I-PASS E-ZPASS

My E-Zpass was unreliable (worked about 75% of the time) with my slide in aluminum camper loaded till I lowered it about 2 inches on the windshield. Sometimes the photo system would correct the problem sometimes I had to call the 800 number. All but one states just took my word for it and adjust the tolls. PA on the other hand, for a 50 cent adjustment in the toll, sent me a multipage form to fill out. Just for fun I sent it back. A month later I got another letter from them saying I needed to include a copy of the invoice. Of course the invoice was only available online for 30 days and I hadn't printed it out so I couldn't send them a copy. Don't you love it, bureaucracy at it's finest.

Jim...

I share three I-pass transponders with five vehicles so the plate version would be a pain. Besides I hear the plate version grows legs.

jk31668 wrote:
it is much better to just get the license plate model

You are SO right.

We have the windshield model, stuck up next to the rearview.

Never had a problem with it......until last spring. We were traveling to the Catskill Mountain area to visit friends for the weekend. Coming back we used the NYS Thruway for a couple exits.

(with an EZPass, you don't stop for the usual entrance ticket. The toll booth electronically records your entering location then your exiting location and calculates the appropriate toll)

Well, apparently on our way home our entrance was recorded but the EZPass antenna at the exit toll booth failed to record us.

A few weeks later we received a letter stating that we owed $92 for the toll and fine. Since they didn't electronically record us exiting, they assume that we traveled the entire length of the Thruway, all the way to Buffalo!

The truly stupid part of this is that the exiting toll booth automatically takes a picture of the rear of vehicles if the EZPass system fails to properly record. When I called them, 3 different employees told me about the picture of the back of our truck/TC and read me my own license plate number. Don't you think that this would end it????

No it didn't. It took 6 months to straighten this mess out.

I guess that particular exit toll booth had their receiving antenna at an angle that wouldn't pick up my windshield EZPass.


Moral of the story? If you can get it, do the license plate version.

Boatycall wrote:
We have the same basic thing in WA called the Good-2-Go pass. Mine is right under the mirror and works fine with TC.

I'm an electrical engineer, in the communications field. Remember, these are RF Transponders, not a line-of-sight infrared device. Granted, a camper bunk is a sizable thing, but it is not metal, like a crane boom and support rigging. Your bunk does very little to block actual RF. RF signal from the triggering system for the most part will blast right through it. Even a full 100% aluminum framed camper doesn't block signal much because the ribs are spaced so far apart.

Now, if you had an old-school aluminum skinned camper, that'd be a completely different story.

Here in WA, we are also given "blockers" to prevent them from working when we're legitimately carpooling. Those are 100% metal and prevent the transponder ID from echoing back properly.

Our EZ-Pass worked fine with our "old school" alum skinned Adventurer...and works fine with our "new school" composite/alum frame Eagle Cap.
Sits right under the rear view mirror...has worked all across this great USA!

We have the same basic thing in WA called the Good-2-Go pass. Mine is right under the mirror and works fine with TC.

I'm an electrical engineer, in the communications field. Remember, these are RF Transponders, not a line-of-sight infrared device. Granted, a camper bunk is a sizable thing, but it is not metal, like a crane boom and support rigging. Your bunk does very little to block actual RF. RF signal from the triggering system for the most part will blast right through it. Even a full 100% aluminum framed camper doesn't block signal much because the ribs are spaced so far apart.

Now, if you had an old-school aluminum skinned camper, that'd be a completely different story.

Here in WA, we are also given "blockers" to prevent them from working when we're legitimately carpooling. Those are 100% metal and prevent the transponder ID from echoing back properly.

Joe417 wrote:
I need some education here.

What are IPASS and EZPASS.

?? prepaid toll pass ??

Yes it is an electronic transponder you have in your car that works with the toll system.

Thanks I just wasn't sure if it would still work.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
Fastrak out west in CA, but as long as your plates are listed on the account you don't even need a transponder. The cameras at the toll booth read your plate and charge your account.

That works with my I-PASS in Illinois too but not sure if it works when going through other states systems.

I know in Texas they just go by your plates but never bill anyone from out of state.

Fastrak out west in CA, but as long as your plates are listed on the account you don't even need a transponder. The cameras at the toll booth read your plate and charge your account.

I need some education here.

What are IPASS and EZPASS.

?? prepaid toll pass ??

it is much better to just get the license plate model