TST-507 programming - difficult?

[englewoodfl]

Bought a TST-507 for our 23FBT. I'm a "retired" IT specialist and have a been chief programmer and techie for +50 years. Even now I write code in python for my A/C monitoring system.



It took an incredible amount of time on the lanai to get what seemed to be all the programming done for the 4 sensors. Actually did a hard reset or two. Now in the truck cab I have no temp or PSI readings but with a low tire it did alert. Should I persevere and hope that it will eventually work with more time before we leave in 2 weeks for the 23FBT inaugural trip which is about 5,000 miles?


Or is it really time just to pack it all up and return to the big A and buy something else?

[Malia20]

I have the 507 (old Black/white screen version) on my 20'. It works for me. It does take maybe 10 minutes (+/-) to acquire the signal after turning the display on. I also did have to add the repeater as the display would lose the signal after about an hour on the road. I mounted the repeater in the propane locker, no problems since. As for programming...I do have to read the book two or three times whenever I need to reprogram. I now make a point of not having to reprogram.
Bottom line, for me, I'd stay with it.
Safe travels.
Fred

[sb55]

You should call their customer service. I have the book and wanted to change the pressures. Book was confusing so I called. The phone rep was great and walked me through it an a couple of minutes.

[wayne b]

Originally Posted by englewoodfl

Bought a TST-507 for our 23FBT. I'm a "retired" IT specialist and have a been chief programmer and techie for +50 years. Even now I write code in python for my A/C monitoring system.



It took an incredible amount of time on the lanai to get what seemed to be all the programming done for the 4 sensors. Actually did a hard reset or two. Now in the truck cab I have no temp or PSI readings but with a low tire it did alert. Should I persevere and hope that it will eventually work with more time before we leave in 2 weeks for the 23FBT inaugural trip which is about 5,000 miles?


Or is it really time just to pack it all up and return to the big A and buy something else?

I also do some coding and this device took an hour + to set up. My first reaction is “this is some bad 80s UI”, but it’s worse than that. The first step should it asking how many tires and hide the rest.

I don’t know if you use the repeater, but my experience with it is it takes sometimes 5 minutes to have all the sensors register with the box.

on the low tech side of it, the stickers to label the sensors were stuck to the backing and didn’t peel off. obviously once you get it paired having proper labels is important.

Like many things in RV-land this is a mediocre product that cost multiples of what similar electronics would cost.

[brick1]

My TST system was super easy to set up. Now on our 5th year. I proactively replaced the sensor batteries at 3 years, will replace again next year.

[Hans627]

YouTube is your friend when it comes to programming your TPMS!

[Bill M.]

I program them sitting in front of a computer at my desk. I am glad I am not the only one that has trouble with this. I had it all figured out last year but will have to do it again this year. When I do get it right it seems easy. But... sometimes it takes a while for the penny to drop. I would just skip it and go but picked up 2 screws within a week on the last trip west and the TPS caught them in time not to have a road stoppage,

[RamRider]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPv54k7Tr2k

It’s been a while since I programmed mine, but as I remember is that the sensors need to be set next to the receiver one at a time to program each one of them, Its not hard and patience will be your friend. Once I figured out the correct sequence I programed all four in Less than 5 minutes

[gypsycoder]

I have been using the TST for two class A’s with toads (10 tires) and now the Airstream; coming from a background of making hardware/software starting with the Z80 back in the 80s, I agree the interface is not what modern people expect, but is logical and simple once you see their logic.

I mounted the repeater under the a frame, behind the coupler a little bit.

[englewoodfl]

I agree - the process seems to be out of the 80s. As it has a USB port so why not have a page on the website that if you're connected to the internet you can get a nice GUI and do the programming. My A/C monitor that's to get start/stop times and temps, while different from this, has a good display.


I had my laptop up with the YT video but that obviously wasn't what my brain and fingers needed. Glad I did not try in the truck as it was much more comfortable. I'll give it more time before Tuesday morning - if it's still a fail it will be a return. I have the sensors in the system - noticed that the alphanums in the display match the label which is good.


If I had the sensors and their doc not sure how long it would take me to program my own monitor using a Raspberry Pi and python. Maybe I'll look into when I have free time (hah!!! - and I'm retired).

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by englewoodfl

Bought a TST-507 for our 23FBT. I'm a "retired" IT specialist and have a been chief programmer and techie for +50 years. Even now I write code in python for my A/C monitoring system.



It took an incredible amount of time on the lanai to get what seemed to be all the programming done for the 4 sensors. Actually did a hard reset or two. Now in the truck cab I have no temp or PSI readings but with a low tire it did alert. Should I persevere and hope that it will eventually work with more time before we leave in 2 weeks for the 23FBT inaugural trip which is about 5,000 miles?


Or is it really time just to pack it all up and return to the big A and buy something else?

I changed the batteries in mine 3 years ago and I just called customer support at TST....they had me finished in few minutes...was easier than trying to figure out myself. I need to change again this week, so I will do same as last time. Customer support I find, is sometimes easier than trying to figure out what the instructions are saying!

[ZOZ]

We bought the TST-507s and programmed them ourselves. We wrote down the pressures and temperatures for alarms. We have not had any issues with them while travelling. We did not need the repeater.

But we did learn one valuable thing. During set up, we thought #1 was wheel one and #2 was wheel 2 and #3 was wheel 3 and #4 was wheel 4 and #5....there is no five.

In reality is goes like this:

Trailer #1, wheel #1.
Trailer #1, wheel #2
Trailer #1, wheel #3
Trailer #1, wheel #4
Trailer #1, wheel #5 (spare tire)


The end.


zoz

[Trons4u]

I had to watch a video as well when doing mine. I have mine sitting on top of the dash in the middle. Sometimes it takes a few to get the two trailer wheels, but it's solid after that.

We just replaced the batteries after having them for 3yrs. Haven't tested it yet, but that may be a thought for you. Who knows how long they've been sitting around. That's pretty simple. Use one of the wrench's that comes with the kit, hold the sensor in your hand and use the wrench to take it apart. Once you have it apart, the battery slide out to the side.
After all of that, I have since purchased the new TST-770 display. TechnoRV had it onsale earlier this month. It's supposed to be much easier to program.

[Mollysdad]

I have the TST 507 and am very happy.
The first unit took a couple minutes but once I did one the rest were cookie cutter.
I placed the transmitter within a foot of the monitor so there was no doubt which unit it was looking for. Program before mounting.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Trons4u

We just replaced the batteries after having them for 3yrs. Haven't tested it yet, but that may be a thought for you. Who knows how long they've been sitting around. That's pretty simple. Use one of the wrench's that comes with the kit, hold the sensor in your hand and use the wrench to take it apart. Once you have it apart, the battery slide out to the side.

I bought a bag of "O" rings on Amazon. They're 1mm thick x 11mm O.D. as I recall. The bag had 100 for about $9.
The hardest part was getting over the fear of breaking one while stretching it over the threads. I used a tiny screwdriver and pulled it over. Never broke any.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Life is a Highway]

Once you get it done it works, Has saved our bucket twice on the road and that is its attribute, I have a 4 year old system. It is a pain to set up way to many inputs to get it right. LOL the easiest is no Big A but to buy it at a RV trade show the reps set it up in seconds send you home and then you feel like a idiot when you try to change a setting LOL

It does take a few minutes of tire rotation for it to pick up the sensors. it makes a great alarm clock when you bring the screen into the trailer to charge overnight and in the middle of the night at 34 degrees when the air pressure drops below min set ,it goes off. TST is Just doing it's job.

[Life is a Highway]

Good Advise i just replace at two years and when i tested the batteries they were all still 1.5 volts strong. I will wait for three now. Techno RV used to say ever year?

Originally Posted by Trons4u

I had to watch a video as well when doing mine. I have mine sitting on top of the dash in the middle. Sometimes it takes a few to get the two trailer wheels, but it's solid after that.

We just replaced the batteries after having them for 3yrs. Haven't tested it yet, but that may be a thought for you. Who knows how long they've been sitting around. That's pretty simple. Use one of the wrench's that comes with the kit, hold the sensor in your hand and use the wrench to take it apart. Once you have it apart, the battery slide out to the side.
After all of that, I have since purchased the new TST-770 display. TechnoRV had it onsale earlier this month. It's supposed to be much easier to program.

[englewoodfl]

After consultation with the CEO going to return the TST-507. Since the 23FBT has 80 PSI tires can use the common 22-87 PSI systems. Decided to order a Tymate solar M7-3. The TST has 4.6 overall rating on the big A while the Tymate is 4.1 - but it's time to move on.


Hopefully a good decision. One negative for the Tymate - needs new batteries every 6 months or so.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by englewoodfl

After consultation with the CEO going to return the TST-507. Since the 23FBT has 80 PSI tires can use the common 22-87 PSI systems. Decided to order a Tymate solar M7-3. The TST has 4.6 overall rating on the big A while the Tymate is 4.1 - but it's time to move on.


Hopefully a good decision. One negative for the Tymate - needs new batteries every 6 months or so.

this is not rocket science, right? Programing the TST is pretty straight forward, and if you need help, call them. They walked me thru the re-programing in about 3-4 minuets when I changed batteries couple years back..was a breeze with their help on the phone. they stayed on line and we got it done pretty fast.

[kmclaren]

Agree, major PIA to program. There are several good YouTube videos out there which help, but still a major PIA.