JetBeam Jet-1 MKII R

[garfieldso]

Just received the JetBeam MKII R, natural HAIII finish, workmanship is good and without sharp edge at the tail pushing skirt. The dia is smaller than Fenix L1D, more easier to grip in palm. It uses CREE Q4 LED instead of Rebel (most people though that R is represented Rebel 100).

Using the same eneloop Ni-MH cell, MKII R got only a little brighter than JetBeam C-LE V.2, however the price is double the C-LE V.2.

Anyway give 8 of 10 mark. It is compact for daily carry, and it can feed in all AA size battery includes the 14500. And the heat generated from the head due to using of 14500 is lesser than the L1D, and C-LE V.2 (C-LE V2 is the hottest)

The only draw back is too many brightness levels for user, you have to press many time in order to obtain the desired brightness. And the tail cap thread still need to pay attention when screwing in.

 

[mchlwise]

How do you get from daily mode to advanced mode?

If you turn it on in low for a second, turn it back off, and wait more than 2 seconds, will it always come back on in advanced mode?

 

[selfbuilt]

Using the same eneloop Ni-MH cell, MKII R got only a little brighter than JetBeam C-LE V.2, however the price is double the C-LE V.2.

I'm not too surprised too hear that, since the original MkIIX circuit with a P4 Cree was certainly no brighter than the original C-LE with a P4, both on NiMH (actually, the MkIIX a bit less in my testing). You might find it does a bit better in initial output on alkaline, but 14500 is really where the MkIIR should shine (literally and figuratively).

Even if the new circuit was driving the emitter as hard as the C-LE v2.0, the difference between a Q4 and Q2 is likely to be pretty negligible on 1AA with regular batteries (especially given higher Vf of the Q4). Still, not sure why JB can't get their circuits to drive as hard as the Fenix lights on AA ...

Thanks for the prelim review!

 

[garfieldso]

How do you get from daily mode to advanced mode?

If you turn it on in low for a second, turn it back off, and wait more than 2 seconds, will it always come back on in advanced mode?

The point is that within the interval from changed to low mode and last for 2 second; if turn off the touch within this period and last for 3 sec or more, when you turn it on again, it will be changed from daily to advance mode.

Alternatively if you turn off the touch after the change mode "and" within the 2 second interval in the flashing (SOS) of advance mode. After you turn it on again, it will be back to daily mode.

 

[garfieldso]

I'm not too surprised too hear that, since the original MkIIX circuit with a P4 Cree was certainly no brighter than the original C-LE with a P4, both on NiMH (actually, the MkIIX a bit less in my testing). You might find it does a bit better in initial output on alkaline, but 14500 is really where the MkIIR should shine (literally and figuratively).

Even if the new circuit was driving the emitter as hard as the C-LE v2.0, the difference between a Q4 and Q2 is likely to be pretty negligible on 1AA with regular batteries (especially given higher Vf of the Q4). Still, not sure why JB can't get their circuits to drive as hard as the Fenix lights on AA ...

Thanks for the prelim review!

I also got a L1D Rebel 80, some as L1D CE, when using 14500, bright and hot enough and without any low and mid level, and then burnt for 30~45 mins and then blacked out. This one of the great problem if I plugged in a 14500 and forgot to bring alone other spare battery, it cannot sustain a nightly work or night-walk.

This is the dead spot of Fenix 1AA L1D, In 14500 mode - "when you need the light in the lonely night, it bright a while and then give no light"

 

[cheapo]

DONT USE 14500 IN CLE v2

 

[garfieldso]

DONT USE 14500 IN CLE v2

Well, it is. The official input voltage is 0.8~2V.

I have ran through 2 times of complete full cycle of 14500 in high mode, the light output was constantly until the battery dried out, except that you have to bear the exceeded heat.

This the cheapest 1AA what I got has the digital control and tunable level when in use of 14500 (I brought it around US$30). I love its outlook and construction, handy to use and can be slipped in any pockets then pick-and-go. If I fed in 14500, I use only the mid or low level.

By the way, agree with you that not to use 14500 in C-LE V.2

 

[PhantomPhoton]

The point is that within the interval from changed to low mode and last for 2 second; if turn off the touch within this period and last for 3 sec or more, when you turn it on again, it will be changed from daily to advance mode.

Alternatively if you turn off the touch after the change mode "and" within the 2 second interval in the flashing (SOS) of advance mode. After you turn it on again, it will be back to daily mode.

Thanks garfieldso, you type English better than I type in any other language .
So let me try to clear this up to help out others who are interested:

To get to Advanced mode from Daily mode...
In Daily mode, turn on low for over 2 seconds?
Turn the light off for more than 3 seconds?
It will now turn on in Advanced mode.

To get to Daily mode from Advanced mode...
Go to SOS mode for over two seconds?
Turn the light off.
It will now turn on in Daily Mode.

Let me know if this is correct.

 

[garfieldso]

Thanks garfieldso, you type English better than I type in any other language .
So let me try to clear this up to help out others who are interested:

To get to Advanced mode from Daily mode...
In Daily mode, turn on low for over 2 seconds?
Turn the light off for more than 3 seconds?
It will now turn on in Advanced mode.

To get to Daily mode from Advanced mode...
Go to SOS mode for over two seconds?
Turn the light off.
It will now turn on in Daily Mode.

Let me know if this is correct.

In Advance mode

..5%>>>10%>>>20%...90%>>>Strobe(5hz)>>>SOS(100%)>>>SOS(5%)>>>...

The Red of the above sequent are what called special functions,
The Green >>> means you have to slightly press the tail button once then it changes to other function or brightness level. (not to hardly press, hardly press with "click" sound means you turn off the touch)

Now, if you want to change the mode from Advance mode to Daily Mode. You have to slightly press the button and reach the special function Strobe(5hz)>>>SOS(100%)>>>SOS(5%)>>>..
during the special functions slightly press to change to other special function, and within 2 seconds interval, do a hard press (with click sound) to shut down the touch. Then let it be several seconds in shut down status, and then turn on touch, it will be switched to Daily mode and will be keeping in Daily mode until you switch back to Advance mode.

In Daily mode

High>>>Low>>>Strobe(5hz)>>>...

Now, if you want to change the mode from Daily Mode to Advance mode. You have to slightly press the button when in High, it will then change to Low, and with 2 seconds interval, do a hard press (with click sound) to shut down the touch. Then let it be several seconds in shut down status, and then turn on touch, it will be switched to Advance Mode and will be kept in Advance Mode unless you switch to Daily Mode.

Or another method, first shut down the touch when it is in LOW mode. That means when next time you turn on the touch, it will be in LOW mode. So next time you "click" on the touch and quickly hard "click" off the touch within 2 seconds; and then stay for awhile. When you turn on the touch, it switched to Advance Mode.

Advance and Daily Modes Switching Hints

Modes switch from/to Advance and Daily Mode are worked on the above red highlighted function or light level only. Other than that the Mode will not be switched.

During the above Red function or light level, do a hard press "click" shut down within 2 seconds interval to switch Mode.

As "2 seconds" is the time limit for the digit circuit to consider whether the change should be memorized or not; therefore if after the shut down and lasted for longer than 2 seconds, the circuit realized your change are real and memorizes it. Then next time you turn on the touch, the Mode has been switched.
That why somebody shut down the touch and too fast to turn on again lesser than 2 seconds, they found that the Mode had not switched! Because the digit circuit not recognizes it is a change and leave it unchange.

2 "seconds" on light level or function memorize

The "2 seconds" - The digital circuit programed if any light levels or functions changes longer than 2 seconds, the touch will realize it is a real change and memorizes it. If the time is shorter than 2 seconds, the touch will leave it and not to memorize it. So when you shut down the touch it will together to memorize the existing function or light level; and will resume back you last status when you turn it on again.

In old models, there will be a flicker to notify you the 2 seconds is reached. However most people thought that it is a bug of their touch; so nowaday the 2 seconds flicker notification has been removed from most of the flashlight products.

Hope the above can explain and make understanding to you.

 

[Lite_me]

Ma_n,,, I'm a geek, love gadgets, mechanically inclined, I can build and repair computers, and don't really mind multi-mode flashlights and actually think they are handy, but this is a little much. It sounds too easy to jump modes by accident. Should I not use this light for awhile and then, say, carry it for a day and forget how to change modes and get caught up in a mode when needing a light and don't remember how to get out of it to get where I want to be, well, that would be very annoying. It almost sounds like one would need to print out the instructions, roll them up around the battery and keep them in the barrel. Drag them out just to refresh your memory. That would be just silly. There's too many options here.
Then again, maybe I'm just old school. :shrug:

 

[garfieldso]

Ma_n,,, I'm a geek, love gadgets, mechanically inclined, I can build and repair computers, and don't really mind multi-mode flashlights and actually think they are handy, but this is a little much. It sounds too easy to jump modes by accident. Should I not use this light for awhile and then, say, carry it for a day and forget how to change modes and get caught up in a mode when needing a light and don't remember how to get out of it to get where I want to be, well, that would be very annoying. It almost sounds like one would need to print out the instructions, roll them up around the battery and keep them in the barrel. Drag them out just to refresh your memory. That would be just silly. There's too many options here.
Then again, maybe I'm just old school. :shrug:

Well, of course this is one of the con people disliked it since the MKII X. I'm also an old man started my electronic life by soldering every IC and IC sockets and made an ordinary Apple II PC with 16kB ram since ~30 years ago. In this old day need the running of a record tape in order to load the application program....
Nowaday I have to keep track the core 2 duo, DDR4, how to restore/resolve a virus attacked PC...
Time changes and things changes; I have to keep learning and memorize those, otherwise I will be kicked away from the electronic world.

More or less nowaday touches have to be twisted or soft pressed many times in order to obtain desired brightness or functions. Whenever new touches is placed in hand, I will mechanically twist it, press it and see what will be happened........ and get them in my memory.

I'm also an old school, like those pick-and-work things.

 

[AlexK]

Please a bit clearification for me:

Is the memory-function available in "Daily" and in "Advanced"-mode, or just in daily mode.

If it is used in "Advanced" mode, does this mean, I can get stuck in lets say, 30% and then have to click XX-times to get to 100%?

Thanks,
AlexK

 

[garfieldso]

Please a bit clearification for me:

Is the memory-function available in "Daily" and in "Advanced"-mode, or just in daily mode.

If it is used in "Advanced" mode, does this mean, I can get stuck in lets say, 30% and then have to click XX-times to get to 100%?

Thanks,
AlexK

I tested mine, the memory function only applies to Daily mode, and in Advanced mode, it is not worked.

Secondly , your are right, it is XX-times.......
This is the really con con con of this model and its UI; no one will bother the different of 40% to 50%. In the the flashlight world, Low, Mid, High SOS plus strobe is excessively enough, this is my opine only.

 

[liquidsix]

I tested mine, the memory function only applies to Daily mode, and in Advanced mode, it is not worked.

Secondly , your are right, it is XX-times.......
This is the really con con con of this model and its UI; no one will bother the different of 40% to 50%. In the the flashlight world, Low, Mid, High SOS plus stoke is excessively enough, this is my opine only.

Yeah I was a bit dissapointed when I found out the UI. I thought they'd have the same basic mode as the MkIIx but with memory and a harder to stumble into advanced mode. Unfortunately they really cut down on the basic mode.

 

[john46268]

I thought they would surely change their minds and add the memory back into the advanced mode, I mean c'mon, 16 modes and no way to save your place? I just tried mine and it defaults to something like 90% or 100% every time. I am forced to use Daily mode because Advanced mode is just too much bother! I am tempted to go back to using my MKII.X for its memorys. JetBeam has really let me down this time. Next time I'll be a lot more careful before I put in my order! I also keep having some strange little flickers I can't remedy. Tightening the barrel seems to help but it always comes back. Whats that about? Anyone else get that happening to them? At least I've got a darn bright light

 

[curry__muncha]

Is the HA-III Natural finish on the mk-II R a different colour to the MK-II X one?

 

[merlocka]

I am tempted to go back to using my MKII.X for its memorys.

My MKIIx doesn't have memory. Yours does? Detail plz.

 

[Nake]

My MKIIx doesn't have memory. Yours does? Detail plz.

Mine doesn't either.

 

[AlexK]

I recently received my MK.II R and compared it to my MK.II X, both running on fresh 14500.
I seems to me, that they are somehow the same brightness, while the MK.II R doesn't get as hot as the MK.II X. Also, the MK.II R seems to have a warmer tint.

Does anyone share my observations about the equal brightness or are there already some measurements around?

Cheers,
AlexK

 

[garfieldso]

I measured my MKII R, at Daily mode, High is drawn 1600mA, low is 480mA, strobe is 850mA while using a eneloop 1.2V Ni-MH

Assuming no energy lost, the voltage across CREE is around 3.5V, then the current feed for the CREE is around 550mA for high.