Lap counter question
 

Is the AMB system the only one that uses a buried wire? it seems all the other ones that dont cost as much use IR... is there a reason for this?

AMB = Frequency based. Can put above or below the track, no more than 1 ft away and it will pick it the transponders.

IR= In-fared based. Meaning in-fared light beam making contact to in-fared receiver. It cannot be buried. Must have visual contact. So it would be above the track.


IF I was to do it again, the cost to myself and to the racers, I would go with In-fared. AMB has a huge market share, but yet they keep squeezing the r/c industry like it has money like nascar!! When personals came out they were 45-50 bucks, now 100+ and the technology hasn't changed since their release..

There was talk of an RF based system.

That to me makes too much sense.

The drawback from what ive heard is that it need to be closer, or have a higher powered signal to be more effective. The ones i have heard about working have a narrow band and limited range.

If someone could do more R & D on an RF system, It would save tons.

You could basically get a sticker pack of 100 for like $10-20... It wouldnt need any power at all (no wires, yay!?) and it would weigh near nothing.

thats how the Dnano's work.


Why does it seem that AMB is the only one with the frequency based system?

We have an infrared system that works great and the transponders are about 25.00 each or 5 for 100.00 its good fro club stuff and accurate but should you be in the midst of rolling upside down as you cross the line. (it happens ) it wont get counted it also can be less reliable if it is in direct sunlite. The amb system is the industry standard and in not 100% sure but is similar to nascar and form 1 systems it is deffy more reliable and that is 100% important at a big race where there can be NO mistakes

The Chinese manufactures are great at duplicating stuff and making it inexpensive. IF one of them could get enough incentive to duplicate the amb system, it would be nice!
When I was working, they took some of our products over there for them to duplicate it, they did it, and, was 60% cheaper and used the same materials.

Global Economy!

The AMB/MYLAPS also miss laps on occasion .No system is perfect.It comes down to money for some thing that just counts laps.Both system are accurate.We use the I-LAP IF system and sun does not cause a problem.
Like i said it comes down to money.The IF systems are becoming more and more popular.Will they over take AMB as the standard ,most likely not just because AMB has over a 20+ year head start in the lap counting business.Just think what this conversation would be like if the IF system such a I-LAP had the 20+ year head start and the AMB/MYLAPS was the new kid on the block.Then what would people be saying!

is it harder to build a frequency based system? A smart guy can build the IR systems at home.. why not the requency based systems?

All the cheap systems seem to be IR