AIU's vs. a Control Panel!

[Anonymous]

After finishing the turntable(see prior posts), I'm getting back to wiring switches to the AIU on my layout. I am wondering WHY????

Controling switches from the handheld even with the best description on the screen is a bit of a pain, because you must scroll thru the descriptions to get at the specific switch you want and at the same time you are using the handheld to control the trains. Also unless you wire the manual buttons into the switch machine(I am using Z-Stuff DZ-1000s) the indicator light on the switch machinejust flashes red or green for an instant.

I guess I could buy another handheld to control the switches?? Wont this be cute! A handheld in each hand. maybe I could hang it from a belt loop.

But controlling switches from a control panel, seems a lot easier and the switch indicator light will stay on. Panels can show locations of the each switch on the layout with both a control and an indicator light.

This is comming full-circle for me as I have advocated for a Panel-Less system when using command-control.


TORN.


Alan

[spankybird]

Hi Alan,

First I want to say that I do NOT use an AIU. I have a very simple control panel for my switch controls. With my large layout only 5 switches control train direction, all the other can be switch by the anti-derailing.

The one advantage to an AIU would be to write a route that would control mutable switches at one time. This way by telling the remote to run program 1, maybe 5 switches would become lined up.

[Anonymous]

The route option is nice but . . .

The problem with DCS as opposed to TMCC (I have both) is focus. With DCS you are forced to focus away from the trains and onto the handheld. With TMCC the focus is the trains because there is nothing to see on the CAB-1. The CAB unit has buttons and dials that whose positions can be easily memorized and felt for whereas the DCS unit cannot.

Except for selecting a train or switch, in which DCS is nicer, after selection you really dont need to look at the CAB.

Because of the display on the DCS handheld you need to look at it and not the trains or their location relative to a switch. That is why I am beginning to think that you should not do-away with a control panel until the handheld design get better.

A handheld that had a touch screen like a Palm Pilot or Treo where the train’s position could viewed as in motion and the switches operated by touch sort of like a screen shot of the layout with a variable Zoom would be much better.

Alan

[spankybird]

Gee, would our trains need GPS then [?]

[FJ and G]

Alan,

First, great topic. MTH needs to factor the "USER" into the equation.

I do have DCS (but not the AIU), and am happy with it. It gives me a lot of options but as you say, you do need to sometimes look at the buttons you are punching in; even once you are familiar with it.

The AIU sounds good when you are programming routes, to do it automatically.

BUT, I'm not yet ready for an AIU. I'm going to go the traditional route and in the future, will experiment with using computer controlled accessories; asking my neighbor for advice. He's a genius when it comes to these things and is highly regarded at SAIC.

For me, learning the stuff is even more important than just purchasing another contraption.

dav

[Anonymous]

Alan:

If you're using a handheld controller, whether it's the DCS controller or the CAB-1, I'd put the controls for the switches on the fascia near each actual switch, whether or not you wire the switch into the AIU. This will allow you to walk around the layout & control the specific switches you need to at that moment, without having to retreat to central control panel.

If you've got a group of switches in one area, like in a yard, then it makes sense to group those switch controls together into a single control panel for that yard. If you do that, then it should be labeled as such, too.

The only time it makes sense to me to control the switches through the hand-held is when you want the train to travel on particular tracks on the main line. Before you bring the train out on to the main line, you punch in your route command & all of the switches are aligned for you. Then you drive the train.

Tony

[eZAK]

No control panel here!

I use TMCC, Cab-1, & SC-2, no problem.

3 buttons and I'm switching 2 more brings me back to the engines.

Simple!