TST 507 REPEATER REGUIREMENT

I don't have a TST system, but from what you describe, I think there is more of a problem than just needing a repeater.

There was a big debate about this some months ago. A poster averred that you could lose connection with one of the sensors and not know it for a considerable length of time, as it would not necessarily set off the alarm. He was pooh-poohed by a lot of people, including me, saying that couldn't happen. It seems as though he was closer to the truth than we were.

The whole thing makes me concerned about the actual reliability of the system. I may have to do the check with removing a sensor, and make sure the system is working as it's supposed to.

Our 5th wheel is 33' long. With the TST system we had a blowout 2 years ago on the curb side rear tire.

I had just checked the pressures when the China Bomb went off. The TST alarm was sounding before I pulled over.

I do change the sensor batteries ever other year.

It is possible that the tire was at the proper pressure when the tire blew from a casing failure. Not sure why you didn't get a signal after the fact.

A week ago I had a blow our on my 41 foot toy hauler. I have the TST 507 system. If I set the monitor in my cup holder, after 5 minutes I get a beep that the monitor has lost connection with a sensor, usually from the back right axle. If I place the monitor on the dash, I do not lose communication with any of the sensors. When the tire blew, it took about 5 seconds for the alarm to sound. I do not have a repeater installed. It is my understanding that the sensor sends an update once every 5 minutes. If an update is missed, then you should get a beep.

This is very interesting to me and I hope the OP will update us on what he finds out.

We, too, have the TST507 (non-flow-thru) set up. I recall that when we first started using them on our TT and Exploder, we pulled into a campground, unhooked and set up and then headed off. We were several miles away from the TT when we realized we were still getting a reading from the TT's sensors.

Since we were in Tampa for the RV show, I took the monitor (still showing the TT's tire temp/pressure readings) to the TST vendor there. He showed me something I had done wrong in the set-up, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. User error in my case.

That being said, I do wonder how adding a repeater would have helped in the OP's situation. Without one, the sensor reading should have dropped and after five minutes there should have been no reading on that tire and alot of beepage to indicate that the signal had been lost.

Obviously we've not seen a photo of OPs tire after the blow-out, but it isn't likely there was enough air left in the valve stem to produce a reading unless they were the airlock/airless variety?

Also, it would be nice to know if the the OPs TST sensors were flow-thru or regulars.

I have an average size TT and found that the 507 needs a repeater to operate reliably. If just moving it a bit causes loss of signal, then it can't be dependable.

Sensors were the basic non flow thru and the tire was 80 % air and 20 % rubber.

TST Mike ( if I remember correctly ) stated that the monitor displays the last reading if no update is received.

fj12ryder wrote:
There was a big debate about this some months ago. A poster averred that you could lose connection with one of the sensors and not know it for a considerable length of time, as it would not necessarily set off the alarm. He was pooh-poohed by a lot of people, including me, saying that couldn't happen. It seems as though he was closer to the truth than we were.

The whole thing makes me concerned about the actual reliability of the system. I may have to do the check with removing a sensor, and make sure the system is working as it's supposed to.

I was that poster.

Here is a quote from the TST operation manual.



I do not have the software to convert a PDF to text so I took a screen shot.

If anyone wants to take the time to do a simple test as I had previously described they will learn what I said is true.

Next time you are in a campground and go to dinner leave the TST system on. Then when you are at a restaurant or what ever in about one hour you will get the loss of signal alarm. But from the time you leave the campground for 1 hour or more you will have what appears to be valid pressures for the trailer even though you may be 5 miles or more from the trailer.

The way I have handled the short communication distance with my TST system is an extension antenna.

My previous system was the Pressure Pro (If I had it to do over I would have had the batteries replaced in the Pressure Pro)
and they had an extension antenna you could buy.

I have the antenna mounted at the rear of my truck on the receiver hitch. It appears to work OK but with the 1 hour loss of signal time I could still be only getting an update every 30-45 minutes and never know.

One feature I liked about the pressure Pro it had a function where you could monitor the signal strength of the sensors. If the signal was good then you were somewhat confident things are OK.

Also the Pressure Pro gives a loss of signal in about 15 minutes.