My New Halo

[DasBaldDog]

I hate to say this but in my opinion, Odyssey paintball should have kept this hidden in a closet. I got mine for free from my local shop (as they sponsor me) and I for some reason I want my money back.

Problem #1. IT EATS BATTERIES! I went through 2 sets of batteries in about 4-5 hours of playing, turning it off in between games. Man my 12V could run for around 12 hours STRAIGHT on one set.

Problem#2. Balls get stuck. The front inside of the Halo has a sem-flat region where I had numerous balls just sit. They're not exactly stuck but unless you tilt your gun nearly 90* up then those balls NEVER come near the loading device.

Problem#3. Remember when they said they slowed it down for the production model? They made TOO good on their word. They slowed it down so much (I did 5 tests to confirm this) that on average it took 17 seconds to empty the hopper. That's not counting the balls that got stuck up in the flat part. Let me give you some other number to compare speeds. A Regular 9v will empty in about 22. A regular 12 V will empty in 18. A richochet will empty in about 15. A X board will empty in 12-13 seconds.



EVERYTHING STATED ABOVE IS THE OPINION OF MYSELF, AND TWO FRIENDS WHO ASSISTED IN TESTING. THIS OPINION MAY DIFFER FROM THE OPINION OF PBREVIEW.COM, THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION

[MINDofSIN]

Do you feel these problems are permanent or can be fixed in later versions of the model?

[DasBaldDog]

Here's the way I look at it.

Problem 1: Prolly can't be fixed. Might be converted to 9v battery operation. Would definately cut down on costs of batteries and likely length of use, but I don't think it's going to go away, especially if they correct problem 3.

Problem 2: Easily fixable I think. They might have to make the hopper about 1 inch taller on the front (so that a new slanted design could tilt over the battery compartment). Another idea I was thinking about, would put a upturned ridge down the long axis of the hopper on the flat spot, that would force and paint thrown up there to roll down the small ridge, thus gaining momentum, enough to roll back down to the agitator (whatever they call it).

Problem 3: Part of it is related to the mechanics of the agitator/feed device. I'm not sure on the specifics of how much torque or speed is current on the HALO but it seems almost as if it's knocking the paint around too hard and that's why it's not going down the neck. One thing is for certain, they had it working FINE in the prototypes with that electro-mag shooting like 18-19 bps. There might be bigger problems that lay in that area, I don't know but they do need to do something. They have a goldmine on their hands if they can work the bugs out.

[HondaRacer2120]

and there was all that hype......dang good thing i didnt get one:)

[P.A.]

when you were watching it feed, did u notice that it fed good untill there was very little paint and it jostled it araound? or did it just feed like crap the whole time?

-PA

[DasBaldDog]

It fed so-so during the beginning and very poorly at the end.

I wouldn't say it is a bad products, just over priced and short of the goal.

[kneedragger]

DasbaldDog,

The loader you have is obviously defective. It's under warranty so send it in and we'll be happy to fix it for you.

Problems 1 and 3 are definately a problem only with the loader you have, so either you have a bad motor or C board. As for problem 2 well, you're also the only one that's had that problem, but aside from the body actually being warped in production, I can't imagine why yours is leaving balls stuck there. Anyway, like I said, apparently you got a faulty one.

Odyssey Paintball
722 Brookfield Dr
Garland, TX 75040

[DasBaldDog]

ALrighty,
One hopper on its way.

[C4pyro]

Thats what I like to see. Company's out in the public with the common folk fixing issues with there products. Good on ya Odyssey.:D :tup:

[DasBaldDog]

My local shop, the one that gave the first one too me, traded me for a new one.


Mr. Schilling, I suppose they will be sending the defective one back.


This new one has solved problems 1 and 2 but the speed is still slower than expectations, although it is faster than the first one I got. It is a very nice hopper. I'll probably end up using it as my main hopper, due to its consistancy.

My 12v Xboard seems a bit faster but the Halo appears to be MUCH more consistant. I'd personally rather have consistancy.



Mr. Schilling, I was wondering one thing. If you don't mind me asking, are there any mods or accessories planned for the HALO? (ie... different body colors, styles, sizes.....etc)

[EvilPopTart]

i've never seen a halo hopper, got any pictures?

[BlackMageHell]

im pretty sure ricochet hoppers have consistency around the speed of a 12v revy with an xboard, maybe slower, im not sure

[elTwitcho]

Is there a clear HALO on it's way, because I don't imgaine myself ever buying another black hopper, even if it feeds 20bps

[kneedragger]

We plan on coming out with colors, clear - same clear as the lid, metallic colors, and smoke. We'll also try some translucent colors as well. We are also planning on experimenting with some off the wall colors to, like the kind that changes color as the light changes .

We are planning on doing a smaller body, for front players. We may look at doing a larger body as well if it looks like there's enough interest in it.

As for updates, we are continually working on new things for the HALO. I think most of you are really going to like what we have coming. Just don't ask us to rush it, we want to make sure it's quality stuff.

[Silent Knight]

DAS i've noticed the same thing, that damn HALO is a battery eater!

it's fast though, it keeps up. after being tested on an impulse (not the fastest gun, but very impressed with the feed rate) The HALO's first impression... heavy. Well to me it seemed like it was heavier then the norm, but maybe it's just me. As far as performance goes, it was pretty good. I also shoot an autococker, but using the halo on that is pretty much pointless.

[DasBaldDog]

Well, you did use it on an impulse which is a relatively small marker.

[july_favre]

Originally posted by kneedragger
We plan on coming out with colors, clear - same clear as the lid, metallic colors, and smoke. We'll also try some translucent colors as well. We are also planning on experimenting with some off the wall colors to, like the kind that changes color as the light changes .

We are planning on doing a smaller body, for front players. We may look at doing a larger body as well if it looks like there's enough interest in it.

As for updates, we are continually working on new things for the HALO. I think most of you are really going to like what we have coming. Just don't ask us to rush it, we want to make sure it's quality stuff.


Will galo owners be able to upgrade to all of this stuff or do we have to buy complete new loader?

[kneedragger]

Almost all of it will be upgradable.

[july_favre]

Do you know what wont be upgradable?

[kneedragger]

No, we won't know what can or can't be incorporated into the existing loader until we actually start work on it.

[july_favre]

good point:)
I thought you had some stuff already in the works.

Hey I was thinking about the vert feed bolt deflection prob. I am guessing what happens is the ball is hit by the bolt and and hits the next ball and eventually(like a couple milliseconds) the top ball covers the ball sensor causing it to stall for a moment until that ball goes back down. If this is what happens, wouldnt it be possible to get around that by having it activate with every shot? Maybe with a system similar to the warp feed or as an upgrade for intellifeed enabled guns. Just an idea that hopefully is correct and will help you and us halo owners out.

[kneedragger]

The problem with an intellifeed system, is that not every gun out there can utilize it. We want a solution that will work for everyone. We think we might have a way to overcome it. We are testing it out right now.

[july_favre]

Well, a vibration sensor like those on the warp and ricos could be used by those who dont have it. But even if the vib sensor didnt work, and there wasnt another solution found, (my halo just came as i was typing this, cool!!)t would be good for those who had. I would actually rather not have to use intellifeed but It was just an idea I had if you guys dont think of something better and universal.