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To get the Labradar unit to properly calculate and record power factor,
we have to set certain preferences in the Labradar unit. Before we do that,
let's take a look at the USPSA competition rule book to see what these
preferences need to be. On the 2019 edition, if we go to page 91. We can see
the actual calculation for power factor. It is bullet weight in grains .. so this
tells us, that in the Labradar preferences,
the weight units needs to be in grains.
And of course, it's obviously telling us
that we need to record the bullet weight
as projectile weight in the preferences.
Times average velocity in feet per second.
So this tells us that the Labradar
preference, velocity units, needs to
be in feet per second.
Now I am going to go to page 88. We're going to look at section 3.
Here it's referring to a typical chronograph. The last sentence says the closest
sky screen must be placed no less than ten feet from the shooting location.
So this tells us that the Labradar preference, distance units, needs to be in feet.
Not yards. Not meters. But in feet. And let me tell you what it's not telling us.
It's not telling us that the Labradar unit needs to be ten feet away from the
muzzle of the firearm. The Labradar unit must be set up according to the
manufacturer's instructions. And when you read those, you would see that the muzzle
of a firearm is generally six to twelve inches away from the unit.
So what this ten feet is referring to,
is in one of the preferences you set, is called Set Distances.
You can set five distances you want to record velocity at. And as it records and
produces your files, you'll see that it automatically gives you a
velocity at distance 0. Which is considered muzzle velocity.
It then gives you velocities at the five distances you set.
They're known as Dx 1, Dx 2, Dx 3, Dx 4 and Dx 5.
When you also read the Labradar instructions, you will see that
power factor is calculated based on the distance you set in Dx 1.
So in the Labradar preferences, we need to set Distance Units to feet
and we need to set Dx 1 to ten. So, at this point let's go into the Labradar
unit and set those preferences.
Okay, we're going to set up preferences in the Labradar unit.
But real quick, in the Quick Setup Guide mention about muzzle placement.
They give a very good diagram of muzzle position. The top view and side view
of the muzzle and its relationship to the Labradar unit.
Also in the User Manual, on page ten, under Set Distances. The power factor is
calculated using the velocity at Dx 1.
Power the unit on. The start up screen will display.
Once it's finished, we'll go to the current shot series.
You then press the Display button. Go into Preferences. OK. Velocity units.
We mentioned it needs to be in feet per second. This one already is.
So we're good there. Distance units. Is at yards. But it needs to be in feet.
Weight units. Grain. Which is correct.
Select velocity range. Should be set to handgun. And if you look at the icon at
the top, that tells you what the velocity range is set to.
Projectile Offset. This is how far the muzzle is from the Labradar.
I have mine at six inches. You can set up to twelve or higher.
But you want to keep it about twelve inches or less, if you can.
Set Distances. Okay. This is Dx1.
Notice that it's in feet. As mentioned, we need for it to be at ten feet.
This will go to Dx 2. For purposes of this video, I'm not going to change
Dx 2 through 5. So that's two, that's three, that's four and that's five.
Projectile Weight. Notice that's in grains. For each competitor, once you learn
their bullet weight. This is where you'll set that bullet weight.
Arm Time is described in the User Manual. It really doesn't have a bearing on the
calculation of power factor. Screensaver time. Trigger Source.
If you can, always have it at Trigger. You'll get much more accurate velocity
readings than if you had to set it at Doppler.
Trigger Level. This doesn't have a bearing on the calculation of power factor.
But I've got mine set to Level 1. It's the most sensitive. Got a lot of other shooting
going on that's setting off the unit prematurely, you might need to drop the
sensitivity by increasing the level number.
Tx Channel. If you've got several Labradar units at your competition measuring velocities,
you'd want to go through and set them at different channels. And skip a channel.
Let's say you've got three Labradar units. You'll want to set the first one at channel one,
the next one at channel three, and the next one at channel five.
Power. I almost always leave mine at standard. Low is usually used when
you got a restricted range. All right. So at this point, the unit has
been set up to properly record and calculate power factor.
Your at the match. Your competitor took their requisite three shots or more.
But the question is, is there a way to see the power factor number
without having to download the data? The answer is yes.
Okay, we're still in the Arm mode. And just for the purposes of this video,
I don't like leaving the unit in the mode where it's transmitting
radar waves when it's sitting on top of the table.
So I'm just going to press the Arming button one time, real quick.
I've taken it out of the transmission mode. It's still in the Arm mode. But it's no longer
transmitting radar. And this is how you can see the power factor.
Press the Display button and this will cycle through some data.
Here we're seeing the velocities at Dx 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Here we're seeing two
power factor numbers.
This top power factor number is the
power factor for this specific shot.
This average power factor, this is the
power factor for all the shots in the series.
In this case, it's 143. My understanding
of the USPSA rules is that
decimal places are ignored.
So this is not a power factor of 144.
It's a power factor of 143.
Now for the next competitor, you don't want to keep adding shots to the same series.
Because then your mixing competitor information.
You have to start a new series.
And to do that, you come out of Arm mode by pressing and holding the
Arm button, until you're back to the series. Then you press the New Series button.
Leave it on Yes and press OK.
I'm not going to do it this time, because I want to keep that series active.
That is how you can see the power factor that was created for all the shots at a
particular series. And again, you're going to want to have one series per competitor.
Next we're going to actually take a look at the workbook created by the Labradar unit.
And what the power factor information there looks like.
OK. So you've been to the range, you made your shots, you open up the workbook.
Let's see what you should find. OK. This is your unit of measure legend.
What you need to see is velocities in feet per second.
Distances are in feet.
Units weight is in grains. .
Now I add these .. headings
for the purpose of this discussion.
But what the Labradar unit does,
it records velocities at
the five distances you set.
And at muzzle velocity.
It considers muzzle velocity V0.
All these velocities are the ones recorded for what you set for Dx 1,
these are for Dx 2, 3, 4 and 5.
What you need to see here ...
is V10 ...
these are the velocities recorded at ten feet.
Then your power factor numbers will be in this column PF10.
That ten comes from here. Again, it's ten feet.
And this is your projectile or bullet weight.
So these are the power factor numbers for this bullet weight at this velocity
in feet per second at this distance of ten feet.
If however, you got all your preferences set correctly. Except for projectile weight,
I do have a link being displayed right now that shows you how to correct your data if
you accidentally used the wrong projectile weight. But that solution assumes all the
other preferences were set correctly, except for projectile weight.
At this point, this concludes this video.
And I hope it was useful to you. And thank you for watching.
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