I should put an explanation for my write-up… I’ve been bugging Lewis and Navin ever since they announced they were working on an HO receiver those number of years ago… My reason for the smaller receiver was not so much install them in HO applications as it was to use them in smaller G and O gauge application with complete battery operation… That’'s why I did the install the way I did… The HO receiver is rated at 1.5 amps, fit so very nicely in the cab and the Hartland Mack draws less that a third of an amp pulling the train in the video…
When more receivers are available, my next install will be in a DDC ready HO diesel just to test it… Then into a dual motor K-Line O gauge NW-2 switcher… I have the G gauge diesel sound receiver in an O gauge box car along with the speaker and battery on board. It’s a very nice running unit.
After a long anticipated wait, the Crest HO REVOLUTION arrived from Navin via FEDEX Monday morning 11.17… I was away from the house until mid-afternoon and when I returned home I, opened the box, read through the manual, (yes, I really did), but didn’t get started on the install until early evening…
The first thing I noticed was that the HO_REVOLUTION transmitter is the same color and style as the original REVOLUTION and could be easily confused when running both REVOLUTIONs at the same time. That will be fixed, in my case by applying a strip of colored tape at the top edge of the transmitter.
The new HO REVOLUTION is a new software and operating system and does not work with the G scale system… That being said, it ain’t a really issue.
The HO REVOLUTION was installed in a HLW Mack 'bash that came out of Phil Jensen’s Hartland “Skunk Works” in Omaha. (Cab and hood removed for installation)
The install went very well. To test the receiver and all it’s functions, I did a “temporary” hookup of all connections needed to do the complete test… After all the connections were made, checked and power was applied to the receiver using an 11.1 volt Li-ion 4400 mAh battery and the transmitter was programmed to cab-1 as on the original REVOLUTIONs. The magnet was used to activate the receiver for “linking” and receiver linked just fine. Sets 2 and 3 of the programming went just fine. I was able to set the volume to my liking though the programming procedures in the transmitter. All programming is very easy to do and is quite similar to the original REVOLUTION, but does have some added features for “future use”.
The small size of the HO REVOLUTION receiver made it so very easy to fit in the cab of the “bashed” Mack. I tested a couple of speakers to see which would give the best sound quality and still be able to fit in the cab. The image shows the placement for the speaker and the baffle used to enhance the sound.
After all the testing was done, the wiring was completed, the speaker mounted in the floor of the cab and the wiring routed and adjusted for a “neat” appearance.
I chose to mount the receiver vertically on the side of the cab. That way, if the receiver would need to be re-programmed, the magnet can be placed on the outside of the cab to activate “linking”. Also, shown in the lower image are the wires to the capacitor that I removed because I’m using constant “clean” battery power rather than track power. The stub wires were left on the board in case the receiver might be used in a track powered application in the future. Then the capacitor could be reconnected…
Full testing of the unit started with a temporary track in the garage until the weather warms enough to run comfortably outdoors… As of the testing time, it was only 19 degrees out there…
The system went together very well and was easy to install using the well written instructions…
I’ve included a short video from my iPhone of the start of the test run. It was still running after 7 hours on the 11.1 volt Li-ion 4400 mAh battery. I had to leave for a meeting, so I stopped the run and put the battery on charge… As you will hear, the diesel sound is still from the larger locomotives but this is just the first release… AND the new HO REVOLUTION is a new software and operating system and does not work with the G scale system… (repeat from above) That being said, it ain’t a really issue. The system works for me… 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KhtNZ0PjZC8
Thanks so much for “finally” releasing the HO_REVOLUTIONs. I will be anxious to get the steam and additional diesel receivers for some of my other “bashed” projects.
