Aristo Train Engineer

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

One of the suppliers I buy from is offering 'train engineer' at £96-00. I have a 5 amp power source, what are your findings/thoughts/experiences on this system?
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

PS I know that the merits (or lack of) of this system have been discussed before but I would appreciate up to date experiences.
Cheers mates

[bman36]

Kim,
Watched Larry use one at his house and love being able to follow the train. Definately need one here. Better than running for the transformer when a problem occurs! The system works great from what I have seen. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

I have the orange Basic Train Engineer and LOVE it. Its very easy to use and allows one to walk around following the train. I dont know which model your looking at. Mine is only one channel but its great for me. Others are multi-train control and I beleive you have to add a reciever to the loco. Unless you are operating multiple trains just go for the basic, all you do is install the reciever between the power pack and the track. turn the power pack to 2/3. and then use the controller. the reciever regulates the power supply to the track via the hand held controller.

Forgot to add, the Basic Train Engineer has a maximum power supply of 2 amps. anything higher and you have to go to the multi-control unit system.

[Anonymous]

Kim, I have the TE model ART-5470 and consider it one of the most important parts of my garden railway. In addition, Aristo stands behind its products in the event repair is needed.

The instructions state, "If the track current is to be more than 5 amps (multiple locomotives or long trains) we recommend the use of the optional DC Fan, ART-5499."

Now I know that there is a later generation of the TE, but this is what my set of instructions says.

By the way, I have visited your Blackpool and it is one of my favorite places because of the tram system. It reminds me of Atlantic City, New Jersey, a seaside resort near me, as it was 50 years ago. Don't change a thing!!!

Regards,
Bill C.

[RhB_HJ]

Kim,

Check out this site http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/te_programming.html
for tons of information on the TE.

They use the TE on the Vancouver Club layout, works well!
One of my friends uses it, same results.

I installed one for a customer for N Scale, worked OK!

Lets you get rid of the tether at low cost!

[Marty Cozad]

I personally like the Arisot TE, yes I had one with problems ,but it was fixed.
Plus the July Aug sale is coming and they will have buy one TE and get the 2nd reciever free + shipping.
Thats the best deal any one has. then you cna run two different trains with one trasmiter.

[Anonymous]

I dearly regret ever having bought an LGB MTS, and its not just the system but more the people involved lack of knowledge and a lack of honesty; maybe something simpler may be easier all round.

However when its working it is unbeatable but it has been back so many times with one thing after another in six months I have only had it running properly for one month.

I did a quick tot up the other night and I have spent in excess of A$10,000 on the system, 3 trains plus a track cleaning loco. And bout 65 metres of track with various switches and modules so I haven't done it on the cheap!


Rgs Ian.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys,
I'm going to go for it and free myself from, as HJ says, the tether! Chestnut, glad you enjoyed our little town, unfortunately they are changing it and Atlantic city is the model - casino wise. The tower and the piers will be here for ever though, as will the right friendly Lancashire folk. Anybody coming for a visit, let me know and we'll crack a gallon.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

Just a quick follow up on this one lads. I've ordered the train engineer set and found that the price of the on board controller is £76-00 and it has to be the old one because the new one, at 75mhz, is an illegal frequency in the UK. However, track control to start with then if it's going well I'll invest in an onboard. Keep you informed.
Cheers.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

Apologies for repeating myself here as well as on Walts post. The Engineer has arrived and I am very, very plased with it. I don't know why but I was expecting something a lot bulkier so I was pleasantly surprised with the size of this. Got more track down this weekend, including a switch, and the standard of control is beyond expectations. Many thanks to you all for the advice given - it was all taken on board.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

I have a question regarding the basic train engineer, when you press the fast button on the controller does the train ramp up to a set speed or can you fine tune the speed to your liking? I guess the best way to ask is it only one set speed or variable speed control.

[Anonymous]

kIM
I have for the past four years have a Aristo Train Engineer , i have the ART 5471 receiver 10 amp DC, I use a 10 AMP DC Ultima---CRE 5590 POWER, and a 5473 walk around control . I use two RS-3S back to back or a U25 B and an RS--3 back to back and about 15 to 20 cars .It works for me. Ben


[:D][:D][:D]

[powlee]

Hi Kim
I have the later train engineer. Best bit of kit I invested in. When I started out in G scale, I used a Gaugemaster 5 amp controller. The Engineer will run off of it but my wish is to buy an Aristo Ultima power unit. The problem is that a 240 volt is somewhat expensive in the UK. This year I managed to wire my LGB points(switches) to an Aristo switch unit. I was over the moon when they actually worked. Just to stand in the middle of the garden waving the engineer like a wand amuses my wife. I believe later versions have a rigid aerial. I find the floppy one rather annoying.
Good engineering
Ian P

[Anonymous]

Hi Ian,
The TE is a fantastic bit of kit. The one I got has the extending aerial and it comes out to 3' in length. I tend to operate with the aerial retracted but down the bottom of the garden I have to give it more aerial to ensure the signal is received, usually a good sign that the batteries need replacing. I had radio control on my RR in the 80's, as per the aircraft boys, but it was a pain, if I let go of the motion switch everything stopped. With the TE, set it up, put it down and everything carries on working - wonderful!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]