What type of transponders do you own, and how many? Please answer.

[dajracer]

We are going to look at it because it is only available till the end of March at the reduced rate. It will cost $3000 after March 30.

[valk]

this only really affects people running mrt i guess? seems like a safe upgrade if we wont have a continued supply of hybrids in the near future. for the cost of these cars, a new transponder that will likely outlast any of them is chump.

[Tom]

What would the "upgrade" let us do that we can't do now?

Remember that decoder capabilities are one thing, and what the lap counting software does with it is another.

[Blake]

What would the "upgrade" let us do that we can't do now?

Answer:  Host a race that allows racers to use their newly purchased AMB RC4 transponders.


AMB is playing nasty and will soon sell only the new RC4 transponder which does not work on the current RC3 decoder.  This means big races will have to support the new transponder or lose entries.  That in turn means that small races will have to support it, or lose entries.  The club level is next....  AMB has everyone in a tough place.  If they didn't have such huge market penetration, we could call their bluff and ALL races/tracks/club could ignore the update.  That won't happen though.  The official turning point will probably be at this year's first big carpet race in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct.  If that race uses RC4, that will be the end of MRT's current units.  I'm sure MRT is probably in the lab as we speak trying to clone the new RC4, and I'm sure they'll offer an upgrade price from the current MRT units at a price equal to AMB's upgrade price of $35.


Blake

[Tom]

Aah. This is AMB's response to MRT. Planned obsolescence.

Something tells me that AMB has put quite a bit more effort into encrypting the RC4 than their previous version.

[cheifman]

I have     1 rc4
              1  amb

[Shawn68z]

Just put in for the upgrade to RC4's (from MRT's).  Says the process could take upto 2 months. (2 weeks for the MRT's to arrive, 1 month for processing?, and 2 weeks for delivery.)  So if you plan on upgrading I would recommend it soon.   For people who do not want RC4's, then they offer a discount to the hybrid as well.

1 x Amb/RC
2 x RC4's


Shawn.

[valk]

jeez.. with computers running absolutely everything in our world, how the hell can they possibly thing of getting away with timelines like that? thats retarded.....

Id probably get hybrids if it was me. if you ever wanted to sell them, im sure their value will go up quite alot when they stop making them.

[Shawn68z]

Id probably get hybrids if it was me. if you ever wanted to sell them, im sure their value will go up quite alot when they stop making them.

Not much goes up in value in this hobby.. Turns out RC gear is a bad investment.... I'll save $100, which will buy me another transponder. (Hybrid)


Shawn

[Shawn68z]

From RC Tech (You know, if its on the internet then it must be true)


" Our local track personnel talked to some folks at MyLaps the other day on the phone and they're claiming that the plan is to have the entire system limited to the 3-wire MyLaps RC4 transponders ONLY by 2017. House Transponders, AMBRC Personals, and even the RC4 Hybrid apparently are going to be phased out over time and the compatibility will be eliminated via automatic software updates when you connect the box to upload peoples' laps online.  "

http://www.rctech.net/forum/11943019-post204.html

Also, the RC4 transponders will not operate if pluged into the BIND port on your RX'er..  Causes the RX'er to try and bind when you turn your car on.


Shawn.

[BigDawg]

1 RC3
1 RC4H

[Shawn68z]

Just an update:  I shipped my transponders back to AMB on 21-Mar-13, which they arrived at their office on the 27th march.  New AMB's were shipped to me on the 28th, and they are already on the way back to Canada (They are in Washington state right now).. Unfortunately they shipped them UPS. So, hopefully there will not be any surprise fees.  They have shipped them to other canadians as "Repaired/Replaced", so they didn't have to pay duty on them.


Shawn.

[Gorden]

Just an update:  I shipped my transponders back to AMB on 21-Mar-13, which they arrived at their office on the 27th march.  New AMB's were shipped to me on the 28th, and they are already on the way back to Canada (They are in Washington state right now).. Unfortunately they shipped them UPS. So, hopefully there will not be any surprise fees.  They have shipped them to other canadians as "Repaired/Replaced", so they didn't have to pay duty on them.


Shawn.

I had to pay the fees on mine

[Shawn68z]

Just an update:  I shipped my transponders back to AMB on 21-Mar-13, which they arrived at their office on the 27th march.  New AMB's were shipped to me on the 28th, and they are already on the way back to Canada (They are in Washington state right now).. Unfortunately they shipped them UPS. So, hopefully there will not be any surprise fees.  They have shipped them to other canadians as "Repaired/Replaced", so they didn't have to pay duty on them.


Shawn.

I had to pay the fees on mine

I have heard that from one other person too.. Bastards eh?  If they don't want to ship USPS, then they shouldn't have the option on their site!  Well, we shall see what happens. No matter what the upgrade(?) fee is reasonable, esp since my transponders were clones. they could have just left everyone with a MRT in the cold completely.


Shawn.

[dajracer]

Every time I have had anything shipped from them, they always ship UPS. That is the only way they ship is what I was told. I can't complain, since the club was greatly rewarded when they replaced the same shipment twice when it was reported lost and later found.