Cory M

As if having a monopoly on timing and scoring and charging $400+ per transponder wasn't bad enough...

Unfortunately, Personal Transponders can only be registered one time by the original owner, and cannot be changed or transferred. You can use your transponder for timing purposes at your track(s), however.

Also, we are offering a trade in of your used transponder for a 40% discount off the purchase of a new one.

Thank you. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Dave Fried


AMB recently changed their transponder registration policy. Now transponders can only be registered to the original buyer. So if you buy a used racecar with a transponder, or buy/sell a used transponder, it will still record your times at the track but you won't be able to get into AMB's MyLaps website to review all of your times and compare them to your competitors.

AMB will allow you to trade in your perfectly good transponder for a new one with a 40% discount. So you have to pay $228+shipping for a hardwired unit or $252+shipping for a rechargeable one just to be able to use the full functionality of your transponder.

Registering for MyLaps is done online by the user, unregistering a transponder used to be an option on the website, everything is done by the user and the website registration software so there are no administrative fees incurred by AMB.

The only reason I can see for this new policy is greed. As someone who has 5 AMB transponders sitting in my garage I find this to be very irritating. I sent AMB an email expressing my displeasure with the policy (support@amb-us.com). If you own an AMB transponder and this ticks you off maybe you should write one too.

I actually wouldn't have a problem if there was a reasonable transfer fee of like $25, but charging ~$250 for this is ridiculous, especially considering the AMB has already been paid in full for the transponder.

ltc

Similar sentiments from the karting world (AMB x160 yellow xponders) as well.

Jarez Mifkin

When I got a new car, I just took mine off the old car and put it on the new car.

jakermc

A few months ago, before the policy changed, I tried to transfer mine but was unable to reach the original owner to have him 'unregister' it. I then sent an email to AMB asking for their assistance in contacting the original owner, as at that time, their stated pocily is that they would do that for you. I never got an email back, now I know why.

John H

Hook all five of them up in your car, or better yet, someone else's car.

chris walrod

I always put my transponder on the fastest car at the track, that day.

Greg Smith

In addition to that their website is AWFUL. It was much better before they redid it...

ltc

I guess when AMB calls them PERSONAL transponders, they really mean it now.

Circuit Motorsports

I hope this is the straw that can break the monopoly's back.

John H

sorry. It appears as we do not have the same sense of humor. I am just as disappointed as you are by AMB's position. I thought it was a nice idea as a protest.

DrJupeman

I sent them a note about their website a few months back. I can't recall exactly the response but something to the effect of "thanks, it is a work in progress". I asked them to simply give us the choice to go back to the old style and they didn't respond a second time...

mklaskin

Well, it can't be retroactive can it?

Mark in Baltimore

I got it, John, and thought it was deliciously funny.

mklaskin

I wasn't clear in my last question. What I mean is that as long as we transfer our existing transponders, we should be okay, right?

And yes, it sounds very greedy.

dmoffitt

that's quite a frustrating policy