System Requirements
The Dry Fire Online website has the following requirements:
Camera App limitations
Realistically Scaled Targets
Most new shooters are surprised by how small a target is at 25 yards downrange!
It is important to train as realistic as possible, including the targets. E.g. if you want to train with a
target that is 25 yards from you (target distance), the target on the screen
should appear as small as a real target at 25 yards would be on the range.
Notice that all targets below have the same size from the shooter's point of
view, no matter how big the screen is, or how far the shooter stands from the screen.
Screen Diagonal Size This is the screen diagonal. It is nothing special, that's how the screen size is measured. If you have a flat screen TV it is probably written on the TV or on the package. If you have a projector, you can measure the projected image or the canvas. Just make sure the projected image is rectangular and projected onto a flat surface.
Screen Distance The screen distance is how far you stand from the screen. Note the following:
Shooter Eye Height The ‘shooter eye height’ is ideally the height of your eyes (viewpoint, camera, whatever) from the ground. Note the following:
Set up the screen
For the best experience switch your browser to full screen (instead of some windowed) mode. The center of
the screen is ideally on the same height as the ‘shooter eye height’. In other words, when the shooter
naturally looks ahead, the center of the screen is right in front of his face.
Dry firing from a prone position works best when the screen is placed on the ground. If you want to practice
long distance shooting, you can put a notebook or a tablet in front of you, since the target silhouette will
be small and can fit on a smaller screen.
Mechanical offset
Dry Fire Online is a simulator and - just like any other simulators - it suffers from the mechanical
offset (or height over bore or sight height) of your gun. There are some great articles available
about this topic here
and here,
but a picture is worth a thousand words:
Example: You aim for the head of the target, that's where your Point of Aim (POA) is. Due to the mechanical offset the laser is going to appear below your POA - that's where the Camera App is going to detect the laser and register a shot, that's where the Point of Impact (POI) is. But that's not where you were aiming for.
You can deal with this problem by simply telling the simulator to register the shots NOT where the laser appears, but where your Point of Aims is, so the POA will be the same as the POI. See here how .
We do not recommend zeroing the physical sights of your firearm on the screen distance. It's okay if the laser appears below the center of your crosshairs.Zeroing, Sighting in
Zeroing: #2 The Intuitive Way
Overview
The Range Screen is what appears when you click on Start Stage. This is the main training screen where the targets are displayed.
Toolbar
The Toolbar is a row of buttons that influence the behavior of the Range Screen. The Toolbar consists of the following buttons
Target Positioning Target positions are defined by 3 parameters:
Target Alignment Keep in mind that in Dry Fire Online the targets are positioned by - and the target parameters define - the center of the target. If your stage description defines the relative target distances by edge-to-edge, then you have to transform it to center-to-center distances by considering the width of the targets. In this case it can be useful to change the unit of measure, for instance to define the values in inches instead of feet.
Setup moving targets and waypoints If you change the target transition mode from 'static' to 'moving', you can define waypoints that describe the path of the target. For every waypoint you can define:
When creating a complex path, you have to consider the Target Expose Time. It is defined in the stage header and it is the upper limit of how long a stage is displayed before the next round. Example: you have a target path with 3 waypoints, each with 10 seconds, means your target needs 30 seconds to reach the last waypoint. If the Target Expose Time is set to 20 seconds, then your target will never reach its last waypoint, since the stage terminates after 20 seconds.
After the last waypoint, you can define what the target should do when it reaches the last waypoint:
Stage Builder
In the Stage Builder you can create new stages from scratch or change existing Quickstart or Shared stages.
Selecting Stage Builder on the menu bar displays the Stage Builder menu in an additional menu line.
The Stage Builder Menu contains the following options:
Target Editor
In the Target Editor of the Stage Builder you can add, change and remove targets and waypoints.
Selecting Targets on the Stage Builder Menu displays the Target Editor Menu in an additional menu line and the Stage itself where you can click on the targets.
Target Details
The Target Details panel provides a detailed insight into the properties of the selected target. The panel
can be displayed / hidden by the
When a target is moved around on the stage, the Target Details panel automatically changes its position and automaticaly docks to the left or right side of the screen to avoid obscuring the target.
If you move the target to the left, the panel is going to jump to the right:
The Target Details panel can be scrolled up/down to display all properties.Overview
Camera App Quick Setup Guide Video
Step 1) Download the DryFireOnline app on the Apple App Store or get it on Google Play
Try it for FREE: Unlimited stages and 2 shots (double tap) per round even without a subscription!
Step 2) Watch the videos below and learn more about the setup process. Find more tips and tricks in the How-To and Troubleshooting sections of the Manual.
What you need / System Requirements
Detailed Setup Guide
Screen Calibration
Laser Calibration
More Videos
Reviews, tutorials and setup guides:
What you need
Let’s check if you have everything required to train with the Camera App! You need:
Budget Philips Projectors on Amazon
$79.99
$109.99
$149.99
$499.99
$391.00
$415.00
$480.98
$689.99
$749.99
$9.00
$48.95
$15.95
$45.95
$249.88
Example Range Setups
There are many ways to set up your Dry Fire Online range, here are a few examples:
1) The tablet range - small and portable
Hey, there is a video about this one:
2) The notebook range
Hey, there is a video about this one:
3) The tablet & projector range
4) The notebook & projector range
4b) Use your tablet as a camera
5) Large flat screen range
Training Guns
Our Lasers
Dry Fire Online is a laser training simulator - we do no produce our own laser cartridges because Dry Fire
Online it was designed to work with any laser cartridge that fits your needs, gun and budget.
Still, there are differences between the lasers that are available on the market, and we receive many
questions about the lasers we use. Here we share our personal experiences and subjective opinions - your
experience and opinion may differ. Make your own research and choose the product that best fits your needs.
iTarget and Mantis Pink Rhino 9mm
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Both our iTarget and the Pink Rhino cartridges are 9mm chamber insert cartridges, but available in other calibers as well. Here is the iTarget:
Mantis Pink Rhino 9mm:
Spot the difference: iTarget vs Mantis Pink Rhino
Laser Ammo SureStrike 9mm
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Smart DryFireMag with Laser for Glock and Sig P320
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Striker fired handguns, like Glocks or the Sig P320, don't have double strike capability. That means once the striker is under tension and the trigger is pulled, the firing pin can hit the cartridge one just once. Pulling the trigger repeatedly (without racking the slide and cycling the gun) cannot tension the firing pin spring again and hit the same cartridge multiple times - like double action handguns can do.
That's a big problem with laser training, because training with a simple laser cartridge (Pink Rhino, iTarget, SureStrike) means that the slide shall be manually racked after each shot. Training multi-shot scenarios requires to manually rack the slide after each shot, that makes the training cumbersome, slow and even builds the bad habit and training scars of racking the slide after each shot - which is unnecessary (or outright bad) in real life scenarios.
The company DryFireMag (not to be confused with Dry Fire Online) is known for their product line of trigger resetting magazines, including a laser capable version of their product: the Smart DryFireMag for Glocks and for the Sig Sauer P320.
We have tested the Glock version of the Smart DryFireMag with laser, and it wokrs well with with our Camera App, in fact, it became one of our favorites.
CoolFire Trainer
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The CoolFire Trainer is a system that replaces the barrel of the pistol with a custom barrel that's essentially a CO2 tank. The barrel contains a piston, and when you pull the trigger, the piston can push back the slide, cycle the gun and reset the trigger. The kit comes with a tuned recoil spring, and if you would like to train with a laser, you can add a vibration activated laser to the barrel (remember: choose the red laser).
The heart of the system: the barrel, the spring, and an optional laser - here you see the laser with the Rapid Fill Adapter:
The CoolFire trainer is available for a variety of brands, including models of SIG, Glock, CZ, Walther, Canik, S&W, Springfield, ZEV, Tanfoglio and more! Here, it's installed in a Glock 17 with the laser module attached, being refilled with CO2 via the Rapid Fill Adapter:
Overall, the CoolFire Trainer is a pretty cool system. It comes with some major benefits, and some "good to know before you buy" features.
Pros:
Cons:
Rapid Refill Adaptor: at top is the laser, the bottom is the refill valve
Delivered in a nice portable organizer with all accessories: barrel, spring, laser, tools, seals, o-rings, silicon grease, all in one place:
The CoolFire Trainer is a great system, but only for power users. You can get it here:
Mantis Blackbeard for AR-15, AR-10, SIG MCX and FN SCAR
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Laser Ammo Spider for Airsoft GBB
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
$152.02
$140.05
$403.75
$403.75
$437.00
Laser Ammo Flash Kit for Airsoft Rifles
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
$156.75
$194.35
$355.35
$598.50
Projector or Flat Screen
If you want to use the Camera App for laser training we recommend using a projector instead of a flat screen (TV, monitor, LED, LCD, etc) for the following reasons:
Budget Philips Projectors on Amazon
$79.99
$109.99
$149.99
$499.99
$391.00
$415.00
$480.98
$689.99
$749.99
$9.00
$48.95
$15.95
$45.95
$249.88
Using a Flat Screen
Some advices if you decide to use a flat screen display for laser training
Can I train on my TV?
You can display the targets directly on most TVs. If your smart TV has a built-in internet browser just go to dryfireonline.com, or you can connect a laptop, notebook or game console to your TV, and use it to display targets. It works fine - without laser training.
However, the answer is more complicated if you would like to use your TV with laser training.
In this case, consider the following:
Using a Projector
Some advices if you decide to use a projector for laser training
Our Projectors
Since many of you asked our advice on choosing a projector we decided to write a few words about the
projectors we use.
Please note that we are not expert on projectors, and the following is neither a buying advice nor a
recommendation of any sort - it's just an introduction of the projectors we have and our experiences with
them.
Budget Philips Projectors on Amazon
$79.99
$109.99
$149.99
$499.99
$391.00
$415.00
$480.98
$689.99
$749.99
$9.00
$48.95
$15.95
$45.95
$249.88
Room Setup
The room where you setup your virtual range has an impact on your experience:
Camera Position
You have to put down the camera somewhere before the screen, at latest before Screen Calibration:
Some examples:
Connect
First, connect the Camera App to your training session
Subscriptions and Promo Codes
You need a subscription to be able to train with the camera app.
Limited offer: Unlimited stages and 2 shots (double tap) per round even without a subscription!
In case you have an App Store Promo Code or Offer Code here is how to redeem it:
In case you do not have a Promo Code continue as follows:
Subscription Levels
You can train as much as you want with any subscription level, but the number of laser shots - your “ammo” - is limited per round. Watch this video to see what it means:
Would you like to use Dry Fire Online for free without a subscription? Check out our Promotional Access program, if:
All subscriptions are auto-renew subscriptions with monthly prices. All prices are in USD. You price may vary depending on exchange rates and your local taxes.
How to subscribe in the Camera App:
It is recommended to test if your setup (laser, projector, screen, phone) works fine with Dry Fire Online before subscribing. Use a trial subscription or the free double tap training to test Dry Fire Online free of charge.
Hint: If you have a Beginner or an Advanced subscription and you shoot at steel targets and enable the gunshot sound effects, you will hear “bang-cling” effect when you hit the steel target.
Hint: If you are not sure which is the right subscription for you, it is recommended to start your free trial with the Expert Subscription. It enables you to test all its extra features and then cancel your subscription or downgrade to Beginner or Advanced.
Cancelling Subscriptions
The payment and subscription process including all payments, renewals,
cancellations and
refunds are managed by your app store: Apple App Store or Google Play
without the participation of Dry Fire
Online.
In a nutshell: You send the subscription fee to Apple or Google and they forward it to us. Dry Fire Online
doesn't see your name, billing address or credit card number.
If you would like to cancel your subscription, you have to take action.
Here is how to cancel your subscription:
In case you need further assistance with managing your subscriptions or you would like to request a refund, please get in touch with Apple or Google.
Automatic Screen Calibration
Screen Calibration means that the Camera App needs to know where your screen is located. Luckily, there is a button for that.
Hint: You can place the camera left or right, above or below the screen, it does not really matter. It does not have to be placed right in front of the screen - as long as all four corners are visible.
Hint: You can pinch to zoom in, but all four corners of the Range Screen shall be within the viewfinder.
Might sound complicated, but it is simple. Should look something like this - centered, zoomed, all four corners:
If the automatic screen calibration fails:
Here a flower pot covers the bottom right corner of the green sceen.
And the calibration fails to detect the bottom right screen:
Then tap again on Auto Calibrate. If it still doesn’t work, use Manual Calibration (read below)
Pitfall #1: Screen Calibration
The automatic screen calibration should find the borders of the green screen, NOT the entire image that's projected onto the wall. So, what is the difference?
It means, if your browser has a toolbar above or below the green area, or anything that does not belong to the range screen (green area), that shall not be part of the detected screen area.
On the image below, you see an example where the automatic screen calibration completed and found all borders of the screen. Except in the top left corner where it included even a part of the browser toolbar.
it is the most frequent cause of precision issues
Automatic screen detection should find only the borders of the green area, not more.Manual Screen Calibration
Tap on any of the corners, hold and drag them on the screen until the corners and the borders correctly align with the green area of the Range Screen.
Hint: you do not have to tap exactly onto the corner marker, it is OK if you tap close to it. Otherwise your fingers would cover the corner, and you would not see where you are dragging to.
In this case the top left corner was moved a bit downwards onto the correct corner.
Now it is Okay.
Pitfall #2: Moving the Camera
do not move the camera after it has been calibrated
This is the end of the Quick Setup Guide. If you have reached this point, the Camera App is ready to use.
You can start the stage on the Range Screen.
At the beginning of each stage, the Range Screen displays a special calibration screen and asks the Camera App to perform Automatic Exposure Calibration that is going to set the right exposure levels. Then you are ready to go!
Read the rest of the Manual in case you have issues like:
Automatic Exposure Calibration
Exposure Calibration means that the Camera App needs to capture images where the laser dot is recognizable. The captured images shall be balanced and match the current lighting conditions: shall neither be too dark (no laser detected) nor too bright (false laser detected).
At the beginning of each stage, the Range Screen displays a special Calibration Screen and asks the Camera App to perform Automatic Exposure Calibration that is going to set the right exposure levels. That's how it looks:
Important: This calibration step takes place unless you have switched the Camera App to Manual Exposure. In that case the values you have set manually have priority and will not be overridden by the automatic calibration.
The Automatic Exposure Calibration at the beginning of each stage provides acceptable exposure settings under most circumstances. However, in some situations (like when the room is dark, the targets are bright, the camera ISO settings are high, there is noticeable noise/grain on the image) the automatic calibration is not good enough.
In such cases you can manually start the Automatic Exposure Calibration by tapping on Laser Calibration:
Then tap on Auto:
You can start Automatic Exposure Calibration anytime, even without the special calibration screen being displayed, even at the middle of a stage when the targets are displayed.
Actually, in some cases this approach is even better than calibrating on the Calibration Screen. Example: you train in a dark room and you have a lot of bright white targets on the screen. Calibrating mid-stage:
Whenever you start Automatic Exposure Calibration manually, remember to switch back the Camera App to Train mode!
Testing the Laser Detection
In order to test if the camera can correctly detect the laser dots, switch the Camera App to Train mode, then take a look at the viewfinder.
Error #1: If the '+' hitmarker appears (either continuously or just periodically blinking) on the viewfinder even when you DO NOT fire, then the Camera App detects false laser dots . Certain parts of the image are too bright. In this case you can repeat the Automatic Screen Calibration, or you can set the exposure levels maunally by Manual Exposure Calibration.
Error #2: If the '+' hitmarker DOES NOT appear at all, not even when you DO fire, then the Camera App cannot detect the laser. The image can be too dark, and you can repeat the exposure calibration. In some cases, this problem has other root causes: like the battery of the laser cartridge is dying, some cartridges might wear out, the laser dot gets dim, or the surface where the laser dot should appear absorbs too much laser and does not reflect enough back to the camera. If you are using a projector: your projector might be too bright compared to your laser.
Hint: You can perform exposure calibration in the app even when the range screen displays the targets. Sometimes, when the automatic exposure calibration does not work well enough (dark room, bright white targets) it is better to restart the exposure calibration manually once the targets are on the screen. Tap on Automatic Exposure Calibration in the Camera App, wait until the calibration completes, then (remember to) switch the Camera App back to Train mode!
Manual Exposure Calibration
Example video about manual calibration:
To adjust the exposure calibration values manually, tap on Manual
A panel appears at the bottom of the viewfinder where you can adjust the exposure values.
If the Brightness is below the Laser Threshold then you can test the laser. If the image is not too dark, and the laser dot is bright enough, the brightness of the laser will be above the threshold and it will be marked with a '+' at the viewfinder. That's good!
If the Brightness is above the Threshold (without firing the laser) that would lead to false detections. The brightest spot on the image is marked by a '+', so you will se which is the problematic part of the image. In this case either reduce the Brightness or increase the Laser Threshold.
If the Brightness is fluctuating around the Threshold (sometimes bellow sometimes above) that would lead to false detections. The brightest spot on the image is marked by a '+', so you will se which is the problematic part of the image. In this case either reduce the Brightness or increase the Laser Threshold.
If the Brightness is 255 then it is too high, the burned areas are highlighted by pink. In this case either reduce the Brightness or increase the Laser Threshold.
Once you find the settings acceptable, switch back to Train, test the laser detection and continue training.
Scan Grid
The Scan Grid button changes the density of the laser scanning pattern. The denser the better the detection quality but also makes the scanning slower. You do not need to change this setting unless the "Frame Dropped" warning frequently appears.
Laser Color
The Laser Color button changes the color of the laser the camera app is trying to detect. The default setting is red (for red laser), but it can be changed to green (for green lasers) that gives priority to the green RGB component.
Train
Subscription
The details of the Subscription button are described here: Subscriptions and Promo Codes
Sound
The Sound button enables the Camera App sound feature. When enabled, the Camera App plays a gunshot when it detects a laser dot in Train mode.
The Camera App Sounds button is independent of the Audio button on the Range Screen Toolbar. Enabling or disabling sounds in the Camera App does not influence the sounds of the Range Screen, and vice versa.
The Camera App plays the gunshot sound only when it is switched to Train mode. Make sure your phone or tablet is not in Silent Mode.
When the Camera App plays a gunshot sound the detected hit is sent to the Range Screen, but the Range Screen is going to display it only during the Commence Fire phase (when the clock is running).
When the Camera App plays a gunshot sound the detected hit is going to appear on the Range Screen after a short delay depending on network latency.
Flinch
The Flinch button activates the flinch detection feature of the Camera App, that is useful if you want to know if you jerk the trigger, and into which direction the barrel moves.
Flinch Detection requires Expert Level subscription
Flinch Detection shall be activated both in the Camera App (if trace detection is active), and on the Range screen as well (if the trace is displayed or hidden). See the Flinch button on the Toolbar
The length of the Flinch Trace depends on how much you move the barrel and how long your laser cartridge emits laser.
Flinch Detection works better in dark, so make the room darker for better Flinch detection.
When something doesn't work
If something does not work, try another browser, and make sure you do not use some old obsolete browser but
a recent version. It is a good idea to use one of the well known browsers like Chrome or Safari instead of
some lesser-known browsers like Opera. You can also check the System
Requirements and the supported browsers.
On the Stage Builder a message appears "If this message stays on the
screen..."
In this case something does not work with your internet browser.
Targets cannot be moved (tap and drag) on my tablet
Remember: You can always open the Details panel and change the target position manually.
Cannot select/change an off-screen target
If you cannot click or tap on a target because the target is off-screen, you can use the Details button to display the target Details panel and then use the target selector arrows buttons to step among the selected target until the off-screen appears in the the Details panel. The properties of the target can be changed manually via the Details panel even if the target is off-screen.
Stuck on the grey "Loading" screen
In this case something does not work with your internet browser.
The Back button doesn't work
Your browser has a built in Back button, but besides that, Dry Fire Online also has a black Back button in
the top left corner of the Range screen. Some internet browsers have issues (like Safari) might not go back
properly if you click on the Back button OF THE BROWSER. In this case use the black Back button on the Range
screen. The black Back button is also useful if you dry fire in full screen when the toolbar of your browser
is hidden.
The Pause button doesn't work
The Pause button does not immediately stop the current round, rather it stops one the current round is over
at the Rang Counter pop-up. Check out how the Toolbar buttons work.
The Flinch button doesn't work
The Flinch button on the Range Screen works only if Flinch Detection is activated even in the Camera App.
Check out how the Toolbar buttons work.
The Fullscreen button doesn't work
The Fullscreen button should work in the supported browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) - please get in
touch with us if you notice any problems using a supported browser.
In other unsupported browsers it might not always work properly:
The Audio button is missing
The Audio button on the Range Screen apperas only if you have selected some sound effects in the Stage
Builder. Check out how the Toolbar buttons work.
Audio Problems, no/missing/breaking
sounds
Target size is wrong, the target is not scaled properly
The Range Screen is cropped, edges are cut off
Some screens might crop the displayed image and cut off the edges. If that happens then the precision might suffer in laser training: your shots might shift towards the edges since the Range Screen should be larger than what's visible on-screen.
It's not immediately visible for the untrained eye, but the screen below is cropped:
It can be simply recognized if you know what to look for. Take a look at the corners and the elements there:
In the top left corner the Toolbar buttons shall be visible. The buttons shall have a black padding around the white labels. This black padding shall be even on each side around the labels, like this:
If the Toolbar is not visible, or the buttons are just partially on-screen, and the black padded area around the labels is uneven, then the screen is cropped:
In the bottom right corner the DryFireOnline.com label shall be displayed with some distance to the screen edges, like this:
If the label is not or only partially visible, or it's placed right at the edges, then the Range Screen is not displayed correctly, and the edges are cut off:
In this case please check the settings of your
Slow Connection warning appears
I don't have a code (Connection ID) for the laser training
If you don’t know where to find the Connection ID that you have to enter in the Camera App, make sure the
laser training is enabled before you start the stage:
After you start the stage and confirm that your gun is unloaded, the Connection ID will be displayed in a
popup and even at the bottom left corner of the screen. Use this number to connect the Camera App to the
training session.
Laser training code (Connection ID) doesn't work
Make sure you have entered the correct Connection ID in the Camera App
Reload the page in your browser where the Connection ID is displayed
Remember that your training session expires after a few hours. If you return later to Dry Fire Online, the Range Screen is going to display a new Connection ID. Use the new Connection ID to connect the Camera App to the training session.
Screen Calibration
failed
There are a few dos and don'ts in case you have problems with the Screen Calibration. First, that’s how Screen Calibration should work:
The Camera App is already connected to the Range Screen: the Connection button in the top left corner is in Connected state and green.
Center the Range Screen in the viewfinder of the Camera App
All four corners of the Range Screen must be within the viewfinder.
Tap on the Calibrate button on the left, then on Auto Calibrate on the right
The Range Screen turns green and the Camera App tries to find the borders of the green rectangle.
Once the calibration process is completed, you have to visually inspect on the phone if the Camera App could correctly detect the borders.
Don’t touch, don’t pick-up and don’t move the phone when doing so. You might not be able to put it back exactly into the same position where it was. If you move the phone after the screen has been already calibrated, you have to repeat the Screen Calibration again.
Your phone doesn’t have to be right in front of the screen. You can freely place the phone below/above/left/right of the screen, wherever it’s the best for you.
Remember: All four corners shall be within the viewfinder.
Screen Calibration successful:
If you don’t use Dry Fire Online in full screen mode - means the browser window occupies just a part of the entire screen, like this:
Screen Calibration should detect just the green area and not the entire screen:
If you use Dry Fire Online in full screen mode, but it's not 100% full screen, because the browser still has some visible elements, like the browser toolbar, address bar, etc. above the Range Screen:
Screen Calibration should detect just the green area and not the entire screen. The browser toolbar, address bar, etc. should NOT be included in the detected area:
When you check after the calibration if the borders have been detected correctly, make sure that the browser toolbar is NOT included in the detected area. Screen Calibration should detect just the green area.
Here to top right corner is incorrect, because the Camera App incorrectly detected even the toolbar as part of the screen. It can happen, since the browser toolbar is very often too bright (see what we wrote about contrast and brightness).
Hide the browser toolbar and restart the Automatic Screen Calibration, or
If you cannot hide the toolbar: Restart the Automatic Screen Calibration, and hope that next time it will detect just the green area without the toolbar
If none of these would help, you can always manually adjust the top right corner in Manual Screen Calibration
Once the calibration process is completed, you have to visually inspect on the phone if the Camera App could correctly detect the borders.
Don’t touch, don’t pick-up and don’t move the phone when doing so. You might not be able to put it back exactly into the same position where it was. If you move the phone after the screen has been already calibrated, you have to repeat the Screen Calibration again.
Here the phone was moved a bit and the borders are already misaligned
Here the borders are definitely misaligned - It leads to precision issues during training.
If phone is moved the Screen Calibration has to be repeated.
Remember: All four corners shall be within the viewfinder.
The bottom right corner is not visible for the Camera App - it should be within the viewfinder.
When one of the corners is close to the edges of the viewfinder or off the viewfinder the Screen Calibraiton is going to fail.
Use pinch to zoom in and out, if that's not enough move the camera further/closer to the screen.
If you have a projector make sure there are no shadows on the screen. Here the camera and my head cast shadows:
There shall be no objects (doors, curtains, furniture, plants) that disturb/cover the edges or cast shadows, like here on the left and on the right side of the screen:
If the surface of the green screen is not continuous but broken and fragmented:
The Autmatic Screen Calibraiton fails to detect the borders of the green area.
Watch out for ambient lightning. The green area shall be contrasting to the background and shall have good recognizable borders. Ideally something like this:
Easy to detect the borders:
As the Range Screen becomes less bright and dull (relative to the environment), detecting the borders becomes gradually more and more unreliable:
Until a point, where it becomes impossible for the Camera App to find the borders.
No wonder the Automatic Screen Calibration fails to detect the borders.
You can make it easier for the Camera App to detect the borders, by
Making the room darker, so the screen appears brighter in a darker room
Increasing the screen brightness - if it's adjustable - so again, the screen appears brighter
There is a trade-off between the Screen Calibration (detecting the screen borders) and the Laser Calibration (detecting the laser dot) increasing the screen brightness
can help with the Screen Calibration and can make the green screen more contrasting, and it's easier to detect the borders BUT
BUT a too bright screen is later on bad for the laser detection, since it makes the laser dot less bright (less detectable) relative to a bright screen.
It is recommended to increase the screen brightness temporarily just for the Screen Detection, then reduce it back again during the actual training once you start shooting with the laser.
Before the Screen Calibration would begin, you can pinch to zoom in and out.
Remember: All four corners shall be within the viewfinder.
Great zoom - it is going to make the laser dot bigger for the Camera App and it helps later on with the laser detection / shot precision.
If you zoom in too much, the borders might the too close the the boundaries of the viewfinder - Screen Calibration might fail:
Too much zoom is bad - Screen Calibration is going to fail. Here the Range Screen completely fills the viewfinder, but it also means that all 4 corners are off.
Remember: All four corners shall be within the viewfinder.
Screen Calibration fails:
If Automatic Screen Calibration repeatedly fails, you can still use the Manual Screen Calibration
If you still have problems, you can get in touch with our support. We might ask you to send us a few photos/videos about how exactly you try to calibrate the screen.
No laser detected, hits do not appear on the Range Screen
Make sure nothing blocks the view of the camera
Clean the camera lens if dirty
Check if the Range Screen is connected to the Camera App: green Camera Connected message displayed at the bottom left corner
Check if the Range Screen is in Commence Fire phase: shots are displayed only then the clock is running
Check on the Range Screen if you have any Ammo left: shots are displayed only if you have Ammo. The amount of Ammo available per round depends on your Subscription level
Check if the Camera App is connected to the Range Screen: the Connect button shall be green
Check in the Camera App if Screen Calibration has been completed: Screen Calibration button shall be green
On some phones/tablets the Automatic Laser Calibration might not work properly and tend to over/undercalibrate. You can switch to Manual calibration anytime and simply override the Laser Calibration settings
Check if your Camera App is switched to Train mode
If you are training on a laptop/notebook/tablet with a flat screen: Does your screen reflect laser back to the camera (most flat screens don't) or have you applied a thin transparent plastic film to the screen that helps reflecting the laser
Check if the Camera App is detecting a laser dot even when you do NOT fire. In this case a "+" marks the spot where the Camera App continuously detects a laser dot. Your exposure settings might be off, repeat the automatic or manual Exposure Calibration
Test the laser training cartridge, make sure the batteries are charged, and the laser dot is bright and visible. Note that some cartridges wear out and as their power output reduces the laser dot gets dimmer.
Reduce the brightness of the Range Screen with the Brightness button on the Range screen Toolbar. If your laser is weak, it's going to appear relatively brighter on a darker Ranger screen and the Camera App can detect the laser easier.
In case you have a green laser: Make sure you have switched the laser detection color to green
If you are using a projector: your projector might be too bright for your laser
Test your exposure calibration and laser detection settings
No laser detected, Camera App screen goes dark
during Laser Calibration
The Camera App might undercalibrate on some phones/tablets. If the Camera App screen goes dark during Laser Calibration and it doesn't register any shots, there's a simple workaround by manually adjusting the calibration settings. This video shows you how:
False shots are detected, even when I do NOT shoot
Check if the Camera App is detecting a laser dot even when you do NOT fire. In this case a "+" marks the spot where the Camera App continuously detects a laser dot. Your exposure settings might be off, repeat the automatic or manual Exposure Calibration.
The laser is weak, battery low
This video shows the difference in laser brightness when the batteries are old vs. fresh.
You might see a tiny red dot even when the batteries are weak, but it doesn't mean that it's bright enough for the camera - and it can lead to laser detection issues, missed shots.
It's even worse when the power reduces gradually - the first few shots will be OK, but after some training you're going to experience more and more missed shots because the brightness sinks below the detection level.
If your laser is weak, or if the camera is too far from the screen (and the laser dot it too tiny for the camera) you can reduce the brightness of the Range Screen with the Brightness button on the Range screen Toolbar. The laser is going to appear relatively brighter on a darker Ranger screen and the Camera App can detect the laser easier.
Precision is low, my shots are off
With a properly calibrated camera you can expect this kind of precision:
Make sure nothing blocks the view of the camera
Clean the camera lens if dirty
Check the zeroing and sighitng settings at Shift Point of Impact.
Prefer to train on a smooth screen surface. If you project the range onto a rough wall, the uneven surface might reflect the laser into unpredictable directions creating false flares resulting in imprecise shot detection.
Check if the Zoom settings in your browser are set to Default / 100% / Actual Size. Enabling zooming can result in precision issues.
Make sure the Range Screen is not cropped. Check your the picture and image quality settings of your display. Some TVs can be switched to different picture modes (like: "cinema", "theater", "game", "sport" etc.) that might change the image size (zooming, cropping) that in turn can also cause precision issues.
Check in the Camera App if Screen Calibration has been completed: Screen Calibration button shall be green
Check the most common Screen Calibration pitfall
Check if the camera has been moved since the last Screen Calibration. Check if in Screen Calibration, the purple lines are still aligned with the borders of the Range Screen. Here it is already a bit off:
Repeat the automatic or manual Screen Calibration
How much does it cost? Is it free?
The dryfireonline.com website can be used for free. Displaying targets on your computer screen, projector or
TV, starting Quickstart stages, registration, using the Stage Builder to create, save and share your own
stages - it’s all free!
You have to pay only if you would like to use our Camera App for laser training. Our prices are super
affordable with free trial and free cancellation.
Find our current prices here.
Why is it subscription-only?
The laser training is available only in a subscription based model and we have a few good reasons why:
How can I subscribe?
Please read this chapter if you would like to
start or learn more about the available subscriptions.
How can I cancel my subscription?
Please read this chapter if you would like to cancel your
subscription.
Can I use Dry Fire Online on my tablet or smartphone?
Yes, you can use Dry Fire Online on any device that has a compatible web browser. On the other hand, the
screen of tablets and smartphones is typically too small to display properly sized targets while leaving you
enough distance in front of the screen to draw you gun, but tablets are OK for small portable setups.
Check out our tablet setup here.
What devices are supported?
The Dry Fire Online website (to display targets) can be used on a number of devices including, notebooks,
PCs, devices with an attached
external screen or projector, smart TV’s, game console-s - basically on any device with a built-in web
browser and
a large enough screen.
The Camera App for laser training is available on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.
Read here more about the possible combinations.
What browsers are supported?
Dry Fire Online is tested with Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge . Note that internet browsers are
slightly different and some features might not be available in all browsers, like Dry Fire Online has some
known problems with Internet Explorer 11 but it works fine with Microsoft Edge, the Back button
works differently in Safari and Chrome, certain browsers have problems with audio playback and so on.
Can I see where I hit the target?
You need to activate Laser Training and use our Camera App to get feedback about your shot placement.
Can I use Dry Fire Online with laser training munition?
Yes, you can. You need to use our Camera App to get feedback about your shot placement.
Can I use Dry Fire Online with IR (infrared) laser?
No, you can't. The Dry Fire Online Camera App works with common red and green laser cartridges.
The reason is simple: Dry Fire Online was designed to be as accessible and simple to use as possible. It
uses the camera of common Android and Apple smartphones to detect the laser dot, without the need to buy a
special IR capable external camera. Since most smartphone cameras can detect a simple visible red or green
laser dot,
but
have issues with invisible infrared light, IR cartridges are not supported.
Can I use my webcam for laser detection?
No you can't. Dry Fire Online was designed to be as accessible and simple to use as possible, so it uses the
camera of commonly available Android and Apple smart phone to detect the laser. Just take your smartphone,
put it down in front of your screen and it's going to work like a webcam.
Laser Training works only with the Dry Fire Online Camera App that is available on Android and Apple iOS. It
is not available on Windows, Mac OS X nor Linux.
Can I use Dry Fire Online with scopes?
If you want to practice long range shooting with a scope, you are going to see the pixelated image of the
target - depending on the distance and on the screen resolution it will be more or less usable. It is like
watching TV via binoculars. You are not going to see more details, but you are going to see the pixels of
the LCD panel. Note also that the focal distance is also much shorter since the screen is closer than the
simulated target.
Can I upload my range background photo or target images?
No, you can't. But you can send us a message if you would like us to add an additional target, or
range photo to our collection.
What is Promotional Access?
If you help us with the promotion of Dry Fire Online, you might get free access to Dry Fire Online and enjoy
all Expert level laser training features - for free, without a subscription!
Firearms Instructor Partner Program
Dry Fire Online has a pilot program for instructors and instructors can use the simulator for free.
Please note that the program is currently in experimental phase - no guarantees, it's limited to a certain
number of participants and details might be changed in the future
Benefits:
Limitations:
Requirements and Application:
Press Reviews
If you have a YouTube channel, firearm blog and would like to publish a review of Dry Fire Online, or if
you’re looking for a new sponsor for your content get in touch with us!
Social Media Promoters
You’re not a Firearms Instructor or an Influencer? No problem! You can still get free access to Dry Fire
Online! It's simple!
Send us the link where your content is published via our Contact form - conditions apply. We review the content you published and if everything is fine and then content is genuine, you get:
Special Conditions
Participation in the Promotional Access program is not a right, but a privilege. Dry Fire Online reserves
the right to refuse, reject, decline and revoke granting free access and to exclude any applicants from the
Promotional Access program.
Guidelines:
Terms of Use
The Terms of Use ("Terms") described in the sections below, govern the access to and use of the Dry Fire
Online website and the laser
training Camera App.
You are allowed to use the Dry Fire Online website and the laser training Camera App ONLY if you fully
understand, accept and agree to these terms.
Firearm Safety
The creators of Dry Fire Online do not take any responsibility and are not liable for any damage, injury or
death caused during dry fire or through the use of Dry Fire Online. Firearm safety is the user's
responsibility. Firearm safety always comes first.
ALWAYS FOLLOW THE FIREARM SAFETY RULES!
Unload your gun before dry firing!
Here are some guidelines for safe dry fire practice:
Laser Safety
The creators of Dry Fire Online do not take any responsibility and are not liable for any damage, injury or
death caused during dry fire or through the use of Dry Fire Online. Laser safety is the user's
responsibility.
User-Generated Content
Privacy Policy
Legal Disputes
In case of legal disputes the place of jurisdiction is the registered address of the creators of Dry Fire
Online.