Maybe not a new problem, but it's new to me.

Lately in Shanghai, Blinky ESCs have been coming directly from the factory with either pre-set additional timing or an ability to program timing and still have it blink.

Seeing how almost everything is made in China, I see US and EU starting to become infiltrated with these soon.

So, is there a technical check method to weed out the BS?

They wouldn't pass ROAR (or equivalent) approval so won't be race legal to start with.

The cheap stuff is made in China. The quality stuff is made in Taiwan.

Oscilloscope can check for "true" blinky but they don't come cheap...

The hardware and firmware version could pass ROAR inspection, but releasing a new firmware and having users update it could negate it. Unless they start checking versions in tech it doesn't matter. Also, if someone knew what they were doing they could hack the legit firmware and add timing and still have it blink. People determined to cheat will find a way...the only way to find out if the ESC truly has zero timing is to check with an oscilloscope.

If a manufacturer did that, I'd expect ROAR to just revoke their approval. If an individual was determined enough to hack the firmware (it wouldn't be easy), then that's just sad. It wouldn't be worth it for a small performance bump, and a large one would draw the attention of the scrutineers.

http://www.reilleymotorsports.com/product-page/bddf981b-f1d6-97cc-4430-9663c34cdc07

$129 DSO 203 pocket oscilloscope:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARM-DSO-203-...cM1eu4QoQeyDJg

A short description on how to use it:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/14407610-post10.html

Are you kidding me?

215 dollar for just a current reader build up with an ebay 4 dollar meter?
OK, also there seems to be a 20 dollar PSU inside.....

I have heard a few people brag at our track that they have sent in their esc to have them "blink" for the price of a few hundred dollars. Yes, it's sad, but they usually have their butts handed to them anyways when they race the "fast" guys.

We caught a guy cheating at our track this weekend, is sad in my opinion weather he was doing it on purpose or not- I'll give him the benefit of doubt this time. It was his first a-main and it was pretty freaking obvious when he was making 6-8' upon the straight every lap. Think I was more upset about having to tech his car than anything. He's a good driver that doesn't need to do that. Do I think people are constantly cheating? No will be my answer always. The top drivers don't cheat, knowing your equipment keeping it in good condition and getting the very best out of what you have will always lead to success. Ya there's always going to be "that guy" willing to spend $$ but hard work and practicing will get you anywhere you want to go. And for reference he was still .2-.3 tenths a lap slower than the top 2 cars that finished in front of him with cars that passed tech inspection.

It's not the top guys who cheat. It's the guys just below the top guys that cheat the most.

cheaters.. if there is a way they will find it..so sad..

This is a Gen 2 TrackStar 1S in question, correct? Was it blinking?

I do not agree....

Our Dutch onroad 1/8 had the top drivers from Holland and Belgium and I was pretty sure the complete main final were using tire sauce whch was not alowed. in the 2 years after this we have alowed tire sauce but people (even the same main final drivers) found it such a huge work so one of them made a proposal to get rid of the tire sauce which was voted for. And gues who was still having an unbelievable grip.....
To my opinion: once a cheater, always a cheater (if the technical inspection can not detect it)

That is why for every technical rule there must be a 100% detect tooling or else the rule has no use.