Large Scale Central

27 MHz Trackside TE's Anywhere

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

After a few very successful runs with my test trail car using an 18V battery, I’m ready to spend some of my power budget. I’d like to stick with the 27 MHz Aristo Trackside Train Engineer for now since I already have one TX and two RX units, one of which handles my track power locos.

I know Aristio discontinued 27 MHz so they could change over to their less than spectacular 75 MHz system. My question is, does anyone know of a dealer that has either a full set-up and/or a RX unit available?

TOC - Feel free to expound upon why I’m wasting my money on Aristo :slight_smile: You already did a good job of keeping my money out of the hands of the DCC vendors.

JR

P.S. Used would be OK, even if buttons are marginal. I’m experienced at changing them out and have parts in-stock.

#2

The 27MHz tracksides are being produced.

Strange, my db says not available. I was sure I saw them in the on hand list recently.

#3
Tom Ruby said:
The 27MHz tracksides are being produced.

Strange, my db says not available. I was sure I saw them in the on hand list recently.


So CRE55470 is still 27MHz? I thought they had completely dumped the 27 MHz line. Was it just the on-boards that went 75MHz?

In any case, not on the current in-stock or new arrivals lists. I haven’t looked at any of the regular suspect dealers, and passed on the ones I saw at ECLSTS 'cause I thought they were 75MHz.

JR

#4

Just the onboards are high frequency.

Try the usual online places.

#5

Aristo did change the way the 27 mhz transmitter works.

It now has an on-off button and a timer that shuts it off after 5 minutes and was implemented to save on battery power.

Also a problem where you must hit the on button 3 times to relink to receivers sometimes.

#6
Dan Pierce said:
Aristo did change the way the 27 MHz transmitter works.

It now has an on-off button and a timer that shuts it off after 5 minutes and was implemented to save on battery power.

Also a problem where you must hit the on button 3 times to relink to receivers sometimes.


That’s odd. I’ve never had battery issues with the TX. It only uses power when you are pushing a button. Really no need for an on/off switch either except to lock out the buttons.

Are you sure? Is this documented anywhere, like on Aristo’s forum. Not that I don’t trust you - it just doesn’t seem logical to me to re-tool and more cost for functionality that really isn’t needed. But then we are talking about Aristo :o

JR

#7

Jon,
Whilst I cannot speak for Crest I can tell you that it is advisable to remove the battery from the RCS TX handpiece if you do not intend to use it for sometime.
The RCS TX handpieces are always on even though they are “asleep” The very low current draw when quiescent will eventually flatten the battery.

Perhaps Crest were trying to avoid this eventual flattening of the batteries in the TE.

#8

Jon,

I’ve seen the newer 27 MHz during the Ops Sessions and it is true that they now have an on/off switch. They are also coming with the telescoping antenna. I think they eliminated the speed button. I certainly like the little whip antenna, better. That was one of the reasons, I never adapted to the 75 Mhz.

Tony,

Remove the batteries from the RCS transmitters? I’ve got 3 of them and have never thought of that. My oldest is from 1998. I do usually put a new battery in for an “Ops Session”, so they get replaced every 6 months, but I never new it was a concern. The current drain has to be extremely low because I’ve never had one run down and almost always feel foolish when changing out. What would the impact of a low battery be? Maybe the range would be reduced? I am hardly more than 4 or 5 feet from my equipment when operating, at the most 10 feet.

#9

Yes. It turns itself out after 5 minutes. I oopsed once 'cause of that :stuck_out_tongue:

Pushing the on-off button 3 times resets its internals. There were some with a program bug (yes, there’s a computer inside that thing). I had one that was a real headache and sent it to Navin. It came back “upgraded,” and has never spontaneously unlinked since. It was the same one as it had some road rash when I sent it :wink:

#10

Sorry for doubting. I also confirmed this over on the Aristo website.

Sounds to me like they screwed up a good thing. Checking the Aristo site it also looks like they are discontinuing the TE in favor of something else from the R/C modeling world in order to get up to speed with technology. That would be why they are out of stock.

I liked the rubber whip antenna. No range issues for me at all. RX in basement, TX 75 feet away outdoors & 8 feet up works fine so long as I hold it away from my body (I guess I suck RF).

I liked the SPEED indicator button. Helpful when you are pushing GO and nothing happens - confirms that the GO button was working and the problem is either range or power.

SO this means I’m now looking for used units or old stock a small dealers. Ridge Road has the TX only. I wonder if they are old or new. I wonder if they will open one and look at it for me.

JR

#11

Careful about doing an instant mental translation of Oz to NAE.

I have dug out old conversions (like my pair of LGB Moguls) that hadn’t run for several years, did the restoration bit to modern appliances, still had 5 year old or so 9V in the TX, worked fine (still does).

Just like any device that uses dry cells or alkalines, always recommended to remove for long storage, primarily for leakage of the electrolyte.

I don’t remove mine.

TOC

#12

Dave ,
For once , I have to disagree with you . The idea of leaving batteries in kit is not a good one . You may not have seen the results of leaky batteries in electronic housings , but I have been asked to repair a few . It usually entails the replacement of the metal strip for conductors , and the damage can leak onto adjacent circuits . As batteries improve , the problem becomes less common , but not worth the risk . I think the environment has some
bearing on it .I don’t mean global warming or tree hugging , but kitchen radios seem very prone .
Just a thought , and a chance to show how non dictatorial the forum is .
Mike M

#13

Hang on a minute.
That’s what I said.
Unedited:

“Just like any device that uses dry cells or alkalines, always recommended to remove for long storage, primarily for leakage of the electrolyte.”

I don’t remove mine as I use them, and the main part of this answer was that the keep-alive type draw is so minimal after several years they still work fine.

#14

Dave ,
I thought it a bit odd , I thought maybe you’d got a ceegar stuck somewhere .
Mike

#15

Nah, yer thinking about Monica…

#16

Yes , I understand she likes Cubans , too . As long as there’s no bill attached
Mike

much later edit —or should that be “As long as there is a bill attached .”

#17

I use one of the old “Rubber Ducky” TE’s for my indoor layout and never have had any problems. I like the “SPD” and “DIR” buttons which have now been discontinued… :frowning: As I use mine fairly regularly I never take the batteries out. They seem to last for a couple of years.

In this case I would say that Aristocraft has adopted the motto: “If it ain’t broke, fix it until it is.” :frowning:

Warren

#18
Warren Mumpower said:
I use one of the old "Rubber Ducky" TE's for my indoor layout and never have had any problems. I like the "SPD" and "DIR" buttons which have now been discontinued.. :( As I use mine fairly regularly I never take the batteries out. They seem to last for a couple of years.

In this case I would say that Aristocraft has adopted the motto: “If it ain’t broke, fix it until it is.” :frowning:

Warren


Agreed, I like the SPD button too. And another motto must be “If it sells well, schedule production runs few and far between - OR -discontinue it”.

I’ve never quite understood the philosophy of most LS manufacturers to build items in short runs, and then not to schedule another run until the product is sold out. They might think they are creating demand, but what they do in many cases is shift their customer to a competitor who has a similar item in stock. Aristo track is a great example of this. They never seem to have enough stock on-hand during the annual sale to fill the factory orders for the free items. The eventually do fill them, but often not until the following winter. I’m still waiting for SS Wide switches since February.

JR

#19

I had a chance to use the new 27mHz TE with the On /Off button two weekends ago. First off, the owner forgot to tell me abouut the button. We were running 2 locos on the same track. His stopped. You will never guess what happened next, as I was trying to slow/stop my loco!!! :lol: :mad: :rolleyes:

And, no, neither J.J. nor Mr. Cedarleaf were anywhere near. I did it all by my lonesome!

Then, 15 minutes later, I forgot about that D*mn button again!

Instead of an on/off button that requires the operator to be awake, Aristo should make the thing “sailorproof” by making it “come alive” with a push of any of the buttons. Much safer. Maybe in the next version.

Someone who has Lewis’ ear, send him a note.

madwolf

#20

Steve, Jens doesn’t know any better. He’s not used the older style very much to know the difference. I found myself “adjusting the speed” when I was using the control every couple of minutes just to keep the darn thing from going to sleep.

Warren