How do I set up a Uneekor EYE MINI golf simulator?

What's in the box

Uneekor's EYE MINI user guide lists the EYE MINI, a power cable, a Cat 6 Ethernet cable, one set of club stickers (20 sheets), sticker tweezers, a rubber stopper and an alignment rod. If you bought our Uneekor EYE MINI golf simulator package, the enclosure, Tee Turf hitting mat and the BenQ AH500ST short-throw projector with its floor case come in separate boxes, with a setup guide. Side netting is an add-on. The package doesn't include a computer or an HDMI cable.

EYE MINI or EYE MINI LITE?

They're two different units. The EYE MINI has its own E-Ink display (a low-power screen like an e-reader), so it also works on its own at the range or with an iPad. The EYE MINI LITE has no display: it's a camera unit wired to a Windows PC by Ethernet, and a green Uneekor logo on the front tells you the ball is in the zone. The LITE also asks for a licence key from your order email during installation. Placement and stickers are the same for both.

What you need ready

• A Windows PC. Uneekor's recommended spec is Windows 11, an Intel Core i7 (12th gen or later) or AMD Ryzen 7 (5000 series or later), 32GB of memory and an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti or equivalent with 16GB.
• Two Ethernet ports on the PC. Ethernet is a wired network socket. Uneekor wants one for the EYE MINI and one for a wired internet connection.
• Broadband of at least 25Mbps for downloads.
• An earthed wall socket near the mat. The EYE MINI runs on mains power through its own adapter.
• An email address for a free Uneekor account at my.uneekor.com.
• An HDMI cable (the standard lead that carries picture and sound) from the PC to the projector.

Where it goes in the room

Our rooms start at 3.0m wide, 2.7m high and 4.2m long. A ceiling of 3m or more is ideal, and I plan on about 2.5m from the ball to the screen.

The EYE MINI is a camera unit that stands on the floor beside the ball, so it needs no extra length behind you. From Uneekor's guide:

• Set it level with the hitting surface. It has a tilt sensor for small differences, but Uneekor still asks for a level, secure surface.
• Align it parallel to your target line using the alignment rod. Don't point it at the target.
• Keep the ball inside the hitting zone, which Uneekor lists as 12in by 8in (30cm by 20cm). Its diagram marks the zone with lines at 8, 12 and 16in (20, 30 and 40cm). The display shows the ball in the zone when it's right.
• Keep it away from radiators and other heat, and out of humid, smoky or dusty rooms.

Step-by-step setup

1. Connect the power cable and turn the EYE MINI on.
2. Press MENU, go to Settings (option 2) and scroll to page 3.
3. Set Wi-Fi to Station (Client) and Ethernet to Static. Press Back twice to save.
4. Plug the Cat 6 cable into the EYE MINI and straight into the PC. Uneekor's network help says not to go through a router or switch.
5. Create your Uneekor account at my.uneekor.com.
6. Open Uneekor Launcher on the PC, choose the Install tab, select EYE MINI and continue.
7. Follow the wizard. It asks you to calibrate the launch monitor, take a test shot and install the software.
8. Stick club stickers on your clubs. On irons, one sticker goes on the toe side, 7 grooves up, on the smooth part of the face. On drivers and woods, it goes 1in from the toe; the guide gives the groove for each.

Connect to the projector

The PC sends the picture, not the EYE MINI. Plug the HDMI cable into the PC's graphics card and into the projector's HDMI input, and select that input on the projector. Then press the Windows key and P together and choose Duplicate or Second screen only.

The iPad route comes after the PC registration. On the EYE MINI, set Wi-Fi to AP (Access Point) and Ethernet to Dynamic, scan the QR code on its display with the iPad camera and join the EYE MINI network. Then open the VIEW Air app and connect. While it's joined to the EYE MINI, the iPad has no internet.

First-shot check

Open the VIEW range on the PC and place a ball. When the EYE MINI shows the ball inside the hitting zone on its display and both cameras show red lights, it's ready. Hit, and you should see ball and club numbers in VIEW and the shot on the big screen.

Playing courses

Uneekor's Player tier is free with every unit and gives you ball and club data on the VIEW driving range. These are Uneekor's prices, in US dollars, each per unit:

• Pro: $199 a year. Adds third-party software such as GSPro and E6 Connect, and REFINE with 5 courses.
• Champion: $399 a year. Adds REFINE+ with 20 courses and AI Trainer.

So for GSPro you need Uneekor Pro plus a GSPro subscription ($250 a year).

The three things that most often go wrong

Launcher can't find the unit

Check that Ethernet is set to Static and the cable runs straight from the EYE MINI to the PC, not through a router or switch. Restart both and try again.

It isn't detecting balls

Uneekor's fix is to reinstall the firmware through Launcher, use a white ball and recalibrate. Recalibrate after the unit is moved or knocked, after the turf changes and after a month out of use.

Club data is missing or odd

Club numbers need the stickers, in the spots the guide shows. Replace any that are worn, and check the unit is still parallel to the target line.

Official help from Uneekor

• EYE MINI user guide and EYE MINI LITE user guide
• EYE MINI PC requirements
• Troubleshooting centre and network connection help
• Uneekor membership plans