OK –
You guys will understand if I dispense with the pleasantries, yes? I’ll skip straight to the “issues” that I’ve found in my beta unit. If I don’t comment on something, that just means it works as expected. We understand each other? Good.
I have had some issues that seem to be related more to power continuity than to software... though I’m not sure. Whatever it is, it ain’t pretty.
1. The first trouble that I encounted is seeing RFS when I went to turn the light on (no battery change, just sitting OFF for a while). Other times when clicked on, the emitter would flicker and jump around between levels for a few seconds. It looked like RFS gone bad. It does this in either mode, interestingly enough.
2. Several times now when I have left the light sitting off, I cannot turn it back on. I try the unlock sequence of two and three clicks. I try everything I can think of. Sometimes I can get it working again with a battery change, and sometimes I can click a million times and it will come on. This is happening more and more. In the time it took to type this, the light won’t come on again. It flashed when I pressed the button, and then went dark. Five clicks later it is on and working again. And now it isn’t. I have now tried three different brands, and new and used batteries. Same result.
Suggestions for Improvements/changes in the software:
1. When on, double-click turns light off, and back on at alternate level. When double-clicked fast, it looks like a flicker, when done slower, the light goes dark, and comes back on at the original level and then switches to the alternate level. I would like to see a bit of time added to the click-off sequence to minimize this. Doesn’t feel like I’m in control - but that I’m waiting for it to catch up to my actions.
2. When on and pressing for momentary high, the delay is too long. The delay can safely be shortened by at least 25% without losing your “click” time.
3. Lockout click sequence should be shortened. In an attempt to click the light on and back off, I have managed to lock the light out. Right now, you can be quite lazy with your lockout clicks. Quicker clicks should be required.
4. When locked out, and more than the required number of clicks are used in an attempt to unlock, the light will not unlock. In other words, I have lockout set to two clicks, and the light is locked. I quickly click three times, and the light stays locked. Is this by design? If so, why?
5. When holding button for momentary high, I have seen quite a bit of level-searching which looks like flicker. Not consistent but seems to be battery independent. May be part of the “power continuity” issue above.
6. I seriously think that latch to high after a few seconds should NOT be part of the simple menu. If that feature absolutely must be included, there needs to be an indication that the light is latched. A level dip would work. But if “simple” is so simple as to do away with momentary from off, then latching momentary high shouldn’t be there either. In my mind, momentary from off is more simple and valuable than latching high. But I would rather see neither of them in the simple menu.
7. A reverse direction indicator for the strobe menu would be most welcome. A flash would work nicely. Sometimes I’ll be clicking quickly through the strobes, and will click fast enough to change direction without knowing it. Getting back to where I was is a sure way to a sore thumb.
8. Would be nice if the “click number” would give an indication of what was just set, so I’m sure I’ve accomplished something. Truth be told, I don’t think the click number should be a settable menu item. On or off, yes, but just pick a number of clicks and be done with it. Any way to reduce the menu choices is a winner in my book. And this would seem to be a REALLY low priority. It used to take, what? 12 or 13 clicks to lock the light out originally? Now it takes three... Or two... or whatever Arc decides. A huge improvement that everybody can live with.
9. I am not thrilled that the menu is now even more complicated than before. I understand the desire for a submenu, but it sure doesn’t make navigation or remembering the menu any easier. There is simply no way I could adjust this light confidently without the written manual. And even with the manual, I often have to take two or three stabs at it. I was secretly hoping that a new menu interface would have come out of the re-coding. I simply can’t get used to it. Adding the simple mode is a brilliant move, and I think it will see lots of use.
OK, that’s all for now. I’ll wait and see if there is any feedback.
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