Full Duplex Digitrax coming

[jbinkley60]

If everyone hasn't heard yet, the Digitrax full duplex radios are coming.  They were demonstrating them today at the WGH show in Louisville, Ky.  I spoke to them at length and here's what I found out (yes, I actually used a full duplex DT402R throttle)

The new duplex receivers are UR-92 panels.  They are the same size as the UR-91s, they just have a full duplex radio.  There are new throttles DT402R.  The throttle and receiver are all that is needed to convert to two way operation.  The main difference is the ability to acquire new locomotives without plugging into Loconet.  No changes to boosters or command stations are needed.  The good news here is that in keeping with typical Digitrax fashion, minimal changes are needed to go to the full duplex systems and you can still use current stuff without throwing anything away.

Upgrades to existing DT400s will be available.  The full duplex and simplex receivers are not interoperable so if you have both throttles being used on your layout, keep your UR91s and add a UR92.  Both can work at the same time and not interfere with each other.  I did not ask about infared full duplex.

No date was available yet for when the new receivers and throttles will be available.  I think they are holding that announcement for the NMRA convention.  Also note that Digitrax is moving their offices from Georgia to Florida soon and there will be some interruptions as they move.

 

 

[simon1966]

So the wait may be over soon!  Are the new throttles different from the good old DT400 in any other way than the duplex radio? I am curious about things like increased function support?

[river_eagle]

nope, functionally the same, all internal changes, however they also said a new throttle with added functions is also in the works.

[locoworks]

well the light is finally at the end of the tunnel after 4 years of waiting, but why haven't they sorted the higher functions control at the same time??  my guess is marketing, flood the market with duplex DT402R's and when sales slow down release the DT403R? maybe with a UR93?? and get to where they should be knowish.   using the A10,B11 and C12 buttons as A1#. B2# and C3# instead would make using the higer functions just like TV controls.  you press A1# followed by 6 for function 16 etc.  not rocket science.  that gives you upto 40 switches for functions ( remember to count 0 for lights ).  i will be getting a set, but dissapointed that it won't be all there just yet.    can you have your current radio stuff upgraded to duplex??  not just the DT400, but the UR91 and the DT100 and 300's and UT4's??

[tstage]

Hey!  Good news indeed!   I trust you won't have to wait too much longer for the Duplex system.  I'm sure Digitrax is being very thorough about product development before bringing anything out.  When they eventually do, it's bound to be a good system and well thought out.

Tom

[jbinkley60]

well the light is finally at the end of the tunnel after 4 years of waiting, but why haven't they sorted the higher functions control at the same time??  my guess is marketing, flood the market with duplex DT402R's and when sales slow down release the DT403R? maybe with a UR93?? and get to where they should be knowish.   using the A10,B11 and C12 buttons as A1#. B2# and C3# instead would make using the higer functions just like TV controls.  you press A1# followed by 6 for function 16 etc.  not rocket science.  that gives you upto 40 switches for functions ( remember to count 0 for lights ).  i will be getting a set, but dissapointed that it won't be all there just yet.    can you have your current radio stuff upgraded to duplex??  not just the DT400, but the UR91 and the DT100 and 300's and UT4's??

I didn't ask about DT100s and DT300s.  He did say that UT4s are upgradable and I believe he also stated that the UR91s are upgradable but since the simplex and full duplex operate on different radio frequencies and are not interoperable, that becomes an all or nothing upgrade point. 

In speaking with him I got the feeling that Digitrax didn't see the move to full dpulex as a major functional increase with huge implications but more of an emotional item since the only new functionality that full fuplex provides is acquiring new locomotives without plugging in.  I tend to agree with them.  I am not clammoring for the full duplex functionality but I'll probably upgrade at some point in the future but if the choice of a spend is a new Atlas Gold locomotive vs upgrading to full duplex,  the upgrade will get pushed out while I add to my roster 

 

[simon1966]

In speaking with him I got the feeling that Digitrax didn't see the move to full dpulex as a major functional increase with huge implications but more of an emotional item since the only new functionality that full fuplex provides is acquiring new locomotives without plugging in. 

In the light of competitive activity it seems very odd to me that this upgrade would be so limited in its scope.

I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand I am thrilled that there is an upgrade path for all my existing equipment that does not require retiring and replacing my current investment in their hardware.  On the other hand, this upgrade does little or nothing to address the competitive issues for someone looking to get into DCC for the first time. 

Actually, phrasing it like that makes me feel a lot better because they have clearly decided to take care of the installed base first.

[jrbernier]

  If 'new function' is F28 functions, I could care less.  Controlling 'coupler clank', 'air hose pop', & 'opening/closing the cab door' sound really are sort of useless.

  Now, if they would have introduced 'reverse consist ends' like NDE has done; that would be usable, but something I can live without.

  Since the 'Demo' in GB, the direction of Digitrax has been known(and this UD 'demo' confirms it).  I was aware of the DT400R & UR4R upgrade path.  For our club, I will just buy a UR92 for those that upgrade throttles or buy a new DT402R.  The DT100/DT100R is no longer available(parts), so I would not expect any upgrade path there.  The DT300 series as well may not be in the upgrade path.

  Anyway, this is 'good new's...

Jim Bernier

[jbinkley60]

    Since the 'Demo' in GB, the direction of Digitrax has been known(and this UD 'demo' confirms it).  I was aware of the DT400R & UR4R upgrade path.  For our club, I will just buy a UR92 for those that upgrade throttles or buy a new DT402R.  The DT100/DT100R is no longer available(parts), so I would not expect any upgrade path there.  The DT300 series as well may not be in the upgrade path.

  Anyway, this is 'good new's...

Jim Bernier

The upgrade path you describe is exactly what Digitrax said they were targeting with how they introduced full duplex.  Aside from the competitive aspect, it is really a minor upgrade.  I concur on the higher functions.  I doubt I'd ever use them unless they brought some significant functionality.  However, having Digitrax provide this type of an upgrade path without replacing/upgrading command stations, boosters and rearchitecting Loconet is extremely important.  Have a separate receiver with the UR92s and not making this an all or nothing upgrade also continues with your investment protection. 

 

 

[jamnest]

This is great news.  I have been waiting for Digitrax to upgrade to duplex raido for a while.  I want to get some of the new UT-4R, but was waiting for Duplex.  I have two DT-100R, two DT-300R and a DT-400R.  I had another DT-100 and two UT-1 which I sold because they could not be upgraded to radio.  I will probably send my DT-400R in for upgrade and just buy the new duplex UT-4. (I use decoder pro so my DT-400R is for running trains only and not for programming.)

My radio throttles work fine but I think it is a major problem to have to pull the 9v batteries out of the throttles after use to keep the batteries from running down.  (I do use recharagable 9v batteries.)  The UT-4R has a sleep mode to turn the throttle off. 

Having lots of functions is not a major issue with me.  I only have one sound locomotive (I will be upgrading other locomotives in the future).  I only use the lights, horn and bell.  I use ground throws for turnouts.

[jalajoie]

Now, if they would have introduced 'reverse consist ends' like NDE has done; that would be usable, but something I can live without. 

Jim Bernier

Double ended consists has been available with Digitrax since the get go. What is new to NCE is old school with Digitrax. I have been using double ended consisting with Digitrax since the year 2000 first with a DT100R and now with a DT400R throttle. It takes only 4 keystrokes to change end of the consist and it is done on the fly. I posted a while back how to do it. 

[Paul3]

jbinkley60,
According to the message I got from the Digitrax Yahoo group, the new duplex throttles are to be called DT402D and UT4D, not "R".  The end "D" is for duplex, I suppose.

There is one other major benefit for "normal" duplex radio besides just acquiring new addresses.  Now, one will also be able to make and break consists without being plugged in.  This one still bites people in the butt at my club from time to time.

The other upgrades would be things like reading a decoder without being plugged in (on the mainline in a transponding section, if nothing else), cab signalling (those semaphores in the upper corners of the display), and using the "FIND" command (with transponding).  It may perhaps lead to things like a speedometer and other abilities we don't know about just yet.

locoworks,
I doubt that one would need anything like a "UR93" for higher functions in any "DT500" scenario.  For example, when the UR91 first came out, there was only F0-F8 (the DT100R).  Now they are up to F12 with the DT400 and UT4, yet we're still using the same UR91.

Paul A. Cutler III
************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
************

[locoworks]

  If 'new function' is F28 functions, I could care less.  Controlling 'coupler clank', 'air hose pop', & 'opening/closing the cab door' sound really are sort of useless.

Jim Bernier

 

 it is ok saying you're not interested in more functions etc, but loco's will be coming out the factories with more than 12 functions fitted as standard so any control system you are looking to purchase will be at a disadvantage if it can't make your new all singing and dancing loco with onboard sound burp and fart in all the right places.  i also think that companies should standardise what function works what sound for steam and diesels.as i posted elsewhere i had 2 bachmann loco's with factory fitted sound ( loksound decoders ) and they didn't use the same functions for the same actions between their own loco's!!  stupid idea.

[locoworks]

jbinkley60,
According to the message I got from the Digitrax Yahoo group, the new duplex throttles are to be called DT402D and UT4D, not "R".  The end "D" is for duplex, I suppose.

locoworks,
I doubt that one would need anything like a "UR93" for higher functions in any "DT500" scenario.  For example, when the UR91 first came out, there was only F0-F8 (the DT100R).  Now they are up to F12 with the DT400 and UT4, yet we're still using the same UR91.

Paul A. Cutler III
************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
************

  my point was that the A B C buttons could be used to give the rest of the functions as they do naff all on the DT400 as is, so why a wait for something new to get the higher functions?  i will be dissapointed IF a 'NEW' rather than an upgraded throttle is required to get the extra functions. but i do see where you are going re the UR91.

[jbinkley60]

jbinkley60,
According to the message I got from the Digitrax Yahoo group, the new duplex throttles are to be called DT402D and UT4D, not "R".  The end "D" is for duplex, I suppose.

There is one other major benefit for "normal" duplex radio besides just acquiring new addresses.  Now, one will also be able to make and break consists without being plugged in.  This one still bites people in the butt at my club from time to time.

The other upgrades would be things like reading a decoder without being plugged in (on the mainline in a transponding section, if nothing else), cab signalling (those semaphores in the upper corners of the display), and using the "FIND" command (with transponding).  It may perhaps lead to things like a speedometer and other abilities we don't know about just yet.

locoworks,
I doubt that one would need anything like a "UR93" for higher functions in any "DT500" scenario.  For example, when the UR91 first came out, there was only F0-F8 (the DT100R).  Now they are up to F12 with the DT400 and UT4, yet we're still using the same UR91.

Paul A. Cutler III
************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
************

Paul,

I might have gotten the part number wrong.  I only looked at it once.  It was a DT402 and I thought it was an R but it could have been a D.  I assumed the 2 was for 2 way.  There was a few people at the booth and I was paying more attention to doing the wireless acquire than looking at the part number.

 

[locoworks]

 

 it is ok saying you're not interested in more functions etc, but loco's will be coming out the factories with more than 12 functions fitted as standard so any control system you are looking to purchase will be at a disadvantage if it can't make your new all singing and dancing loco with onboard sound burp and fart in all the right places.  i also think that companies should standardise what function works what sound for steam and diesels.as i posted elsewhere i had 2 bachmann loco's with factory fitted sound ( loksound decoders ) and they didn't use the same functions for the same actions between their own loco's!!  stupid idea.

...wow...hold old is this guy?

David B 

 

 43, it was an attempt at humour. sorry if i offended but i am from over the pond.

[locoworks]

well the light is finally at the end of the tunnel after 4 years of waiting, but why haven't they sorted the higher functions control at the same time??  my guess is marketing, flood the market with duplex DT402R's and when sales slow down release the DT403R? maybe with a UR93?? and get to where they should be knowish.   using the A10,B11 and C12 buttons as A1#. B2# and C3# instead would make using the higer functions just like TV controls.  you press A1# followed by 6 for function 16 etc.  not rocket science.  that gives you upto 40 switches for functions ( remember to count 0 for lights ).  i will be getting a set, but dissapointed that it won't be all there just yet.    can you have your current radio stuff upgraded to duplex??  not just the DT400, but the UR91 and the DT100 and 300's and UT4's??

I will personally give 20 bucks (USD or Canadian) to anyone here on these forums or from anywhere else that can find a use for, and remember, 40 function in a decoder.   Personally, anything beyond 6 is just useless and I think that Digitrax feels the same way.

MRC decoder 'feature' 28 buttons that you can press and do 'stuff'.  Unfortunately, about half of the 'stuff' has to do with horn selection, bell selection, volume controls (they only have 4 settings....loud....louder....loudest and off) and other useless things that you will never, ever use OR remember.

So, to sum-up, I feel that making a selling point of 28 functions on a throttle is a bit like Rat's Venom that will cure all.... 

David B 

  extra functions don't have to mean sound. having lights controlled individually is a great help for british ( maybe US too ) diesels and steam . depending on whether light engine or with a load and whether the load is passengers or freight, or even what type of freight. different light 'formations' are displayed ( even on steam loco's there were 5 different front light possitions and combinations of the possitions denoted the type of train ), so that's 5 functions at the front!!  then the tender rear ( similar to the front if light engine ), cab lights, firebox flicker etc, then we get onto sound and a moving coupler for anywhere uncoupling with no magnets in the track. it may not be everybodies cup of tea, but 8 or even 12 functions can soon become limiting especially in the larger scales.

[jwils1]

Double ended consists has been available with Digitrax since the get go. What is new to NCE is old school with Digitrax. I have been using double ended consisting with Digitrax since the year 2000 first with a DT100R and now with a DT400R throttle. It takes only 4 keystrokes to change end of the consist and it is done on the fly. I posted a while back how to do it. 

Jack:

I did a search on this and couldn't seem to find it.  Can you please point me to your previous post on this.  Thanks.

 

[jalajoie]

jwils 1

Here is an extract of a post I made on the Siskiyou forum the part about Digitrax consisting is in red.

I did some experiments consisting two locos back to back with a NCE Power Cab and a Digitrax Zephyr.

I used a brand new Power Cab with Rev. 1.28 software and a 6 years old Digitrax Zephyr with a DT400 throttle to conduct these tests.
I also used 4 locos, 2 Atlas Dash 8-40CW without sound, equipped with two identical NCE D14SR V3.5 decoders. Also 2 other Atlas Dash 8-40CW with QSI sound were used.
The decoders on all 4 locos were left with their factory default setting, except for the address which was set to each loco cab #, the appropriate value in CV2 to insure every locos were crawling at speed step 1 and a value of 3 for acceleration and deceleration rate for every locos CV 3 and 4 respectively.

First test was with the Power Cab and the two non sound units. I made an advance consist with both locos operating back to back. The consist address was 127 and the leading loco was # 7300 and the trailing loco was # 838. I made sure the stack contained both consist bearing the cab # of each loco. This consist did not behave as I was expecting. Sure enough I could toggle back and forth between each end of the consist with the recall button however the lights did not react as I wanted. If I was using #7300 as lead loco the front light of loco 7300 was on, which is OK but the rear light of loco 838 the trailing loco was also on, which is not what I wanted and vice versa. What I wanted is only the leading loco with headlight on and the trailing completely dark. Fortunately I know my way around at the bit level of the most popular CV, I was able to correct this problem in programing the proper values in CV22, I was expecting better handling of consists from NCE. Why should I tinker with CV values?
When I did the same test with Digitrax Universal consist, everything worked as expected, trailing loco completely dark, no need to play with CV22.

Now the double ending aspect of the equation is almost the same key stroke for key stroke with both systems. With the Power Cab to change end of the consist : First shut the light on the former leading loco, next recall the now new leading loco, put the lights on and go. (3 keystrokes)

With the DT400 to change end of the consist : First shut the light on the former leading loco and change the direction of travel of the consist , next recall the now new leading loco (use the left knob encoder to recall that engine it is always the last one entered in the consist), put the lights on and go (using the right knob), (4 keystrokes). This is done on the fly with both systems, very easy.

With the sound locos I didn't have the problems I had with NCE and lighting, because QSI does not follow NMRA recommended practices for CV22. Both the Power Cab and the Zephyr handled the consists the same way in every aspect, lighting as I expected and only the leading loco respond to the bell and whistle. Unfortunately with both system every other functions were also directed to the leading loco only. Some tinkering with CV21 is required here. 3 keystrokes are required with NCE to change end of the advance consist, the same task is performed with 4 keystrokes with Digitrax Universal consist and the DT400 throttle.

[jwils1]

With the DT400 to change end of the consist : First shut the light on the former leading loco and change the direction of travel of the consist , next recall the now new leading loco (use the left knob encoder to recall that engine it is always the last one entered in the consist), put the lights on and go, (4 keystrokes). This is done on the fly with both systems, very easy.

Okay, if I understand correctly, when you change the direction of travel of the consist, you are simply selecting "reverse" instead of "forward".  So now with the new leading loco leading the consist in the other direction from which is was previously moving, your throttle reads "reverse".  And you are still running speed and direction from the original lead loco number.  Is that correct or am I misunderstanding?

Jerry

[jalajoie]

Okay, if I understand correctly, when you change the direction of travel of the consist, you are simply selecting "reverse" instead of "forward".  So now with the new leading loco leading the consist in the other direction from which is was previously moving, your throttle reads "reverse".  And you are still running speed and direction from the original lead loco number.  Is that correct or am I misunderstanding?

Jerry

Quite correct, unless you look at the throttle display, the feel of the consist is exactly the same as with NCE. 

[locoworks]

  extra functions don't have to mean sound. having lights controlled individually is a great help for british ( maybe US too ) diesels and steam . depending on whether light engine or with a load and whether the load is passengers or freight, or even what type of freight. different light 'formations' are displayed ( even on steam loco's there were 5 different front light possitions and combinations of the possitions denoted the type of train ), so that's 5 functions at the front!!  then the tender rear ( similar to the front if light engine ), cab lights, firebox flicker etc, then we get onto sound and a moving coupler for anywhere uncoupling with no magnets in the track. it may not be everybodies cup of tea, but 8 or even 12 functions can soon become limiting especially in the larger scales.

Moving coupler?  Hardly realistic......

Can you please share pics of British steam locomotives that have 5 light positions in the front.  I would love to see that.

David B

 much to my horror, it seems to be only 4 positions on mainline use. i think i got confused with some loco's having the lamp on the smokebox door and others having it mounted on the smokebox above the door. loco's usually carry the lamps on the lamp irons, so they can be in place and not lit.  it is important to point out that these are marker lights used to denote the type of train.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/3-sigs/bellhead.htm

[Last Chance]

JMRI makes it easy to make and break consists with a few keystrokes.

I am looking forward to the new Digitrax Arrivals, they will be purchased very quickly for my road.

[locoworks]

 much to my horror, it seems to be only 4 positions on mainline use. i think i got confused with some loco's having the lamp on the smokebox door and others having it mounted on the smokebox above the door. loco's usually carry the lamps on the lamp irons, so they can be in place and not lit.  it is important to point out that these are marker lights used to denote the type of train.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/3-sigs/bellhead.htm

Yes, we had the same thing in North America.  Now, how will you we lighting that feature?  If they are like what they were over here, then there were 3 color, red, white and green.  Typically modelers cannot model all 3 colors, but if they did, It would be controlled by a few upper functions (assuming you are using 3 leds) and a light box.  So that is 3 functions.  Your headlight is another function, but the rear light is the same function as the front headlight (F0).  So that is 4 functions for the lights (again, assuming you can actually light the markers with 3 different leds). 

So, to count up my functions....

F0=Forward and Rear lights

F1=Bell

F2=Whistle

F3=Short Whistle

F4=Steam Let Off

F5=Marker Light 1

F6=Marker Light 2

F7=Marker Light 3

F8=Mute

With this scheme (and assuming 3 or 4 other functions for various IMPORTANT sounds and not gimmiky sounds), you can see that you are well covered with 12 functions.  I still dont see the need for 28 functions.

The offer is still there to anyone who can tell me an actual NEED for 28 functions.....20 bucks...

David B

 how would be led's, if you look on youtube there are a few videos of british stuff with lights and sound and smoke. there is someone who makes a suitable looking lamp out of sub min led's.  the sting would be that they could only be one colour, so white at the front and red at the back. there is a compamy that sells bi colour red/white leds, but ofcourse the function wires are only one polarity, perhaps there is a safe way to wire 2 decoders to the one led??

[selector]

...

The offer is still there to anyone who can tell me an actual NEED for 28 functions.....20 bucks...

David B

Well, I am kinda partial to the fire grating being turned with F24, and the clinkers thwacking against the sides of the ash pit with F39.

I agree with you entirely, David.  Mute, lights, horn, bell, and sometimes I play with steam hiss (F4 on the Tsunami's I have).  I guess diesels and modern excursion steamers would want some additional lighting control, but the majority of sound decoders provide ambient and random sounds that keep me happy, even annoyed if I forget to either mute them, set their mute levels (QSI), or tune their individual sounds with an applicable CV tweak.

-Crandell

[locoworks]

...

The offer is still there to anyone who can tell me an actual NEED for 28 functions.....20 bucks...

David B

Well, I am kinda partial to the fire grating being turned with F24, and the clinkers thwacking against the sides of the ash pit with F39.

I agree with you entirely, David.  Mute, lights, horn, bell, and sometimes I play with steam hiss (F4 on the Tsunami's I have).  I guess diesels and modern excursion steamers would want some additional lighting control, but the majority of sound decoders provide ambient and random sounds that keep me happy, even annoyed if I forget to either mute them, set their mute levels (QSI), or tune their individual sounds with an applicable CV tweak.

-Crandell

so you want all the noises, but the chip decides when you get them? so random is ok?? i suppose it's ok for some.  who picks what TV channels you can watch and when you can watch them?? 

[bobgrosh]

Even after spending months writing SDF's to make sound context sensitive (IE: six different whistle signals on F2 depending on speed, direction of loco), And I am still out of Functions.

So, to count up my functions....

F0=Forward and Rear loco lights when stopped, passenger train lights when moving.

F1=Moving - Bell On/Off, (Bell auto off when stopped) Stopped - Station announcement (Zone dependent) 

F2=Stopped - Two toots when FWD, three in REV, Playable over SPD30, crossing under SPD29 single toot automatic on stop.

F3=Couple coupler clash trigger, uncouple (Uncouple causes passenger cars/cabooses to stop listening to loco cmds)

F4=Steam Let Off when stopped, Doppler, echo or tunnel when moving (Zone dependent)

F5=Markers - When set to ON and stopped FWD set to white, REV set to green. When set to off and stopped, set to red (on/off with F0) When moving, operates loco specific accessory.

F6=Cab light when stopped, Smoke Enable when moving (auto off when stopped)

F7=Toggle next turnout - FWD ahead, REV behind last car.

F8=Stooped FWD increase volume REV decrease volume, Moving-Wheel squeal

F9 Learn Mode

F10 Stop at Ruby Springs

F11 Stop at Mill Creek

F12 Stop at Peach Falls

In Learn Mode:

- - - F10 Learn Max speed for this Zone

- - - F11 Learn Signal at this position.

- - - F12 Reset all Learned Speed limits and memorize Home.

As you can see, I am limited to just three stations per loco, and, I have to basically use the F9 key as a "shift" function. And 3/4 of the "gimic" sounds are not accessable.

 

HECK YES

28 functions for me.

 

As to duplex, well. I could give a rats behind for acquiring locos wirelessly... In fact I hope they allow an option to prevent it.

Will I want Duplex. YOU BET, for the Transponding "Find" function, CV read-back, semaphore display and throttle messages. Especially Throttle messages.

So David, You can donate the twenty bucks to charity in my name.

Bob

[corsair7]

 

 it is ok saying you're not interested in more functions etc, but loco's will be coming out the factories with more than 12 functions fitted as standard so any control system you are looking to purchase will be at a disadvantage if it can't make your new all singing and dancing loco with onboard sound burp and fart in all the right places.  i also think that companies should standardise what function works what sound for steam and diesels.as i posted elsewhere i had 2 bachmann loco's with factory fitted sound ( loksound decoders ) and they didn't use the same functions for the same actions between their own loco's!!  stupid idea.

...wow...hold old is this guy?

David B 

 

 43, it was an attempt at humour. sorry if i offended but i am from over the pond.

I thought it was funny when I read it. But I can see whole new dimension for those who want to reproduce a certain scene from Blazing Saddles on their layouts.

Irv

[simon1966]

Reports on the Digitrax Yahoo group suggest that F28 is coming with this release.

[Paul3]

bobgrosh,
In order:

F0: I assume you're MU'ing you DCC decoder equipped passenger cars to your locos.  I hope you know that it doesn't make sense for the passenger car lights to have anything to do with movement.  Also, loco headlights are not always used, depending on era.

F1: Um, bells also ring on locos when stopped, depending on road and era.  And onboard station annoucements?  Seriously?  You really want to broadcast the sound of an onboard station announcement, something that you never hear from outside the train?

F2: I can only imagine that little effect in a yard switcher.  It'd be a toot-fest for sure.  And on mainline trains, wildly unrealistic.  A crossing whistle for under 29? 

F3: What is that about?  Passenger cars and cabooses would stop listening to...what?

F4: This, I get.

F5: Huh?  But markers are for when the train is moving, too.

F6: Diesels and steamers also smoke while stopped.

F7: Toggle turnouts?  What the heck for?  Just use the SWITCH command...that's what it's there for.

F8: Wouldn't it be better if you could adjust the volume on the move?

F9: Learn mode?  What is that?  How does that work?  Do you have GPS in each loco?

F10, F11, F12:  Again, station annoucements?  Here's a thought.  Why don't you put a sound playing device at each station?  That way, you can remove some of the features needed from a mobile decoder.  In any event, I have ridden a lot of trains over the years, and while I've heard conductor's say that they are a "Canton Jct. train" or an "Attleboro train", I've never heard them say the station name for where they are.  Most people assume that since they are already there, they know where they are.  Conductors will call on the train that they have arrived at a station, but I've never heard it from outside the train.

So my reaction to your list of functions is that I think it's not a viable list.  There's a whole lot in there that doesn't make much sense, things that can easily be accomodated using stationary decoders, block detection, and transponding.  I might as well list 28 different horns or air releases so as to demand 28 functions.

So David, IMHO, your $20 is safe...so far.

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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