GSA Golf Technical News

Price $1,299

Summer special low price

Price $999

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May 74:40 pm

How to buy a product on Amazon, use it for 6 months (or as long as you like for that matter),

then get a full refund for it after claiming it doesn't work and still keep the product.

This works:

First ensure you're purchasing the product from an independent Amazon seller like me, otherwise Amazon won't issue the refund unless it's returned.

When you get the refund, just ignore any calls and emails from the independent Amazon seller for you to return the product.

The seller is then left with no other alternative than to employ the services of an expensive lawyer in order to force the purchaser to return the product.

As most independent Amazon sellers won't want to risk this expense, they just give up and - hey presto - you get to keep the product for free.

A case in point with me is customer Chad M. of Michigan who purchased my SCX launch monitor on Amazon.

Used it for 6 months and then decided it wasn't working to his satisfaction and then made a claim to Amazon for a refund.

Amazon promptly issued his refund - despite my 30 day return policy (Amazon just ignores that) - and charged my account back for the $2,499.

Despite my many calls and emails to Chad M. (including sending a FedEx return label), he just ignores them and gets to keep the product free of charge.

So let this be a warning to all those that are thinking of selling products on Amazon.

You're screwed if the customer claims a refund - even after 6 months ! - and chooses not to return the product.

Maybe even after years. There doesn't seem to be a time limit on refunds when it comes to independent Amazon sellers.

BTW as a matter of principle, I will pursue legal action against Chad M. on this issue

no matter what it costs and will never ever (even just contemplate) selling on Amazon again.

PS if you are forced to return the product, then just send a box with a couple of bricks in it and claim you sent the product back

and if there are only bricks in it, then claim it's not your problem as it must have been sabotaged en route.

That way there'd be no way anyone can prove you did anything wrong.

Disclaimer:

Please note that I am not endorsing or recommending anyone should actually carry out any of the above methods as they constitute criminal Fraud - punishable by law.

It is only intended to point out the pitfalls of selling products on Amazon as an independent seller.

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May 71:30 pm

Auto tee-up system

Even with the addition of a second actuator to take the strain of the main vertical actuator with the low profile version of the auto tee system,

I'm still a bit concerned about it's ability to withstand the beating it will get with shots.

The above shown full version doesn't have this problem as there's no direct contact between the rubber tee and the horizontally mounted actuator.

As such, both versions will be offered.

New lower cost LX2 Lite

Click above image to read more...

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May 51:30 pm

CP update 10.4.8.5

New customer camera registrations

Chipping mode club feature reinstated

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May 3 9:00 am

New Xcam systems

VisTrak Xcams are interchangeable and fully modular

Both can either be floor or ceiling mounted.

A single Xcam can be used a floor mounted system to create an LX1/Vcam or ceiling mounted to create an Eagle system

When purchasing a second Xcam, a full SCX, EVi or LX2 system can be created

Xcams come complete with 24 LED IR narrow beam lights, interchangeable lenses, power supply, 40ft USB3 cables plus ceiling and floor mounts.

Price $1,299

Available at all good golf simulator retail outlets

Click above images for more info ...

Xcams can also be used as a hi-speed Swing Capture system

Click above images for more info ...

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April 30 2:00 pm

Auto tee-up system

In order to reduce the amount of wiring, I've updated the control board to include tee height timers (using CD 4094 shift registers)

and thus eliminate the requirement to use 2 separate external timers (as shown below).

My only concern at the moment is "will the tee height actuators be able to withstand the beating they will get with shots".

Even though there's only a rubber tee protruding above the mat, the rubber tee is directly attached to the actuator arm which will bend over slightly with each shot.

Regular rubber tees are quite stiff and thus any force on them will be transfered directly back onto the actuator arms and may cause them to fail over time.

I am thus adding a second actuator arm that locks the main actuator arm in place.

April 30 1:00 pm

CP update 10.4.8.4

New customer camera registrations

A number of smaller updates - including negative vertical launch angle avoidance procedures.

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April 24 2:00 pm

New "How to Build your own Golf Launch Monitor" video

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April 23 11:50 am

New LX/EVI Intro promotional video

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April 22 1:20 pm

New SCX Intro promotional video

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April 20 4:00 pm

CP update 10.4.8.3

New customer camera registrations

A number of smaller updates including laser not switching off after ball is detected

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April 17 5:00 pm

Auto tee system video

Click above image to read more...

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April 12 3:00 pm

LX2 construction updates

The LX2 now features reinforced tower platform mounting brack ets

plus all cables, power supplies and electronics for the cameras, laser and IR lights are now embedded into the tower post for a much cleaner look.

Box is 36" X 24" X 12" : 22 lbs

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April 11 4:00 pm

CP update 10.4.8.2

New customer camera registrations

A number of smaller updates

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March 6 1:00 pm

CP update 10.4.7.6

New: Camera frame rate settings now fixed.

i.e. either 790 or 1500 fps ( as per the camera manufacturer's specifications)

The CP's measured fps is no longer being used as measured fps can fluctuate depending on the CPU or USB bus load)

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February 4 3:00 pm

CP update 10.4.7.4

A number of smaller but potentially important updates

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JJanuary 25 8:45 am

New EVI Vcam

Now includes laser control for the EVI ceiling mounted camera

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January 19 12:00 pm

CP update 10.4.6.9

New SCX ball VLA adjust buttons in the camera panel

This saves you from having to navigate all the controls in the calibration table panel.

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January 18 2:30 pm

SCX calibration table check results

I spent numerous hours today checking and testing the SCX calibration tables using my SCX but couldn't find anything fundamentally wrong with them.

However, there were a few issues with the operation of the calibration panel itself.

Now fixed in this version of the CP

CP update 10.4.6.8

Issues and fault finding page updates

I've made numerous updates to this page today too.

One annoying issue that can happen is a White Screen when starting the CP

This happens when the USB connection to a camera has been corrupted.

In this case, a call to initialize a camera never returns and thus the CP just hangs.

Probable cause

When plugging in the cameras via the USB cable to the PC, the connection is intermittent due to waggling the cable.

Note that PC USB port connections are often not very secure and any cable waggle will cause this.

How to resolve

Shut the Control Panel down and disconnect the cameras from the PC.

Plug the cameras back into the PC and restart the Control Panel.

You should hear a single audible device connect sound from windows when doing this for every camera.

When connecting the second camera, ensure you only hear the second single device connection sound

and don't hear a device disconnect sound from windows.

If you do, then repeat the disconnect and connect procedure.

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January 16 9:12 am

New Laser:

The SCX and EVi systems now come with a new green dot ball placement laser

Retro fit for older systems: $149

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January 10 12:40 pm

CP update 10.4.6.4

New customer camera registrations

New retractable screen drives

Attach any impact screen to this drive

Includes heavy duty roller, bracket, RF remote control (line of site not required),

and limit switches to stop and start the roller automatically.

$799

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