I-Lap Timing system
 

I Just purchased an I-Lap Timing system for a club race anybody here have any experience using this timing system. I just set it up today and it just work like AMB without the $$$$$$$ to make a hole in your pocket..... :nod::nod::nod::nod:

I've run my MI3 with 4.5 brushless motor at full speed it picks up the signal without any problem:nod::nod::nod:

But please share your experiece with this timing system.

I have the I-lap system for my RCP track in my basement. This system is fantastic and it works flawlessly. It's awesome when we have parties and I set up the races for the little ones and they have a blast.

Also this system is portable so you can probably set up impromtu races in any parking lot or dirt tracks.

People should really be looking into this and making part of their racing gear for sure.:nod::nod::nod:

We will test the system this saturday let see how it works in a race setup.:nod::nod::nod:

Here is a pic of my basement track.

What program are you using? I'm using the LAPSFREE

I'm also going to use LAPSFREE for now, I'm plnning to purchase alycat.

stop showing off Mr. H lolol:lol:

I've seen this timing system run indoors on a mini track, outdoors on parking lots and it seems to work just fine.

You can come over anytime and play. I have an extra m18 ready for you;)
The same goes for your boyz ( Howard and Jimmy) Just bring the pizza and beers and the race fee will be waived :nod:

Who sells this system and how much are they?
Also do they keep track of more than one r/c car
or do you have to buy a system for each car?

You can get it here

http://www.rclapcounter.com/

Yes up to as many as you want

Each car needs a transponder just like the AMB but alot cheaper.

My local indoor track (in Dexter, MO) uses this system, it has worked great for the races I have raced at there. There have been a couple of cases of the transponder not picking up, but this was becuse the transponder moved and was hidden by the body. They run 6 cars on the track at a time (it is a very small track) and it works great.

Hi Jochim,

Glad to hear you are pleased.

How fast would you say the Mi3 was going?

Craig


.

I'm not sure how fast MY car is but I have 4.5 with lipo on it.:nod::nod::nod:
We test the system at our new club at it works flawlessly all day. Just need to get all the guys purchased some PT for them to use. I'll let you know craig we might have a bulk order soon we still waiting how many guys want to get one.

Great customer service!!
 

I just purchased a system from Craig and wanted to let anyone who's curious know that his customer service is top notch! I was having a problem loading the software onto my ghetto laptop and he didn't hesitate to get it fixed. After I called him and told him my problem he said he'd call me back in 10 minutes, he called back in less than 5 with a link to a solution and actually stayed on the phone and walked me through it, A++++++!!!! As for the system, I've only bench tested it so far, and everything works perfect, I'll get out this weekend and give it a real test and give a full review!

Great customer service!!
 

I just purchased a system from Craig and wanted to let anyone who's curious know that his customer service is top notch! I was having a problem loading the software onto my ghetto laptop and he didn't hesitate to get it fixed. After I called him and told him my problem he said he'd call me back in 10 minutes, he called back in less than 5 with a link to a solution and actually stayed on the phone and walked me through it, A++++++!!!! As for the system, I've only bench tested it so far, and everything works perfect, I'll get out this weekend and give it a real test and give a full review!

Sorry for the double post

Did you have problems using the software? How many cars can you run at once. I use a simular version called trackmate and have had good results. Just wondering how you got lapsfree to work? I am having troubles getting it to recognize the signal. LMK

Thanks Jake, let us know how your first outing goes.

Victory - With I-Lap, there is no limit to the number of cars at once, as the transponders all have unique 7 digit numbers. When it is connected to the computer, the computer can't tell the difference between it and an AMBrc. Some of the softwares limit the cars to 20.

I have had a few Trakmate users contact me in error with problems and I was able to get them going, so I may be able to help you.

Are you using a USB - Serial adapter?

Craig

Yes it is from Radio Shack serial to usb adaptor. So far i have used the software that comes with the system with good success, but it is limited to what it can do. I wish I had known about I-Lap when we got into this, it would've been better, but oh well live and learn.

What I'd like to do is use Lapsfree. With my software I can not do an IFMAR start or a staggered start. What do you suggest?

Victory-

Go into Device Manager and find your USB adapter under the "Ports" heading.
Double-click it. and select the "Port Settings" tab.

Make the settings:
Bits per second = 9600
Data bits = 8
Parity = None
Stop bits = 2
Flow control = Hardware

If the com port # is higher than 8, you can change that to a lower number by clicking on the "Advanced" button.

All that stuff can be closed now.
Run LapsFree and in the Options/Hardware select AMB System 20(serial) and select your com port.
Close the options dialog.
A box should pop up and go away.
Now go back into options and select "Transponder test"
The system should read transponders now. The clock running on the bottom of that window actually comes from the decoder, so you can verify it is talking if the clock is running.

Try it and let me know how it works out.

Craig

We have been racing micros in my store for several years. I started out using a lazer based system. I was OK but did not work with the off-road buggies & trucks due to their increased verticle movement. I found the Trackmate RC20 IR system and purchased that. I used it for a couple years. It was a big improvement over the lazer system, but only had 14 codes available and reprogramming a transponder was a time consuming, hit or miss, proposition.
I was VERY pleased to find Craig (I-Lap). Not only is he much closer (Chicago area vs. western Canada for Trakmate). But his knowledge & customer service is un-matched!
We run with Alycat software, and the 2 go very well together. I-lap transponders have a stronger signal than the Trakmate, and will actually pass through some paint jobs! I don't recomend that however. Missed laps are few, and usually ascociated with either a transponder getting moved out of place, or something else moving in the way of the transponders' emitter. Care in the placement of the transponder prevents any missed laps.
We have had many instances of cars tumbleing under the bridge without losing the lap!
All that for less than I spent on the original lazer system! I wish I had found Craig sooner.:cry:.

Craig,

We will have a race on feb 10th I will PM if how many transponder I will goin to purchased.

My son and I created the racing program at Strictly RC Hobbyshop, in the NW side of Chicago, almost a year ago. Once I knew the hobbyshop owner was commited to bulding a track for racing I went about trying to find an affordable timing system to run races with. Well, the cost of a used AMB system was pretty much out of the question. I found Craig on the internet at www.rclapcounter.com, and like Duneland was delighted he was nearby. It was THE perfect solution for a new startup track that needed to attract area racers. We chose Alycat also. The main reason was the ability to set up the races and pretty much walk away and let the software take over with it's voice synthesis. This allows the race director to easily be racing at the same time. Another bonus of I-LapRC is the low cost of additional transponders. Many of our regulars own two of them so they don't have to switch them out when they race multiple classes on a race day.

I-LapRC is problem free and just runs well.

So here we are almost a year later, and we now have a very successful racing program both indoor and outdoor.

Without I-LapRC our racing program would never exist as it does today.

My only question is do amb transponders work with the system?

No.

AMB transponders will not work with the I-LapRC Timing system.

And vice-a-versa, the I-LapRC transponder will not work the AMB timing system.

AMB and I-LapRC are both race timing hardware systems but they use totally different technologies in their design.

I-LapRC was created as an alternative to the AMB timing system.

Thanks for all the kind words guys.:)

Victory - Did you get a chance to try those settings?

Jochim - You can simply order the transponders on our website.

WallStreet - As Kenji stated, the transponders do not interchange, but the I-Lap system is compatible on the PC side. Any software that supports AMB works with this system. The transponders all have unique 7 digit numbers and the PC thinks it is connected to an AMB decoder.

Craig

No not yet. Monday I will give it a try. the weekends are crazy, especially with the game. I will post it first thing Monday afternoon once I'm at the track. Thanks Aaron Benner

Well, I've ran the system 4 times now and it has been perfect! It is one of the best things I've purchased for rc, ever! I bought it to use at my track at my house with my bro's and we are all geeked out over it lol! We're using lapsfree right now but was wondering about alycat. What are the differences and benefits as compared to lapsfree, I'm more than happy right now but if it could get better I'm all for it. I'll post some video of my track later on today!

You can download a free version of alycat to try it out. Free version will lack the database and limit the number of racers in a heat. But gives you an idea of it's benefits.

Alycat calls the races for you if you want that. Essentially set the races up for the day, start the timer and walk away.

Alycat keeps a drivers database which makes races easy to setup.

Alycat is only 249 dollars.

Alycat's product support is great. Mr. Alycat is very responsive.

When you bought I-LapRC it came with a disc. On that disc is a free demo version of RC Scoring Pro. It's essentially a full version of RC Scoring Pro, but is limited to five cars in a race. Try that too...you might like it.

Thanks for the help. Sorry it took so long to reply, but I got the software to work now I have to figure out how the system works with the software. I found that I can not have nonconsecutive transponder numbers. On track mate we have only 1-14. If there was a 1,2,4,6,9 I had problems with the software assigning the right id number to the right driver. A problem that can be remedied, but I am really wishing I had invested in a different system, either i-lap or amb.

When I used Trackmate with Alycat, I merely put the driver on the number coresponding to the Trans. id #. Other words, when setting up a heat, if I had #'s 1, 2, 4, 5 in use, I would leave 3rd spot empty.

In LapsFree, you can move the drivers up and down in the "Tables" screen.
The car# refers to the transponder#

It has to be done manually, but that is about the best way to do it with your system.

With the limited numbers you have, the way it is supposed to work is for each driver to use the number assigned by the software. All of the transponders are kept together in the pits and before each race, the drivers check the grid listings, grab the correct transponder and put it in their car. After the race, they return them so the guys in the next race can take them.

Trying to use your TrakMate transponders as "personals" will be troublesome at best.


Craig

Hi guys

Does I-lapRC work with 1/10 nitro on road?

Yes. The I-Lap will work.

It will work in a Mini-Z all the way up to any size RC vehicle. On Road or Off Road.

Yes, It will work fine. It is used with nitro, gas and electric, on and off road with 1/28th scale on up to go-karts. It is even being used for a national robotics competition with 1500+ teams.

The system times the transponder and doesn't care what it is attached to.

Craig

I'm proud to annouced that our new off road track in central Valley CA will be using I-lap timing system Fulltime. Please chaeck out our website Goldenhillsraceway.com

Craig,

Are you planning of making the transponder in a hard inclosed casing in the future?

We have been using the I-Lap system at DRC for over 2 years now with great results. We scored our 2008 SEMOWRCS with it and had no problems, we have had both the old and the new system and we love the new system and transponders. Craig is right there with customer service and setup issues from the start, thanks! It's nice to have a lower cost alternative to AMB systems which are way out of our price range...

We use Alycat scoring software...


-Harold

Go-Karts
 

Off-topic but pretty cool. I just got these pictures from a go-kart track using I-Lap in Australia. It is all the same as for R/C except for differently focused IR leds on the transponder.

Would someone please go over how the transponder is mounted in the car.From what I read it seems it needs to have a clear unobstructed view of the loop?If thats right ,that would make me think the loop cant be buried as it needs a straight shot to see the transponder?If im right that means the transponder needs to be mounted on top of the car pointing at the loop?It has to be on a part of body with no paint?Any pics out there?Craig,fabulous idea you got here,really should make club racing cheaper for shops and individuals to get club racing going.

I help run three tracks here in Chicago that only exist because the lap timing system was affordable. If AMB was the only option none of them would be racing now. I-LapRC was our solution.

The transponders need to transmit through the body upwards. The ultimate is through a clear portion of a lexan body. Some paints allow the infrared beam to go through them but not all.