How is it Possible? Pigeon Ring Cloning with a 20 Euro Ali Express device
Jan de Wijs
Astonishing news for pigeon enthusiasts around the world! Can you believe that the technology to clone pigeon rings is now available for as little as 20 euros? This is exactly what happened in a recent discovery by the French Pigeon Sports Federation (FCF).
The FCF was conducting reliability tests on various electronic registration systems, including Unikon, Benzing, and Bricon. During these tests, they uncovered a concerning flaw in the Unikon system. It turned out that the current version of Unikon used in France could not guarantee the reliability of the registration data.
What did the FCF do? They purchased a "chip ring copier" from Ali Express for less than 20 euros. This device, designed to duplicate chip rings, was tested on the systems of Unikon, Benzing, and Bricon. The FCF set up a simulated ringing and homecoming, where the chip rings were copied onto a digital medium before the pigeon was 'basketed'. This medium was then passed over the antenna to simulate the pigeon's return.
Interestingly, the Benzing and Bricon systems displayed an error code when registering the copied chip rings, but the Unikon system did not. This means that the Unikon system does not generate secret codes when pigeons are basketed, and therefore cannot detect data manipulation. This is a significant issue concerning fraud with copied chip rings.
The French Pigeon Sports Federation is not taking this matter lightly. They have instructed Unikon to fix this technical error before the start of the 2024 season. Furthermore, these corrections must be made without additional financial burdens to the French pigeon enthusiasts.
In the coming weeks, other electronic systems on the French market will also be tested. This development raises many questions for the pigeon world and other federations. It seems obvious that federations in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany will also (re)test their systems before the 2024 season.
This discovery highlights the importance of foolproof registration systems for fair pigeon sports. It raises questions about the security and reliability of current technologies and the need for continuous vigilance and improvement in this fascinating sport.
Hopefully better news in the next blog…
Yours in pigeon passion,
Jan de Wijs
Blogger and Racing Pigeon Expert
