IC Chip Problem - Page 2

arch2b · #16 09-02-2009, 11:22 AM

they are durable yet delicate. i've beat core tags to hell with no effect. i've had some inexplainably go bad. you just never know sometimes.

when 3rd party software is available for the kyosho ics hardware, all you will need is the cheap transponders and a track width compatible with the timing ribbon.

MrNanoTrax · #17 09-02-2009, 12:54 PM

i've had to replace 2 main frame assemblies... one in my wife's porsche, another on a customer's. both for different, unexplainable reasons. as i've said many times, dNaNo will have competition eventually but the detail to which they've taken it will be extremely difficult to duplicate. sure, other brands will drop their joint but will their chassis vary based on the type of brand model (varying wheelbases, track widths, ride heights, etc). it seems like everyone wants to knock r/c back into the dark ages rather than step into the future just to keep it super cheap... r/c has never been a cheap hobby guys... not sure where the grumbles about that are coming from *smh*

arch2b · #18 09-02-2009, 02:34 PM

grumbles here?

only about the cost of the transponder. $10 for a $1 transponder is pure price gouging. other cost discussions are in other threads.

my other complaint is the relative waste of time/expense kyosho went through in trouble shooting a cheap replacement part. this could have been solved in less than a week with one part kit. if not it would have given you more feedback on cause than all the trouble gone through so far.

car not counting....
1. restart computer
2. try another ics system
3. replace transponder

that is about all there really is to it.

MrNanoTrax · #19 09-02-2009, 08:45 PM

so.... where's the cost information coming from? i'm not saying its not $1 but... not knowing for sure sorta invalidates the argument. is anyone in here THAT close to their R&D that they can say "just replace that blue thing and that's all there is to it"? how do we know its functionality isn't somehow related to the circuit board which of course increases the cost of replacing it? i mean, having a discussion based on assumptions is sorta like spinning wheels don't ya think?

arch2b · #20 09-02-2009, 08:58 PM

qon, we've had years of experience with the core analog system which is what kyosho bought and sells as they ics system, with some modifications. there is years of trouble shooting, software complaints, suggestions, some software development, etc. all well documented on mini-zracer.com. the ics system is NOT a new product but an update to the system we have been using for years here stateside.

for example, please see the flipsideracing vendor forum on mini-zracer to see the open source software developed out of the desire to use the generic, non software locked transponders which will include plenty of references to places and products you can purchase the transponders online.

the transponder is in no way related to the circuit board. it's a simple rfid tag, same thing department stores, book stores, etc. use in their anti-theft systems with the loops you walk between at exits. it's all well documented on mini-zracer.com. infact, some people have actually been able to scan tags from cloths and books and have them count with the open source software.

MrNanoTrax · #21 09-04-2009, 12:57 AM

ok so... we're all selling cheap, chinese toys... the work they put into producing it has no real value, let's go picket for lower prices in japan. what do ya say? *smh* like i said, i've replaced my customer's quickly so... this sounds like a customer service problem more than a kyosho problem but... i'm just observing. *shrug*

arch2b · #22 09-04-2009, 07:11 AM

qon, please don't be offended but what conversation are you responding to? it doesn't seem to be this one.

no one is denigrating the quality of the dnano in this discussion. it has been and remains a customer service issue in my opinion (and yours) which i've stated from the very begining.

bottom line is, these are cheap transponders (this is meant in cost, not quality, lets make that distinction clear). they are very cost effective to replace, dare i say expendable. to spend more than an hours time on the phone with a customer is costing them more than the almost certain resolution to a car no longer counting which is to simply replace the transponder. you even called this one of your first replies.

they should offer these seperate from any chassis parts. core retailed thier transponder for $10 which we all knew was an incredible profit for them. if kyosho ever does the same, i'm willing to bet the price point would be similar. hell, they are likely paying $.50 or less each considering the qnty they use. the price for these is on a scale based on qnty ordered.

maybe i've contributed to the confusion by not explaining that when i say these are cheap, i do not mean that these are crap chinese made products. that assumption could not be farther from the truth. in the context of this conversation, it simply means what it means, the cost is cheap, they do not cost much, they are very affordable.

MrNanoTrax · #23 09-04-2009, 09:37 AM

you're right.... my bad, was confused with the other thread about cheap chinese stuff... excuse my brain freeze :P

arch2b · #24 09-04-2009, 11:36 AM

whew, glad to hear that. i thought maybe i had said something that was misunderstood and irked you thoroughly.

lnfjn · #25 09-04-2009, 07:25 PM

Just to update my situation.

As I said I went to Kyosho headquarters and they decided to change out my chassis with a new one. Since I had a number of upgrades bearings, gyro and diff, they said they would mail it out to me. I was thrilled when I got home today to see a box on my desk. I quickly opened the box to see the new chassis and my Tx. Since the repair was basically to give me a new IC tag label I really didn't need to check it until I got to a track that could read it. If I was down in my garage I probably would have put the car body back on it and stuck it in my box. But I was upstairs and since I had the chassis with full battery and my Tx, I decided to run it on the bathroom floor. I set the chassis down and started to drive it around. I was trying to align the wheels to get it to go straight and notice I couldn't get it straight and I was at the end of the Tx adjustment. I picked up the car and looked at the front end. I didn't see anything out of line but notice that the front steering was twitching. My old car never twitch like that. I placed down again and tried to play with the Tx alignment. The car then started to race backwards. I thought maybe the car needed to bind again with the Tx. So I did the binding thing. Turned it on and same thing. Shucks new problem.

arch2b · #26 09-04-2009, 07:48 PM

very sorry to hear that. lets hope this repair is more efficient than the last.

lnfjn · #27 09-09-2009, 10:45 PM

Continuing saga of the IC tag problem.
As I mentioned in my previous post. I received the Dnano back and had another problem with adjusting the steering and in particular the car racing backwards. I talked to Efrin at Kyosho and told him of my problem. He was very apologetic and we arranged for me to drop the car of this morning. I got there early and while waiting for Efrin I decided to try the car again just to make sure it would display the problems. I had a slight fear that I would have that same problem I have with my real car where I take it back to the dealer but can't duplicate the problem. Well, no worries, I couldn't properly adjust the steering and after a few pulls on the trigger I had the car racing down the hall backwards with me in toll rushing to grab it. Imagine, being relieved that the car didn't work properly.

He explained that this time they are going to give me a new chassis and remove all the hop-up stuff so I can replace the items myself. (which is fine, I can use the eye exercise). It's just that I thought they did that the first time but now 1'm getting the impression that they had just replaced the IC tag. That is fine also but if they did just replace the IC tag then there must be more to the IC label if it interferes with the electronics of the car.

MrNanoTrax · #28 09-09-2009, 11:48 PM

in this case, you need to reset your transmitter to default settings. i've seen this happen occasionally but i don't know why - i just know how to fix it. if that doesn't work, then yeah... something's wrong with the chassis. why would they replace the whole chassis when they could just give you a new main frame assembly? sort of a waste of resources but i guess they're doing their best to make it easy for ya

arch2b · #29 09-10-2009, 07:48 AM

read the various core analog subject links i posted if you would like to understand the ins and outs of the system basics and transponders.

it sounds like in replacing the frame kit, they might have tweaked/damaged something else which is why they are simply giving you a new car and letting you do the work.

fyi, this is why i stress the value of having a warranty on these little guys. you at least have faith that kyosho will do what they can to make you happy in the end, despite the journey to get there.

Q'on, if i start an FAQ/trouble shooting section, would you be willing to post your most common problem/solutions?

lnfjn · #30 09-12-2009, 02:46 AM

Okay, So I received the new chassis from Kyosho. It's always nice to open a brand new anything. I take it out pop the battery and drive it around on the bathroom floor. Runs great, so I sit down and start to install all the hop-up parts from my other car.
I pop the battery in and bind the car to the Tx and go for the bathroom floor run. I start playing with the steering alignment and can't seem to get it going exactly straight. It goes slightly left and when I compensate it goes slightly right. So I figure I need to check the way I assembled it. I sit down and take the body off and start adjusting the front wheels while looking at them. Suddenly, the car shoots off the table going backwards. Just like the other car. I thinking that I couldn't have done anything to cause this. So, I figure the only thing that could possibly affect the electronics is the gyro. I unplug the gyro and test the steering. The steering is better. I can now adjust the steering straight but the car back wheels start racing again. I'm now thinking I must have a bad Tx. I go downstairs and bind the car to my other Tx. No problem, the car runs perfectly. I go back upstairs and rebind the car with the other Tx. No problem. It's the gyro board!
I'll call Kyosho again and tell what I found. I hope they will replace my gyro since it was fine when I took it in for the original problem. Strange, I can't imagine what could have happened to the gyro to make it go bad.