Stock E-Grip (have also played around with a buddy's WAS boarded A5)
Marker Setup:
Tippmann A5
E-Grip (now with APE board)
QEV mod
JCS Dual Trigger
Proteam Bolt
Core Expansion Chamber
Apex Barrel
Lots of other random accessories that would not affect performance of this product
Strengths:
1. More modes, better modes
2. Lights easy to see even in sunlight.
Weaknesses:
1. Tricky programming
2. Cannot use full ROF w/o other mods
3. ROF disparaties
Review:
NOTE: I am adding the Vortex Mod and a LPK (will use HPA) with Mac Dev regulator to my setup in hopes of getting a higher and more consistent ROF. I’ll write a review with that setup after I’ve tested it. Right now I am running on CO2 with a QEV valve mod, an expansion chamber and pro-team bolt as my only other upgrades (that would affect the board’s performance).
I will write a concise review for the ADD people like myself. If you want to read my long review with all my experiences testing the board, it is down below.
Concise Review:
The Good:
1. relatively easy to install
2. more modes and better modes than stock board (7 v. 5) including ramping
3. higher ROF and adjustable de-bounce
4. good support from APE customer service
5. supposedly water-resistant
6. longer battery life
7. lights easy to see even in sunlight
8. push-button programming far better than stock screw turning method
The Bad:
1. need to purchase other upgrades to take advantage of higher ROF (see full review)
2. programming can be a little tricky, you will have to have the instructions in front of you the whole time
3. $70 board for a $100 E-grip = $170 total - maybe a little pricey for some people
4. disparities between what the board says the ROF is and what the chrono says the ROF is
Full Review:
I replaced my stock E-grip with the Rampage board b/c I wanted a higher ROF than the stock board would provide. APE claims the rampage board will do 25 BPS but they are quick to add that there is no way your cyclone feeder will keep up w/o other upgrades to the marker. I knew I needed a QEV valve to get the cyclone to feed above 12-14 bps so I added a QEV at the same time I installed the board. Then I took the setup out to the field, juiced up a fresh 20oz CO2 tank, set the board to 22 BPS (also set the de-bounce to its highest 25 as recommended by the instructions for high ROFs). Grinning with anticipation I let ‘er rip. The marker fired one shot (the one chambered) and then nothing, just a long, loud and CO2 gulping “blap-blap-blap-blap” while the marker kicked like a mule in typical A5 fashion.
Disappointed, I scaled the ROF down to 22 BPS and tried again. This time it fired more than one ball, but it painfully obvious that the poor cyclone feeder, even with a QEV, just could not keep up. I set the ROF to 19 BPS and tried once again. This time it seemed like the cyclone was keeping up, every now and then it would skip a ball or two but for the most part it was shooting a steady stream. I was a little disappointed that I paid over $100 ($70 for the board $35 for the QEV) to get my A5 to shoot a mere 4 BPS faster than a stock E-grip (my stock board shot 14-15 BPS on the chrono and didn’t skip).
After going through 500 or so balls, I swapped CO2 tanks and put the marker back on the chrono. Turns out I was not shooting 19 BPS at all but only 16-17 BPS according to the chrono. This made me very angry as I realized that I had spent over $100 to get my A5 to shoot only 2 or 3 BPS faster than stock. I don’t know why the chrono read different from what the board said it was shooting at, but the people at APE suggested that maybe the cyclone was still skipping and was thus the marker was cycling at 19 BPS but only 16-17 balls per second actually came out of the barrel.
Some people have suggested that I get the Vortex Mod for the cyclone feeder if I want to shoot 20+ BPS ropes with my A5 and I am in the process of installing the Vortex Mod on my marker (add another $35 to my credit card bill). Also, I decided that trying to make a high ROF maker with CO2 was like trying to make a Dodge Neon into an 11-second drag car, so I forked out another $200 for an HPA tank, $110 for an A5 Low Pressure Kit (LPK) and $90 for a Mac Dev regulator. Total = well over $500 on upgrades to take advantage of the Rampage board’s full potential. And I don’t know if the new mods will make the difference but as soon as a get all the new goodies installed and tested, I will write another review.
NOTE: the people at APE have since told me that I need a QEV AND a Vortex Mod to get my ROF over 20 BPS. They also told me that it would probably max out around 22-23 and that to get up to 25 I would need a Q-loader (another $110). Creating a super-fast A5 is turning out to be an expensive project.
Conclusion:
If you don't mind spending the money for the extra mods, or if you are buying this board for its other modes and dont care about a high ROF, then this is a good product. It does what APE says it does (with the possible exception of the ROF disparity I talked about). Over-all I would give it an 8
Something you need to note in a hurry (if you've already thought of this, my apologies). CO2 WILL damage a electronic board. Your expensive envestment may go on to be little more than scrap if you're not careful. Sounds like your making the HPA upgrade, but be aware you may have damaged the board (then again, maybe it survived just fine). Just something I've seen alot of other people say.
quote:Originally posted by UnluckyDiablo Something you need to note in a hurry (if you've already thought of this, my apologies). CO2 WILL damage a electronic board. Your expensive envestment may go on to be little more than scrap if you're not careful. Sounds like your making the HPA upgrade, but be aware you may have damaged the board (then again, maybe it survived just fine). Just something I've seen alot of other people say.
Just, no, Co2 will not damage the board! Sear tripper boards never come in contact with the gas, so there is nothing to worry about.
Why are you marking the APE board down because your maker can't keep up with it? You were getting angry because you spent $100 on the board/QEV which your marker couldn't keep up with, yet you blamed the board. The fact that you had to upgrade your Cyclone in order to achieve those high ROF is a problem caused by the A5, not the APE board.
quote:Originally posted by UnluckyDiablo Something you need to note in a hurry (if you've already thought of this, my apologies). CO2 WILL damage a electronic board. Your expensive envestment may go on to be little more than scrap if you're not careful. Sounds like your making the HPA upgrade, but be aware you may have damaged the board (then again, maybe it survived just fine). Just something I've seen alot of other people say.
I have to disagree as well... this myth is from occasions when liquid CO2 would come into contact with some internals (like the board or others) and literally freeze them, but the board in the A5 doesn't even get close to any CO2 (liquid or gas)...
If you want to get the full bang for your buck CONSTANT 20-22 bps without chops or misfires, get a Vortex/lightening rod setup.This will solve your problem and I think for a board to get damaged it has to be fully exposed to a powerful spray of C02.
First of all, the A5 is a great marker, the king of woods/scenerio ball. The cyclone is also great. (lots of haters, if you dont like it keep your space gun.) BUT it is not an Angel in terms of ROF, that is not nearly as important in scenerio/ woods ball as it is in speedball. but if you must have 25 bps you CAN get there but it will take more than that and to blame the board is silly. If you want to play speed ball, get a space gun, if you want the best woods/scenerio ball gun, A5/X7 is it.
