Scatt MX-W2

[Old Lefty]

I recently bought an MX-W2 Scatt Trainer and now am beginning to wish I hadn't. The first time I used it, at 50mtrs dry-fire, it worked fine but since then it has been a major pain. The second time I seemed to be having all sorts of problems but realised, after speaking to others, that I was expecting too much considering the conditions that day (bright sunshine facing me) and the placement of the target (deep shade). I followed advice and printed out a much better defined target, scaled down for 18mtrs this time, which I placed in the open and I shot with the sun behind me. To keep it simple I connected through usb and, at first, it seemed to be going well. The red dot appeared in the calibration target and every shot registered. When I felt settled enough to shoot an actual series of shots I pressed "continue" and the scoring target appeared on the screen. I fired five shots but none of them appeared and the sound of a shot didn't occur. I went back to the calibration and adjusted the sensitivity and tried again. Same result...calibration shots registered but nothing when I went on the card itself. I tried a few more times until I had ultra sensitive at it highest level. Same thing happened each time.
Why is the system recognising shots on the calibration screen but not on the target screen?
I've attached a photo showing where the camera is mounted at the front of my Bleiker.

 

[marshoot]

were you using the iris Diaphragm. Light is a big issue. The target has to be lite up. Yes even outside you still that to think about light. I was told that the claibration target is bigger for one but when you switch over to your practice target. It's smaller and your mistakes are amplified. If you did have the iris take it off and see what happens. Because you said the target is in the shade.

 

[Davidf92]

and now am beginning to wish I hadn't.

That would be a sad conclusion. Being a recent Scatt user with the MX-W2 as well I can confirm having had comparable issues at first and many users on the forum tell similars stories. Most of the times light/environment setup problems which really get on your nerves. Once understood and fixed though you really enjoy the tool.

That being said I don't have an obvious idea about what you are experiencing. Shot detection sensitivity is identical for calibration and dry-fire shooting, and usually once red dot calibration is obtained shooting should do fine. I would still be looking for something related to target detection or maybe sensor alignment.
When you calibrate with the red dot where are your shots located on the black circle? Rather close to the center? Could you maybe post a picture of your calibration screen with a group of 5 shots on it?

 

[Peter]

Hello everyone,

I've connected to the thread starter (Old Lefty) via TeamViewer last week and we figured out what was affecting the sensor's ability to pick up the target. Here are two crucial takeaways for potential readers and first time users, especially if you are shooting prone:

1) If the target in the Preview Mode looks too bright at the range, this indicates that there is too much sun outdoors. Actually, in this very case the sun was pretty much in zenith and the Preview image got so bright and whited out that we couldn't see the aiming black whatsoever, it was just a white rectangle. This can be fixed on the spot with an Iris diaphragm that we supply with the device, attached as an image below

The Preview Mode's image of the target immediately changed when we decided to screw the Iris on.
The overall visibility and contrast ratio has improved immensely and we could see the aiming black in the Preview Mode right away as well as managed to get a consistent red dot on the Calibration screen.

2) About the prone training in your backyard.
I'll make a quick (and sloppy) illustration of what happened with Old Lefty in the 25yds NSRA 1989 Rifle Target (Prone)

So even if the grass didn't directly obstruct the aiming black, it still created a harsh discrepancy in how much white background there is around the aiming black. You see the grass cuts basically all the white area below the aiming black, with the top in comparison still having 5 times more white background to work with (and the bigger the aiming black, the more white it needs in all 4 directions around itself)

If you can set the cardboard on some even concrete/pavement rather than the grass or perhaps elevate both the shooter and the target (while still shooting prone, just on a higher point from the ground. Let's say you can shoot from your porch, for example, rather than laying on the ground level) - it should eliminate any issues.

As soon as I've asked Old Lefty to sit up and bring the rifle up to his knees' level, everything started to work perfectly so there was no issues with the sensor whatsoever

 

[Old Lefty]

I'm most grateful to Peter for his patient help. Everything is now sorted and the system is working both outdoors and inside. Now enjoying practice again.
Old Lefty