Educational

Listed below are some general educational materials to help you learn more about Silver Mountain Targets full line of electronic targets.

What is an e-Target and how does it work?
Range Planning Guide                                             Are e-Targets right for us?
Range Design & Installation Guide                        We’ve decided to purchase e-Targets, now what?
SOLO FAQ’s                                                                Solo Target Frequently Asked Questions

What is an e-Target, and how does it work?

Silver Mountain Targets measurement technology is able to detect super-sonic shots on virtually any type of target. We use acoustic sensors to detect the sonic shock wave of a bullet passing through a target.   These acoustic sensors, coupled with programmable target definition files, support nearly any kind of target face including bullseye, man silhouette and animals.

Non-contact acoustic sensing of the bullet's passage provides a zero wear / zero maintenance sensing technology concept; the only consumable/wear item is the paper/plastic target face shown to the shooter, which only needs repair/replacement to the extent needed to give the shooter an acceptable sight picture.

The system utilizes high tech microphone sensor assemblies, one mounted in each corner of the target face. These sensors send shot data to a target controller located at or near the target. This controller then sends the signal via a dedicated SMT Wi-Fi network to the target unit or line server on the firing line. This information is then transmitted via Wi-Fi to target monitors for each firing point.  All communications from target to firing line, and firing line to shooter is wireless, reducing infrastructure costs during installation.

Designed for any application from an individual shooter on his home range, to multiple target installations at clubs and ranges, all the way to major permanent or semi-permanent installations of up to 100 targets or more.

• With electronic targets, there is no need for concrete pits. Build or expand your range at a significantly reduced cost.
• With the proper networking in place, our system can handle hundreds of connected devices, turning a major long-range shooting competition into a spectator sport.
• At 1 Watt per target, the system can run on rechargeable batteries, direct or generated AC power, or even solar cells.
• The target maintains a wireless link to the firing point, where you can connect using any WIFI-enabled device with a web browser.

The Silver Mountain Target system has been developed by shooters for shooters. Designed and built in Canada and Germany, this system represents simplicity, reliability and is very cost effective compared to other systems.

WHY CHOOSE SILVER MOUNTAIN TARGETS?

The simple and cost-effective solution for your club or range, delivering the most bang for your buck.

• Easy to set up and simple to operate
• Easy installation and calibration
• Low infrastructure impact to existing ranges
• Very portable and easy to handle
• Lower maintenance costs over the life of the target
• Powered by self-contained batteries
• Each target operates independently
• Firing line WiFi repeater creates WiFi zone
• BYO wireless tablets or smartphone eliminates the need for a range operator to purchase, store and maintain displays
• Use your existing target frames
• Proven system, developed by shooters, for shooters, installed in numerous countries around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost?

SOLO sells for US $850, worldwide.

SOLO ships to you from a dealer in your country:

• you pay regular shipping rates, not expensive international rates
• you do not pay any importation fees or Customs duties
• you get SOLO quickly!
• you get support from an in-country dealer who knows your shooting and your needs

If you buy from one of our non-US dealers, the price will be in your local currency at an amount equivalent to US $850, plus local sales taxes as applicable.  See our dealers' website for full details:

• Australia - charged in AUD, plus 10% GST
• ​Canada - charged in CAD, plus the GST/HST rate for your province.
• Germany - charged in EUR, plus 19% MwSt
• New Zealand - charged in NZD, plus 15% GST
• UK - charged in GBP, plus 20% VAT

2. Where can I get it?

Buy SOLO from the SMT SOLO dealer serving your country. 

We have dealers in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany & northern Europe, Spain, Italy, UK & Ireland, and South Africa (and coming soon, the Caribbean)

If you live in a country not served by an SMT-SOLO dealer, you may order from any of our dealers or you may order directly from Silver Mountain Targets.

3. When can I get it?

Orders for SOLO opened May 25.  Contact the dealer for your country and order today!

4. My range has no WiFi or cellphone coverage, will my SOLO work?

Yes.  SOLO produces its own wifi network.  No internet connection is needed, no cellphone coverage is needed, and no pre-existing wifi system is needed.

5. A friend also has a solo.  Can we use both at the same time?

Yes.  The wifi network produced by each SOLO is unique.  His won't interfere with yours and yours won't interfere with his.

Your SOLO might generate a wifi network (SSID) named SOLO-1234 (if your serial number was 1234), and his network might be SOLO-5678

To use yours, connect to your network SOLO-1234.  To use his, connect to his network SOLO-5678.

Your SOLO device at the targetline end of the range is programmed to connect to your network, so your shots on your target get delivered to your network..

6. I am going to use my solo at a public range.  Can others access my solo?

That's up to you.  No-one can use your SOLO unless you let them.  Your SOLO's network is password-protected (the network name and password are printed on the product label attached to the backplate on the underside).  The password is permanent and cannot be changed.

To share SOLO with a trusted friend(s), tell them your wifi password.  Others at the public range won't be able to access your SOLO.

To share with many others without giving out your password, you can turn on an additional "guest" wifi network that has no password:

• wifi SOLO-1234 - your "owner's" network.  Password-protected
• wifi SOLO-1234-Guest - the guest network.  No password, anyone can connect.  You may turn this off.

7. Some of my club members also have solo. Can we run a small match?

Yes.  Set up each SOLO on a target of its own.  Have the shooters and scorekeepers connect the the SOLO​ they are interested in using/watching.

This is a great way to run a small or informal match, or a small practice or training session, where the sophisticated features of an S25 Server are not needed.

8. My club already owns an SMT system with an S25 server. Will SOLO work?

Yes.  And there are a couple of options available to you:

As-shipped, SOLO will work in its own standalone mode, without interfering with the operation of others SMT e-target equipment.

If you prefer that your SOLO connects to the S25's SilverMountainTargets network, you can reconfigure it to do so.  It will then be available to the S25 as an additional lane.  This allows you to run the match using all of the S25's features (shooter registration, electronic scorecards, neighboring targets view, etc)

The S25 Server supports all SMT target measuring products ever made, and in any combination, from our gen-1 TM-600X, through the G2 and the G3 Plug'n'Play, and now SOLO 

9. How is SOLO powered and how long does SOLO run?

Each of the two SOLO electronics units is powered by a standard rechargeable 5V USB power pack, equipped with an LED bar graph to indicate charge status.

SOLO will run for six hours on the factory-supplied battery packs (actually in most of our testing they tend to run seven to seven and a half hours, but six hours is a very safe figure to count on and plan your day around)

They may be charged from any USB port with a microUSB cable.

You may use any 5V USB power pack, so it's easy to replace, or have a spare on hand, or you can use as large a battery pack as you want for as long a runtime as you might want.

10. Why does SOLO have an External battery pack?

Most of the parts in SOLO are designed to have an indefinitely long lifetime.  Where this is not possible it is important that repair or replacement be possible, and cheap.  The only two items in  SOLO that will eventually wear out are the cables, from repeated flexing and use, and the batteries, from repeated charge/discharge cycles.

An internal battery would be more expensive to replace; only the correct size and shape battery could be used, and the units would have to be opened by a competent technician (unless care is taken, the sensitive internal electronics could be damaged).

An internal battery would also not allow larger battery capacities to be possible, or for "hot spares" of extra fully charged battery packs to be used.

An external battery pack and a microUSB power interface plug gives the SOLO owner full flexibility and control.

11. How do I see my shots?  Do I need an app?

You need to provide a "display device".  Anything with wifi and a modern browser should work, such as a cellphone, tablet, laptop etc.

No app is needed, just your device's browser.

Apple iPhones and iPads work well, as do most Android phones and tablets.

12. What target faces does SOLO support?

SOLO comes pre-loaded with many of the world's most common highpower (sling and F-Class) target faces (US-NRA, ICFRA/Australia/NZ, DCRA/Canada, NRA-UK, ISSF-300m, etc).

More target faces are available on the SMT website for free download.

Additional target faces can also be implemented

13. What if I shoot really Quickly - will SOLO miss my shots?

SOLO​ is capable of detecting and measuring sustained fully automatic fire.

14. What if I shoot solo?

Some parts of SOLO can be placed out of harm's way, for example the cables are long enough so that the downrange electronics unit can be placed below grade if shooting on a conventional range with a target gallery, or otherwise placed in a protected location out of the line of fire.

In order to work though some system components must be visible to the shooter and therefore it is possible to shoot them:

• sensor cables
• sensors and mounts
• wifi panel and cable

By far the most commonly shot item are sensor cables; you are trying to hit the middle of the target at a thousand yards and sooner or later the wind will drift your bullet left or right just the right amount to cut a cable.  If one sensor cable is cut, SOLO will continue to operate.  If two sensor cables are cut it will not be possible for SOLO to provide shot location readings.  If you do a lot of long range shooting you might reasonably expect to cut one cable every shooting season.

SOLO sensor cables are ordinary ethernet cables.  The only special thing about SMT factory cables are the choices of color and lengths..  You may buy replacements from your SMT SOLO dealer or you can use your own favorite source for ethernet cables.

It is also possible to shoot the panel antenna or its cable, or one of the sensors, however given their "corner" location on the target it is extremely rare for this to happen.  They are available from your SMT SOLO dealer but to be honest if you buy them as spares to have on hand you'll most likely never use them.

15. I shoot in more than one location.  Are extra mounting plate sets available?

Yes.

You can install a set of mounting plates on target frames in every location where you shoot; avoid taking a screwdriver with you to the range and save yourself the installation time!

And their durable construction means they'll survive pretty a rough life in a target shed, or they can be left outdoors year round in sun, rain, snow and ice due.  They are a one piece injection molded part, made from UV proof material, completely unaffected by water, and have a tough low-profile design.

16. How large a target frame can I use?

The sensor cables supplied with ​SOLO are long enough to allow for use on target frames up 6'x6' in size.

If you wish to mount the sensors on a larger target frame, up to 6'x10', you may use longer cables.  SOLO uses standard ethernet cables to attach its sensors.

17. How far can I shoot on SOLO?

This depends on two things - your bullet, and your wifi.

BULLETS: Your bullet must be supersonic at the target in order for SOLO to work.  SOLO's sensors detect the shock wave produced by a supersonic bullet.

• if your bullet arrives slower than 1150fps / 350m/s SOLO can not detect the bullet
• if your bullet arrives slower than 1200fps / 365m/s SOLO will function but with reduced measurement accuracy.
• bullet speeds of at least 1300fps or 400m/s are recommended for better measurement accuracy

WIFI: The factory-supplied antennas will allow operation of SOLO to 1000 yards.  Wifi signal conditions can vary at different ranges and you may be able to get more performance, for example at one of our test locations at we have achieved 1800 yards.  If longer range is needed and the factory-supplied antennas do not provide reliable operation at the distance you are shooting, a higher gain panel antenna may be used at the firing line and/or target line end.  In keeping with SMT's design philosophy of using industry standard commercially available parts where possible, the antennas in our system are wifi standard 2.4GHz, the connectors used are RP-SMA  and the cabling is 50 ohm coax.

18. How do I maintain my Target(s)?  Is there a membrane to replace periodically?

No.  SOLO is not a "chamber target" and has no special target face membrane or other consumable wear parts. SOLO doesn't actually even need a target face at all, you could have the target face completely cut out of the target frame with no degradation in shot measurement accuracy (though for the shooter, the sight picture might be a bit tough!)

The purpose of the target face is to give the shooter a good sight picture, so all you have to do is keep it in good enough condition for that purpose.  Paste on target repair centers as needed to maintain a sight picture that makes your shooters happy.  You probably have to reface less frequently than when manually marking targets.

Iron sight shooters can happily shoot on pretty shot-up target faces and still have an excellent sight picture,  F-Class shooters or anybody using a high magnification scope generally need target faces to be kept in good enough repair so that they can see the various scoring lines and use them as hold-off or aiming reference points.

19. How accurate is SOLO?  

Measurement accuracy depends on installation and environmental factors.  In many typical range applications SOLO has a measurement accuracy of 4mm or better.  With care and favourable conditions, even better (sub-millimetre!) accuracy can be achieved.

20. Is SOLO waterproof?

"Waterproof" is an often used marketing term, conveniently without a precise technical definition.

What most people would understand truly "waterproof" to mean might be described by a recognized technical specification such as "IP67" (protection against immersion to 1m depth).  These protection levels are certainly achievable but only at great expense, neither affordable or justifiable for a $1000 system.

SOLO is designed to achieve IP53 protection level (in shooting terms - driving rain in strong wind), which is appropriate for most rifle range applications.

21. How can I improve my measurement accuracy?

Carefully read the user instructions and install sensors in a stable, perpendicular and secure manner.