[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by Mad-Wolfie

On a personal note, i think i'd be wary of the "line of sight" method of transponders unless used indoors on an on-road circuit where infra-red or UV light can't upset the system or there isn't any clods of mud to obscure the signals. Not saying the system wouldn't work outdoors etc, but i've used AMB for a long time & really can't say i've tried an alternative to the AMB type system so it's every bit a case of "better the devil you know" so i'd want to see it for myself rather than take the word of a few racers or people who use the system before handing over any of the club funds or any cash of my own - preferably on a very sunny day & also on a muddy off-road track. I'm not wanting to "big up" AMB here because i know it as a system has flaws of it's own mainly the cost - it's a lot of wad for what it does & the transponders aren't exactly known for reliability, but as i say, it's a system i know

Plus someone hinted at "national drivers" this may be a discussion for a different day as IMHO there should be an industry standard for the national series which seems to be AMB, but with AMBIT on the horizon (which i think will become the norm come the end of the next year) & more talk of people like Tag Heuer wanting to come into Modelsport as costs of technology fall on the more expensive 1:1 race timing systems etc it puts a lot of burden on the drivers who favour AMB, but then is it the discretion of the driver himself to decide or the clubs to manage the timing system or dare i say even the BRCA to step in & possibly come up with a universal standardised system along with IFMAR & ROAR etc - if only for use on tracks used or deemed suitable for nationals? There is also talk of handout transponders being phased out (there has been for years i know), already in the 12th national it is a rule you have to have your own PT - however i do believe there are a couple on standby that you can borrow should you have a breakdown or if you have not read that rule & turned up without to your 1st ever tournament, but this is a discretionary move on the part of the organisation team.

Yet does this REALLY just apply to national drivers.. I race at 3 local clubs, 2 currently use AMB, 1 still uses manual counting, but 2 clubs have said they considered a change next year to a newer system, so i'd hate to think handout transponders were stopped & i'd have to buy a collection of transponders to suit the individual clubs timing system i.e. have an AMB PT to race at club x & an ILap transponder to race at club Y & perhaps even a Tag-heuer (for arguments sake) transponder to race at club Z.. i'm only a humble club, 2nd tier & regional tournament racer, so haven't got sponsors to bail me out or help me out with finances to buy expensive personal transponders to suit all outcomes, so the whole thing may get costly or i may be restricted to racing at the club that uses a more "industry standard" timing system or still uses handout transponders.

the tag system works with amb transponders in karting as far as i know since it was asked if the track in aylebury could be used and they run tag timing but i was told amb transponders will work to i have no proof but this was said to me