Bistro is one of my favorite firmwares ToyKeeper! Thank you for developing it. Wish I could have it on all my Biscotti flashlights. I miss not having the medium press with Biscotti.
This is the first time I heard about the Convoy “S7” model… had to Google this model and found some “discontinued” listing. Looks like stainless steel body.
“S7” firmware = is this for ATTiny13 chips (eg. can flash over a driver that originally comes with the ‘original’ Biscotti driver?)
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Back to the original poll, I usually just make do with Group 1 (preferably mode memory Off), the original Biscotti comes with Mode Memory = Off, whereas the Convoy “new” 12-group driver, comes with Mode Memory = ON by default. And usually the first mode after inserting the battery (from shipping), is Tactical Strobe mode.
(On original Biscotti, with default mode memory Off, the first mode with the flashlight from shipping condition is Moon).
When I show Biscotti / 12-group flashlight to someone, usually if that person is into security-related tasks, they seem to prefer Group 11, which has only 3 modes = High-Low-Strobe.)
Mode 1 with memory on. If only the strobe was constant frequency!
I have only used the old 3.04A nanjg style drivers but would probaby still just prefer a 2 mode - maybe 15% and 100% with mode memory (so 11 is closest to my preference, except for the strobe).
I would also love to know how to create custom firmware for some of my lights but I know it needs equipment and time so it’s still on the “To Do” list for now.
Group 10
Mode Memory = OFF
I'd be interested in some different choices. If they could figure out a way to make the modes totally customizable, that would be amazing. Even if none of that happens, I still prefer this to electronic switches by factor of (insert absurdly large number). I don't want to ramp. I don't want a switch that glows. I just want to tap through a few pre-selected choices that always start the same way.
1 Thank
guess I’m the awkward one who use group 11 no mode daily
Group 5 with memory off, 20% is often plenty enough with better endurance than 35% on most of my lights. Moonlight (0.1%) would be nice to add to this though.
Also mode memory off. Seems like most people prefer it off?
Apparently, but having the option is by far the best of both worlds. If there was no mode memory offered, I’d take my business to another brand.
Group = 10
Mode memory = ON
I miss a 60 % setting. Why? When I use my M21B as a bike headlamp to support my Lumintop B01 bike headlamp, the M21B stays quite cool when it’s winter, so it will not throttle down it’s output but run on nearly full power instead. Sometimes, 35 % seems too low but 100 % is way too much in terms of energy consumption. The around 60 % level that usually pops up after thermal regulation kicks in is just fine.
The second runtime diagram shows what happens when the flashlight is used in a low temperature environment, i.e. riding a bicycle quite fast on a cold winter’s day.
I use this kind of batteries because I don’t want to use an external charger.
If there was shortcuts to lowest mode from off. I would keep memory mode on.
I’ve considered this mode group as well vs 6 no mem. I just don’t believe in strobe I guess.
Old post, but this is a great poll, IMO.
8 for my wife and kid
10 for me.
I wish there was a 75% option, but thse two modes get the job done for me.
I’m a set it and forget it type user for Biscotti. I don’t change which group I’m in for different situations. I just choose the Bistro driver to get the group that most closely matches my ideal for a tail clicky:
- Group 2 for me - all the levels including moon, but no strobes
- Group 5 for my wife - simpler, but still with several well-spaced modes.
No mode memory for either.
Considering points made by others in this thread, I will have to try using Group 1 for a while in order to have battery check available. The ability of Bistro to go backwards in the modes might be enough for me to truly avoid strobes.
Just got my first Convoy on Monday (the S3) with the 12-group driver.
I don’t ever find myself using turbo modes because they drain the battery too fast and generate a lot of heat. I also don’t need strobe for my uses. I find myself using a nice medium mode a lot and a firefly mode comes in handy.
I’ve been using group 8 and really like it so far. The 4 outputs are great for me. And I think I like cycling low-high better than high-low. I do think that if I got a Convoy thrower, I would choose a group that included a turbo 100% output. For general purpose, the 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 50% modes are perfect for me.
I do wish there was a “medium only” mode as some have mentioned. It would make for optimal user-friendliness especially if I hand it to a family member that isn’t flashlight savvy.
2 or 10
I use mode group 2.
2, 10, 8, 12
2 - Most emitters except(see 10)
10 - SST40 and SFT40 because the tint is ugly at super low power.
8 - When I need to Nerf it for a Muggle
12 - Some people, don’t like multiple modes, so I use it with a 3×7135 driver
- This is because I’m mostly interested in 35% as my normal max output. For example, the m21b with an xhp 70.3 will maintain around 35% for hours. If you keep it on anything higher, it just drops down to around that 35%. With 10 I still have a usefull 1%, 10% and 100%. I would probably use 100% the least.
Currently I think that all my Convoy flashlights with 12-group drivers all run 2. (I just like the simplicity and a usefull variety in output.)
0.1, 1, 10, 50, no memory
50, 10, 1, 0.1, no memory, on one
I’m a believer that a 100% mode that gets hot and changes brightness is not a real 100% mode.
Also, runtime is more important than a bit of extra brightness in my uses, and runtime on 50% tends to be very nice.
2 Thanks