TPMS 507 Range - incredible

I Roo The Day · 10-03-2015, 07:58 PM

I dropped off my camper at the dealership yesterday for service, and I thought I would leave my TPMS monitor turned on in my truck to see what was the distance I would still get a signal from the wheel sensors. To my astonishment, the monitor kept picking up the signal until I was about 20 miles away from the camper. I didn't really believe what I was seeing, but I could see the tire air pressure slowly cooling down from the roadtrip over there , for at least 20 minutes after I left. Finally, after traveling from Wharton Tx to West Columbia, the monitor lost signal from the tires.

I would not have thought this was possible.

MartyQ · 10-07-2015, 09:31 AM

Have noticed similar with the 507, but, think we are seeing the "last" valid reading. Kind of a disadvantage cause you cannot tell when the TPMS is not seeing a signal due to a weak battery or interference. Anyone know for sure?

I Roo The Day · 10-07-2015, 10:37 AM

This made me wonder what would happen if a wheel just fell off of my TT.

5picker · 10-07-2015, 11:34 AM

Wow! I really wonder what it was seeing?

I tried this exact test on Monday morning. I received my 507 over the weekend and programmed and installed the sensors Sunday afternoon and to make sure I understood how everything worked.

When I left for work Monday morning I turned on the monitor to see if any readings had changed (camper is parked close enough to truck) and before I got to the end of my 1500' lane, all wheels were blinking blank. (just like it does when booting up and acquiring signal)

I have no clue what you were seeing??
I personally, find it hard to believe it was picking up the signal off the sensors from your unit since even TST suggests distances more than 45' will likely require a repeater.

I don't know but I can't imagine the transmitter in the sensors could be powerful enough (or even FCC licensed) to that kind of range.

MartyQ · 10-07-2015, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Roo The Day

This made me wonder what would happen if a wheel just fell off of my TT.

Just e-mailed TST with the following questions. Will post any answers.

I have the TST 507 TPMS and have a few questions. Have noticed when I park the travel trailer and drive away, the last "valid" pressure reading and temperature remains on the display. Stays until I switch the unit off and then back on. A bit far fetched, but, what happens if I lose a tire? What happens if the battery in the sensor goes bad/weak. How do I tell if the displayed air pressure is the current air pressure or the last air pressure signal the display unit received?

Jim Schings · 10-07-2015, 11:58 AM

The reply will be interesting. A couple times this year, one of my tires went to 0 and alarmed for about 20 seconds. It came back on and seemed fine after that. I assumed the signal was just lost. So I figured if a wheel fell off

that is what would happen. (except it wouldn't come back on.)

5picker · 10-07-2015, 11:59 AM

It will be interesting to hear what they say.

As I said, my monitor did not continue to flash any information (only the wheel location) once out of range. And, I've read where others have seen reading drop-outs installed on longer units which need a repeater. I wouldn't think they could have experienced a "drop-out" if the unit is designed to just continue flashing the last known reading.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you both didn't experience what you've said but for the life of me I can't imagine it is to supposed to work that way.

MtnGuy · 10-07-2015, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyQ

Have noticed similar with the 507, but, think we are seeing the "last" valid reading.

That is the way my Pressure Pro TPMS works, also.

I Roo The Day · 10-07-2015, 01:54 PM

I suppose the gist of thread may suggest it is necessary to switch off the monitor occasionally to insure we still have all of our wheels? My next test will be to turn on the monitor when I leave home to pick my camper up again, and see where it begins to pick up the wheel units. I'll bet it will be when I am backing up to the camper, not miles away.

Jim Schings · 10-07-2015, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Roo The Day

... My next test will be to turn on the monitor when I leave home to pick my camper up again, and see where it begins to pick up the wheel units. I'll bet it will be when I am backing up to the camper, not miles away.

As an EE and Ham Radio Licensee often working with and designing RF circuitry, I can guarantee you that if that unit picks up those TPS's at more than a few hundred yards, you have made a huge breakthrough in RF propagation.... I would wait for a Nobel Prize..

5picker · 10-14-2015, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyQ

Just e-mailed TST with the following questions. Will post any answers.

I have the TST 507 TPMS and have a few questions. Have noticed when I park the travel trailer and drive away, the last "valid" pressure reading and temperature remains on the display. Stays until I switch the unit off and then back on. A bit far fetched, but, what happens if I lose a tire? What happens if the battery in the sensor goes bad/weak. How do I tell if the displayed air pressure is the current air pressure or the last air pressure signal the display unit received?

~bump~
Did anyone from TST ever get back to you?

MartyQ · 10-15-2015, 11:04 AM

Not yet. I resent as an e-mail instead of using the web form.

5picker · 10-15-2015, 11:33 AM

Thanks... keep us posted.

D_B Travelers · 10-15-2015, 11:40 AM

We purchased the 507 for our 35' Windjammer and found that we had to mount the receiving unit on one of the TV back windows to maintain contact. Mounted on the windshield it kept dropping one or two sensors. After moving it, basically 4' closer, we haven't had it drop a sensor one time. LOVE the unit, and after seeing about 4 RVs damaged severely

by a blowout during this summer's trip, really glad we purchased one. Peace of mind knowing what the tires are doing!

That said, I have also found it retained the last readings for a while when we drove away from the RV and agree it is just keeping the last reading instead of blinking, which it should do.

**Flybob** · 10-15-2015, 11:45 AM

You were seeing the last valid readings. The accurate range is probably less than 100 ft. If the pressure drops suddenly, you will not have to wait until the next time that wheel is displayed, it will alarm immediately. To verify, turn unit on and remove one sensor. It will alarm immediately.

MartyQ · 10-15-2015, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D_B Travelers

LOVE the unit, and after seeing about 4 RVs damaged severely

by a blowout during this summer's trip, really glad we purchased one. Peace of mind knowing what the tires are doing!

I agree. Even with my question I am glad I purchased the unit. Want to relate my experience from the trip to the Amana rally.

At home before leaving, one of the trailer tires (left side) was low. I thought the o-ring on one of the sensors was leaking so I removed the one sensor and added air. About halfway to Amana I noticed the the other tire on the left side of the travel trailer had a higher temperature and a higher pressure compared to the tires on the right hand side of the trailer (no alarms yet). Pulled off at the next I-80 exit and checked the tire pressures. The tire (no sensor) showed 17 psi. The good tire on the left side was carrying all of the trailer load!

Changed with the spare and stopped in Iowa City. The short steel valve stem was leaking. Replaced the valve stem, (had a spare), changed the tire, replaced the sensor and continued to Amana. The 90 minute trip, took 4 hours.

So, watch the readings and compare. Lesson learned and am so happy I did not continue on the one tire!!

HAD A FANTASTIC TIME IN AMANA!!

5picker · 10-15-2015, 11:56 AM

All true Flybob but the original quandary was what would happen if the sensor quit working (dead battery) or worse yet a wheel flew off? Would it just keep blinking the last valid reading for that tire?

I suppose that's why they call them Tire Pressure Monitoring systems and not Tire Presence Monitoring Systems!

Witch Doctor · 10-15-2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybob

You were seeing the last valid readings. The accurate range is probably less than 100 ft. If the pressure drops suddenly, you will not have to wait until the next time that wheel is displayed, it will alarm immediately. To verify, turn unit on and remove one sensor. It will alarm immediately.

Flybob, I think mine just shows a reading of "0" when I remove one until I put it back on....I have the 507 also

That's taken one off after it has shown pressure...

5picker · 10-15-2015, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Flybob, I think mine just shows a reading of "0" when I remove one until I put it back on....I have the 507 also

That's taken one off after it has shown pressure...

And I think that's because the sensor 'turns off' when you remove it.
That's the way mine works and that's OK because at least you know from the "0" reading that something is amiss.

If it just keeps flashing the last valid reading when missing data, (because of out of range or dead battery or wheel in never-never land) it isn't doing much good.

dalford · 10-15-2015, 06:56 PM

.....as low. I thought the o-ring on one of the sensors was leaking so I removed the one sensor and added air. About halfway to....

You know what they say that when you are lost in the woods it does not mean you should start questioning your compass..

Maybe you need to get a monitor to monitor your monitor..LOL

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