Or maybe there’s some others?
The Ames Super Socket Saga is very much like the Aristocraft method of radio control. First we have/had the 27mhz (in all its variations, at least some items are interchangable), then the 75mhz, designed to improve the range of the 27mhz - but somehow fell short of the mark - not interchangable with the 27 mhz and now not available. This was followed by the announced, but still awaiting, 900mhz system. You guessed it, not backward compatible. Before the 900 hits the market there is already a 2.4ghz announced to apparently replace the 900mhz.
Before anyone thinks that I am criticising the maker, I have had the 27mhz system for five years and believe that it is an excellent system and not likely to replace it. I even purchased a spare transmitter and three spare receivers to ensure that a future parts shortage would not affect me. I still use it as an r/c for track power control, having resisted all urges, as yet, to total r/c.
Any innovation such as ‘pnp’ should be researched sufficiently to ensure a reasonable operating lifetime and any future mods to the setup should be backward compatible. A feature of Tony’s RCS is backward compatibility. If Tony can do it, why cannot a major manufacturer get it right???
Yeah, but while the parts of the Aristo system may not be compatible with each other, they all plug into Aristo locomotives and operate them. And there’s no attempt to make sure that you HAVE to use their system … it’s in there if you want to plug their stuff into it, but if you want to use something else, it’s easily accomplished. The Ames Super Socket was implemented with NOTHING that plugged into it and worked … the QSI still can’t use the chuff timer (and regardless of how wonderful their auto chuff is, it doesn’t change the fact that the much touted optical chuff WON’T work with it) and the only thing that plugs in and works is Tony’s RCS board that was designed afterwards to do it. And, before anyone says “well, they had to start someplace” we’re hearing now that there’s no guarantee that stuff designed to work with the socket on this run of the K will work on any other locmootive that’s ever built with the socket … in fact, to paraphrase, while no one can say when or how, it’s pretty well a given that something will change that will make what’s been built to work with the socket not work with it… so it’s not like folks are being given any incentive or support to make things that actually work with the thing.
Certainly, you can take the dummy plug, cut, solder, and otherwise build on it and then plug it in, but that’s not the point.
The problem right along is that this thing is “universal” only in its incompatibility … and apparently it’s pretty certain it will change again. That doesn’t help… period.
Matthew (OV)
I watched all these threads on the different forums and never commented on them. I just read and read and laugh.
Bachmann has to be one of the craziest companies I have ever seen! They cut their own throats more than should be allowed. They have horrible quality control, their customer service is hot and cold, they beat down good people and praise the duds. yadda yadda yadda… We all know the drill.
Yet, people still want their stuff. HELLO?!?!?!? Bachmann do you see what you have here? Don’t lose it. Bachmann used to be known for making crap. They pulled themselves out of the ashes with their spectrum line. But they are starting to slide back the other way again.
Hopefully they’ll take a step back look at what they have and do the right thing.
Actually they’ll probly make something they say they aren’t, then release it with flaws and blame people who try to help. Oh yeah, and put stuff in it that doesn’t work and sing it’s praises. Sounds like good business to me.