transponders

[stueyR]

hey mike

do you only run one set of transponders at the stcc meets if so surly you cant discrimnate the racers who don't wanna spend £60 on a pt to find it doesn't count every lap so you then spend another £50 for an ipt just to race, if the previose heat haven't given them back surly you will have to delay the race.

I understand pt makes it easier for you guys running the meet and you don't wanna be chasing people for the pt's but for the sake of a quick check in the scruiterneering bay this shouldn't happen.:) :) :)

[MikeS]

Whats your problem Stuart.....?

[skelsey]

Stuart,

Over the last two years I've been doing STCC there's always been two sets of handout transponders and I've never had a problem.

Simon

[stueyR]

Whats your problem Stuart.....?

hey mike

Don't get me wrong bud I'm not complaing the way the note came across to me you only have one set of bugs and you would be waiting for them thats all

[stueyR]

Stuart,

Over the last two years I've been doing STCC there's always been two sets of handout transponders and I've never had a problem.

Simon


cool

[MikeS]

No probem Stuart,
but I think we need to be realistic and realise that a lot of clubs no longer have full sets of working handout transponders, I know mine doesn't any longer. That coupled with the cost of replacing them AND AMB's preference for everyone to move to using PTs, I felt I have to ensure that people are aware of these things.

[dis69]

It is annoying, we have a set of 20 handouts, but only about 9 are still working, we obviously will beg steal or borrow to try and have a full compliment, but as Mike said, they are hard to come by, and when you find them they are near on £100 each.

With the amount of personal transponders out there now we hope that there will be little use for the handouts, but maybe we can try to stagger the need for handouts each heat, i.e. 1 to 5 use handouts in heat one, 6 to 10 in heat 2 etc. etc.

[John Robson]

Just a bit of info re Transponders, you can in fact send your PT away to be checked if the battery fails to keep the Transponder charged for a min of 18 hours, they will replace it, I understand if you do it through the UK distributor, they cast around £50 with a 2 year warranty, this is a new offer, they used to be £45 with a 90 day offer.

The second option, you can for £35 have the battery replaced, the only issue with this one, OK the turn round from when you send it of, is quicker, than sending it back to the Manufacturer, or UK Distributor, but if in future you want to send it back because it fails for other reasons, AMB will not touch it.

It’s a pity we cannot clone the hand out Transponders like the PT’s can.

John Robson.

[dis69]

We can clone them into iPT's, or even for a small cost Mr MRT will stick them on the database for you. Then sometime down the line call them off as an iPT if the handout dies, then sell to the newguys as a cheaper alternative to a PT.

We have had our batts replaced and they are not holding charge again, we have had about a year of use out of them, and was cheaper than a new one or a manuf. repair as they were too old.

Come on Terry seeing a gap in the market here, some of us still want handouts, you can make them surely....???

[Steve Cann]

Stuart,

Over the last two years I've been doing STCC there's always been two sets of handout transponders and I've never had a problem.

Simon

they were Coastal clubs own... Now Barry is not involved with organisation of championship they, I'm assuming, won't be touted around all meetings...

[Andy Oldman]

With the amount of personal transponders out there now we hope that there will be little use for the handouts, but maybe we can try to stagger the need for handouts each heat, i.e. 1 to 5 use handouts in heat one, 6 to 10 in heat 2 etc. etc.
thats what i intend to do for qualifying
there are 23 drivers entered the first round without a PT
8 in stock
9 in 19t
6 in mod
so not to much of a problem
in finals there may be a small delay.but maybe not

[dis69]

So, its all under control then... Nice.

[Steve Cann]

So, its all under control then... Nice.



If it were that easy... Everybody and their mate would be running meetings, organising championships;) :cool:



I let my mind wander recently... it never appeared to return:o

[Bonny85]

thats what i intend to do for qualifying
there are 23 drivers entered the first round without a PT
8 in stock
9 in 19t
6 in mod
so not to much of a problem
in finals there may be a small delay.but maybe not

southend have a full compliment of 20 transponders, so all will be ok for round 1.

[Terry]

Come on Terry seeing a gap in the market here, some of us still want handouts, you can make them surely....???

Darren we are well aware of the situation regarding handout transponders! All I can say is don't ever throw them away, one day you may come to regret it. As has been mentioned there are options available..

"So, its all under control then... Nice."

The problem for clubs these days is that if the majority of drivers have PT's the handouts are seen as a bit of an expensive liability.. it's all ok while they are working. It's when they stop working that it's a problem, if only it could be easy.. if only!


For Information:

The battery replacement service we offer is available at around £30 with a turn around within 7 working days, or £24 for our normal turn around of about 7 to 10 working days. We offer a similar service for AMB20 transponders with the prices a bit less than for AMBrc transponders.

It's worth noting that before giving up hope on dead transponders it's possible that we might be able to do something to help. It's often worth a try there are some repairs we can do at minimal cost or will carry out FOC during a 'health check' on a set of transponders. We only charge for the battery replacements, any testing/servicing is included in the price. We can also replace leads on personal transponders if required. Also it's a good idea while we have your PT to have your ID number copied so should your PT ever fail the ID could be used in a new cloned transponder.

_____________________
Terry Stockham

[Terry]

The problem for clubs these days is that if the majority of drivers have PT's the handouts are seen as a bit of an expensive liability.. it's all ok while they are working. It's when they stop working that it's a problem, if only it could be easy.. if only!

I should add that despite any problems and the expense most clubs continue to have handout transponders available for those that need them.. even if more often these days some just sit there unused.

_____________________
Terry Stockham

[dis69]

Downloaded the latest upgrade to the race software we use (not sure i can mention it), and used it last night.

One of the latest updates is to remap the transponders, so, after all the bugs charged, waited the 1hr to get to track, setup etc. then discarded the red flashers, and the switched off's and remapped the 6 we had left to numbers 1 to 6 dispite their actual numbers, worked a treat.

Still, 6 wont be enough when we get outside, hopefully with 10 car heats, and possibly 10 people without PT's.

Handouts for replication coming your way shortly terry, funds allowing.

[Terry]

Handouts for replication coming your way shortly terry, funds allowing.

Ok Darren we can do the replication no problem.


Downloaded the latest upgrade to the race software we use (not sure i can mention it), and used it last night.

One of the latest updates is to remap the transponders, so, after all the bugs charged, waited the 1hr to get to track, setup etc. then discarded the red flashers, and the switched off's and remapped the 6 we had left to numbers 1 to 6 dispite their actual numbers, worked a treat.

It's interesting other options are available like remapping the transponders, useful if your software can do it. Not sure why you don't have the batteries replaced in the other handout transponders, it's the obvious solution. Maybe the "funds allowing" is a clue.. I guess they're out of warranty.

_____________________
Terry Stockham

[dis69]

They are out of warranty, and have had the batts replaced at begginning of last year, only lasted until now. Frustrating

[dis69]

With the addition of these type of updates to the software we use, obviously shows a bigger problem than just a couple of bugs failing.

[MattW]

It does seem to be a big problem these days. I have 2 local clubs, and generally I would say that handouts are still used by the majority at both of those clubs.

The club i am more involved with does have the problem with battery failures, we have had some back to AMB under warrenty and others back to Terry for battery replacements.

Unfortunately it's an ongoing cost, we have had a few re-fail as Terry will know, and have since had more gone. There doesn't seem to be much you can do other than try and convince people to buy their own, which doesn't seem an easy thing to do!!

[dis69]

Maybe it is all a conspiracy from AMB, a time bomb in the bugs as they would prefer we all go PT.... ;)

The biggest annoyance is the re-fail after battery replacement, you'd expect a couple of years out of a replacement, but there doesn't seem to be any identifiable reason..??

I think we are going to have to eventually go PT only, with a few club PT's for loan and sale to newbies, the cost or handouts against pt's even with the high pt price is making us head that way.

Actually, i'm not sure why we aren't just doing that at my club, we'll send all handouts to Terry, iPT them, bin the handouts and do it that way.

Anyone want to buy a charging rack ;)

[Steve Cann]

If I'm right in thinking that cloned 'handouts' will need plugging into receiver for their power... Doesn't exactly make for ease of use... This was one of the 'failings' of KO system... Though their 'bugs' were relatively cheap enough racer could have loan of one to them self for the day...

[dis69]

Yep, correct, and the only failing in the scheme, but AMB don't seem to care. They want everyone to have a transponder, all clubs the only allow pt, so that every new guy has to buy a bug as part of the start up costs making them lots of money.

[stewcc]

I must say that in all dealings we at Teesside have had with AMB, they have been more than helpful.

We have sent back a number of rechargeables, some that I thought were out of warranty, and they have been replaced by return N/C. ie not repaired but replaced.

I believe the AMBrc transponders are much more sensitive to proper handling / charging than the AMB20s.

When we upgraded we used the old charging rack and I think that is the problem. We replaced both our sets in 2005 and to the end of 2006 we were having loads of problems of a random type. Sometimes a transponder was OK but next time it would bee rubbish. The green light would not be an indication of correct function.

We sent them to AMB and ordered a new charging rack. No charge for the new sets of transponders, only the £300 odd for the charger. Anyway, the transponders are fine and there is now no uncertainty as to whether the transponder is properly in the rack.

If you have an old charging rack it may be worth concidering replacing it. Its well worth it if it makes things more reliable.

Hope this helps.

Stewart Craig
Teesside Radio Car Club

[stewcc]

When we upgraded to AMBrc I thought we as a club might manage with only PTs so I just ordered a load and loaned them out to those who did not want to buy.

It didn't work very well:'( . and soon the wires started to get damaged. We then bought our rechargeables and things were fine. Mind you more and more members are buying their PTs, usually through the club at special rates.

Ideally the more drivers that have PTs the better, but to make newcomers buy a PT straight away is a bad idea. I always find persuasion works better than prohibition.

[BandMBoy]

forgive my dumbness, id just like a clear answer.

i have entered into 27t at colchester and i dont have a pt, will there either pt's to hire or handouts there ??

[Mr.B]

No worries,we at colchester have 20 hand-outs:) Working at the moment anyway.:rolleyes:

[Andy Oldman]

forgive my dumbness, id just like a clear answer.

i have entered into 27t at colchester and i dont have a pt, will there either pt's to hire or handouts there ??


there will be handout transponders at all rounds

[Terry]

Regarding transponders, in an ideal world if every racer had a PT there would be no need for handout transponders. It's expected that there will be handout transponders available at meetings, so without a change in the accepted wisdom the 'handout scheme' continues. As Stewart has found loaning PT's has its problems when the leads break so not good, but i-PT's have easy replaceable leads so it's not a problem to change them.

Rechargeable transponders do have ongoing costs, the batteries have a limited life so it's no surprise that they wear out and need replacing. It's more of a problem these days because there's more power needed to run an AMBrc handout than to run an AMB20, consequently the 'usable life' of the battery is reduced a fair amount. As long as the batteries last for a reasonable time from a full charge there's no problem, it's when they run out during a meeting that it's a worry!

If you've got 20 handouts all working you're OK!! :)

_____________________
Terry Stockham

[Barry_Hughes]

Downloaded the latest upgrade to the race software we use (not sure i can mention it), and used it last night.

One of the latest updates is to remap the transponders, so, after all the bugs charged, waited the 1hr to get to track, setup etc. then discarded the red flashers, and the switched off's and remapped the 6 we had left to numbers 1 to 6 dispite their actual numbers, worked a treat.

Still, 6 wont be enough when we get outside, hopefully with 10 car heats, and possibly 10 people without PT's.

Handouts for replication coming your way shortly terry, funds allowing.

Yes in previous years I have taken Coastals transponders to every meeting, made it easier as the numbers were already in our laptop which we also made it easier.

Re discarding Red flashing handouts Why:confused:
The transponders will flash red but can be still used for a meeting, all it means is the power is getting low. I have run meetings with transponders from 9 am till nearly 6 pm with the transponders flashing red from the start.
Ideally I put the transponders on charge around 3pm on the day before a meeting taking them off at around 7am the day of the meeting.

[Terry]

After a full charge (between 15 to 17 hours) when the green light comes on transponders should transmit a signal for at least 17 hours with green or red LED flashing. If they don't run for as long as the normal operating limit then it's time to get batteries replaced. Having the LED flashing red soon after a full charge is usually an indication that it's time to start thinking about a replacement. It's always better not to risk a dead transponder, better safe than sorry! ;)

_____________________
Terry Stockham