Large Scale Central

Bachmann + Sountraxx + DCC Announcemnet

General Discussion
#1

The new Shay will be the LS offering, MSRP 1200, so the non DCC version is being offered at sub $500 this should be sub $600.

Having just been behind a real one, can not wait.

Bachmann Trains is pleased to introduce DCC sound-equipped Spectrum® locomotives, with a variety of offerings in several scales. Working closely with Soundtraxx™, a recognized leader in the development of model railroad sound products, Bachmann will deliver engines equipped with Tsunami® DCC sound technology in HO, On30, and Large Scale. With Bachmann DCC Sound On Board™, these locomotives feature an extensive range of sound effects and DCC functions. Plus, the dual mode decoders work on both DC and DCC layouts automatically, without any internal switching or user modification.

Decoder features include:

* 16-bit sound processor


* several versions, each containing a unique suite of sounds, including whistles, bells, chuffs, and much more


* complete DCC functions


* automatic dual mode operation for use on both DC and DCC layouts


* short, extended, and advanced consisting addressing modes


* paged, register, direct, and operations-mode programming


* extensive range of CVs

This initial run of Spectrum® DCC Sound On Board™ offerings will consist of six HO scale locomotive types, one On30 locomotive, and one 1:20.3 narrow gauge locomotive.

#2

Hello David,

Can you define what DC is?

Will they run on pwm controllers such as the Crest TE®, or. must they use only filtered linear DC?

How do you access the Whistle/Horn and Bell in DC operation?

Is it like how the QSI equipped locos work by flipping the direction change switch?

If not, is there any other way to access the Whistle/Horn and Bell?

#3

Discussions with the manufacturer of the electronics has been somewhat enlightening.

To use on “dc” (which, BTW, in Tsunami parlance is PURE DC), you can reprogram the Tsunami to blow whistle and ring bell on input voltage changes.

You know how you do that?

You buy a complete DCC system, set up a “programming” track, place the loco on said track, and program it.

Currently available Tsunamis do NOT like PW power.

#4
Curmudgeon said:
Discussions with the manufacturer of the electronics has been somewhat enlightening.

To use on “dc” (which, BTW, in Tsunami parlance is PURE DC), you can reprogram the Tsunami to blow whistle and ring bell on input voltage changes.

You know how you do that?

You buy a complete DCC system, set up a “programming” track, place the loco on said track, and program it.

Currently available Tsunamis do NOT like PW power.


Can you do it with any DCC system, I have a NCC system, but not for LS. I guess many would know somebody with a DCC system for the smaller scales.

What we need is a radio controlled DCC system…

#5

Radio Controlled DCC? Isn’t that like taking the advantages of Battery rc and saying “I Like cleaning track!!!”???

#6
Bart Salmons said:
Radio Controlled DCC? Isn't that like taking the advantages of Battery rc and saying "I Like cleaning track!!!"????
Nope - That already exists with wireless DCC throttles.

I think what David desires is a system that transmits the DCC data by radio to a battery powered loco. What Airwire promised to be, but wasn’t.

Tony has said he’s working on the idea. Others probably are too. It’s a complex problem because DCC throttles don’t do the encoding, that is done by the command station. That and standard decoders only know how to strip off an embedded signal. In order to make a system work the R/C throttle has to also be a command station and there needs to be a receiver as well as a decoder in every loco.

JR

#7
Jon Radder said:
Bart Salmons said:
Radio Controlled DCC? Isn't that like taking the advantages of Battery rc and saying "I Like cleaning track!!!"????
Nope - That already exists with wireless DCC throttles.

I think what David desires is a system that transmits the DCC data by radio to a battery powered loco. What Airwire promised to be, but wasn’t.

Tony has said he’s working on the idea. Others probably are too. It’s a complex problem because DCC throttles don’t do the encoding, that is done by the command station. That and standard decoders only know how to strip off an embedded signal. In order to make a system work the R/C throttle has to also be a command station and there needs to be a receiver as well as a decoder in every loco.

JR


Exactly, I did find a piece about a Hybrid system. But that is not quite the ideal.

Whilst the entry point for DCC in the smaller scales is acceptable, I considered it in LS and ruled it out on cost. The decoders for a start cost more than some of my Loco’s, plus the power supply and wiring issues.

I am sure technologically it could be done, but with the limited demand I am assuming the cost would be too high, no economies of scale.

#8

Hi all,

Ah, but just such a system is available in Germany. Goes by the name of Train Control and has some very nifty features - at least that’s what I gather from reading the complete manual.

One of the latest additions is a command station which will allow for fully mixed DCC operation e.g. decoders which receive the signals via R/C and are battery powered, decoders with direct R/C but power from the rails and conventional decoders receiving signal and power through the rails. Of course all of them are operated via the Radio Cab.

#9

For most of us that site is useless. No mirror site in English. :frowning:

Warren

#10
Warren Mumpower said:
For most of us that site is useless. No mirror site in English. :(

Warren


I know enough to see that it is interesting, and expensive.

#11

Never thought of learning another language , then ? It keeps the little grey cells working and can have other benefits , too .

#12
Warren Mumpower said:
For most of us that site is useless. No mirror site in English. :(

Warren


Since the system is working on a European frequency, getting an English site is probably not of top urgency.

Yes, it would be nice, would get a few more people champing at the bit. :wink: :slight_smile:

#13

So its RC then not DCC? Just cause it uses digital radio (wwhich I’m not sold on beiong in th etelecommunications field) doesn;t make it DCC…

#14

Warren Mumpower said:
For most of us that site is useless. No mirror site in English. :frowning: Warren

Hi, simply read Muellers translations of Gartenbahn-profi magazine. They wrote about the systems, but seem not to have actually tried it themselves. It works OK with most of the LGB 7 pole motors, but is extremely difficult to programm for Bachmann or other makers. We were working with the product for more than a year, even got Faulhaber motors to run, but sold it again. For our purposes, we are quite happy with the Aristo Train engineer. Use the onboard receivers and some batteries. For the smaller stuff, even the HO TE is sufficiant.

It is idiot proof and not very expensive. Have Fun Juergen Zirner

#15

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:

Warren Mumpower said:
For most of us that site is useless. No mirror site in English. :frowning: Warren

Since the system is working on a European frequency, getting an English site is probably not of top urgency. Yes, it would be nice, would get a few more people champing at the bit. :wink: :slight_smile:

Hi all, The Train Control review articles in the

are still awaiting translation, for the same reason: no urgency since the product is neither available on nor intended for the NA market. But there are some translations that could be of interest, you’ll find them in PDF format as a free download at http://www.easternmountainmodels.com/eng/html/gartenbahnprofi.html Translations courtesy of Eastern Mountain Models Ltd.

#16

Hi,

Ever tried AirWire 900 ? http://www.cvpusa.com/

Have Fun

Juergen Zirner

#17

I have the TE, from what I have read Airwire is only a partial solution.

I would mention that there are many markets outside NA that also speak English, actually if you are serious about the NA market you also need it in Spanish.

#18
David said:
I have the TE, from what I have read Airwire is only a partial solution.

I would mention that there are many markets outside NA that also speak English, actually if you are serious about the NA market you also need it in Spanish.


David,

It makes little sense for me to translate several articles on Train-Control since there isn’t an English manual for the system (to the best of my knowledge!). Without such a manual, one may get people interested and generate a lot of questions. Who will answer those? :wink:

You’re right, there are substantial feature differences to the Airwire, the major ones being the command station which allows for the true mix and match operation and the SUSI interface.

Your words in the manufacturers’ ears!