PT's at Nationals

[Hulk]

ive heard a from some relaible sources that PT's are to be mandatory at Nationals next year.

Whats peoples opinions on this?

i for one think its a joke as those who dont already have PT's will have to shell out around £120 to have one for both cars.

dont see why they would make the decision not to provide handouts.

Craig

[MattW]

It will only go that way if it's voted at the AGM - at this stage, it will (if true) only be a proposal.

The reason is likely to be cost to the section. The handouts need maintenance (unlike Personals) and I can assure you that replacing batteries and general upkeep is expensive. I guess who ever proposed it didn't think it was worth that cost to the section for what I suspect is a few people that use them.

Personally I switch mine between cars overnight - ther's no law to say you've got to buy 2.

[simoncrabb]

I was very surprised to see people in off-road Nationals still using handouts, I thought everyone had gone to PTs years ago.

PTs put the responsibility onto the driver, making it easier (and cheaper) for the organisers.

(And it doesn't have to be £120, a used one and a couple of clones would be about that?)

[DCM]

One reason people run handout's, is that with a PT, any missed laps are not the race directors problem, they are yours, if they provide a Transponder, and you have missed laps, they have to then sort it.

[MattADH]

Originally Posted by DCM

One reason people run handout's, is that with a PT, any missed laps are not the race directors problem, they are yours, if they provide a Transponder, and you have missed laps, they have to then sort it.

I for one have been keen for PT users to be treated the same as ones with handouts. The guidelines have been tweaked over the years at Nationals as the number of PT users has increased. Missed laps are much less frequesnt although drivers still have to remember to install the PT in/plug it in/inform the race director of the right number/make sure it works!

Also, PT users are getting better at eliminating potential missed laps with better positioning and installation. At the local club, we try to keep an eye on signal strength and advise reloation of the PT or a handout if this is the case.

Sad I know but at Southport, only 21 or 22 drivers were using a handout transponder in 4WD. I remember when the first AMB PTs came out, I looked at the cost and throught I would hold off buying one until the prce came down. They were about £30 each through a club!

[c0sie]

MRT PT's are cheap aswell.

It aint like £45-60 is alot really compared to what we all spend in the grand scheme of things.

[mattybucks]

You only need one PT and some velcro, I can't see what the problem is myself. It's a one off purchase.

[DanW]

I had an email from MyLaps (formerly AMB) about a week ago saying that Handout Transponders had been dropped from the product range.

They are taking handout transponders sets in as part-ex for discounts on PT's.

So at some point everybody will have to change over to PT... unless somebody can break the monopoly of course!

[DanW]

Copy 'n' paste of MyLaps email....

"We will no longer produce rechargeable transponders after our existing (very) limited stock is shipped. As honouring ongoing warranty is very important to us, rechargeable transponders submitted for repair under warranty will now be replaced by RC4 transponders.
To assist with this transition process, we are happy to announce the availability of trade in options for customers that wish to upgrade to RC4 transponders. This will be available until the end of November 2010."

[ben]

Bit of a pointless thread really..

If everyone ran a PT at nationals this would save the scruitineers the hassle of handing out and trying to find transponders that people have left in there car when they go out to marshall aswell. It happens!!!

[peetbee]

MRT are looking to do a 'club PTX' to replace handout transponders.
Uses the same ID as a handout rather than the pt.
Sounds interesting as apparently it'll only be available to clubs!

Also, I don't understand the issue with the MRT pt's, as long as you're not in the same heat as someone with the same number as you it'll be fine.
You just get them to change to one of the other 10 or 20 numbers in the PT's memory until it doesn't clash - the same applies to the clones, you get the clone number plus the others.

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

Firstly I have PT's and so this would not cause me an issue, however I can see it may cause others an issue, I also remember a post not to long back on here where the BRCA were looking into an alternative, more cost effective system. If this is imminent, would it not be a bit off to make it compulsory for everyone who wanted to race national level meetings go out and purchase a PT (AMB or MRT) only for it to become redundant if or when the BRCA find that system? Maybe a BRCA rep could update on progress of the alternative system they are looking at, and give due consideration when imposing the switch over onto drivers.

it was said at last years agm there was nohing else on the market that was comparable for the AMb, so im sure were stuck with what we have, i also doubt very much that the BRCA would uintroduce a system that made the AMb bug incomatable to all its members

Originally Posted by peetbee

MRT are looking to do a 'club PTX' to replace handout transponders.
Uses the same ID as a handout rather than the pt.
Sounds interesting as apparently it'll only be available to clubs!

Also, I don't understand the issue with the MRT pt's, as long as you're not in the same heat as someone with the same number as you it'll be fine.
You just get them to change to one of the other 10 or 20 numbers in the PT's memory until it doesn't clash - the same applies to the clones, you get the clone number plus the others.

as i under stand it those numbers are from trade ins that have not been cloned.
so the more thay trade in the more "random" 20 numbers the mrt bugs will be made with

as i have said i own 4 pt one amb 3 cloned id never sell them as singles should i pack up.
as bob says the owner of the AMb bug should allways have priority.
i also know MRT keep a file of all the owners of the numbers they clone, so should you have say my number you can call them and they would say the numbers owner is mark christopher.

there was talk when harry came out that AMB woulfd do clones but the lap counting will know its a clone due to the extra digit.

[Col]

Originally Posted by peetbee

Also, I don't understand the issue with the MRT pt's, as long as you're not in the same heat as someone with the same number as you it'll be fine.

That' incorrect I'm afraid. The BBK system will only allow a single number to be registered to a single owner, so will always count laps for the registered keeper, even if he's not in that race.

[bigred5765]

don't think thats right col i have two cloned Pt's and if we race 2wd and 4wd in the same day its doesn't count are laps twice,ive even lent one to someone else at the same time we were racing,

[Col]

Originally Posted by bigred5765

don't think thats right col i have two cloned Pt's and if we race 2wd and 4wd in the same day its doesn't count are laps twice,ive even lent one to someone else at the same time we were racing,

True, but that's because both PT's (with the same number) are registered to the same driver but in 2 classes. The problem is that you can't have the same number registered to 2 drivers (regardless of class). I can't explain the lending out bit - your race control must have some magik that I don't...

[peetbee]

Originally Posted by Col

That' incorrect I'm afraid. The BBK system will only allow a single number to be registered to a single owner, so will always count laps for the registered keeper, even if he's not in that race.

blimey another feature of lapsfree that's better than bbk if that's true!