This is a much talked about issue in the main forum.

Is the club going to upgrade/firmware update the decoder at any time in the future? I know there is a push for this to happen from the vendor and they are offering a discount for this at the moment. If so it would benefit those of us who run MRT transponders to get the trade in for RC4 pure PTXs before the trade in deal listed on the MyLaps website goes away. The trade in value for an MRT plus the upgrade fee is less than than buying a new MyLaps RC4 pure or hybrid off the shelf.

Any one have any input?

If we just ignore the problem it will eventually go away

Seems like obsoleting all of the current transponders is the wrong way to go. Aren't the new transponders backward compatible with the old system?

http://www.rctech.net/forum/radio-el...nsponders.html

Old transponders work on the new system. Except MRTs.

New transponders don't work on the old system.



AMB can suck my hotdog

So to clarify, my transponders that are about 10 years old will still work on the RC4 decoder box?



How about the handouts that they used to sell?

Kraig, yes and yes.

If the track upgrades, MRT's will likely not work 100% of the time if at all.

If they don't upgrade to RC4 the new 3 wire PT's won't work.

The majority of tracks seem to be doing the upgrade, I would trade in or dump your MRT's if you have them..imo

Yes. This only impacts the MRT guys. I'd like to get the best discount and replace all my MRTs with RC4 pures before it's too late. I just need to find out what the club is doing. Right now AMB/MyLaps is offering a discounted firmware update to the RC3 decoders that can handle it. Apparently anything that can't will be end of life and unsupported.

Agreed. I can always keep 1 MRT and swap, but I think I'll start upgrading the rest.

The old AMB and MyLaps ones are all good David. It's just the MRT PTXs. MRT is able to send a signal the old decoders understand. The new decoders only see AMB signals and filter out most if not all of MRTs. As I used to buy bulk MRTs and offer them to those who needed them, I don't want to see anyone get stuck with them if the club goes to an RC4 decoder or RC3 upgrade to RC4 firmware.

Perhaps you guys should take a pole on race days for the next couple of weeks and see how many of you this will affect.?. All of you with MRT's should have one person send them over and get the deal to save on shipping if the club utlimately decides to go that way.

Thanks for the answers. I won't go do a mass sale on my old transponders even if they are slower that the new transponders. lol

No they are not. Look at the chart posted in the link. The new pt ONLY works with the RC4 decoder/firmware.

I agree with Zac on this one.

I'm surprised nobody is trying to do an open source timing set-up. Stan?

How about something like those little RFID tags you have to rip out of CDs before you can shoplift them...wait...

Or perhaps this could be one area that ROAR could actually help racers. Specify the protocol so all systems work together. And specify a maximum transponder price, like $50.

We've been wishing for something like this for years haven't we? AMB is defending their monopoly. I'm guessing if ROAR tried to stipulate something like that AMB would just stonewall it. There isn't a real alternative today is there?

from what i understand, the new transponders will not work with the old decoder box.

and the mrt will not work with the new decoder box,

i think i read that amb has a trade in plan for the decoder box that saves a bundle of money on the upgrade.

now, here is the kick...you cannot buy the old amb transponders, only the new, so in say 2 years there will be many more new transponders that wont work, and fewer mrt transponders, in the long run, it may be in the clubs best interest to bite the bullet, and upgrade,

i would guess the mrt will still be worth something for the short term as tracks dont upgrade...

just my .02 as someone who never got around to getting clones....