Originally Posted by
Odin544
We have been having some issues with our decoder lately. This summer we upgraded to the latest decoder. Over the summer during off-road we had some issues of cars not counting consistently. The loop was brand new from AMB. A car would go by one lap with a good signal. Next lap it was poor. It would effect some cars but not others. We couldn't nail down a cause for this. Later the same day it would pick cars up 10-15 feet away.
Now we are into onroad and we are having issues again. Sometimes it will pick you up as you enter the sweeper (10+ feet away from the loop). Other times it will pick you up as you cross the line. So you can not rely on the individual lap times.
What could be the cause of this or a solution?
Also what is an alternative to the AMB loop? I know Seattle RC Racers are using some kind of flat wire that's is not even noticeable as you drive over it.
Assuming the transponders not counting are real MyLaps transponders, not MRT's..........
I would suggest testing the loop first. Disconnect the loop wire from the pigtail at the pickup and check the ohm's of the loop, should be 470 ohm's. Then check the coaxial for any breaks and the center wire is sticking out to about the end of the connector. Check the settings on the decoder, depending on your software the default settings usually work. There is a squelch feature that can be set to your tracks needs, higher the number the less sensitive to "ghost" transponders. Check the connections to the computer.
Some carpet tracks use a ribbon or flat wire equivalent to 18ga wire to avoid a bump! Don't bury the loop to deep!