Large Scale Central

Railpro or Blunami in a Battery RC Shay?

General Discussion
#1

The sound card in one of my favorite Locos, a 38 ton Shay has died. This engine is battery powered with Revolution control and a Phoenix sound card. I charged the battery the other day after running the Shay and after charging the sound was not working. The loco still does. I opened it up, hoping to find a loose wire and I even removed each wire and reinstalled it and still nothing. I flipped the switch on and the Phoenix card started to get hot on the back. I removed it from the Shay and inspected it with a magnifying glass and as far as I could tell there was nothing that was cracked, burnt or swollen.
It figures.
I am really missing the sound on this and now I am thinking, instead of searching for and paying big bucks for another Phoenix card with the Shay sound that I might go another route.

I’m thinking instead of spending $100+ on a new card why not pull the Revo and put that money towards a Railpro for control and sound?
I asked this question on a Facebook forum and guys seemed to prefer the Blunami but I do not have an Apple device to run it.
I prefer a handheld device like the Revo or Railpro with its screen and dial for speed Vs punching buttons on a screen but what might sway me is if the Blunami is that much better?

I looked on the Railpro site and they seem to have loads of sounds for diesels but not many for Steam. They do have 2 for Shays and 1 more generic steamer and that is it.

Is there anyone that repairs Phoenix cards?
Which is the better system, the Blunami or the Railpro and who has the best prices if I were to buy either?

Thanks guys.

Here is my Shay in all her glory running the yard.

#2

I have no Blunami experience, but I have beta tested a similar system that used an Android phone or tablet. The lack of tactile feedback for the throttle was a deal breaker for me. Outdoors, seeing the screen could be a problem too.

I’m a RailPro user and one of thier biggest fans. Thier Shay sound is nice, but really has only two speeds; idle and moving fairly quick. I posted a videoon Facebook when I converted my Shay, where you can hear the sound for yourself.

If you can’t view it here, or on Facebook, let me know and I’ll put it on Youtube.

If you want to stay with Revo, I have an older Phoenix Big Sound '97 I’ll sell cheap. Pretty sure it has Shay chips. I will check thi evening.

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#3

I have RailPro in 2 Shays and really like the system for being so user friendly. The Shay sounds are very basic and as Jon pointed out don’t sinc well between stop and low speed. The range of sound effects is less than a Phoenix but I believe more than the Revo provides.
Here is one of mine running at semi low speed.

#4

Another much simpler and cheaper option is to replace the broken Phoenix card with a MyLocoSound US Steam soundcard from G Scale Graphics.

Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound

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#5

Wow what a delightful racket the Railpro gives but why is Railpro limiting themselves with their offerings for the Shay? I thought they were aiming to be the end all be all?

I have the older Revo so I do not think it can have the sound changed. I do believe it was the Phoenix 97 that was in my Shay. If you have one Jon I’m certainly interested.

#6

Their entire steam library, or at least how it is implemented, is less than perfect. I live with it because all the other features are far superior to anything else I’ve looked at and/or tried. I’ll go look at that Phoenix now.

#7

It is a Phoenix '97 with Shay sound chips. I will PM you in an hour with more info.

#8

Todd,
Railpro (by Ring Engineering) is essentially one guy - Tim Ring. In fact if you call the support line 99% of the time he is the one who answers. He is aware of the lack of steam sounds and plans on adding more but as I understand it, he is so busy filling orders and providing support there is little time for new stuff.

Maybe Blunami will slow sales a bit so he can concentrate on adding some new features. :laughing:

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#9

Yep. And he is admittedly not a steam guy. Their Diesel sound and variety are top notch.

Feedback helps too. I’ve been meaning to email him about the steam chuff signal being apparently used as a starting point, and not an absolute trigger. The Heavy Steam ULT sounds are really good, if only the chuff timing was better.

#10

As an admitted diesel guy I wholeheartedly agree that RailPro is great, but in your case finding a new or a board Simone else has is way less expensive, $170 for the module and $260?? I think for the controller. Have heard Blunami works good but like you I prefer to use buttons and dial. Good luck !

#11

If he does not want the old 97 i got dibs.:grinning:

#12

Yes you are right Pete. I was thinking that the Railpro would be light years ahead of the Revo but for my application of one Shay and maybe setting up a RS3 with it that is currently Battery with Revo is a bit much. I have a Revo base unit to run my track power and I am happy with that so wouldn’t change it.

#13

There’s a lot of them about, as people find they can’t get them fixed! I have at least one if not 2, plus dead ones. The problem is changing the sound - you need an expensive and un-available computer interface.

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#14

Todd,
If you are already using Revo for certain applications, why not go with it for your Shay?
I’m perfectly satisfied with Revo in my Shay. I use it in a trail car. I have one for steam and another for diesel. I can’t count to three anyway! :laughing:

#15

Nice Shay Joe.
I tried the Revo that is in the Shay and it is a Diesel card! I don’t think that would work :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: I also think it is an older Revo before they could be programmed.

If you check out the video I posted above I believe the Phoenix makes the Shay come alive. it is so cool to have it sitting there for a few minutes and it is still making sounds like it is saying “Hey don’t forget me” :grin:

I think Jon R is going to help me get rolling again.

#16

Revos receiver cards do that too.

#17

The 97 is not programmable. Phoenix will reprogram the chips on them for you for a small fee. Problem is reaching them. They are still in business, but hard to get in touch with.

Big Sound 2K and all later boards are programmable. The software and sounds are free, still on the Phoenix website. The cable can be made if it can’t be found. The interface circuit isn’t proprietary. I don’t have the details, but it’s out there.

#18

Sorry Richard, it is sold.

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#19

For myself I have done away with all other systems and now just use RailPro. True they do not have all the sounds that are needed for steam, but since I just run diesel, it’s for me. Since RailPro is a small operation I feel in time they will get the steam sounds needed for most engines, but it will take time.

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#20

At my Christmas open house , my Dash 9 wasn’t working properly ( everything worked except it wouldn’t move ) so I put it on a siding in the yard and left the lights on and engine idling. Blew the horn if people were standing close by

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