The new transponders suck. I've had mine for a while and have had many problems with it. Just updated all the firmware AGAIN so we will see if it works this time. You'll know if you see me at the back of the grid after the first session if it's still messed up. Have a back up ready to go. So frustrating.

Stu

 

Stu - Talk to Timing and Scoring when you get there, maybe you can run both and then if both work remove one. I "rented" one from them after my X2 failed to register (yep, back of the pack for Practice #2!) and my wrench updated mine AND we ran the old rechargeable borrowed one. Both registered, gave the old one back and went from there.

 

Thanks. Good idea. I'll see if my crew can do that.

Stu

 

Easy to check with an AM radio at home. PCA rents transponders so there is a backup solution.

 

 

Make SURE you coordinate with T&S first, if you try this. The tester at Tech should be able to tell. As someone who's worked T&S and as an event organizer, unassociated transponders (moving transponders from car to car, having a transponder on a car that is not in the database for the event, having two transponders on) can REALLY screw up the works.

 

Absolutely.. IF they let you do it you will obviously need to give them both transponder serial numbers also. As they had both my X2's and their own unit associated with me they knew exactly what was going on.

 

^^^ This

They cannot check transponders at Tech.

Also: ALWAYS check the results sheet from Practice 1

 

 

 

Good idea. Will add that to the list if we have some budget leftover for this year.

 

Get RaceHero app (or RaceMonitor) and you can check results the minute you pit in on any smart phone, or your crew can check live and bring you in to try and fix it after 1 lap.. Sucks running your best lap time ever and coming it to find out it didn't register and now you are at the back of the pack (good luck putting that time down again..). Love the AM radio check, worth adding one to the toolbox just for that!

 

Going on a rant about the new transponder hoping they fix the thing one day. They are overly finicky and often do not work. In SM your starting point is everything and you do not get practice laps with SCCA. Bad transponder = ruined race. If you connect transponder and key to a PC and get the right lights the night before a race then it usually will work the weekend. PITA, take transponder off car - which you should never have to do as it is direct power - pug into USB on laptop, cross your fingers and hope for the best.

If this were a real consumer company that did not have a monopoly they would be out of business.

 

I was told as recently as last week by MyLaps that the old transponders will always be supported.

Also there is no handheld device that can check TX numbers. All the handheld does is verify a signal is being received. This is direct from mylaps.