 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion Groups General ModelsRailroadsRocketsRadio Controlled Air ModelsHelicoptersLand ModelsWater ModelsModelGeeks.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Model Forum / General / Railroads / November 2007DCC questions from a dedicated DC'er
Well folks, you may remember a couple of posts from me a month or so ago wherein I described the demolition of my layout and subsequent rebuilding - or at least a start to towards so doing. OK so all the 00 track has been re-laid and the 009 track is at least measured out; even the carcass for that embankment wall which previously caused all those tribulations is in place and is to a large extent sceniced. So I've turned my mind to powering the whole kit and caboodle. Previously it was DC with lots of isolating sections but I would like to cut down on the number of controllers (3), the number of control panels (4!) and control the 009 from the same controller as I use for the 00 and to be frank the new layout doesn't lend itself to isolating sections in the way the old one did - at least in the yard area. So, I'm going to use a portion of my Christmas slush money on a DCC setup. At the moment I'm plumping for the Gaugemaster set. It offers 3.5 amps which should be enough to send two trains running around in circles on the "mainline" and still give me power to spare to do a little shunting in the yard or run a 009 train at the same time. Unless I'm misinformed it's (the Gaugemaster set) the least expensive option to get this amount of power to the track, anyone care to correct me? The next question relates to decoders, I simply can't afford to spend £20+ on decoders for all my stock (appreciating that I may need some expensive tiny ones for certain engines) but I note that Lentz have now released a "Standard" decoder for considerably less dosh. Can someone confirm that they will be compatible with the Gaugemaster setup? Cheers  SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > Well folks, you may remember a couple of posts from me a month or so ago > wherein I described the demolition of my layout and subsequent [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Cheers Hmmm. If it was me, I'd wait for the Bachmann Dynamis, and see what reviews that gets before plumping for any specific DCC arrangement. I can't comment on the Prodigy, as I've never used it. I have a Lenz Set100 system, and bearing in mind its cost I'm not inclined to replace it. SignatureIan J. 'Who knows what the tide could bring?' Useful link: http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/other/events.php > Hmmm. If it was me, I'd wait for the Bachmann Dynamis, and see what > reviews that gets before plumping for any specific DCC arrangement. I > can't comment on the Prodigy, as I've never used it. Cheers but the bottom line is that every year near Christmas I get a bung from work, and to be frank it's a very good bung but if I don't spend it SWHTBO gets her hands on it and purchases carpets, wallpaper and all that sort of stuff. It wuldn't be so bad but I've just bought her an iron, anyway the bottom line is that once a year I get to splash out, but if I don't it dissapears so I don't really want to wait. > I have a Lenz Set100 system, and bearing in mind its cost I'm not > inclined to replace it. I'd looked at that, 5A I believe but thought that it was more expensive than the Gaugemaster? SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >> I have a Lenz Set100 system, and bearing in mind its cost I'm not >> inclined to replace it. > > I'd looked at that, 5A I believe but thought that it was more expensive > than the Gaugemaster? I would imagine so, but I haven't checked prices recently. SignatureIan J. 'Who knows what the tide could bring?' Useful link: http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/other/events.php > Cheers but the bottom line is that every year near Christmas I get a > bung from work, and to be frank it's a very good bung but if I don't > spend it SWHTBO gets her hands on it and purchases carpets, wallpaper > and all that sort of stuff. It wuldn't be so bad but I've just bought > her an iron, I hope it was a soldering iron :-) Alan Signaturealan.dawes@argonet.co.uk alan.dawes@riscos.org Using an Acorn RiscPC >> Cheers but the bottom line is that every year near Christmas I get a >> bung from work, and to be frank it's a very good bung but if I don't [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I hope it was a soldering iron :-) Good grief no, she can't even do my shirts without putting tamlines into the sleeves, and as for getting her to iron the inside of collars and cuffs it like banging my head against a brick wall. I mean, it's not as though I don't stand behind her and show her where she's going wrong, giving her little tips and tricks but all I get is the cold shoulder. 17 years married and she still can't get it right ... just think of the damage she could do with a soldering iron, the horror! SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >>> Cheers but the bottom line is that every year near Christmas I get a >>> bung from work, and to be frank it's a very good bung but if I don't [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >and she still can't get it right ... just think of the damage she could do >with a soldering iron, the horror! Why don't you iron your own shirts? SignatureJane British OO, American and Australian HO, and DCC in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html > Why don't you iron your own shirts? Ah well, there inlies the problem, I'm actually very good at ironing and pressing clothes. However if I was to do myself SWMBO would curl up in shame when she compared her efforts to mine and I couldn't allow that to happen could I? SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >> Why don't you iron your own shirts? > >Ah well, there inlies the problem, I'm actually very good at ironing and >pressing clothes. However if I was to do myself SWMBO would curl up in >shame when she compared her efforts to mine and I couldn't allow that to >happen could I? Don't be silly. She'll be only too pleased that you're better at it than she is, and she'll invite you to do hers as well. This seems to be the best way for you to stay in SWMBO's good books for ever. SignatureJane British OO, American and Australian HO, and DCC in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html >> Why don't you iron your own shirts? > > Ah well, there inlies the problem, I'm actually very good at ironing and > pressing clothes. However if I was to do myself SWMBO would curl up in > shame when she compared her efforts to mine and I couldn't allow that to > happen could I? A while ago I had to go to a formal dinner, and my dress shirts hadn't been worn since college, so I went into the local electrical shop. Erm, hello, I'd like an iron, please Certainly, what sort of iron? Um, there are different sorts of iron? Aha, we have just the thing for you. This one has _LEDs_. Wow, LEDs. That's the one, then! More awkwardly, my shirts had all shrunk since I was a student. As had my suit. SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK >17 years married >and she still can't get it right . Not very good at choosing husbands either ;-) Jim. >>17 years married >>and she still can't get it right . > > Not very good at choosing husbands either ;-) Since replying to Jane, Mrs W has noted my previous post and would like to make it known that she makes up for whatever little faults she might have by (a) letting me turn the garage in to a room to (and I quote) "Play with my little trains" and (b) by having a good back hander to be used on a rather presuming husband. I'm now off to make her a cup of coffee that I shall take up to her bath, which I shall run for her, including scented oils and tonight just to be on the safe side I shall also be lighting some scented candles as well. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >>>17 years married >>>and she still can't get it right . [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > on > the safe side I shall also be lighting some scented candles as well. You've got it totally wrong. there are a number of tasks in which I'm quite happy to demonstrate a complete lack of ability. Ironing, washing, making beds ..... I often offer to help but then 'She' has to do it right and I'm not instructed again. However, knew it was a mistake when successfully changed a nappy. Also - dont think its a good idea to allow her access to your computer. All those stories used to justify certain purchases - you could be found out ! Cheers, Simon > Well folks, you may remember a couple of posts from me a month or so ago > wherein I described the demolition of my layout and subsequent [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped.http://www.the-dormouse.orgThe Dormouse Line model railway Welcome to the world of DCC :o) The Gaugemaster set has had good reviews, but if you are going to the Warley show you will have the advantage I suspect of comparing the others such as Lenz, ZTC et al side by side. I use Lenz control system, although for loco chips, as long as they are NMRA compatible I will vary the decoders based on the cost number of function and size of the chip I need, (BTW I model in N). If you are handy with a soldering iron a site worth visiting is the MERG site http://www.merg.org.uk/ where you can obtain more DCC stuff all of which is compatible. Finally if you are based anywhere near Salisbury and need a hand fitting chips etc drop me a line. All the best and enjoy your search. 64Magnette <jhubbard.1@btinternet.com> wrote in news:ba041857-8053-4ea5- a856-e704f17b1ae9@b32g2000hsa.googlegroups.com: Cheers > Welcome to the world of DCC :o) I'm not there yet > The Gaugemaster set has had good reviews, but if you are going to the > Warley show you will have the advantage I suspect of comparing the > others such as Lenz, ZTC et al side by side. I've used Lenz and ZTC .. albeit not side by side and there's no way I can get to Wharley, shame. ... > MERG site http://www.merg.org.uk/ where you can obtain more DCC stuff > all of which is compatible. It looks worth it (the membership fee) just to get your hands on the technical papers. > Finally if you are based anywhere near Salisbury and need a hand > fitting chips etc drop me a line. Nope, sorry I'm miles away, thanks though. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > So, I'm going to use a portion of my Christmas slush money on a DCC > setup. At the moment I'm plumping for the Gaugemaster set. It offers 3.5 > amps which should be enough to send two trains running around in circles > on the "mainline" and still give me power to spare to do a little > shunting in the yard or run a 009 train at the same time. Unless you have young children at the controls you probably won't need that much power. The 2.5 amps provided by my Compact is sufficient to have 4 trains (OO) circulating at near maximum speed (limited by the need to avoid crashing rather than available power). Mark Thornton Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:YdI% i.40825$T8.11139@newsfe5-win.ntli.net: > Unless you have young children at the controls you probably won't need > that much power. The 2.5 amps provided by my Compact is sufficient to > have 4 trains (OO) circulating at near maximum speed (limited by the > need to avoid crashing rather than available power). Thanks for the pointer but I'm not to sure, the track goes all round the garage (which is also my workshop) and gets quite dirty, moist and dusty. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:YdI% > i.40825$T8.11139@newsfe5-win.ntli.net: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Thanks for the pointer but I'm not to sure, the track goes all round the > garage (which is also my workshop) and gets quite dirty, moist and dusty. Doesnt that suggest more droppers than a direct line to a power station ? There is the Elite as well you know (5 amp)- buy that and use the saving for lots of decoders or another lnwr kit. Cheers, Simon > Doesnt that suggest more droppers than a direct line to a power > station ? I'm a bit of a belt and braces chap, the exising feed comes off striped down 13A cables. > There is the Elite as well you know (5 amp)- buy that and use the > saving for lots of decoders or another lnwr kit. "Elite" isn't that the Hornby offering, I've heard some unpleasent things about compatability, or lack thereof. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 >> Doesnt that suggest more droppers than a direct line to a power >> station ? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > things > about compatability, or lack thereof. > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> "Elite" isn't that the Hornby offering, I've heard some unpleasent things >> about compatability, or lack thereof. Theres your answer, NMRA compatible - only suprising thing about that is how quickly its been done ! It was the budget one (Select) thats not compatible, was never claimed to be compatible and apparemtly suffered some teething troubles. Suggest you look at its features and price then look at other makes in the same way before deciding anything. I still think a lot of the bad 'rumouring' is down to people that paid a lot of money for a system that does less than the Elite. Cheers, Simon > > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Theres your answer, NMRA compatible - only suprising thing about that is how > quickly its been done ! That's why I remain sceptical until I see an announcement from Hornby or the NMRA. > It was the budget one (Select) thats not compatible, was never claimed to be > compatible and apparemtly suffered some teething troubles. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Cheers, > Simon- Most of the bad "rumouring" was based on hard facts but applied to the decoders (which I now understand have been fixed in recent product) and the Select. There has been very few bad rumours about the Elite. MBQ >> > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >> [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > MBQ That may be why I didnt say there were more than a few bad rumours about the Elite. Most of the bad rumours were on the Select and rarely based on facts. It was mostly complaints that the Select and budget decoder didnt do what Hornby didnt claim it did and that Hornby were not very good with DCC, so by extension the Elite would not be brilliant either. They were wrong then and have not corrected theyre statements nor apologised since. Cheers, Simon > <manatba...@hotmail.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > Elite. > Most of the bad rumours were on the Select and rarely based on facts. That fact that it didn't interoperate with other systems is not relevant then? > It was > mostly complaints that the Select and budget decoder didnt do what Hornby > didnt claim it did and that Hornby were not very good with DCC, The problem is that it doesn't meet the quite reasonable expectations of existing DCC users. If Hornby want to partition themselves with their own brand "Hornby Digital" then why did they even bother basing it on DCC in the first place? Things have moved on in the last 10-15 years and they could have come up with an excellent system without all the old baggage that DCC has to carry. The fact is that it IS INTENDED to be DCC compatible but they just botched it. Why else have they revised the budget decoder to fix the lack of CV readback, if not to make it DCC? MBQ >> <manatba...@hotmail.com> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 84 lines] > > MBQ Will refer you to the excellent interview with SK that appeared in one of the magazines recently. Cheers, Simon >>>> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >>>> http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > Cheers, > Simon Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They did this because of complaints that their decoders would not work with the Hornby Select unit. Chris > >>>> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > >>>> http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > because of complaints that their decoders would not work with the Hornby > Select unit. But if Hornby never claimed it would what's the problem? > Chris Richard Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk I have become... comfortably numb > > Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and > > they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They > > did this because of complaints that their decoders would not work > > with the Hornby Select unit. > But if Hornby never claimed it would what's the problem? The problem is that Hornby market these as DCC which means that they must conform to certain specifications which allows a particular level of interoperability between all DCC components whoever makes them. These basic specifications have been available for at least 10 years so there is no excuse for Hornby not to know about them. If they want to produce a proprietory system then they should use a diffeent name eg "Xero One mark2" until such time as their system does conform. Alan Signaturealan.dawes@argonet.co.uk alan.dawes@riscos.org Using an Acorn RiscPC > In article <998ea7454f%beamends...@btconnect.com>, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > proprietory system then they should use a diffeent name eg "Xero One > mark2" until such time as their system does conform. To be fair, they do call it "Hornby Digital" but, as I have already posted, the clear intent was that it would be DCC. They just didn't execute very well with the first products and took some flack for the failings. MBQ > > > Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and > > > they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > proprietory system then they should use a diffeent name eg "Xero One > mark2" until such time as their system does conform. DCC is just a name, not a standard. The NAMRA standard is not *the* DDC, but *a* DCC, there's nothing to say there cannot be other DCC's. Admittedly doing so can cause confusion, but that's a marketing descision for Hornby to make - equally the NAMRA could have chosen to call their standard SDCC (Standard DCC), or even Eric, as is done in other fields to avoid confusion [1]. > Alan Richard [1] Obviously that excludes Microsoft Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk I have become... comfortably numb >>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and >>>> they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > [1] Obviously that excludes Microsoft But to most purchasers DCC is a standard and all other manufacturers who have chosen to market as DCC have implemented the NMRA standards. Much like standard gauge became the standard for mainline railways in the UK as opposed to broad gauge. Both had steel wheels on steel rail but weren't interoperable. Chris >>>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and >>>>> they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Chris Dont agree (realise thats a suprise but there it is). Most purchasers of the Select have no idea what DCC is and no interest in finding out. Its a budget system that was never intended to conform to NMRA standards. The fact that it works with some other DCC equipment is a bonus. What do you expect for £50 when other systems charge £50 for a transformer. Hornby could produce a fully functional system to NMRA standards for around £100 or a budget system that did most things for a modest setup for £50. In fact thats what they did - well done Hornby. The average modeller and trainset player is quite happy with that, its the whingers from cloud cuckoo land that moan. Plus I may let Elite users have my routesetter software for free. Lenz users obviously have lots of money to throw around. I'll just modify that snappy remark with - yes its a ;-) Cheers, Simon >>>>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and >>>>>> they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > Dont agree (realise thats a suprise but there it is). Most purchasers of the > Select have no idea what DCC is and no interest in finding out. Its a budget And how do you know that I think you credit Hornby purchasers with little intellegence with that statement children and adults have access to the internet and can see that Hornby and makes with the DCC logo on them? Either of our statements are unsubstantiated with evidence. Budget does not equal non-compliant the NMRA standard only lays down how decoders talk to the command station not how you implement it. You could just have a decoder that just drives the motor without funtions or BEMF that would still price in as a budget system. So why not make a DCC compliant system? > system that was never intended to conform to NMRA standards. The fact that > it works with some other DCC equipment is a bonus. Should have re-introduced Zero 1 with no development cost at all and would be really cheap to make. > What do you expect for £50 when other systems charge £50 for a transformer. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > land that moan. Plus I may let Elite users have my routesetter software for > free. Lenz users obviously have lots of money to throw around. Everyone else can use the open source software from JMRI to do their route setting. Which Lenz users are you talking about? I don't have their system for the record but use some of their decoders. > I'll just modify that snappy remark with - yes its a ;-) > > Cheers, > Simon And to say again most people buying a DVD expect it play in their DVD player not have to buy DVDs from the manufacturer of the DVD player. They buy digital system and will expect it to work with other digital systems. Chris >>>>>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and >>>>>>> they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > > Chris Like your example, I look at a DVD recorder/players and I see there DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, Blueray, 16*speed, 8*Speed. Guess what, the expensive systems can handle all these formats, the budget ones cant. Seems fair enough and they are still all DVD players and people seem to cope. I suppose if I read the specialist magazines then would find many complaints but not my interest. At no stage did I make any reference to anyones intelligence. Mentioned their interests. Some people may find DCC too complicated and others have different priorities. Many just want to play trains - an attitude I find to be quite an excellent one. However as you have raised the subject, have noticed the superior attitude of some of the Hornby DCC detractors. Have yet to see any justification for it. Cheers, Simon >>>>>>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US and >>>>>>>> they were unable to make it drive TCS decoders, that is fact. They [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] > Like your example, I look at a DVD recorder/players and I see there DVD+R, > DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, Blueray, 16*speed, 8*Speed. Again you get complicated the analogy I was making was to buy a DVD to watch not to do any kind of recording. I'll leave that to the specalists and the format wars that have happended around these. > Guess what, the expensive systems can handle all these formats, the budget > ones cant. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > different priorities. Many just want to play trains - an attitude I find to > be quite an excellent one. Exactly they do not want to have to worry that one digital system won't work with another especially if they buy a digital train will not work with their system. > However as you have raised the subject, have noticed the superior attitude > of some of the Hornby DCC detractors. Have yet to see any justification for > it. You seem to exhibiting those attributes by the nature of your reply. From what I have read the thread was why Hornby could not make a compatiable system. > Cheers, > Simon Have fun with your model railway and don't take all this so seriously. Chris >>>>>>>>> Talking to a TCS dealer a Select unit was sent to TCS in the US >>>>>>>>> and [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > watch not to do any kind of recording. I'll leave that to the specalists > and the format wars that have happended around these. exactly my point, these people will buy Hornby and bachmann locos with those decoders, change the address and carry on playing. >> Cheers, >> Simon > Have fun with your model railway and don't take all this so seriously. > > Chris You are quite correct there, we all must - thanks, nearly forgot. Cheers, Simon > In message <4f45ca077dalan.da...@argonet.co.uk> > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > DCC is just a name, not a standard. The NAMRA standard is not *the* > DDC, but *a* DCC, there's nothing to say there cannot be other DCC's. There have been other digital control systems, such as Zero-1, but which was ever known as "Digital Command Control"? Which of those do people talk about today? To all intents and purposes, DCC *is* NMRA DCC. to try and argue otherwise is taking pedantry to a new level. MBQ >> In message <4f45ca077dalan.da...@argonet.co.uk> >> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > MBQ I disagree with both those statements. If the first one was correct then there would be no need for NMRA DCC. Im not sure if the second one should be identified as a attempt to silence discussion on the first or if its just b*ll*x. Cheers, Simon > <manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote in message [...] >> To all intents and purposes, DCC *is* NMRA DCC. to try and argue >> otherwise is taking pedantry to a new level. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Cheers, > Simon There are non-NMRA compliant systems, to be sure. Such systems may have advantages such as price, but they won't play with each other any better than they play with NMRA compliant systems. Why lock yourself into a proprietary system? NMRA DCC standards and RPs were set up to prevent the kind of mess that occurred in the early days of the hobby, when each manufacturer went its own way. The NMRA emphasis has always been on interoperability. For DCC that means that any decoder should work with any controller. NMRA DCC is now well over 10 years old, and has been proven in practice. From the beginning, it was designed for extensibility. The current crop of sound decoders, the extension of some DCC functions to DC control, etc, show that the NMRA design was and is sound: it is a performance and plug'n'play standard. The standards/RPs have two parts: a) the data format, which includes the package format and the CVs. This enables any decoder to work with any DCC controller. b) the wiring standard, which enables any decoder to be plugged (or soldered) into any DCC controlled device. If Hornby is marketing an non-NMRA DCC system, too bad for Hornby. They may well find a market in the UK, where they still have a good reputation, but beyond that they will fail. The fact is that NMRA standards and RPs rule. For example, Rivarossi at one time was the only source for well-detailed, low-cost N. American outline plastic steam locomotives, and enjoyed a small but steady market. But they eventually lost that market because they wouldn't use NMRA standard wheels, let alone the RP-25 profile. By the time they did so, other manufacturers had caught up with them in producing low-cost, highly detailed plastic steam locomotives. Even their partnership with Walthers (the main distributor of model trains here) didn't help. The product was upgraded and is much better than before, but the bad reputation has lingered. >> <manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote in message > [...] [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > upgraded and is much better than before, but the bad reputation has > lingered. I agrre completely and you have reminded me of the most important point on the budget Hornby Select. It is not a non-NMRA DCC system its just that it only supports a subset of the functions. Must admit not sure if its sufficient to obtain NMRA certification or not. The problem between it and TCS decoders is that of the 4 methods of programming decoders the Select does not have the one that is required for TCS - one of the earlier methods. Their fully function system - Elite - is almost certainly NMRA compliant/compatible and may well be about to receive its certification from that body. So hornby are not ignoring the standards but as they say delivering products to the customer. Cheers, Simon >>>>>> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >>>>>> http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > > Richard As others have said why put a DCC badge on it if does not work with other DCC manufacturers equipment to most people DCC means interoperabilty between different manufacturers. It just confuses people and maybe puts people off getting Hornby Digital equipment. Chris > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > > http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 It would be better if you could post hard facts, with a reference to the announcement, rather than just propogating what is, so far, an unsubstantiated rumour. MBQ >> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > MBQ But there werent any. Anyway the link that was posted allowed anyone to check for themselves the source of info and so decide how likely it was true or not. I followed it and saw the author as Gary who seems to be quite knowledgable on such topics. So thank you Dobbin. Cheers, Simon > <manatba...@hotmail.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > But there werent any. No hard facts, that's true. > Anyway the link that was posted allowed anyone to > check for themselves the source of info and so decide how likely it was true It was posted by "Gary" who is well known for having an axe to grind. Not you, by any chance? MBQ >> <manatba...@hotmail.com> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > MBQ Nope, am totally faithful to this group. Have no axe, am neutral as far as manufacturers/distributers are concerned. Cheers, Simon > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > > http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 Looks like that thread has been deleted. I wonder why? MBQ > > The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. > > > > http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3870 > > Looks like that thread has been deleted. I wonder why? Someone jump the gun? NDA's etc > MBQ Richard Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk I have become... comfortably numb >> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > MBQ I wonder what happened to that. That breaking news was posted by Gary, the forum Hornby spokesman. He knows what Hornby are doing before they themselves do. >>> The Hornby Elite DCC Console now has its NMRA certificate. >>> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > That breaking news was posted by Gary, the forum Hornby spokesman. > He knows what Hornby are doing before they themselves do. http://www.hornby.com/forum/forum-thread.html?Ptopic=com.othermedia.hornby.model .board.TopicHandle-L-4&Pthread=com.othermedia.hornby.model.board.Thread-L-4067 > Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:YdI% > i.40825$T8.11139@newsfe5-win.ntli.net: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Thanks for the pointer but I'm not to sure, the track goes all round the > garage (which is also my workshop) and gets quite dirty, moist and dusty. Mine is outside, running around two sides of the garage and under an apple tree (Bramleys). It doesn't need extra power, just more connections to the track. I'm not suggesting a Compact of course as that is now too old to consider, but there are a number of more recent systems that can manage a similar power output. Having more amps available makes no difference to the usability of dirty track. You might need more power if you run a lot of illuminated coaches, or if you use track power for accessories. Mark Thornton >> Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:YdI% >> i.40825$T8.11139@newsfe5-win.ntli.net: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >might need more power if you run a lot of illuminated coaches, or if >you use track power for accessories. "More connections to the track": I have some 8-wheel American diesels (with sound), that run much better than their British counterparts. What is the difference? The axles on the American diesels are sprung, whereas those on the British diesels are not. Since the sound does not keep going off and restarting again, it is a fair bet to say that there is constant connection to the track with these American diesels. Incidentally, 4 of these diesels together use something like 0.6 amp, as measured by my RRampMeter. >Mark Thornton SignatureJane British OO, American and Australian HO, and DCC in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:ylT%i.8773 $dN2.3964@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: > systems that can manage a similar power output. Having more amps > available makes no difference to the usability of dirty track. You might > need more power if you run a lot of illuminated coaches, or if you use > track power for accessories. I have one train in development that carries it's own vacuum cleaner :-) SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >Mark Thornton <mark.p.thornton@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:ylT%i.8773 >$dN2.3964@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >I have one train in development that carries it's own vacuum cleaner :-) Are you building it yourself or buying a commercial one? I have just purchased the Lux -Modellbau one and the associated car with the powered cleaning roller. Both work quite well. The only UK supplier I found no longer had it stocked so I just trawled the net. Found a French Model shop who stocked them. As my French is limited there was some trepidation that the postman would struggle up the path with a Miele vacuum cleaner in TGV livery with flanged wheels but it actually worked out OK. Other half took a dim view though of my offer to vacuum the carpet when she found that I had covered it with umpteen sections of old track laid in a spiral form first. Lux-Modellbau have a site at http://lux-modellbau.de/ The French shop who put up with my Google translated French was http://www.train-modelisme.com/index.php?goto=bl.php G.Harman oldship@interalpha.couk wrote in news:2o85k3lbinvqdd8c4p3scat19ii4a762mh@ 4ax.com: >>I have one train in development that carries it's own vacuum cleaner :-) > > Are you building it yourself or buying a commercial one? Making my own, 3 carriages, (1) Track rubber and brush, very heavily ballasted, (2) Power car, on board re-chargable batteries to ensure a constant voltage to car 3, (3) The vacuum cleaner, at the moment I'm having difficulty in making a perfectly balanced fan blade but when finished will draw air through a ducted fan with a filter in place just before the fan - was going to put it after the fan however I'm concerned about bits of stay ballast hitting the motor or fan blades and causing damage. It's one of my reasons for finally going to DCC, I need to be able to switch this assemblidge on and off as it's towed around. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > oldship@interalpha.couk wrote in news:2o85k3lbinvqdd8c4p3scat19ii4a762mh@ > 4ax.com: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > It's one of my reasons for finally going to DCC, I need to be able to > switch this assemblidge on and off as it's towed around. There's a little (Chinese) battery powered vacuum cleaner sold for cleaning computer keyboards and the like. It sells here in NZ for about $15- (UKP5-) I'm sure I've seen it offered in UK magazines. (I read model railway, model engineering, electronic and computer mags). It comes with several attachment brushes and heads. (finally getting to the punch lines :-) It contains a 3 volt motor and nicely balanced fan, not to mention all the other bits required to make a track vacuum cleaner mechanisim. I made a nozzle by cutting two rectangles of 1mm (.040") plasticard and spacing them with two strips of 1mm plasticard so that I ended up with a full width 34mm nozzle 1mm long. Step the motor voltage up to 4.5 volts (well 5 volt voltage regulator with a diode in series with the output) It sucks up all sorts! Now I need to figure out how to make a bigger dust bag! I did try turning it into a blower, which cleaned the track but dirtied everything else. :-( Regards, Greg.P. > Mark Thornton <mark.p.thorn...@ntl-spam-world.com> wrote in news:YdI% > i.40825$T8.11...@newsfe5-win.ntli.net: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Thanks for the pointer but I'm not to sure, the track goes all round the > garage (which is also my workshop) and gets quite dirty, moist and dusty. Only the number of locos (and accessories) being used at once determine the current capability required. If it's a large layout you need to use thicker wiring for the power bus so that the voltage drop is kept to a minimum at a given current. MBQ "manatbandq@hotmail.com" <manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote in news:7af45e51- d476-402f-8729-c2cab9534e9d@b32g2000hsa.googlegroups.com: > If it's a large layout you need to use thicker wiring for the power > bus so that the voltage drop is kept to a minimum at a given current. Yup, see a previous post of mine, I use stripped down 13A cable as a "ring main" under the layout to carry power around and have droppers from every rail join (albeit some aren't actually wired in to the "main") - my eldest wanted to learn how to solder :-) SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > Well folks, you may remember a couple of posts from me a month or so ago > wherein I described the demolition of my layout and subsequent [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Cheers For power consumption you need to look at the locos you intend to run as most modern locos draw about 1/4 of an amp so pratically all of the entry level DCC systems will work for you. Best to look at Lenz and Digtitrax first as they are the biggest and longest established DCC players. Unless you want sound most decoders are under £20 now excepting the top of line decoders fropm the manufacturers. Have a look at TCS as well for decoders plenty of UK dealers and a wide range of prices. In thoery all decoders should work with all systems but there have been some issues with the Hornby system and other systems. I have also experienced problems with ZTC decoders and Digitrax system, no problems with Lenz, TCS and of course Digtrax decoders though. A number of the big dealers have demonstrators such as MacKay models in Scotland. Chris Chris <nomail@nomail.com> wrote in news:-c- dndhbtbr4mt3anZ2dnUVZ8qugnZ2d@bt.com: > In thoery all decoders should work with all systems but there have been > some issues with the Hornby system and other systems. I have also [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > A number of the big dealers have demonstrators such as MacKay models in > Scotland. Cheers SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >So, I'm going to use a portion of my Christmas slush money on a DCC >setup. At the moment I'm plumping for the Gaugemaster set. I would suggest you try to get along to a big exhibition or two - I expect there will be a lot of DCC equipment on show at Wakefield, Warley and Wigan for example, and it is not too bad to get to from most places. See if you can get your hands on the controllers and see what they feel like for you. P. SignaturePaul Matthews paul@cattytown.me.uk http://www.hepcats.co.uk |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.