39 replies to this topic

[FTodaro]

I have attached a link to there most recent email about what is new for 2016:

 

http://us6.campaign-...14&e=3709630895

 

 

My Question, what is the back story on My Laps why do they have the monopoly on transponders and timing?

 

Or maybe i have it wrong do they have a relationship with AMB?

[davew]

I had a lengthy discussion with them at PRI. Basicly they where the first to come out with the transponder system and have created a monopoly. To my knowledge nobody elses transponder works with their system. And vice versa.

 

Back in 2000, a transponder was $200 and I made $15 profit for selling one. Now the cost over $500 and I still make $15 profit. Their issue is that the units are pretty reliable and once you buy one, you never buy another. Which is not a very good business model for them.

 

For 2016, AMB/My Laps has discontinued the little red box that we are all accostomed to. They have replaced it with a new system that has a lot more capabilities. They swear that the little red box will be supported forever. So if you have one, do not fear. But if it breaks or you build a new car, you will need to buy the new version.

 

The new version is sold as a subscription service. You buy the hardware and a yearly subscription. The subscription can be 1, 2 or 5 years. The more years, you get a slight discounted rate. A couple of worries. You must keep track of when your subscription ends, and renew it on time. They can be renewed instantly over the internet. Just remember that race tracks always have the best internet service ;-(. You can sell the car with the transponder. They have a system in place for you to reregister without having to have any passwords or special info.

 

I went into the conversation very worried about how the new system would work. I came out of the conversation "fairly" confident that AMB has everything figured out.

 

I have not started selling the new version. After the holidays and the Florida Majors I will be adding it to our website. Once I start selling a few, I will get a better feel for how it works. I hope it works as easily as the sales rep stated.

 

Dave

[Todd Lamb]

We have set them up on a few cars already. A little bit more of a pain to plug it into the computer (via their "dock") to get the subscription setup, but otherwise the same in terms of install if used as a basic transponder. We have not explored any of the new "features" yet, such as the ones the email refers to.

[Jeff Wasilko]

My Question, what is the back story on My Laps why do they have the monopoly on transponders and timing?

 

Or maybe i have it wrong do they have a relationship with AMB?

They are the same company. AMB became MyLaps.

[Tom Scheifler]

As a consumer, I f'ing hate subscription-only service models but I understand why the vendors prefer them.

In this case, the new transponder should be sold with basic timing service forever included at no extra cost and then they should offer "premium" services as an additional subscription fee.

[Johnny D]

As a consumer, I f'ing hate subscription-only service models but I understand why the vendors prefer them.

In this case, the new transponder should be sold with basic timing service forever included at no extra cost and then they should offer "premium" services as an additional subscription fee.

I'd buy the old ones used. Assuming the numbers work compared to the subscription over a period of time.
J~

[FTodaro]

I hate the one vendor business model from the consumer standpoint.

 

Transponder technology in today's world is not rocket science. Pay Pass has figured out how to bill be when i go through a toll booth.

 

I am surprised that someone with some know how has not come out with a competitive product. All you need is something to read the wire in the pavement and transmit a number.

 

Dave, your good at that stuff, build a competitive widget

[ChrisA]

So, I never registered my AMB x260 direct wire transponder. Is there any reason to do this? And if so, can the old units be registered now or do you need to buy a new unit?

[lm11m]

I hate the one vendor business model from the consumer standpoint.

 

Transponder technology in today's world is not rocket science. Pay Pass has figured out how to bill be when i go through a toll booth.

 

I am surprised that someone with some know how has not come out with a competitive product. All you need is something to read the wire in the pavement and transmit a number.

 

Dave, your good at that stuff, build a competitive widget

Frank, there is another company that does offer a comparable quality product / system. Westhold Corporation.    Their transponders are about a 3rd the cost of AMB & their system will also pick up AMB transponder signals if needed & that software is free to tracks & organizations. This system works great (I've raced with it) & also is compatible with Race Monitor. Maybe there's technology that makes AMB the dominating choice for sanctioning bodies but I'd sooner guess $$$ hence the higher price for us.

[Danica Davison]

What is the price of the yearly subscriptions?  Or is that not released yet?

[Andy Mitchell]

So, I never registered my AMB x260 direct wire transponder. Is there any reason to do this?

I'm curious about this 'registration' business, too. My 260 came with the car, and has worked fine for the last three years. Mylaps on-line info seemed to imply I should pay them $50 to re-register it to my name, but I never bothered as I didn't see any benefit. I have one of their free on-line accounts, and can see results, lap times and lap charts for all the events I enter. Do you get something more by registering? 

[Jim Drago]

I bet you could get these made for 100 bucks or less in China if you don't go to jail for copyright infringement

[Bench Racer]

I bet you could get these made for 100 bucks or less in China if you don't go to jail for copyright infringement

Would a manufacture from China give a damn about copyright?

[Steve Scheifler]

Interestingly, I don't think there is a patent number on the transponder.

The price increase over the years certainly does demonstrate the power of a monopoly. While the cost of electronics tend to drop as technology advances, a relatively low tech item for which the R&D has long been covered a thousand times over, has gone up in price far faster than the rate of inflation.

[Bench Racer]

The price increase over the years certainly does demonstrate the power of a monopoly.

Similar or same.

 

Martin Shkreli, 32, ignited a firestorm over drug prices in September and became a symbol of defiant greed.

 

A boyish drug company entrepreneur, who rocketed to infamy by jacking up the price of a life-saving pill from $13.50 to $750.

 

His arrested is on securities fraud related to a firm he founded.

 



[dstevens]

The hardware cost is nil, in quantity less than $100 easy.  The cost is in the software.  The hardware isn't patented.  The smarts are in the software/firmware which is copyrighted.  

 

Used to be if you sold the transponder AMB would charge $100 fee to change the link to the MyLaps account. Don't know if they do that anymore.  When I sold my kart transponder the buyer didn't want to change and I got some of their races in my account.

 

The knucklehead that's the RD for the regional NASCAR series at the Bullring saw my wired transponder and thought it was some sort of illegal electronics device (no shit...).  I told him what it was, he was dismissive, didn't believe me and called the chief tech over who told him that was a wired transponder.

[davew]

FYI:

 

Transponder and 2 year subscription will be $287. With 5 year subscription $475.

 

Renewals will be in the $75/year range. But don't quote me on that yet. Renewals will be available threw distributers (me) or direct with the factory via their website. It seems that emergency renewals should be handled direct with the manufacturer.

 

They do have some neat options in the works. Will have to wait and see.

 

Dave

[Todd Lamb]

Yep right around $500 including 5 year sub.

The old ones will continue to work fine and do not need to be registered. But they will be like gold for a while.

[FTodaro]

Yep right around $500 including 5 year sub.

The old ones will continue to work fine and do not need to be registered. But they will be like gold for a while.

the used Market will be hot for awhile. When folks sell cars they will be sure to pull their transponder out if they are going to build another car.

[-P-]

the used Market will be hot for awhile. When folks sell cars they will be sure to pull their transponder out if they are going to build another car.

 

I just bid on one on ebay to see if I can pick one up cheap, but I am in the same situation as I am building a new car as we speak. I'll be removing it from my current car when the new one is done in either case.