Sureshotgps has the largest database of Australian golf courses, the majority of which are preloaded onto the SS9000X V2.0. On the launch date, some courses have been ommitted and will be available by the 5th of January 2012. If you would like to find out more information about your course, please email support@sureshotgps.com.
For 8800 and 8850 Sureshotgps have membership options so you, the customer, can customise your GPS to your needs. The Lifetime membership ensures you never have to pay annual fees with a one off fee of $49.95 which gives you access to our worldwide map database for the entire life of the product. Other membership options have renewal fees however you can choose not to renew and still keep your favourite courses on your Sureshotgps forever. Renewing your membership means you can continue to access to the worldwide map database and interchange your course downloads. Micro, SS8850X & SS9000X V2.0 come with a FREE Lifetime Membership so there are no annual fees, ever.
The Sureshotgps™ has been designed specifically for the golfer and is therefore simple in its operation. There are multiple levels of operation and the player decides on the level required. The simplest level gives distances to the pin or recorded hazards and requires the press of one button at the start of each hole. If more information is required or recorded then the player can choose a higher level of operation and this can require the pressing of additional easy to use function keys. Whatever level is chosen, operation is easy.
We first started mapping courses early 2006. Currently we have over 14,000+ courses available. Everyday new golfers are adding their player mapped courses. Sureshotgps™ is forever continually mapping golf courses around the world.
The Sureshotgps Original model is Mac compatible under OS X running Parallels Desktop for Mac Release Candidate (Build 3120). The Sureshotgps 8800, 8850 and micro models are Mac compatible with SureAnalysis Version 3. Background Parallels Desktop for Mac is the first solution for Intel-Macs that give you the flexibility of running Windows on Mac OS X simultaneously without rebooting. It accomplishes this by allowing a user to run a Virtual machine (Guest OS) inside a windowed environment inside the Parent OS. The Sureanalysis™ Software application for the Sureshotgps™ functions properly in this environment. Please note its only supported under Windows XP. However we have many MAC customers using this environment.
Yes, the serial USB port on Sureshotgps™ is normally used for communicating with Sureanalysis™ and our PC application used to upload / download courses to Sureshotgps™. Communication between Sureanalysis™ and Sureshotgps™ uses a proprietary serial protocol. NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) is a standard for communicating with GPS receivers that uses a simple ASCII serial communications protocol to defines how data is transmitted in a ‘sentence’ from one ‘talker’ to one or more ‘listeners’. The standard also defines the contents of each sentence (message) type so that all listeners can parse messages accurately. We have included NMEA capability for users who may wish to interface Sureshotgps™ to other PC applications using NMEA such as Fugawi. Sureshotgps™ can only use one protocol at a time on the serial port, so if you enable NMEA you will be unable to talk to Sureanalysis™ until you change the setting back. We recommend you don’t touch this setting unless you have a special need to use NMEA output.
Most Sureshotgps™ models can keep a record of your average driving distance for up to 14 clubs. The Original model can then use this distance to make club recommendations during normal play if this feature is enabled under the Features / Clubs / Enable clubs menu. The 8800 model can still record the distance of each club, however the Club Recommendations option has been removed. There are two ways in which you can teach Sureshotgps™ what your average driving distance is for each club. 1) Measure your drive and calibrate on Sureshotgps™ 8800 or 8850. To use this feature, select the Features / Clubs / Measure Clubs option. You will be asked the club you wish to calibrate and can use the left and right arrows to cycle through the various clubs. When your selected club is shown press the left soft key (marked ‘Select’) and follow the instructions to record the initial ball position, make your shot and record the final ball position. The distance struck will be shown and you can use the centre soft key (marked ‘Save’) to record this inside Sureshotgps™. You can repeat this procedure for all other clubs by using the arrow keys to select the each successive club and following the calibration procedure. As you calibrate each club the data is automatically stored inside Sureshotgps™. 2) When using the original model, you can enter the distances in the Windows software provided ‘Sureanalysis™’ and download them to Sureshotgps™. This is the easiest option if you know pretty well what distances you can strike with each club and don’t need to measure them on the golf course. Connect Sureshotgps™ to Sureanlysis™ as normal and press the User Setup button. On the right side of the screen you will see a table that allows you to type in distances for up to 14 clubs. Sureanalysis™ can even estimate your club distances and populate each club with distances struck by an average golfer.
When we designed the Sureshotgps™, we knew that it would take a while before we could have all the courses mapped that our customers would require. As you can appreciate, there are thousands of courses around the world and getting them mapped and on the database as quickly as we would like is a challenge. Knowing this we designed the Sureshotgps™ with a simple to use mapping capability a course can be mapped while it is being played or simply by walking to the course prior to a round and mapping the required coordinates. Mapping with the Sureshotgps™ allows the golfer to map not only the front, rear and centre of the green but also up to 15 hazards and a lay up position for each hole. We appreciate that you would prefer to be able to download a course from the database. If you would provide us with the details of the course you require, we will endeavour to get it mapped and on the database as soon as possible. In the meantime, we hope that you are able to map your course with the Sureshotgps™ and begin to enjoy the benefits of playing with the Sureshotgps™. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further assistance with course mapping or any other aspect of the Sureshotgps™. To register to have your course mapped, please email our friend team at <a href=”mailto:courses@sureshotgps.com” title=””>courses@sureshotgps.com
The Sureshotgps™ uses a battery gauge chip that learns the battery capacity over time as the device is used. To get the best results we recommend the following: 1) Turn Sureshotgps™ off and charge overnight. 2) Use as normal until the battery is completely flat. 3) Recharge. This charge / discharge cycle should allow the device to calibrate itself against the battery and display an accurate indication. The Sureshotgps 8800 and 8850 models display a charging light when the unit is on the off mode. The bottom left hand green key under the screen will flash when the unit is successfully charging.
The USB port is 2.0 compliant.
The battery life is greater than 4.5 hours with the back light on full brightness. Under normal operating conditions (for example, playing a round of golf) the battery life would typically be 7+ hours. The Sureshotgps 8800 and 8850 models will allow over 18 hole play in one day between charges.
The battery is rechargeable and it takes about five hours to fully charge a flat battery.
The battery can be charged via the USB connector using the supplied AC adaptor, an optional car charger or via a laptop or PC, or alternatively any USB device that supports a powered USB connector.
The LCD is a 2.2″ TFT 256K colour LCD module with a direct sunlight film and is protected by a plastic lens.
Yes. There have been major advances in LCD technology, which now enable LCDs to be used in direct sunlight. The display used in the Sureshotgps™ has been optimised to give the best possible results under all conditions. There is a big difference between the display used in Sureshotgps™ and those used in PDAs and laptops. These devices have not been designed to be used in the conditions that are experienced on a golf course.
GPS accuracy is affected by a number of factors, including satellite positions, noise in the radio signal, atmospheric conditions, and natural barriers to the signal. Noise can create an error between 10 to 15 meters and results from static or interference from something near the receiver or something on the same frequency. The most accurate determination of position occurs when the satellite and receiver have a clear view of each other and no other objects interfere.
Sureshotgps™ is very simple to use and there is no special training required. The device will need to be registered and this is a simple operation by visiting www.sureshotgps.com, attaching the Sureshotgps™ to the PC using a USB cable (provided with the device) and clicking on the Register icon on the Home page.
Many golf courses already have GPS devices installed in their golf carts. Sureshotgps™ is a handheld GPS device that can be taken by the player to any course. Local rules need to be checked before using the device in competitions.
No. Sureshotgps™ is not a permanent part of the golf cart. Many users do clip the Sureshotgps™ to the cart as well as to the pull cart and golf bag.
With the Sureshotgps™, you can determine the distance to objects that are not in your line of sight. GPS can provide you with distances anywhere on the course that may be difficult to get with lasers. With GPS you can see those distances immediately. Also by using Sureshotgps™, you don’t have problems with overshooting a target or having to hold the device steady for accurate readings.
No you do not need to pay extra to recieve GPS signals at any time. The Sureshotgps 8850 and micro both come with a Silver membership which gives you access to the worldwide map database for 12 months and allows you to download up to 3 courses for free. To have access to the map database after 12 months you will need to renew your membership. However if you do not wish to renew the membership after it expires you will still always receive GPS signals for the existing courses loaded on your unit. http://www.sureshotgps.com/membership.php
Simultaneously hold the “page
Go to Settings on the unit, then to Auto Hole Advance and make sure it is set to ON (bottom of the screen), then exit. For the Auto Hole function to work successfully, the unit needs to be within/inside 15 metres of the centre of the green you are currently playing and then you need to move out 19m for it to advance. If you do not get close enough you will need to manually advance the unit by moving the centre button up to advance forward or down to go backwards/previous holes.
Even with a fairly new unit or before purchasing a new battery for an older unit – setting the backlight to a minimal time may help the battery out. To view distance when backlight is off, hit the page button to illuminate. Auto Power Off Setting should be set to OFF only. (no time to be set)
Remove the battery from the rear of the unit for 10 seconds and then reinsert battery and restart unit.
Select Golf on the main menu, then Settings, Check Hole Select option and make sure Auto is ticked and then exit. For the Auto Hole function to work successfully, the unit needs to be within/inside 25 metres of the centre of the green you are currently playing and then you need to move out 31m for it to advance. If you do not get close enough you will need to manually advance the unit by selecting the Hole number on top left and then selecting next hole.
Even with a fairly new unit or before purchasing a new battery for an older unit – setting the backlight to a minimal time may help the battery out. To view distance when backlight is off, hit the page button to illuminate. Auto Power Off Setting should be set to OFF only. (no time to be set)
Simultaneously hold the “page
Go to Settings on the unit, then to Golf, down to Auto Hole Advance and make sure it is set to ON, then save the setting and exit. For the Auto Hole function to work successfully, the unit needs to be within/inside 15 metres of the centre of the green you are currently playing and then you need to move out 19m for it to advance. If you do not get close enough you will need to manually advance the unit by moving the centre button up to advance forward or down to go backwards/previous holes.
Make sure unit is fully charged. When connected to a power source the battery charging icon will display and when complete it will flicker showing 4 full bars = fully charged. To start unit – Hold the Menu button (left button) down for 3- 5 seconds until the unit is turned on.
