New 2012 Callaway UPRO MX+

dcmidnight · June 24, 2012

[quote name='marrigo' timestamp='1340502449' post='5156242']
Hmmmm, mine maintains satellite lock while the screen is asleep. Distances are updated immediately when it wakes up.
[/quote]
Same here, I dont think I've ever waited more than a few seconds for an up to date distance.

DownTownLB · July 7, 2012

I've had the upro mx for a couple of months now and probably 20 rounds. I came to it from an SG5.

PERFECT? No. But Callaway has STEADILY improved it in those 2 months and I expect that trend to continue. Observations vs SG5......

[b]SIZE: Upro.[/b] The SG5's size didn't bother me.....until I gamed the upro. Upro....ANY pocket. SG5 .... back pocket or cradle only.

[b]BATTERY LIFE: SG5[/b] The SG5 was always good for 2 rounds and change....upro tends to have ~40% battery life after 18 holes and I've yet to try to get that second round in (hey....smaller size = smaller battery. It's physics and I'll take the size savings). In both cases I've always carried a 2nd charged battery so not an issue for me.

[b]SOFTWARE: TIE[/b] Skygolf should have this down BUT the syncing is ridiculously LONG. Also, on more than one occasion I loaded a course, only to get to the first tee and not have it show up on the SG5. Upon rebooting....or the next day it might. Their course search, etc on the website is well executed.....no issues with that at all.

Callaway has issued 3 major updates in my 2 months......and in each one the experience has gotten better and better. I expect this to be a NON-issue soon. In fact.....because all courses are preloaded except the pro-mode.....even IF I forget to load the pro-mode I intend to play.....I'll still have a usable GPS. HUGE! I really like the stats displayed on the login screen at Callaway and the majority of the features......but it still needs polish. Course search is VERY cumbersome compared to SkyCaddie.

[b]DISPLAY: upro[/b] Brighter and higher res

[b]USAGE: upro[/b] I much prefer the graphical representation of the upro in GoMode vs SG5. The pro-mode view for fairway traps ROCKS!.....far easier to locate the info than the list view of the SG5. Many times I just gave up bcs I was slowing the group trying to find the carry # to the 3rd trap on the right on the SG5 on an unfamiliar course.

The need to wake by hitting the power button on the upro.....annoying at first....but you quickly get use to it. Second nature now. VERY quickly has updated GPS once it wakes....again no issue. I pull it out 10 yards from my ball....it's ready for club selection when I am. All my friends are SkyCaddie owners and I routinely check with them on distances. We are always within a couple of yards. I was always confident of my SG5 distances and I'm equally confident with the upro.

[b]CUSTOMER SERVICE:[/b] I can't say for SkyCaddie....never had a reason to call them on my SG3 or 5. They both just worked. My friends did have a couple of instances to use their CS and were always satisfied with the results.

Callaway.......I'll be the first to trash a company that puts out a lousy product. Had I bought my upro last year.....I can't say what I'd feel about them. But they have stood behind their product better than any company I have ever experienced....PERIOD. Most would have walked away. I commend them for sticking behind good hardware that was being hamstrung by bad software. My girlfriends upro was acting a little wonky......her new one is on the way.....no questions asked. I initially had issues with the website and the pro-made downloads.....they've been great in dealing with them. Courteous....short hold times.....KNOWLEDGEABLE ENGLISH SPEAKING REPRESENTATIVES!!!!

I hope this helps.......

inthefairway · July 8, 2012

[quote name='DownTownLB' timestamp='1341697537' post='5233736']
I've had the upro mx for a couple of months now and probably 20 rounds. I came to it from an SG5.

PERFECT? No. But Callaway has STEADILY improved it in those 2 months and I expect that trend to continue. Observations vs SG5......

[b]SIZE: Upro.[/b] The SG5's size didn't bother me.....until I gamed the upro. Upro....ANY pocket. SG5 .... back pocket or cradle only.

[b]BATTERY LIFE: SG5[/b] The SG5 was always good for 2 rounds and change....upro tends to have ~40% battery life after 18 holes and I've yet to try to get that second round in (hey....smaller size = smaller battery. It's physics and I'll take the size savings). In both cases I've always carried a 2nd charged battery so not an issue for me.

[b]SOFTWARE: TIE[/b] Skygolf should have this down BUT the syncing is ridiculously LONG. Also, on more than one occasion I loaded a course, only to get to the first tee and not have it show up on the SG5. Upon rebooting....or the next day it might. Their course search, etc on the website is well executed.....no issues with that at all.

Callaway has issued 3 major updates in my 2 months......and in each one the experience has gotten better and better. I expect this to be a NON-issue soon. In fact.....because all courses are preloaded except the pro-mode.....even IF I forget to load the pro-mode I intend to play.....I'll still have a usable GPS. HUGE! I really like the stats displayed on the login screen at Callaway and the majority of the features......but it still needs polish. Course search is VERY cumbersome compared to SkyCaddie.

[b]DISPLAY: upro[/b] Brighter and higher res

[b]USAGE: upro[/b] I much prefer the graphical representation of the upro in GoMode vs SG5. The pro-mode view for fairway traps ROCKS!.....far easier to locate the info than the list view of the SG5. Many times I just gave up bcs I was slowing the group trying to find the carry # to the 3rd trap on the right on the SG5 on an unfamiliar course.

The need to wake by hitting the power button on the upro.....annoying at first....but you quickly get use to it. Second nature now. VERY quickly has updated GPS once it wakes....again no issue. I pull it out 10 yards from my ball....it's ready for club selection when I am. All my friends are SkyCaddie owners and I routinely check with them on distances. We are always within a couple of yards. I was always confident of my SG5 distances and I'm equally confident with the upro.

[b]CUSTOMER SERVICE:[/b] I can't say for SkyCaddie....never had a reason to call them on my SG3 or 5. They both just worked. My friends did have a couple of instances to use their CS and were always satisfied with the results.

Callaway.......I'll be the first to trash a company that puts out a lousy product. Had I bought my upro last year.....I can't say what I'd feel about them. But they have stood behind their product better than any company I have ever experienced....PERIOD. Most would have walked away. I commend them for sticking behind good hardware that was being hamstrung by bad software. My girlfriends upro was acting a little wonky......her new one is on the way.....no questions asked. I initially had issues with the website and the pro-made downloads.....they've been great in dealing with them. Courteous....short hold times.....KNOWLEDGEABLE ENGLISH SPEAKING REPRESENTATIVES!!!!

I hope this helps.......
[/quote]

Well said!! Have had same results with my upro mx from last year!!

Muse · December 13, 2013

Over a hundred posts in this thread, evidently, have only read a few. I have had a uPro for almost 3 years, started playing with it around May 2011. Until today I had 11 courses downloaded of my 50 course allotment and used the Pro Mode download for my home course. I made a tee time for a few days from now at a course not yet downloaded to my uPro, so today I went to download it. It took me over an hour to get synced. I guess they never fixed the problems they had with the website and/or syncing software. I have the uPro Finder application downloaded but it was no help this time. After many tries, many off/on cycles and several reboots of my PC (running Windows XP), I finally managed to sync, choose courses, resync, etc. etc. Persistence was necessary in spades.

Now, the first thing I noticed when I got to the uPro website ("uExplore") was a notice that they are going to stop supporting many of the features of the various uPro devices. The notice says this:
- - - -
As part of our ongoing initiatives, Callaway Golf is fully committed to our core business of clubs and balls. With this refocused position in mind, we want to let you know that the [url="http://www.callawayuxplore.com/"]www.callawayuxplore.com[/url] website will be shut down after 12/31/2014.

Online synching for course downloads, updates, and course search will no longer be available after this date. We recommend downloading your 50 ProMode courses to your upro, upro mx or upro mx+ device before the 12/31/2014 deadline. The upro, upro go, upro mx and upro mx+ will still work after 12/31/2014 for Basic Mode, GoMode and ProMode, but they won't be able to download new courses or course updates.

Callaway Golf will continue to honor the limited warranties for all upro devices.

More FAQ for your device:
• Shot Tracking is permanently inoperable.
• No new course updates will be processed.
• The upro, upro go, upro mx and upro mx+ are not compatible with Windows 8.

For questions and more information on these updates, contact our support center at: [url="http://www.callawayuxplore.com/support"]www.callawayuxplore.com/support[/url]

Thank you for using upro and supporting Callaway Golf!
- - - -

I saw this before I managed to sync, choose courses, resync, etc. etc. Well, I decided that since I won't be able to download more courses after the end of 2014, I should download every course I can that I think I might want to play at some future time. I downloaded an additional 10 or so. Will find some in southern California later (in 2014) and download those, hopefully.

One thing really bothers me and that's the fact (it says so above) that they will stop supporting the shot tracking feature. I believe that that's the feature where you determine how far you are from when you hit your last shot. I use that very frequently. Bummer. I suppose they have to pay for the satellite time that supports that feature and they decided to improve their bottom line at the expense of their customers.

IMO, Callaway got in over their head when they bought the company that developed the uPro. Now they want to wash their hands of it to the extent they can without angering too many of their customers. Maybe if enough people make a stink they will continue to support the shot tracking feature even if they shut down the uExplore support site and stop allowing people to download courses and updates.

78Staff · December 15, 2013

[quote name='Muse' timestamp='1386926242' post='8293469']
One thing really bothers me and that's the fact (it says so above) that they will stop supporting the shot tracking feature. I believe that that's the feature where you determine how far you are from when you hit your last shot. I use that very frequently. Bummer. I suppose they have to pay for the satellite time that supports that feature and they decided to improve their bottom line at the expense of their customers.

[/quote]

That is strange, you wouldn't think it would make a difference with the shot tracker, but I guess somehow it does. I have both the original and the mx+ (bought for $50 a few months ago), but prefer the original. If the shot tracker goes away I will probably look at a G6 sometime next year I suppose.

wundej · December 19, 2013

[quote name='Muse' timestamp='1386926242' post='8293469']
Over a hundred posts in this thread, evidently, have only read a few. I have had a uPro for almost 3 years, started playing with it around May 2011. Until today I had 11 courses downloaded of my 50 course allotment and used the Pro Mode download for my home course. I made a tee time for a few days from now at a course not yet downloaded to my uPro, so today I went to download it. It took me over an hour to get synced. I guess they never fixed the problems they had with the website and/or syncing software. I have the uPro Finder application downloaded but it was no help this time. After many tries, many off/on cycles and several reboots of my PC (running Windows XP), I finally managed to sync, choose courses, resync, etc. etc. Persistence was necessary in spades.

Now, the first thing I noticed when I got to the uPro website ("uExplore") was a notice that they are going to stop supporting many of the features of the various uPro devices. The notice says this:
- - - -
As part of our ongoing initiatives, Callaway Golf is fully committed to our core business of clubs and balls. With this refocused position in mind, we want to let you know that the [url="http://www.callawayuxplore.com/"]www.callawayuxplore.com[/url] website will be shut down after 12/31/2014.

Online synching for course downloads, updates, and course search will no longer be available after this date. We recommend downloading your 50 ProMode courses to your upro, upro mx or upro mx+ device before the 12/31/2014 deadline. The upro, upro go, upro mx and upro mx+ will still work after 12/31/2014 for Basic Mode, GoMode and ProMode, but they won't be able to download new courses or course updates.

Callaway Golf will continue to honor the limited warranties for all upro devices.

More FAQ for your device:
• Shot Tracking is permanently inoperable.
• No new course updates will be processed.
• The upro, upro go, upro mx and upro mx+ are not compatible with Windows 8.

For questions and more information on these updates, contact our support center at: [url="http://www.callawayuxplore.com/support"]www.callawayuxplore.com/support[/url]

Thank you for using upro and supporting Callaway Golf!
- - - -

I saw this before I managed to sync, choose courses, resync, etc. etc. Well, I decided that since I won't be able to download more courses after the end of 2014, I should download every course I can that I think I might want to play at some future time. I downloaded an additional 10 or so. Will find some in southern California later (in 2014) and download those, hopefully.

One thing really bothers me and that's the fact (it says so above) that they will stop supporting the shot tracking feature. I believe that that's the feature where you determine how far you are from when you hit your last shot. I use that very frequently. Bummer. I suppose they have to pay for the satellite time that supports that feature and they decided to improve their bottom line at the expense of their customers.

IMO, Callaway got in over their head when they bought the company that developed the uPro. Now they want to wash their hands of it to the extent they can without angering too many of their customers. Maybe if enough people make a stink they will continue to support the shot tracking feature even if they shut down the uExplore support site and stop allowing people to download courses and updates.
[/quote]
Talk about bringing something back from the dead...
They were doing fine with uPro until the MX software issues came up. GPS devices are not in their redefined roadmap for their future business.
I don't know how the shot tracking worked on the original uPro, but I assume that it uploaded info to the web. This is the part that wouldn't work. The distance measurement feature on the device should work fine.

Muse · December 20, 2013

[quote name='wundej' timestamp='1387512654' post='8326347']
Talk about bringing something back from the dead...
They were doing fine with uPro until the MX software issues came up. GPS devices are not in their redefined roadmap for their future business.
I don't know how the shot tracking worked on the original uPro, but I assume that it uploaded info to the web. This is the part that wouldn't work. The distance measurement feature on the device should work fine.
[/quote]Ah, so, what's the shot tracking feature you refer to? Some kind of internet based memory of uploaded data from the uPro's? What exact feature is that? Is it an additional feature that you have/had to subscribe to by paying an additional amount after purchase of the GPS, such as the keeping score feature?

Edit: So, I guess that's it. From a review at Amazon -- "[i]Shot tracking[/i] to keep stats and per club stats can help game ($25 extra) "

I am not using that. I have an idea in my mind of how far I can/might hit a given shot, I don't need a statistical workup for it, I'm not that consistent at the moment, and if I were, I would have a good enough idea intuitively. I do use the point A ---> point B distance measurement facility pretty frequently. If I hit a drive off line, for example, it's nice to know how far I am from the tee so I can start looking for my ball in earnest in the rough, etc.

Question: Can I download any number of courses for Basic Mode? Or is the 50 course limit just for Pro Mode downloads, assuming you've paid for them?

wundej · December 22, 2013

I have no clue about the original uPro. I've never used one, only the uPro Go and MX.
BTW, you are posting in a uPro MX thread. It is kinda confusing, you are talking about the original uPro, right?

IMO, you could just call callaway customer service, and they will tell you exactly what you need to know. Their support is 100% the best in the business. Don't take anything anyone says on the internet seriously, you never know who is sitting behind that keyboard. Seriously, just give them a call. They are super helpful.