The new RCS 2.4 GHz BELTROL R/C control system is now ready for sale.
Full details are at http://www.beltrol-rc.com/
Simply enter the website for a full explanation of what BELTROL R/C is all about on the home page.
This has come about from an idea provided by Ric Golding and others here at LSC.
Combien?
stumbled over this last night while snooping around on your site…interesting idea!
cale
Hi Cale.
I am full of interesting ideas.
It remains to be seen if anyone else has my vision. 
What I can assure you of is, that as usual, I am the first to do it.
Another thing is the 2.4 Ghz really does work at making installations a snip and with great range.
OK, this is WAY cool since I already own a DX5e 
now if we could just figure a way to trigger those DCC Sound cards, we’d be set!
Jon Radder said:Hi John.
OK, this is WAY cool since I already own a DX5e :D :D :D
Part of the reason I am doing it the way I am is to help the Live Steamers get with battery R/C by enabling them to use what is becoming their R/C system of choice for their kettles.
I guess I must be pressing some buttons a bit too well:
Evidenced by this response from Mr Polk:
http://www.aristocraft.com/vbulletinforums/showthread.php?t=14593
TonyWalsham said:Jon Radder said:Hi John.
OK, this is WAY cool since I already own a DX5e :D :D :DPart of the reason I am doing it the way I am is to help the Live Steamers get with battery R/C by enabling them to use what is becoming their R/C system of choice for their kettles.
I guess I must be pressing some buttons a bit too well:
Evidenced by this response from Mr Polk:
http://www.aristocraft.com/vbulletinforums/showthread.php?t=14593
Polk’s new system is nice. I used Paul Norton’s at Fred’s during the Invasion. We did have one glitch during the ops. For some reason the TX just stopped controlling Paul’s MU diesels. Paul was able to get it going again, but I think he had to re-bind the TX and RX to get it going again.
As Tony observed, a lot of us water boilers already own a 5 channel 2.4 GHz radio system, so this softens the blow to get started. I don’t remember how much teh basic Spektrum RX unit is, but at about $125 US, the Beltrol is a lot easier for me to buy than the new TE.
Now, if you could come up with an after-market kit to mount the Spectrum TX electronics in something a little easier to carry around, you’d have a grand slam. When I saw the name, I thought that’s where you were taking Ric’s idea.
John. Spektrum DX5E + AR500 RX combos sell for US$99 all over. There are even cheaper 5 channel 2.4 GHz R/C stes available starting at less than US$50. This is what I am aiming to replicate in the future.
(http://www.beltpackcorp.com/Beltpak1m.gif)
The TX modules are available without hardware. The cases would be moulded in resin and then have the various switches and levers + the TX modules added in. Then Mr Polk should be really worried.
Cool Tony !
C. Nelson said:
SNIPsounds like someone is nervous…
I do think it is a bit rich of Mr Polk to deride the 2.4 Ghz stick radios when they have been around a lot longer than his new REVOLUTION has.
Especially as the “NEW” REVOLUTION handpiece is in fact a recycled old and out of date cell phone, albeit with new innards.
I could have done exactly the same thing but I chose to approach the on board battery powered radio control of Large Scale locos from a different direction.
I wanted much more realistic Digital Proportional operation with some extra features such as basic sound triggers and simulated brake release/brake apply. Something none of the other R/C makers can offer.
All at a much lower total cost than Crest can do it with their unneccessarily complicated system.
That’s cool.
I’m with Lewis, the stick radio isn’t how I’d design a remote for trains. But then making a living is eating up all my design energy these days.
For my boat? You bet! If I have a chance to get back into airplanes or helicopters, you can bet I’d get a 2.4gig stick radio. Just a matter of making the tool suit the task.
Tom,
I guess that depends on what exactly you want an R/C system to do.
To each his own.
Lewis is free to do things his way. Just as I am free to do things my way.
One thing I certainly would not be doing is trying to take on DCC. Certainly not in Large Scale and absolutely not in H0.
TonyWalsham said:
[i]
That’s It I paid just under $99 including shipping for my DX5e. I was commenting on my estimated US price of your OM-3 Omega module. I assume I need the Spektrum RX module too. The 5 CH. Sport that comes with the DX5e sells for about $59 alone. There is a compatible, but larger, 6 Channel RX for about $49. This would make my bottom-line price to add sparkies at about $175 each (not including the RX I already own).
John.
The OM-3 will be about US$ 121. I think the AR500 should be about US$35 sold on its own. The total should be around US$156. Assuming you already have the DX5E TX.
I am not completely familiar with all the Spektrum TX’s and RX’s.
I do know you can use any 2.4 GHz system although it may not be possible to MU them. If all you ever want to do is bind locos to & run one at a time with a particular TX, then you can use even the very lowest cost “Park Flyer” systems. I know of one system that is selling for US$45 for a TX and TX.
I chose the DX5E for development work as I know for sure that it can MU RX’s. Meaning similar locos with the an AR500 each + ESC can be MU’ed together.
I am not certain if you can do that with other Spektrum systems.
Never mind, I don’t understand any of this. 
Thanks Tony - Good to know that MU’s might need to be the same RX model. The price I posted on the AR500 was the street price from Spektrum’s website. Proabably can find a little bit better price if you look.
And that’s why there are many suppliers of R/C.
John.
My comments on the MU’ing capability have been based solely on what the Australian SPEKTRUM agents have told me the various systems are capabale of. Plus my practical experience with the DX5E which is designed to operate more than one RX at a time. EG. Some large aircraft have two RX’s. One for each aileron control.
Currently I have been testing a new (very low cost) 2.4GHz “Park Flyer” 5 channel R/C which is showing promising results. In theory it should also be able to be MU’ed but as it is not yet freely available I haven’t been able to obtain an extra RX to confirm one way or the other. Nevertheless it has fantastic range and like all 2.4 GHz systems does not require any special antenna or motor “noise” suppression.
