Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why does the TS System cost twice as much as the Model 357 System?

A. The TS system is a certified Legal-for-Trade system. This means that the indicator and weigh platform must pass a series of federal requirements for accuracy and repeatability. The TS is also IP- 66 rated, that means the system can be used in the rain with the worry of moisture problems. The indicator also has a more elaborate printed circuit board that enables the motion lock and motion filtering to be superior the the motion lock and motion filtering on the Model 357. The TS system also has a
back light and the scale information can be interfaced to Taysys software.

Q. Why doesn't the TS system have a connector so the weigh table can be disconnected from the indicator?

A. This is a very good question that we get asked all the time. The simple answer is dependability. We have been in the business of repairing agricultural scale systems for over 25 years. We make a good living replacing connectors on those systems that have worn out by repeatedly connecting and un-connecting. The signal from a weigh platform is a very weak signal and any resistance will cause the indicator to give false readings. Once the thin plating on the pins of the connector start to wear, the integrity of the connection is compromised and will cause problems. Our goal in designing tournament scale systems was dependability first and convenience second. We know it is a pain to setup and tear down our systems with the attached weigh table cord, but an even bigger pain is to setup for your tournament and have a system whose weight is drifting and fluctuating.

Q. Why would anyone buy the 6-digit remote over the 4-digit remote that is less money?

A. The 6 digit remote has the ability to display lbs and oz with .1 oz resolution when connected to a 357 system. The 4 digit remote can display only whole lbs and whole oz when connected to a Model 357 that is set for lb/oz mode.

Q. How long will the SB-45 remote run from a 9-volt battery?

A. A new 9-volt Alkaline battery will power a SB-45 remote for over 20 hours if the back light is turned off. With the back light on, the SB-45 remote will run for over 6 hours.

Q. Can the SB-45 remotes be read in bright sunlight?

A. The SB-45 remotes are designed with a liquid crystal technology that will not fade out in bright sunlight like “LED” style signs. Actually the more sun that shines on the display, the easier it is to read.

Q. Will the TS systems read out in lb and oz?

A. Currently the TS systems readout in lbs only to the nearest .01 lb. It can also be setup to readout in kilograms. (for the rest of the world)

Q. Can the 357 Systems be interfaced to TaySys Software?

A. No, the 357 does not have sufficient internal hardware to interface with Taysys software

Q. Can Taysys software be purchased through Pro-Tournament Scales?

A. Although TaySys software and Pro-Tournament Scales work very closely to interface our systems together, Pro-Tournament Scales does not sell software and Taysys Software does not sell scales. We both do what we do best!

Q. What is the warranty on Pro-Tournament Scales?

A. We have a one-year warranty on everything we sell.

Q. Is the Model 357 System waterproof?

A. The Model 357 indicator is not waterproof. We recommend if using in bad weather, to place a plastic bag over the indicator console to prevent water from entering the indicator. (Our TS systems are waterproof.)

Q. Can I turn off the count down feature that runs every time I power up the TS console?

A. Since the TS series is a legal-for-trade indicator, it has to follow certain federally mandated guide lines. One of those guide lines is that the electronics must “warm up” for a specified time before using to weigh. The count down prevents the unit from weighing until the “warm up” time requirement has been satisfied.

Q. I went to use my TS system and it will not power up even if I use the AC adapter or battery clips. What is wrong?

A. The TS series has an internal 6 volt lead acid battery. If this battery falls below 75% charge it prevents the indicator from powering up. There are only two solutions for this situation, one is to charge the battery for 4-16 hours depending on amount of voltage left in battery. The other alternative is to remove the back cover from the unit and disconnect the battery terminal. The indicator will then power up using the optional battery clips or AC adapter. We recommend the TS indicator be placed on the charger the night before the tournament.

Q. Why can't I get the ticket printer to work when I connect it to my parallel printer port?

A. Although the connector on the ticket printer looks like a parallel printer port connector, it is not. The port is an RS-232 port and it must be connected to a “Com” port on your computer. We have a downloadable .pdf in our download section that explains how to configure the printer for a Windows operating system.

Q. How do I hook up the TS system to my computer that has only USB ports?

A. A RS-232 to USB interface adapter must be used that is available on our web site. These interfaces along with the supplied drivers will create a “virtual com port” on your system that can be used to read the scale and drive the printer.

Q. Can I connect multiple displays to my system?

A. Yes, we have several of our larger tournaments that are running two or more SB-45 remotes with their systems.

Q. Our club is considering a water weigh-in program. Do you have systems with a larger capacity?

A. We can supply weigh tables up to 500lbs with our TS systems and up to 150lb on our 357 systems.

Q. Why doesn't my SB-45 remote show negative weight?

A. We have our remotes programmed to display zero weight any time the weight is "0" or in a negative range. The reason for this is that most spectators do not understand “Tare” readings and why a scale would ever show negative. The displays on our indicators, of course, show the negative weights.

Q. What does NCR paper mean?

A. Carbonless copy paper or NCR(No Carbon Required) paper is an alternative to carbon paper, used to make a copy of an original, document. It is special paper that has the ability to transfer the type on the front copy to the two copies underneath without using carbon paper.

Q. Why can’t I get my computer to read the scale or print to the ticket printer?

A. In our download section of our web site there is document titled “Computer Integration Guide”. Download this manual and it will guide you step-by-step through the procedure to configure your computer. If you have any questions you can call Pro-Tournament Scales at 1-800-445-5058 and we will be happy to assist you in configuring your hardware.

Q. What makes Pro-Tournament Scales different from other “scale” companies?

A. Pro-Tournament Scales is a real “brick and mortar” company, not a “virtual” company created on the internet to move products. We have been in business for over 25 years and we do our own design, manufacturing and repair. Our products are not generic systems that can be used for your application, they are specifically designed to do a specific task (reliably weigh fish). We are the only scale manufacture that attends fishing trade shows and the only manufacturer to interface our hardware
with tournament weigh in software.

Q. Why doesn't the back light on my SB-45 illuminate when I power it up?

A. Starting with software version 1.4, our SB-45 remotes can be programmed by the user to be on or off. When using the 9-volt battery option, most users turn off the back light to get more run time from the battery. See the SB-45 manual for instructions on how to enable and disable the back light.