Large Scale Central

Crest Electronics Closing As of 7-31-16

General Discussion
#61

Bruce, what you are saying mirrors what people are telling me. I do a lot offline with many people and get many private emails. I am also pretty good friends with a number of online sellers, and I read at least 5 forums a day.

I say this not out of ego, but because I have gotten a lot of feedback, and I’ve been involved with the development of the Revolution since October 2006, years before it came out. (Yes, I was buddies with Lewis, and participated in the definition of the product and features.)

They were good sellers, and a great value when you consider the addition of sound, where else could you get all those features, sunlight readable display, and the plug and play aspect.

Regards, Greg

p.s. the resulting product was quite different from the 2006 ideas, which were much closer to the MTH DCS throttles.

#62

Don Watson said:
Gee, I guess I missed the point altogether. I thought the original topic was that Revolution might be going bye bye and then it turned into a discussion about what could replace it. Then a few more started mentioning the virtues of other systems. Did I really miss something? I’m done now, thank you for your patience. Doc

Doc,

Yes Crest is gone. This thread morphed into what can replace it. It is a normal evolution in a thread like this.

#63

No Doc, I don’t think you “missed” anything, but I think you expressed a personal opinion that is probably NOT what the Crest users will agree with.

Maybe a fine point, but I will try:

There are many ALTERNATIVE control methods, but when you say REPLACE, then you have to look at it as that, I have this system, now what is the closest system that makes sense to use?

I submit, but this is my OPINION, that the existing Crest Revolution users will not look at the Railboss and the RCS systems as REPLACEMENTS, they are much different in operation and have fewer features by far.

This is why I said they are not in the same CLASS.

Now, I have chosen what works for me, but I have put my personal feelings aside and tried to look at this as a Crest Revolution user.

Greg

Don Watson said:
Gee, I guess I missed the point altogether. I thought the original topic was that Revolution might be going bye bye and then it turned into a discussion about what could replace it. Then a few more started mentioning the virtues of other systems. Did I really miss something? I’m done now, thank you for your patience. Doc

#64

Tony Walsham said:

I defy anybody to be able to actually control three trains independently running on the same track all with full R/C, without crashing them.

Getting them running on a separate tracks from each other and left running whilst a third is actually being controlled, is not really controlling them simultaneously.

You can actually control 2 x trains on the same track simultaneously with this TX:

Yes, I tried running 3 trains simultaneously at the Science center on our club’s HO set up. While I did not crash any of them. I did end up doing a hard braking once or twice. Then I went back to running 2.

DCC CVs can be programmed through JMRI, with the proper computer to DCC interface. But to those of use who aren’t DCC literate, all of the different control variables, and what will and will not work with each one is a little daunting. Menu driven controls/adjustments, like on the Revolution, are easier for us non DCC literate folks to understand. To have the whole package, sound, control, menu driven ease of use, all with one system, is going to be difficult to replace.

#65

Tony Walsham said:

I defy anybody to be able to actually control three trains independently running on the same track all with full R/C, without crashing them.

Getting them running on a separate tracks from each other and left running whilst a third is actually being controlled, is not really controlling them simultaneously.

You can actually control 2 x trains on the same track simultaneously with this TX:

#66

Very good Joe. Nice try.

However, I don’t see any variation in speed or direction of any of them. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#67

I just ordered one of the BlueRail boards for review. Talked to the guy that makes them, he has plans for other boards, etc.

#68

http://bluerailtrains.com

In their “User” tab, there is a couple guys with G scale that use it. Keep us informed, Bob, about your experience with it.

#69

Tony Walsham said:

Very good Joe. Nice try.

However, I don’t see any variation in speed or direction of any of them. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Boy Tony you are tough. Of course I can vary the speed or direction of any one train independent of the others. You see I have a small railroad and I have them running so they don’t collide. Jeez! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)Did you think I made that video on last Xmas day just to fool you? (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#70

Joe, you done did better then I done when I did dat.

#71

Thanks David. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#72

I changed my layout to run 3 different loops. I got tired of rear ending trains. Two trains was okay but three was challenging.

Dennis

#73

David Maynard said:

DCC CVs can be programmed through JMRI, with the proper computer to DCC interface. But to those of use who aren’t DCC literate, all of the different control variables, and what will and will not work with each one is a little daunting. Menu driven controls/adjustments, like on the Revolution, are easier for us non DCC literate folks to understand. To have the whole package, sound, control, menu driven ease of use, all with one system, is going to be difficult to replace.

Yep. Reminds of Mac vs PC/DOS.

#74

Joe.

I am well aware you can vary the speed, but in your own words you have to keep them constant otherwise they would collide.

I think the biggest problem with most hand pieces is you can only actually control one loco at a time. Swapping back and forth between locos is brain numbing.

I agree with Dennis. Two are difficult but simultaneous independent operational control is possible (barely), but with three, Uh Uh!!

With some R/C controllers you can control two locos with two sets of controls on the hand piece, but, I know of no hand pieces that have three sets of train controls.

#75

Tony, so you have one controller in each hand, and one you use with your bare foot.

#76

Y’know I might just make a 3 x loco handpiece. Easy to do actually. Problem is mounting the parts in a small case. Not possible in the cases I am using at the moment. So the case would need to be a bit bigger. Which means it might be a bit too big to fit in a pocket.

In which case, a handpiece enclosure big enough to hold the parts might be a good choice for a belt mounted set up.

Like Bob mentioned.

So if someone comes up with the belt part I can supply the R/C.

#77

Tony Walsham said:

Joe.

I am well aware you can vary the speed, but in your own words you have to keep them constant otherwise they would collide.

I think the biggest problem with most hand pieces is you can only actually control one loco at a time. Swapping back and forth between locos is brain numbing.

I agree with Dennis. Two are difficult but simultaneous independent operational control is possible (barely), but with three, Uh Uh!!

With some R/C controllers you can control two locos with two sets of controls on the hand piece, but, I know of no hand pieces that have three sets of train controls.

Tony,

I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood what you were getting at. I do have to switch back and forth between different cab numbers to control more than one train. I do not find that too much of a detriment. I now see on your controller that there are SEPARATE controls for two trains. That is really a great idea. I just did not fully understand the original query. My bad. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)

#78

Hi Joe.

I meant no offense.

Everyone is entitled to drive their trains anyway they like. I do believe that those who prefer to simply watch their trains running are probably in the majority.

What gets up my nose are the dubious manufacturers claims that give the impression a control “system” has the ability to run multiple trains at once on the same track in any direction and at any speed they like. Yes, some control systems may in theory be capable of doing it, but in practice it is highly unlikely to be enjoyable. The reason being the requirement to be swapping one set of controls between multiple locos.

I am not very familiar with DCC but I do know that Digitrax at least, had one handpiece that had two sets of controls.

#79

Tony, yes Digitrax has that. But I find that controller a real pain to use. I have to fuss with it to get the cab number locked in, and its got them effin knobs that don’t have stops to them. So on the clubs Digitrax systems I use the El-Cheepo controllers, one knob, 3 position toggle switch for direction, and very few buttons.

#80

BlueRail allows for control of as many locos as you want from one device. I know Steve Seidensticker has an outdoor layout in San Diego called the Gopher Canyon Line and runs bluetooth outdoors in G scale. The current range is 150 ft, and I know an option was recently added to the app to allow a loco to reconnect and maintain speed when it exits an underground tunnel (which was specifically added for outdoor users). Bluetooth5 is scheduled to release end of year and claims the range can be quadrupled, so I think bluetooth low energy is a valid consideration for outdoor into the future. The first board released is low amperage (~ 2 amp) but it has an amperage curve that starts at 8 then 4 amps for 1 second then tapers down, and has a PTC fuse to protect it. So if you have a low amperage loco that is in the ballpark, the board protects itself, which gives you an opportunity to determine how many cars you can safely pull or if it can handle a grade. But you don’t want to throw too many amps at something like this at once, or you can fry the fuse. A larger amperage board targeting G is supposed to come out, so many will be waiting for that. I am depressed that Crest closed shop. This is a tough industry to run a business in and they will be missed. I’m glad other groups are still opening shop in this environment, but I wish the best to the Crest folks.

Here is an article about considerations for using bluerail boards in larger gauges:

http://bluerailtrains.com/2016/07/15/considerations-for-using-bluerail-boards-in-larger-gauges/