Hi Ecigssa members, In this review i take a look at the Ranker TC 218W Mod from Smoant. The Ranker TC 218W Mod was supplied for the purpose of this review by Kristy from Smoant.
http://smoant.com/ranker-218w-upgradeabl...index.html
In the Box
Contents:
1x Smoant Ranker MOD
1x USB Cable
1x User Manual
1x Warning Card
Aesthetics and Ergonomics
When first looking at the Ranker you can see like another manufacturer they have gone for using the ergonomics of a firearm but in a way not to resemble one. The features that immediately stand out is the slanted panel (approx 30 degrees), which houses a 1.3 inch TFT colour screen with the same slant, underneath the screen again at an angle is the +/- buttons. You also will notice the side fire bar is more of a fire trigger as can be found with some older game consoles (back in the day). The other very noticeable feature is the top of the device is slanted with a raised 510 plate, which is raised higher one side so the tank will be level. I received the Black version which also has Black leather down the side of the screen panel opposite to the fire trigger, this leather flows around the side and covers most of the back of the device. There is 2 other colour options, Tarnish which has Tarnished leather, black trigger bar and from the pictures the rest of the device looks like a dark Grey or Gunmetal, and Camo which has Black leather and fire trigger with the rest of the device having an Army camouflage look to it. Going back to the front of the device, underneath the screen panel we have the USB port on the slant and "RANKER" printed at the bottom, right at the top "SMOANT" is printed on the slant. The bottom of the device is the battery door which unlike the Cylon has no play when open, in fact very impressed with it and is definitely above average. The battery orientation is marked but again is black on black so not very clear. The top of the device houses to one side that raised 25mm air fed plate with gold plated, spring loaded 510. The fire trigger has 3 indents for the fingers to comfortably sit in while firing. The Ranker's build quality is excellent with no rattles whatsoever.
Specs:
Size: 92x60x31mm
Big & Responsive fire button
Requires 2X 18650 battery
Display: 1.35 inch TFT colour screen
Output range: 1 – 218 W
Output modes: VW / VW Curves / Temp (Ni, Ti, SS) / TCR / TC Curves
Resistance range: 0.05 – 2.0 Ohm for Temp / TCR mode / TC Curves
0.1-5.0 Ohm for VW / VW Curves
Temperature control: 100 – 315°C / 200 – 600°F
Two different UI available to choose
Firmware upgradeable
Reverse protection/ Over-heating protection/ Low voltage protection/ Overload/Short-circuit protection/ Over-time protection
95% efficient
Colour: Black, Tarnish and Camo
The Ranker's Display
The device allows you to have 2 different styles of main screen, Style one is where you can choose to have wallpaper, there are 9 different ones to choose from which is both great (there are some nice ones) and a bit disappointing you can't upload your own as a lot of people would love to have things like the crest of their football team, rock band logo, pet or picture of a loved one as their background. Hopefully a near future firmware upgrade will allow for this. Style two is a speedometer which is very nice and the needle moves as you vape. Both styles give you the same information it's just how it is presented with the speedometer is in keeping with the speedometers looks. Their is also two choices of screensaver which the screen switches to after a period of inactivity (you can set how many seconds), first their is a very nice watch face and the second is to have the chosen wallpaper. These settings are mix and match it doesn't matter what style you use for your main screen you can choose watch or wallpaper as your screensaver. The display is top notch with everything sharp and crystal clear also the pictures are high quality.
Using the Ranker
The menu system is almost app style in nature which allows for the device to have a lot going on yet keeping it simple and quick to navigate around. Yes it's the 5 clicks job to turn on and off and to enter the menu system is 3 clicks. The menu screen displays four icons, VW, TC, Settings and Wallpapers. Sometimes choosing something in the menu system takes you straight back to your main screen but with that item now selected, for example if when in the VW menu i choose normal it takes me back to the main screen but norm is now activated. In the temp control menu when you select your wire type it again takes you back to the main screen but now the display is temperature rather than wattage. When you are in a temp control mode pressing the up and down buttons together locks the resistance and down and fire together allows you to alter the wattage. If whatever you choose in the menu system doesn't take you back to the main screen which is usually when choosing something which gives you further options then holding down the fire button takes you back. All navigation in the menu is done by using the up and down button with the fire button being select. Back to the menu, if you select VW icon it gives you choices of min, norm, max or custom curve. Selecting TC gives you your various wires, TCR and temperature curve. Choosing settings allows you to adjust the brightness, the time, whether you want Speedometer or Wallpaper, Screen timeout or Screensaver mode (watch face or picture). Finally choosing Wallpapers gives you nine very nice pictures to choose from.
Ranker Vs Cylon
Having the same coloured screens, operating systems and features and even 2 of the Ranker colour versions being the same Black and Tarnish leather finish that the Cylon has means the 2 devices are almost identical, in fact operationally they are the same device. The difference is the form factor which instead of being similar they are miles apart.
The Cylon has the rounded form making it very comfortable to carry around and pop in the pocket, while when firing the Ranker comes into it's own ergonomically. The Ranker has the edge for me when it comes to being different looking with the slanted top and slanted screen (i like things that look different). I have heard views on threads about the slanted screen when people have seen the pictures of the Ranker, and seem to think they will constantly be tilting their head to read the screen. If i saw someone using the Ranker and tilting their head i would find it very amusing, it's only an approx 30 degree angle and everything can be read as normal. I just think Smoant wanted to put a different slant on things, (I'm so sorry, i couldn't resist). The Cylon without doubt comes out on top when it comes to the size of tank that will fit being able to house a 30mm tank without overhang, while no tank over 26mm will even fit on the Ranker due to it's slanted top.
Performance
When i reviewed the Cylon I had nothing put praise on it's performance, so with the Ranker using the exact same chip as the Cylon again i can't fault it. The Ranker fires virtually instantly in 0.015 secs and i find it hits quite hard. I own other Smoant products including a couple i bought because i find they out perform some more expensive devices, with Smoant you get quality at a reasonable price. I particularly like the custom curves on this device, they are done very well. The fire trigger works great and when held in a pistol grip style the ergonomics come into their own. The Ant chip is very efficient and battery life is as good as any other duel 18650 device. 25mm tanks sit flush on the plate with 26mm tanks having a slight overhang with the plate but not the device. Any tanks over 26mm just won't fit due to the top of the device being slanted, so something to bare in mind. The Ranker is fully firmware upgradable.
Update
Dowloading update software from http://smoant.com/cylon-update.rar allows you to add your own pictures via Smoant Client.
Conclusion
Another cracking device from Smoant that works and performs identically to the Cylon with the only real difference being form factor.
Likes
Unique looking
Great performance
Excellent build quality
Custom Curves both wattage and temp control
Temp Control
Very nice colour display
Customisation
Easy menu system
High Wattage
Good battery life
Wallpapers
2 Main screen modes
Fires instantly
Pistol grip
Can upload own pictures
Dislikes
Tanks over 26mm will not fit
Battery orientation could be clearer
I would once again like to thank Kristy from Smoant for supplying The Ranker for the purpose of this review.
http://smoant.com/ranker-218w-upgradeabl...index.html
http://smoant.com/ranker-218w-upgradeabl...index.html
In the Box
Contents:
1x Smoant Ranker MOD
1x USB Cable
1x User Manual
1x Warning Card
Aesthetics and Ergonomics
When first looking at the Ranker you can see like another manufacturer they have gone for using the ergonomics of a firearm but in a way not to resemble one. The features that immediately stand out is the slanted panel (approx 30 degrees), which houses a 1.3 inch TFT colour screen with the same slant, underneath the screen again at an angle is the +/- buttons. You also will notice the side fire bar is more of a fire trigger as can be found with some older game consoles (back in the day). The other very noticeable feature is the top of the device is slanted with a raised 510 plate, which is raised higher one side so the tank will be level. I received the Black version which also has Black leather down the side of the screen panel opposite to the fire trigger, this leather flows around the side and covers most of the back of the device. There is 2 other colour options, Tarnish which has Tarnished leather, black trigger bar and from the pictures the rest of the device looks like a dark Grey or Gunmetal, and Camo which has Black leather and fire trigger with the rest of the device having an Army camouflage look to it. Going back to the front of the device, underneath the screen panel we have the USB port on the slant and "RANKER" printed at the bottom, right at the top "SMOANT" is printed on the slant. The bottom of the device is the battery door which unlike the Cylon has no play when open, in fact very impressed with it and is definitely above average. The battery orientation is marked but again is black on black so not very clear. The top of the device houses to one side that raised 25mm air fed plate with gold plated, spring loaded 510. The fire trigger has 3 indents for the fingers to comfortably sit in while firing. The Ranker's build quality is excellent with no rattles whatsoever.
Specs:
Size: 92x60x31mm
Big & Responsive fire button
Requires 2X 18650 battery
Display: 1.35 inch TFT colour screen
Output range: 1 – 218 W
Output modes: VW / VW Curves / Temp (Ni, Ti, SS) / TCR / TC Curves
Resistance range: 0.05 – 2.0 Ohm for Temp / TCR mode / TC Curves
0.1-5.0 Ohm for VW / VW Curves
Temperature control: 100 – 315°C / 200 – 600°F
Two different UI available to choose
Firmware upgradeable
Reverse protection/ Over-heating protection/ Low voltage protection/ Overload/Short-circuit protection/ Over-time protection
95% efficient
Colour: Black, Tarnish and Camo
The Ranker's Display
The device allows you to have 2 different styles of main screen, Style one is where you can choose to have wallpaper, there are 9 different ones to choose from which is both great (there are some nice ones) and a bit disappointing you can't upload your own as a lot of people would love to have things like the crest of their football team, rock band logo, pet or picture of a loved one as their background. Hopefully a near future firmware upgrade will allow for this. Style two is a speedometer which is very nice and the needle moves as you vape. Both styles give you the same information it's just how it is presented with the speedometer is in keeping with the speedometers looks. Their is also two choices of screensaver which the screen switches to after a period of inactivity (you can set how many seconds), first their is a very nice watch face and the second is to have the chosen wallpaper. These settings are mix and match it doesn't matter what style you use for your main screen you can choose watch or wallpaper as your screensaver. The display is top notch with everything sharp and crystal clear also the pictures are high quality.
Using the Ranker
The menu system is almost app style in nature which allows for the device to have a lot going on yet keeping it simple and quick to navigate around. Yes it's the 5 clicks job to turn on and off and to enter the menu system is 3 clicks. The menu screen displays four icons, VW, TC, Settings and Wallpapers. Sometimes choosing something in the menu system takes you straight back to your main screen but with that item now selected, for example if when in the VW menu i choose normal it takes me back to the main screen but norm is now activated. In the temp control menu when you select your wire type it again takes you back to the main screen but now the display is temperature rather than wattage. When you are in a temp control mode pressing the up and down buttons together locks the resistance and down and fire together allows you to alter the wattage. If whatever you choose in the menu system doesn't take you back to the main screen which is usually when choosing something which gives you further options then holding down the fire button takes you back. All navigation in the menu is done by using the up and down button with the fire button being select. Back to the menu, if you select VW icon it gives you choices of min, norm, max or custom curve. Selecting TC gives you your various wires, TCR and temperature curve. Choosing settings allows you to adjust the brightness, the time, whether you want Speedometer or Wallpaper, Screen timeout or Screensaver mode (watch face or picture). Finally choosing Wallpapers gives you nine very nice pictures to choose from.
Ranker Vs Cylon
Having the same coloured screens, operating systems and features and even 2 of the Ranker colour versions being the same Black and Tarnish leather finish that the Cylon has means the 2 devices are almost identical, in fact operationally they are the same device. The difference is the form factor which instead of being similar they are miles apart.
The Cylon has the rounded form making it very comfortable to carry around and pop in the pocket, while when firing the Ranker comes into it's own ergonomically. The Ranker has the edge for me when it comes to being different looking with the slanted top and slanted screen (i like things that look different). I have heard views on threads about the slanted screen when people have seen the pictures of the Ranker, and seem to think they will constantly be tilting their head to read the screen. If i saw someone using the Ranker and tilting their head i would find it very amusing, it's only an approx 30 degree angle and everything can be read as normal. I just think Smoant wanted to put a different slant on things, (I'm so sorry, i couldn't resist). The Cylon without doubt comes out on top when it comes to the size of tank that will fit being able to house a 30mm tank without overhang, while no tank over 26mm will even fit on the Ranker due to it's slanted top.
Performance
When i reviewed the Cylon I had nothing put praise on it's performance, so with the Ranker using the exact same chip as the Cylon again i can't fault it. The Ranker fires virtually instantly in 0.015 secs and i find it hits quite hard. I own other Smoant products including a couple i bought because i find they out perform some more expensive devices, with Smoant you get quality at a reasonable price. I particularly like the custom curves on this device, they are done very well. The fire trigger works great and when held in a pistol grip style the ergonomics come into their own. The Ant chip is very efficient and battery life is as good as any other duel 18650 device. 25mm tanks sit flush on the plate with 26mm tanks having a slight overhang with the plate but not the device. Any tanks over 26mm just won't fit due to the top of the device being slanted, so something to bare in mind. The Ranker is fully firmware upgradable.
Update
Dowloading update software from http://smoant.com/cylon-update.rar allows you to add your own pictures via Smoant Client.
Conclusion
Another cracking device from Smoant that works and performs identically to the Cylon with the only real difference being form factor.
Likes
Unique looking
Great performance
Excellent build quality
Custom Curves both wattage and temp control
Temp Control
Very nice colour display
Customisation
Easy menu system
High Wattage
Good battery life
Wallpapers
2 Main screen modes
Fires instantly
Pistol grip
Can upload own pictures
Dislikes
Tanks over 26mm will not fit
Battery orientation could be clearer
I would once again like to thank Kristy from Smoant for supplying The Ranker for the purpose of this review.
http://smoant.com/ranker-218w-upgradeabl...index.html
Last edited:
![IMG_2610[1].jpg](https://www.ecigssa.co.za/data/attachments/121/121476-a119539a69818bf3db02fc813bbce757.jpg "IMG_2610[1].jpg")
