DCC and alternatives......

[28ten]

Hmm I do wonder if DCC is the solution in larger scales. I think some form of remote control and inboard cells would be a better idea - no shorting and no track wiring.

I have split this from scale7JB's post as it is better as a separate discussion

 

[iploffy]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

Hmm I do wonder if DCC is the solution in larger scales. I think some form of remote control and inboard cells would be a better idea - no shorting and no track wiring.

couldn't agree more I have watched on numerous occasions peoples chips blowing up and what a price surely an enterprising person could do a better job especially in the larger scales as there is alot of room in the models themselves

Ian

 

[Jordan]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

I have sent Zimo an e-mail to see if they can repair such problems, but I don't hold much hope... and I can't really afford a new one at the moment, they're quite pricey !!

Just a thought, but is there any possibility of claiming against the Club's insurance, if they have such a thing? It happened on their layout, after all... :scratch:

I'm convinced the way to go is Infra-Red remote control, as shown on Ray Green's GWR layout Bodmin in Railway Modeller (and on their Xmas 2007 CD-Rom)... Remote controlled, battery-powered locos; leaving the track to be just that- guidance for the train, not the power supply...
This is the Website to watch, Gentlemen...
http://www.a1micromotive.co.uk/what_is_red_arrow.html

Red Arrow Infra Red remote control. As ever, I shall have to wait until prices drop....

 

[Scale7JB]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

These videos are great...




Only problem is that engines need to be in 'line of sight' or they'll crash :laugh:

JB.

 

[Scale7JB]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

Oh on another note, I had today an e-mail from a lovely man at Zimo in Vienna.

He says that it will probably cost around ?15 to repair the amplifier on my Zimo chip... pretty good I reckon... Feeling a lot better about it !

Not sure I would want to claim against the club, there wasn't any negligence, just bad luck I think.. but thanks for the thought

JB.

 

[Phill Dyson]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

I'm convinced the way to go is Infra-Red remote control, as shown on Ray Green's GWR layout Bodmin in Railway Modeller (and on their Xmas 2007 CD-Rom)... Remote controlled, battery-powered locos; leaving the track to be just that- guidance for the train, not the power supply...
This is the Website to watch, Gentlemen...
http://www.a1micromotive.co.uk/what_is_red_arrow.html

Red Arrow Infra Red remote control. As ever, I shall have to wait until prices drop....

Does this system have any advantage over conventional radio control ?, I must admit the reason I am still using DC is I can't decide whether to go DCC or RC :? :scratch: . DCC does seem to be horrendously expensive in the larger scales for someone like me when the only feature I really want from it is sound.
Phill

 

[28ten]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

Does this system have any advantage over conventional radio control ?, I must admit the reason I am still using DC is I can't decide whether to go DCC or RC :? :scratch: . DCC does seem to be horrendously expensive in the larger scales for someone like me when the only feature I really want from it is sound.
Phill

Same as me, I only want the sound :cry: I guess DCC has been developed for ho/4mm where the only option is to collect current from the track. I want radio control locos with their own power source and sound. this is well within the capabilities of modern technology, but I guess there isnt enough of a market?

 

[Phill Dyson]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

[quote=""Phill Dyson"":2svs2ahb]
Does this system have any advantage over conventional radio control ?, I must admit the reason I am still using DC is I can't decide whether to go DCC or RC :? :scratch: . DCC does seem to be horrendously expensive in the larger scales for someone like me when the only feature I really want from it is sound.
Phill

Same as me, I only want the sound :cry: I guess DCC has been developed for ho/4mm where the only option is to collect current from the track. I want radio control locos with their own power source and sound. this is well within the capabilities of modern technology, but I guess there isnt enough of a market?[/quote:2svs2ahb]
Sound is an option with conventional R/C Cynric from Brian Jones including Maybach Music : http://www.brianjones.free-online.co.uk/page9.html

 

[28ten]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

That looks pretty good - that's what I would go for in the garden. I have seen locos controlled from an iPod via a wireless network somewhere.....

 

[Phill Dyson]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

That looks pretty good - that's what I would go for in the garden. I have seen locos controlled from an iPod via a wireless network somewhere.....

Yes I may rig one loco up for R/C as an experiment at some point, but TBH I'm still totally undecided & my present DC system works wonderfully albeit without sound. The 'Black Box' is another option giving DCC sound on a DC layout.
Phill

 

[28ten]

I think its one of those things where you need a 'try before you buy' I will be waiting to hear Dans western before I commit to anything :laugh:

 

[Scale7JB]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

That looks pretty good - that's what I would go for in the garden. I have seen locos controlled from an iPod via a wireless network somewhere.....

This the one ?
Touchcab... I think it's a great idea, except for the fact that if the screen is on constantly on my iphone, the battery life is terrible.

JB

 

[28ten]

Scale7 JB Workbench.

[quote=""28ten"":2ayxnjmz]That looks pretty good - that's what I would go for in the garden. I have seen locos controlled from an iPod via a wireless network somewhere.....

This the one ?
Touchcab... I think it's a great idea, except for the fact that if the screen is on constantly on my iphone, the battery life is terrible.

JB[/quote:2ayxnjmz]
Thats the one, but its still relying on DCC isnt it?

 

[Buckjumper]

The AirWire900 is probably my ideal - full wireless DCC control in locos powered by rechargeable batteries - ergo no power in the tracks, no pickups, no track cleaning, no wheel cleaning, no wiring turnouts or slips...in fact no wiring at all

The one and only downside is that it's illegal here as it runs in the 900MHz band. :vista:

 

[28ten]

The AirWire900 is probably my ideal - full wireless DCC control in locos powered by rechargeable batteries - ergo no power in the tracks, no pickups, no track cleaning, no wheel cleaning, no wiring turnouts or slips...in fact no wiring at all

The one and only downside is that it's illegal here as it runs in the 900MHz band. :vista:

Thats what I want, it looks the business. perfect for 7mm

 

[Scale7JB]

The Airwire looks good, but it's still quite limiting...

I wouldn't want to change over until it did everything that my Zimo does... all except for blowing up of course.. :laugh:

JB.

 

[Jordan]

The Airwire looks good, but it's still quite limiting...

...and still very expensive...

I take Phill's point- what's the advantage of InfraRed over conventional R/C... I don't know!! R/C seems a very under-utilised control method for model trains. What appeals to me with these systems is the complete abscence of wiring to the track. That would be a very persuasive reason for me to try a garden line of my own...

 

[Buckjumper]

The Airwire looks good, but it's still quite limiting...

I wouldn't want to change over until it did everything that my Zimo does...

Aha!

Any brand of DCC compatible decoder can be used with AirWire900 including sound decoders and function decoders. the AirWire decoder provides an auxiliary DCC booster output that provides drive power and passes along the DCC control commands to the external decoder.

OK, so you have to have 2 decoders per loco if you want to keep the Zimo functionality, but for those of us without working brakes, reverser levers, and tea-drinking, fag-smoking, coal shovelling firemen the single AireWire decoder should suffice.

 

[28ten]

Why is 900 MHz illegal ?
Any party that makes part of their election manifesto to legalise it gets my vote!

 

[Buckjumper]

Why is 900 MHz illegal ?

Simply that in the UK (and Europe?) the 900 MHz band range is already occupied (cell phones methinks), and radio controlled stuff must be in the 40 MHz range. In the States it's the opposite way round, which kind of puts the kibosh on the system being developed there for UK use.

That said, the inferior Locolinc system has recently been released here as someone devised a 40 MHz version.

All we need is someone with the nous (and the moolah) prepared to step up to the plate and do the same for AirWire!

Any party that makes part of their election manifesto to legalise it gets my vote!

You betcha. I wonder if there's a space free in the audience for the next live debate...