Problems with wireless remotes?

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woytovich

woytovich

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I have been thinking about a wireless remote for my M12k and did a little research. It seems to me that there are some pretty compelling reasons to NOT use one of the typical low cost reomotes out there. I wanted to see if you all had thoughts on the subject.

1. Frequency. At least some of the low cost remotes come with only one frequency for all units shipped... Meaning if you and your buddy both have the same remote when you use yours it could easily trigger his winch too... A disaster waiting to happen.

2. Delay. I have read that there is a significant delay between pushing/releasing the button and the winch solenoids reacting. A problem if you need to spool out quickly if, heaven forbid, someone gets a hand or whatever caught by the cable or fairlead or when you need to stop/start the winch spooling accurately in a delicate recovery situation.

Thoughts?
Mark
 
AFAIK they all come with a wired controller as usual and you have the wireless remote optional. So you dont have to choose one OR the other.

If there are unexperienced people or other winches around you just dont use the wireless remote, problem solved.

Friend of mine went to some 4x4 competitions and had the problem you mentioned, neighbours winch on the same channel.......not funny that.
 
fishEH said:
Why not just run an in-cab switch? It's super easy.
Click to expand...

I HAVE an in cab control switch... I was just thinking about other options...
 
I will wire my winch through a battery cut-off switch so some douce can't easily **** with it when he finds my remote inside. That solves the frequency crossover problem. I don't see why it would add any appreciable latency, but you'd have to test it.

In cab is a good idea, but it won't help if you want to respool it by yourself to smooth it out after use, or after cleaning mud off the cable at home.
 
Fast Eddy said:
I will wire my winch through a battery cut-off switch ...That solves the frequency crossover problem.
Click to expand...

Not if you are using yours and someone else doesn't have their winch power cut off... or if you are out wheeling and have your power on and they hit their remote... or if you need to be winching while someone close by is winching also.

Fast Eddy said:
I don't see why it would add any appreciable latency, but you'd have to test it.
Click to expand...

Just reporting what I have heard from users.

Fast Eddy said:
In cab is a good idea, but it won't help if you want to respool it by yourself to smooth it out after use, or after cleaning mud off the cable at home.
Click to expand...

I just use my original cable for that... Which you'll want to retain anyway for when your wireless: gets stepped on, lost or runs out of batteries.
 
I remember in the Harbor Freight winch thread a picture of one destroyed most likely by the remote being left in the center console and the bottom being pushed. I have both the wired and wireless remote for my Harbor Freight winch. Unless using neither are ever plugged in. Probably not as good as a cut off switch at the battery. Only failure that can happen would be the correct wires shorting out in the control box. I took great care from either of the power leads from shorting out together or the positive lead grounding out. If it were to happen I think the circuit breaker would fail if it did short out. As far as someone using a remote with the same frequency while using mine can't really see that happening. This isn't like going to a city pond and somebody else remote controls your boat. On the trail you would know of two people are using a winch close enough to each other that a remote would work both. If you are on a run with a ton of vehicles I would just play it safe and used the wired remote. Last thing you want to do when you use a winch is be in a hurry. Can't see a issue taking a minute to plug a wired or wireless remote when you want to use it.
 
as I said in the other thread .. in my case the same frequency thing wasn't a problem in any situation I had .. mine and few other I happen to see in the same trail / group have pretty short action area .. so if you are too far from your car it won't work .. and just doesn't seems to be right try to activate yours while you are next to your buddy Cruiser with the same brand remote ..
 
i have had all those problems with the wireless remotes i use extra long wired controllers on mine now ,the wierless remote now turns on the garage lights when i go in there at night
 
Fast Eddy said:
I was kind of assuming that the wireless remote would be plugged into the cable plug, as opposed to being hard wired. That doesn't sound very safe in any case, at least without a safety cut-off switch.
Click to expand...

I have one like you describe, gets plugged in instead of the wired remote.
If its hard wired it should have a kill switch.

In any case, no matter what remote gets used, the winch should be in mechanical unlocked mode if its not needed.
 
FJ40-GARAGE said:
In any case, no matter what remote gets used, the winch should be in mechanical unlocked mode if its not needed.
Click to expand...

Are you saying in "free spool" selection on the winch knob? I never thought of that but I suppose it would eliminate the worry of it running in/out while not actively using it. But that doesn't fix the problem of unintended run in/out from another remote while you ARE using it.
 
woytovich said:
Are you saying in "free spool" selection on the winch knob? I never thought of that but I suppose it would eliminate the worry of it running in/out while not actively using it. But that doesn't fix the problem of unintended run in/out from another remote while you ARE using it.
Click to expand...

1.Yes
2.Yes
3.Yes
 
...But that doesn't fix the problem of unintended run in/out from another remote while you ARE using it....

FJ40-GARAGE said:
3.Yes
Click to expand...

How so?

If you are in the middle of using yours and you have your winch powered on and the lever is in "engaged" position and SOMEONE ELSE with the same remote system pushes THEIR remote's IN (or OUT) button YOUR winch could run! This could be a very bad thing, dangerous or destructive.
 
woytovich said:
If you are in the middle of using yours and you have your winch powered on and the lever is in "engaged" position and SOMEONE ELSE with the same remote system pushes THEIR remote's IN (or OUT) button YOUR winch could run! This could be a very bad thing, dangerous or destructive.
Click to expand...

While I disagree that this is a serious concern, if it was plugged into the winch, or hard wired with a switch it would just be a matter of getting to the winch and pulling the plug or flipping the switch.

Depending on the design of the remote receiver, it is likely that pressing a button on the transmitter closer to the receiver would override the weaker signal or at least confuse the receiver into not doing anything.

If one was really that paranoid, you simply shouldn't be considering a remote at all. Problem solved.
 
Fast Eddy said:
While I disagree that this is a serious concern, if it was plugged into the winch, or hard wired with a switch it would just be a matter of getting to the winch and pulling the plug or flipping the switch.

Depending on the design of the remote receiver, it is likely that pressing a button on the transmitter closer to the receiver would override the weaker signal or at least confuse the receiver into not doing anything.

If one was really that paranoid, you simply shouldn't be considering a remote at all. Problem solved.
Click to expand...

The problem comes when just a few seconds of unintended run in or out is a big problem. I have seen situations where a winch cable was all that was holding a truck in a precarious situation. ANY change in the tension on the winch cable would have been a dangerous thing. Spooling out a winch cable that is holding a truck from the last few inches of a roll over would be "bad".
I dont think I am being paranoid but I will not be using a wireless remote anytime soon. The cons seem to far outweig the pros in my opinion.
 
These are very short range transmitters.

I am picturing the packed to the elbows ohv park scene that would be needed to result in people having interference problems from others with identical setups.

Nope, no thanks. I'd take up knitting instead. ;)

Mark...
 
Mark W said:
I am picturing the packed to the elbows ohv park scene that would be needed to result in people having interference problems from others with identical setups.

Mark...
Click to expand...

Well maybe not to the elbows but ive been in plenty of situations with multiple groups of trucks within a few yards of each other... Not uncommon in ohv parks or at group events. Could even happen out in the wilderness with just 2 buddies that bought the same remote... As buddies might do.
 
It could happen with just two guys out on the trail. If they are real dumbass types. ;)


Mark...
 
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