Larry Frankenstein
Well-known member
Are there any recommendations and/or requirements for transponders?
Thank you,
L
Thank you,
L
Transponders
- Thread starter Larry Frankenstein
- Start date
Rob
Well-known member
My experience is that if you can mount it somewhere that has a relatively unobstructed view of the ground (up to about 18 inches from the ground) you get the best results. Inside of a front wheel well works pretty well, also next to the fuel cell in the rear should yield good results. It seems that if you have the unit travel "sideways" it works better too. (The blinking light pointing out toward the side of the car, not to the front or back) I think that has to do with the pattern that the antennae projects. It makes a 0 as opposed to a symmetrical circle.
Another thing that you can do is ask scoring the hit count and signal strength that they are seeing as you cross the control line. They can look it up on their AMB screen. Usually if you get below some pre-set minimums they get a red indicator on screen so if it is that bad they may come and tell you.
Hope that is what you were looking for.
Another thing that you can do is ask scoring the hit count and signal strength that they are seeing as you cross the control line. They can look it up on their AMB screen. Usually if you get below some pre-set minimums they get a red indicator on screen so if it is that bad they may come and tell you.
Hope that is what you were looking for.
team-gpracing
Well-known member
Some tracks rent the wireless ones. I have a wireless one, bought it used years ago and just recently had to have the battery replaced (sent to Australia for about $80). The only upside to a wireless one is that you can use it on more than one vehicle. Wired ones usually stay with the car when you sell it.
Mount it in the front of the car. In case of a close finish, he who has the furthest forward transponder usually wins.
If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a wired one.
Mount it in the front of the car. In case of a close finish, he who has the furthest forward transponder usually wins.
If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a wired one.
Matt Blehm
Moderator
Watch the motorcycle forums too. lots of guys go all gung-ho on track goodies until their first spill, then they clean their garage out at half price and move on to something safer.
I have a friend with a wireless one that we've used on our LeMons car and it usually doesn't last the weekend without needing a charge. I've completely forgotten about my hard-wired one as it's never had a single problem. According to a friend that works in T&S, mine has always had great signal strength even when most other cars are having issues. (guess I got a good one!) Mine's mounted in pass fender well on frame rail about 12-15" off the ground, with 18ga alu shield to protect from rocks and another 18ga alu undertray between it and the ground.
Also.. If you buy a used one, try to find one that hasn't been registered previously. It costs $50 to MyLaps to change the registration, and they have to get confirmation from the previous owner that it was a legit sale. Took like 3 months just to get the dang thing in my name! What a PITA. I'd be willing to pay extra for one that wasn't registered, or was brand new. Something else to keep in mind.
I have a friend with a wireless one that we've used on our LeMons car and it usually doesn't last the weekend without needing a charge. I've completely forgotten about my hard-wired one as it's never had a single problem. According to a friend that works in T&S, mine has always had great signal strength even when most other cars are having issues. (guess I got a good one!) Mine's mounted in pass fender well on frame rail about 12-15" off the ground, with 18ga alu shield to protect from rocks and another 18ga alu undertray between it and the ground.
Also.. If you buy a used one, try to find one that hasn't been registered previously. It costs $50 to MyLaps to change the registration, and they have to get confirmation from the previous owner that it was a legit sale. Took like 3 months just to get the dang thing in my name! What a PITA. I'd be willing to pay extra for one that wasn't registered, or was brand new. Something else to keep in mind.
Great idea about the aluminum shield. Ours is mounted to the frame rail on the driver's rear. Have always worried about a rock or something taking it out!
I must have got a good one too because it holds a charge for the weekend and then some. But I have never heard of a problem on a hard wired t'sponder either. Guess it just depends on what you want and your usage.
Joe Downer
I must have got a good one too because it holds a charge for the weekend and then some. But I have never heard of a problem on a hard wired t'sponder either. Guess it just depends on what you want and your usage.
Joe Downer
Larry Frankenstein
Well-known member
I know just about nothing about transponders so I am looking at all aspects. So the install info is very useful and appreciated.
I do have one on our off road car, but I don’t know if it is compatible with SCCA’s timing systems. It was cheap ($80) compared to the AMB’s I’ve seen, so I am leery of it’s compatibility. It is a small blue rectangle with a hole on each end. The timing people zip-tied it to the window net. Seemed kinda Mickey mouse, but it worked.
First I want to determine which one(s) (brand and model) to get. The old GCR I read says an AMB or similar. Are there other good (reliability is probably most important here) brands / models? Or if AMB is the choice - which model? Given the input here I will probably go with the hardwired type.
Thank you,
L
I do have one on our off road car, but I don’t know if it is compatible with SCCA’s timing systems. It was cheap ($80) compared to the AMB’s I’ve seen, so I am leery of it’s compatibility. It is a small blue rectangle with a hole on each end. The timing people zip-tied it to the window net. Seemed kinda Mickey mouse, but it worked.
First I want to determine which one(s) (brand and model) to get. The old GCR I read says an AMB or similar. Are there other good (reliability is probably most important here) brands / models? Or if AMB is the choice - which model? Given the input here I will probably go with the hardwired type.
Thank you,
L
When up dating my car...i installed my transponder on the floor on the passenger side..i cut a 3in dia. hole in the floor covered it with a 4in piece of lexan then made a bracket to hold the transponder over the lexan...been like that for 6 years...no problem.good signal. also i can see the green light .
team-gpracing
Well-known member
philm":8xky34ex said:
So it shoots from inside the cab of the car through the plastic? If that's the case, I may change the location of mine.
Matt93SE":8xky34ex said:
So you have a piece of aluminum between the transponder and the ground?! That kinda goes against what they recommend, doesn't it?
Larry Frankenstein":8xky34ex said:
I could be wrong, but at all the tracks I race at, I believe you HAVE to use an AMB transponder.
Matt Blehm
Moderator
Yup. I mounted the transponder a couple years ago when the fender was open to the ground. a few months ago, I added a front splitter and aluminum undertray, and the transponder is above it. I ran it that way at a practice day expecting to be informed that my transponder wasn't reading, but when I checked with T&S, they said it was still reading just fine. So I left it like that.team-gpracing":3nfpmcb1 said:
However, aluminum may pass the RF signal a bit easier than steel. may be why I'm getting away with it.
the wording is "AMB or equivalent." i.e. it just has to work with the AMB timing systems. If there is another brand of transponder out there that works with the AMB equipment, then you're free to use it.
Dayle Frame
Well-known member
As AMB sells the reciever hardware (timing loop and decoder) to the regions, I doubt that there are any other companies that can work with their system.
Go with the hard wired one. Save yourself and the T&S folks the headaches. The lead is long enought to put it almost anywhere.
I have mine in the RF wheel well. I've never had any issues with signal strength. Its connected to the ignition switch so its always on when the car is running. Make sure to write the number down in your logbook so you don't have to crawl around looking for it. But once its in your MSR account, you should be OK.
BTW....the transponder is ONLY for timing NOT scoring. Finishes are still scored manually (by eye). Where its placed in the car is irrelevent. For instance, at Grattan, the timing loop is about 40 yards before the start/finsih line. We've had a change of position between those to two points.
Dayle
Go with the hard wired one. Save yourself and the T&S folks the headaches. The lead is long enought to put it almost anywhere.
I have mine in the RF wheel well. I've never had any issues with signal strength. Its connected to the ignition switch so its always on when the car is running. Make sure to write the number down in your logbook so you don't have to crawl around looking for it. But once its in your MSR account, you should be OK.
BTW....the transponder is ONLY for timing NOT scoring. Finishes are still scored manually (by eye). Where its placed in the car is irrelevent. For instance, at Grattan, the timing loop is about 40 yards before the start/finsih line. We've had a change of position between those to two points.
Dayle
James Rogerson
Well-known member
I get to look at results daily. Hard wired is all I'll own. You can easily install with a two plug lead for removal. Battery powered units are great for open wheel cars. At issue is remembering to keep them charged on a long race weekend. Trickle charging them if you have a short race season and a long off season. Sitting idle is hard on the battery. Clear shot to the ground, the faster you go by start finish loop the lower you want it to the ground especially with a battery unit.
James
MSR Houston
James
MSR Houston
Darryl Saylor
Well-known member
http://www.westhold.com/products_timing.html
http://www.hesstonspeedway.com/0order%20of%20events.htm
so does the Westhold one work when the tracks have AMB ? it looks like an AMB will work with the Westhold
http://www.hesstonspeedway.com/0order%20of%20events.htm
so does the Westhold one work when the tracks have AMB ? it looks like an AMB will work with the Westhold
Larry Frankenstein
Well-known member
Darryl Saylor":3poukfph said:
Thanks for the info, I have emailed them to see if their transponders work on AMB systems.
L
Larry Frankenstein
Well-known member
Their responce was "Our transponders are not compatible."
There is, however, a "decoder" that can be added to the T & S system that would make the Westhold transponders readable by an AMB system.
L
There is, however, a "decoder" that can be added to the T & S system that would make the Westhold transponders readable by an AMB system.
L