Transponders in rc boats

[DON MAHER]

If the only reason you want to go with the transponder system is to aid the CD in making better calls for the starts, then I would suggest you look at the clean start window system developed by Ray Garcia. His system is dead accurate and reviewable and does not put the burden of cost on the contestants!

 

[the german]

Here is the post I made about Rey Garcia's clean start window ......... if someone is interested ........

https://www.intlwaters.com/threads/clean-start-window.77250/
Alex

 

[Bill Gibson]

If a transponder is going to “kill the hobby” then it is already “dead”.

If a transponder is going to “kill the hobby” then it is already “dead”.

As i said i have no problems with using transponders, ive must have near a dozen of em for my cars.......my concern is for folks on tight budgets as it is trying to get into and/or stay in a hobby they enjoy.....at one time or another at least most of us were in that position unless we were born with a silver spoon in our mouths......which i sure wasn't!

 

[Brandon Atwell]

If you and other racers were willing to purchase the transponder to race R/C cars, why the pushback on implementing them (potentially) in boats?

To circle this back to the IMPBA social media thread, I have had a total 2(!!!!) people send me roughly 15 photos from a week long event. With nothing new from any events that followed afterwards as well.

As Sam pointed out, imagine being able to track races live? Working from the social media aspect you could literally broadcast events live for potential racers or spectators to follow, track lap times for competitors and overall create and develop a better racing environment. This would work two fold to create followable content and thus clicks for the IMPBA pages as well as give the general racing body a proper way to follow their equipment and tune to a better standard.

 

[JRXHydros]

I want to hear the female voice say my lap time for each lap in testing/practice.

 

[JRXHydros]

I want to hear the female voice say my lap time for each lap in testing/practice.

I love the indoor offroad track in st louis,they have a computer female voice saying lap times as you practice.

 

[sbowden21]

If you and other racers were willing to purchase the transponder to race R/C cars, why the pushback on implementing them (potentially) in boats?

To circle this back to the IMPBA social media thread, I have had a total 2(!!!!) people send me roughly 15 photos from a week long event. With nothing new from any events that followed afterwards as well.

As Sam pointed out, imagine being able to track races live? Working from the social media aspect you could literally broadcast events live for potential racers or spectators to follow, track lap times for competitors and overall create and develop a better racing environment. This would work two fold to create followable content and thus clicks for the IMPBA pages as well as give the general racing body a proper way to follow their equipment and tune to a better standard.

Brandon I tried to email content to the address you provided from this past weekends 40th annual Little Thunder in Evansville IN but my files won't go through... Any to get the FB account on messenger to send content in that way?

 

[Brandon Atwell]

Hey Sam!
I am on Facebook, my personal may be easier to send it to than the IMPBA page.
You may also be able to create a public Google photos gallery and share the link?
Thanks!

 

[Hydro Junkie]

I'm not against the transponder, just concerned about the following:

• the fixed pole the wire will be fastened to sticking out of the water. Unlike cars, which are not nearly as wind and surface affected as our boats, a good gust or roller could put a boat right into the pole. I know, a properly set up boat isn't normally affected by conditions but a boat that's not properly balanced and set up could have these issues
• someone posted earlier that some set of rules requires the transponder to be located within 25cm(9.84") of the transom. To be fair, all boats would have to have the transponder located at a certain point aft of the FRONT of the boat and the wire placed the same distance before the start buoy to accurately judge the start.
• you have the issue of chase boats catching the wire when going after a dead boat.

I think these issues would have to be worked out before the system could be viable. Please note, I've not said anywhere in this post that it's not possible because I believe these issues can be worked out. The biggest one will be locating the pole and keeping it upright against the tension it will have placed on it when pulling the wire tight

 

[DON MAHER]

Just a few thoughts that ran through my head. What is the cost of the complete system minus the transponders ? Will each club that puts on a race have to purchase a system? If not,will it be NAMBA or IMPBA that will buy the systems, because on several occasions more than one event are run on the same weekend? Who will be responsible for the storage and maintenance of the system?
Pretty sure each pond have a different setup requirement, so will a “One Size Fit All” work, or do you have a custom system for each site? I am sure this can all be worked out. Just food for thought!

 

[Lenny Blake]

Here are some pics of the items I used for transponder pick up wires across a race site.

 

[Bubba Hass]

Hi Gents from abroud from afar , I did a proposal to the AMPBA team a few yrs ago here in Australia .

These guys are the best in the business and cheapest and allready have the timing and lap counting for oval boat racing allready set up in there race systems .

At the time AMPBA did not see it fit the scoring system and the cost . As similar points u are all raising as more brains and opinions from all .

Red Bull racing currently use this system through out all there race events as it’s easy to track n trace all aspects . Here are a few pictures of there Dingy racing in Darwin top end of Australia .

Feel free to contact Aron Clarke and talk if u like and mention my name for the Boat RC Racing profiles . The system can be kept in house or can be streamed live on your social media platform and can be streamed off any mobile device .

Also the transponders are yes the size of a 50c peice and can be held any where on the boat at a cost of $2.50 Aus each red dot for the speeds we do with boats .

 

[Mark Anderson]

Lenny, Thank you for trying to improve our hobby. I know that you have put a lot of time and money into making this system work. After seeing it at last years nats for the team marathon, I can see the merits. Have you had a boat blowover into the loop? If so what was the outcome? I would think that there is a certain amount of elasticity in the cables due to anchoring, etc. During race set up, what is the process for identifying transponders and tying them to drivers in the system?
I would think that the system would be an option for Districts to purchase not a requirement, and it would be used at big races like the Nats. Like anything there will be a learning curve for everyone. Initially it may actually make the job of the C.D. more difficult until they get used to the operation. It would eliminate questioning start calls and trying to identify which of the three yellow boats in the heat was actually the jump.

 

[Buckshot]

Not sure how Lenny’s system works, but saw a boat strike the wires at the WC and it was about a 10min wire swap/install and we were back up and running.

Lenny, Thank you for trying to improve our hobby. I know that you have put a lot of time and money into making this system work. After seeing it at last years nats for the team marathon, I can see the merits. Have you had a boat blowover into the loop? If so what was the outcome? I would think that there is a certain amount of elasticity in the cables due to anchoring, etc. During race set up, what is the process for identifying transponders and tying them to drivers in the system?
I would think that the system would be an option for Districts to purchase not a requirement, and it would be used at big races like the Nats. Like anything there will be a learning curve for everyone. Initially it may actually make the job of the C.D. more difficult until they get used to the operation. It would eliminate questioning start calls and trying to identify which of the three yellow boats in the heat was actually the jump.

 

[ALLAN YUEN]

No cheat from pitman count laps but driver watch out foul , hit and short corner

 

[Lenny Blake]

Here is a short video on club race testing.

 

[DON MAHER]

Lenny, No Link!

 

[Lenny Blake]

Here is the video from Tucson.

 

[Lenny Blake]

If you all see the video. The only thing that is holding me back. Is everyone not having transponders in their boats .in my district hope eliminate that problem soon .
The next time I test it will be applying penalties to racers.

 

[Mike Mullarkey]

Morning All,

I think the transponder system is next level in my eyes. Most of us have been involved in jumping a start or having to CD a class and to sympathize with a CD's call. This system takes out those called over. Most all the cars require a transponders. Just look at the cost as this is the future and if you get with Lenny Blake and he does bulk buys all the time it will save you a lot of cash. Let's face it, everything these days is out of sight but the cost of a couple transponders are the cost of a good prop.