Local track has a RC3 decoder. It can be updated but the automatic update will point to RC4.5 which a no no since there are many drivers with older amb transponders and or mrts.

So, does anyone know if it's possible to upgrade to RC4.4?

Thank you

If it's in wrong thread please move it, I couldn't find the correct one my self

I think I something for you somewhere on my club forum, let me check...
EDIT: Found it


That put aside, I'm not sure you can update a 4.X firmware on a RC3 decoder...

I now the transponder compatibility list, I'm searching if it's possible to upgrade the RC3 in to RC4 4.4 firmware and not 4.5 as it will make a great number of transponders useless like AMBrc, AMBrc DP, MRT

Here is a list with the MRTs (can't remember where I got it to give credits!)

Contact MyLaps support. You generally can't do manual firmware updates without a specific firmware file linked to your decoder serial number, you'll need their support to provide that for you.

Looking forward to the day something brakes this monopoly.

I do not mind if the prices are fair. OK, some open licences to legally make equipment would be nice but I hear a lot of complains about the prices of the transponders. Is it?
People can spend thousends of dollars a year on their RC and a 100 dollar transponder with which you can easilly do 5 years seems too much. Yes, I can understand that someone bought a 300 dollar Tamiya kit to race the Tamiya cup or a local club has some issues to spend 100 more but even then on the used market you will find cheap transponders.

And what is a monopoly? You are free to design and produce your own system.

It'd be ok-ish if they didn't revoke the ability to use older transponders with just firmware updates. They know they're the biggest brand and gouge you for it, and are deactivating the ability to use older products that still work.

All technology has improved and gotten cheaper and more capable.

Cellphones are vastly more featured and powerful and have stayed the same price wise for a while. If they old had 3 features and didn't change for 5+ years they'd get cheaper. Transponders seem to be going up and are more expensive than when I bought my first one 21 years ago. A bad deal. Heck I had a brand new 3 wire die in a year and a half and I was told thats really common and the older 2 wires were better.

Good stuff.

The RC4 change was a bit rude by not telling that the 4.5 firmware rules out the older transponders. But we do see the same with Windows and Android....
But how do you feel when you have a lapcounter product and other companies are making transponders with random numbers which can interfear with your own product?

As a racer, you don't get to choose what decoder your local track uses. Most tracks use MyLaps decoders, so they essentially have a monopoly there. Which they're leveraging to force users to purchase MyLaps transponders by preventing 3rd party transponders from working with their decoders.

As a racer I am glad I can visit any track with the same transponder not needing a whole collection of different transponders. But yes, I did some racing on an indoor track using IR transponders, no problem to get one.

But with mylaps there is more, you get a unique transponder ID, which is yours and with which you can track down your laptimes which are recorded and stored 24/7 (if the track its decoder is connected), so you do not only pay for the transponder but also for a service. How do you feel when suddenly weird practice times sre showing up in your list because some prick did make/get a non Mylaps transponder and has your number?

I wasn't advocating nearby tracks to use incompatible systems. It's possible for multiple brands to build compatible transponders.
I've never seen that happen. There are ways of generating numbers in a way that won't clash (eg the GUID) that they could use to avoid clashing. Or they could licence out certain ranges of IDs to 3rd parties so they won't clash with each other. Instead they chose to kill support for not only existing 3rd party transponders, but their own older transponders to force new sales.

I did mention that some licenses to build compatible equipment would be nice but keep in mind that with such licences there is a high chance there will also be a agreed pricetag to it. No manufacturer allows that a partner can sell same kind of products for a much lower price.

It has happen with the MRT transponders. MRT started with a transponder containing 20 switchable transponder ID's from transponders they have bought With many transponders sold with only 20 ID's there is always a chance it will happen.
Due some issues with the MTR transponders like non RC4 campatible and counting issues on 4.4 firmware I was told some competitions in Germany only alow original AMB/Mylaps transponders.

I just wish the decoders were cheaper. They are cost prohibitive for small tracks or home use.

Licensing shouldn't really matter too much unless there's novel patents involved - reverse engineering for interoperability is legal in many (most?) jurisdictions. If it was patent protected, I'd have expected to see MyLaps sue MRT rather than just implement a technical block.

I'm aware that MRT had the potential to clash with IDs, but I've never seen it happen. It's extremely unlikely to happen at the local track level, so it won't show up on LiveRC for your track. If there is a clash at the local track level, it's going to affect the race day itself. I don't know anyone in my area that uses Speedhive for global tracking, we all use LiveRC. I'm not sure why anyone would care if their transponder number popped up at a track they've never visited.

If it's working fine, why upgrade? If it isn't broke, don't fix it my boss used to say.