My rc4 decoder was shipped without the latest firmware. We used it with MRT's for a few months before upgrading It. It also came with an expiration date that would brick the decoder if you did not install the new firmware.

That sounds harsh! Mine came with no such instructions. It's just a few days old. Maybe already has the new firmware.

Doubt that you have anything less than the version 4.3.xxx which is the RC4. Like was said, you will get occasional counts from the MRT's.

Did you get the $330 deal?

Has anyone tried the upgraded MRT transponders?

^^^This....

I would be interested in knowing as well since the lhs sold me a mrt then upgraded shortly after to the rc4

Well, here's my 2 cents on this issue.

I have a decoder box which I purchased with a free upgrade to the rc4 product.

I agree that no one has built a mouse trap to compete with AMB/Mylaps.

Here is my thoughts about the transponders.

Spending $100 dollars on a transponder isn't really that big a deal. Really. Think about it. Your family goes to the movies, popcorn, fuel, there's $50 bucks right there easily and that is a 1 time issue. No one complains about that. But, here is an item to allow you to race and be counted like everyone else. (LIke a movie ticket, you get to go in like everyone else) Once you buy, you can race with it over and over. Not all tracks just give you a house transponder to race with. Some places, you have to rent. Add up the rental fee over 1 year. Again, who complains.

Soooo, not to mention, who complains about tire cost, tire clue, new bodies and having them painted.

All I'm saying is this. For 1 car, suck it up, buy the dam thing and stop complaining.


Now.... if you are in the situation like I am in where I have well over 15 cars, Now, you are talking about a price to pay.

Last year (January) when I heard the Hybrids were coming out, I sold all of my standard transponders and purchased hybrids. I basically spent $100 for the exchange. (I sold all of my units for a little less than new, and spend about $100 to upgrade my units)

If I had to purchase transponders for all my cars again and I was racing every weekend, I think I would just buy 1 now and 1 the next month and so on and so on until I purchased what I needed.

I hate and don't move transponders from car to car. That's like moving servos. No way..

Some people out there buy a new car every year. I don't see how people can complain about $100 when a new car is $600 not to mention new servos, new engine, new electronics.

$100 for 1 or 2 cars isn't that big a deal. Especially if you take care of them, and they will last until the next system comes out. 10 years later.

Figure it out. That's $.83 cents per month per unit for 10 years. Bid deal.

Race fees are what $15.00 per car per weekend?? 2 cars per weekend is $30.00. 4 weekends per month is $120.00. You just spent this amount in 1 weekend.

Heck. Don't race for 1 month. BAM 1 unit paid for..


Many different ways to look at this. All are not bad.

As someone mention early on, this happened when AMB switch from the AMB20 to the RC2. Same old issue.

As for the copy units out there?? I like AMB/MYlaps because they work.

I've never had a problem them unless it was how I mounted it or a wire got
crushed.

Clones at a cheap price, you get what you paid for. AmB/Mylaps works with their transponders/decoders. If you buy a clone, IMO why deal with
the headaches and have to buy an AMB/Mylaps anyway. Do it right the first time.

TOMDAV - you mention your decoder would not work after a deadline.

What is the deadline??

Not to mention, if this is true, this sucks. I can't image AMB/Mylaps would force you to upgrade at a deadline when AMB themselves didn't even know when the new rc4 product would be ready. Not to mention when the rc4 Transponders would be ready.

Kinda hard believe. I've had my unit for a while. I haven't hooked it up in about 1.5 years but, I never heard of such a thing.

Actually, I powered the unit up a few minutes ago, no errors or issues. No special messages.

O.K. So.. I have a question.

What is the version of your decoder. Mine is i think 4.3.

Does your box look any different than the unit that came out when the Hybrid transponders came out. This when I bought my unit.

I think the RC3 and RC4 decoder boxes look alike.

Post some pics please.

It sounds more like if you don't upgrade by a certain time, Mylaps would render the unit useless until the update is installed. I imagine to use the lap counter system you would have to have it connected to the internet considering the PT's upload lap times for individuals on the Mylaps website for them to view. Wouldn't be hard for Mylaps to stop it from working if the update isn't installed.

I don't think there are many tracks that have internet access so I think this part is not true. Many Tracks are just that. Tracks. Outdoors, no Internet other than what people have on their phones.

Can you imagine, Saturday morning, you are about to hold a race and come to find out the system won't work because you haven't upgraded??

So you go ahead and upgrade online. You have a user ID and password.

You download to RC4 and BAM, now you Decoder box works,but, it won't
accept older Personal Transponders because they are RC3 and not Hybrids or RC4.

That would really suck rocks.

Also, no way to downgrade, AMB/Mylaps isn't open on the weekends as far
as I know.

This could really hurt a business.


If people are serious about racing, then I think they will upgrade to at least the hybrid transponder. This will give you the ability to be counted on RC3 and RC4 systems. What you will be missing is the New bells and whistles that I don't know if the information exists in the current Lap Counting Software that is on the market. If this is so, the upgrade is a mute point.

I feel that AMB/Mylaps is doing what they normally do and that is to progress.

I see the point that the transponders should be a little less in price, but, at the same time, No other company exists with a full blown lap counting system that can compete with Mylaps. If there were competition world wide, then the cost would come down, but, seeing AMB/Mylaps is at the regional/national/world levels, it's hard to beat..

AMB/Mylaps works. I'm all for competition of products, but, at this point, there isn't any.

As for the Clone Transponders, I don't mind saving a buck or two,but,
Why spend the money for a clone of the real thing when you can have
the real thing, especially when eventually you will have to have it.

No one goes out and buys a Tyco RC car to race with when they can have a Losi or Associated electric.. Right.. A real car that can be raced competitively.

I wouldn't buy into the "Brick" rumor! There's no documentation anywhere to back it.

Also, there's more to it than just going online to download the RC4 upgrade. You request it online giving the serial number of the unit. Then they send you the upgrade in an e-mail as an attachment that's compatible to your RC3 decoders serial # (if it's eligible).

And MyLaps4 supports ALL AMB/MyLaps Pt's and Rechargables. The RC3 decoder does not support RC4 Pure transponders but does support the RC4 hybrid.

Just got my upgraded ones. They work on the old RC3 system that my local track has. Now I have to wait a couple weeks to test on an RC4 track.

If they work as advertised they are Hybrid equivalents.

It was a bit of a pain to send away and pay to have them upgraded but now I have 5 transponders that work on all systems and all read the same ID # for a lot less than I would have spent on MyLaps.

YES. Tested and confirmed that the "new" MRT transponders work on both systems.

Does anybody know if AMB is still doing the MRT trade-in program? I looked all over their site and could not find anything..