare its reading with my Oehler 35P. The user docs are a little sketchy on how to use it, so I called the company and a gentleman answered and he patiently walked me through how to set up, gave me a few tips on how to make it easier to use and I was up and running in ten minutes. It was the kind of tech support that I only experienced with my Oehler and never anywhere else.

I took it to the range again today. I have used for 86 rounds. Nine out of ten readings have been about 10 feet faster than the Oehler, which is to say that they were identical, because the Oehler is set up 22 feet from the muzzle and I always have to add 10 fps to its readings to get the real muzzle velocity. The few times that it differed, it was only by a 2-4 fps and my guess is that the LabRadar was right.

Today, I took it to the range again, I had shooters on both sides of me and the LabRadar didn't get triggered accidentally once. One guy next to me was shooting a AR with 8.5 inch barrel and it was obnoxiously loud, yet the LabRadar wasn't fooled once. I expected it to, and had my finger near the reset button in case it picked up the other bullets, but I didn't have to use it once. That impressed the hack out of me.

All-in-all I couldn't be more pleased. It is easy to carry, setup, use and read. The fact that I can set it up next to the rifle means I can use it at the 300, 600 and 1,000 yard line, something I could never do with the Oehler. I could only use the Oehler at the 100 yard line, so the LabRadar opens up a whole range of options for me now. Now I can practice anywhere and still get the data, for me that is simply awesome. It was definitely worth the wait for me. Life is good , very good now.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Thanks for the write-up Joe, I can't wait to receive mine!

 

[Joe Salt]

So instead of a printer like the Oehler 35 it has a card you take out to put in the computer correct? Need all the information I can get.

Joe Salt

 

[R Horn]

So instead of a printer like the Oehler 35 it has a card you take out to put in the computer correct? Need all the information I can get.

Joe Salt

Information is available on the screen and detailed information is available on the card save in a CSV format.

 

[R Horn]

Information is available on the screen and detailed information is available on the card save in a CSV format.

Not as up to date as the latest firmware but here is a link to the users manual

http://mylabradar.com/admin/incoming/20151117131553_UserManual11-Labradar-EN.pdf

 

[Joe R]

Joe Salt said:
So instead of a printer like the Oehler 35 it has a card you take out to put in the computer correct? Need all the information I can get.

R Horn said:
Information is available on the screen and detailed information is available on the card save in a CSV format.

The LabRadar also saves each series/strings also in Excel format file. Transferring it to a computer/pad is as easy as taking the SD card out and plugging it in.

Another nice feature is that now the SDs, ESs and averages are computed to the second decimal so an SD of 2.51 and 3.45 are not both shown as 3. That's good to know.

The user determines when a string starts and stops. User can also determine at what point down range I also want readings. Ie 0 (muzzle), 25', 50', 75', 100'. That's way too much info for me to digest at this point. I can also delete a shot, if it happened to pickup someone nearby.

If you own an Oehler you know what pain it is to change paper rolls. Well, I found the screen of the LabRadar very easy to read in the bright Houston sun, so I really won't miss that.

I'm going to be watching to see how quickly I go through the six batteries. If it is too quickly, I'm going to buy a rechargeable computer type battery pack and plug it in the USB port. Bottom line is that the only way I'm letting this baby go is if "They take it from my cold dead hands."

 

[dmoran]

.... is if "They take it from my cold dead hands."

You sound like Charlton Heston with that one...... lol

 

[Joe R]

You got it.

 

[Catfur]

Another nice feature is that now the SDs, ESs and averages are computed to the second decimal so an SD of 2.51 and 3.45 are not both shown as 3. That's good to know.

Not really, unless you're taking a stupendous sample size this is what's known as spurious precision, and leads to the logical fallacy of precision bias. Unless you measured a very large number of shots, an SD of 2.51 and 3.45 are pretty much the same. Even if you did measure a huge number of shots, that variation (<1) lies within the inherent measurement error of the device.

 

[dmoran]

Not really, unless you're taking a stupendous sample size this is what's known as spurious precision, and leads to the logical fallacy of precision bias. Unless you measured a very large number of shots, an SD of 2.51 and 3.45 are pretty much the same. Even if you did measure a huge number of shots, that variation (<1) lies within the inherent measurement error of the device.

A SD of 2.51 verses a SD of 3.45 is a variation of 27% in SD, which is really a significant difference.

 

[ratbuster]

Can someone that has a LabRadar try it with 20 and 17 bullets if they get a chance and report on the results? LabRadar's distributor told me he did not get 100% capture when he tried it with his HMR.

 

[R Horn]

A SD of 2.51 verses a SD of 3.45 is a variation of 27% in SD, which is really a significant difference.

Percentages are funny things and yes comparing the differences of the two standard deviations is 27% but you are looking at the difference between two small numbers.

For all intent purpose if the round was @ 2500 fps the slight deviation between those two measurements would be less than 0.05% or pretty much nothing.

Can someone that has a LabRadar try it with 20 and 17 bullets if they get a chance and report on the results? LabRadar's distributor told me he did not get 100% capture when he tried it with his HMR.

So your looking for someone to shoot 17 HMR to see if it will pic it up? I can check a couple freinds to see it they have one.

I have shot .225/5.56 boat tail and I could track that 40 to 60 yards. When I first got it I was shooting everything 200 yards just to see how far it would track. That boat tail is a pretty small radar cross section.

Just for kicks I did some quick power measurements with a spectrum analyzer to see the power difference between normal and low power. From those measurements I expected to range to be about half on low however it didn't work out that way. Low power (export to some country's will be low only) tracked about the same distance but the signal to noise ratio dropped off quicker. What does that mean? The export models will work good too!

Really unless you looking to verify bullet coefficients there is no reason to track a bullet that far but it has been fun testing anyway. I have tracked multiple rounds out to 150+ Yards.

 

[dmoran]

Percentages are funny things and yes comparing the differences of the two standard deviations is 27% but you are looking at the difference between two small numbers.

My developed loads have small SD values..... it's part of what I strive for.
SD under 5 from 15 or 20-shots is a personal demand of mine, or its back to work developing.

See your new... Welcome !.!.!
Donovan Moran

 

[Jeff A]

I have a few comments to make. I have had my LabRadar to the range a few times. I have fired 58 strings with mine. I'm pretty sure I have made every mistake possible. Of course, I thought that before I went out today. Here are my "Discoveries"

I inadvertently got into a situation today where the guy on my right had his target to the left of my target. His rifle was very loud and not surprisingly I started recording his shots. His rifle had a muzzle brake which had a hell of a muzzle blast. That activated the unit and his round crossed in front of me and recorded. Has not happened before and I'll take more care in the future.

The LabRadar has to be aimed at the target. Every time you touch the unit to arm, review or whatever, you have to re-aim it. Kind of a PITA.

I have the soft carry case. Almost impossible to handle it without inadvertently turning on the power switch and depleting the 6 AA batteries. I use A/C power but the unit will power up but won't arm with dead batteries. I learned today from a Tech call to LabRadar that if I had of removed the batteries, it would have armed. Gotcha!

I have recorded velocities as high as 3940 fps but generally if you are in the 3850 range or higher, you are going to miss more shots than you will record.

Your best friend is the optional SD card. Lots of extra info here. It would take post to go over that.

Even though the LabRadar is not very friendly to my 204 Ruger. I don't miss setting up my CED M2.

 

[DT]

If it's having that many missed shot issues trying to record velocities at 3,850 and up that makes it pretty much a waste of money if you want an all-around machine.

 

[spclark]

If it's having that many missed shot issues trying to record velocities at 3,850 and up that makes it pretty much a waste of money if you want an all-around machine.

At first look, you're correct. Folks shooting upwards of those velocities may choose to wait for the Gen II version. This product is something new & different on the scene, much as with electronic targeting systems. There's vast room for improvement but without sales to generate payback & future income that's going to be slow in coming.

Anybody reading the forum today still persist in using a sand-filled piece of pipe for a chronograph?

 

[R Horn]

Advertised velocity range is 65 - 3900 feet per second

If I need faster I guess I will break out my Crony but until then this is much simpler to set up and use. I have not had any issues with aiming sensitivity or tracking however the smallest round I have tracked was a boat tail .223

 

[R Horn]

See if these show up some of my very first testing with the unit.

50 yards plot


90 yards plot


Stats File


Sample of string data

 

[R Horn]

You can see past 60 yards the plots get a little erratic as the signal to noise ratio gets pretty low.

 

[R Horn]

Sample of some PMC 147gr from an M1A on the same day

50 yards plot


100 yards plot

Stats File