Hi all,
Now now, I'm on DC and have a nice Atlas GP40-2 silver series with a 8 pin plug, and now I see the back cover of MR oct2014 and I see the MRC freedom one. Having no money to invest on full DCC system, I am falling right in the targeted market by MRC.
Here is the link: http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=13204
Has anyone tested this? Any reviews? Comments? Feelings?
What do you think? I won't buy before a few reviews come out, but it's quite new, so no reviews around.
Thanks!
Antoine
I agree with David. Rather than spending your money on a quick fix save some more and get a real system. For example, MB Klein is currently listing the Zephyr system for $169. I'm sure that you will be happy if you wait a little.
Joe
You can get a NCE Power cab for about $150 from Amazon.com with free shipping if you have Prime. To my knowledge, since it is over $35. free shipping even if you do not have Prime.
Might be better prices if you Google it. Just check shipping charges.
Doing some research can help a lot. Your PC is just as powerful as mine.
I have the Power cab and can run at least three HO sound locos. Never tried anymore than three.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Yes you are all right..... but!
What becomes of my other DC locomotives if I buy DCC? I have to put a decoder in all of them or else they will not work.
Now this little system (freedom one) works with a DC powerpack on which you turn the throttle at maximum (to power the track like DCC I suppose). Therefore, since I have block sections, I could turn off power on this one and put back throttle at 0 to use my other DC locomotives normally (which are stationed on other blocks.
Don't you think it's good for that? Like I would only have one DCC loco on a DC layout with 6 DC locos. It's a nice inbetween, no?
Oh and once I officially switch to DCC it can still be used on a DCC layout independantly. I truely am tempted.
More concerned with what becomes of the Freedom One receiver after you switch to DCC - sure you can run it with the remote control still, but then you have all your other locos oeprated like normal DCC locos and this one that uses a little handheld remote control.
This is in essecne MRC's answer to the Tam Valley DRS, NWSL Stanton system, or the Ring RailPro. (and others)
The question you need to ask is, how is MR offering this for significantly less than any of the alternatives? What are they leaving out (besides obviously expansion, the MRC is limited to 3 locos, none of the others are)?
Compare wisely. $75 can put decoders in all 6 of your existing locos.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker This is in essecne MRC's answer to the Tam Valley DRS, NWSL Stanton system, or the Ring RailPro. (and others)
Humm, that part of your answer got my interest and I went looking for Ring RailPro. Would you recommend it? It looks simple.
Thank you
A RailPro controller and one receiver/decoder costs almost as much as a beginner DCC system such as the NCE PowerCab or Digitrax Zephyr.
You're restricted at the present time to only one source of a receiver/decoder, whereas with DCC you have many different choices available.
I have a steam locomotive equipped with RailPro that I run on an NCE DCC-equipped layout using the layout's DCC power. The advantage here is that I have totally separate control over my locomotive irrespective of how many other trains may be running, and there's no chance of someone entering a wrong decoder address into a DCC controller and inadvertently taking control of my locomotive.
A RailPro receiver is larger than a straight DCC decoder due to the addition of the radio receiver circuitry, so finding a diesel locomotive that can have RailPro fitted without having to mill out the frame is something that has to be taken into consideration. RailPro shows a diesel locomotive equipped with their receiver on their web page, but they could not tell me the brand name of the model, since they did not perform the installation. RailPro suggested that I address my question to the people at Yankee Dabbler, who did not answer.
My experience has not been all peaches and cream with the RailPro hand held controller's battery life -- it contains a rechargeable battery that has relatively limited run time on a charge, and it takes a significant amount of time to recharge. It also discharges even when not used for an extended period of time.
I'm sure these shortcomings will be solved as the technology evolves, just as it has with DCC itself.
If you don't want to fully convert to DCC the MRC Tech 6 will give you the best of both worlds by a simple push of a button.
When I use one of my DCC/Sound engines I push the button to DCC mode and when I want to run a DC engine a simple push of the button returns the Tech 6 to DC mode.
The only thing is you can run only 1 DCC engine unless you invest in the Tech 6 throttle then you can run six different engines like normal DCC..
My "poor man" DCC system cost me around $130.00 for the T6 and its walk around throttle.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I'm with Randy on this. When I first bought my DCC system, I had the same plans as many. I would put a big toggle switch between my layout and the two power systems so that I could run DCC when I wanted to run my decoder-equipped engines and DC when I wanted to run those.
I installed a simple decoder, connected up my Lenz system to the track, and ran that one subway car back and forth over about an 8-foot line for hours. I took my DC power pack and put it under the layout. It has never been connected to the track again.
Yes, DCC is really that seductive. And once I started putting sound in my engines, I didn't run my non-sound engines much, either.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleyYes, DCC is really that seductive. And once I started putting sound in my engines, I didn't run my non-sound engines much, either.
Indeed..
I use my Tech 6 in DCC mode more then DC..I even added plug and play decoders to my Favorite Athearn SW1500 and CF7.More decoder installs to follow in three of my favorite Athearn RTR DCC ready engines.
Even on my 1' x 10' ISL the slow speed step switching with momentum really improves operation.
What was that I once said about a one horse switching layout doen't needed DCC?
Foolish me..
I've always said, the small switching layouts need DCC more than a big giant hanger size layout. Just makes for so much more operational flexibility.
rrinker More concerned with what becomes of the Freedom One receiver after you switch to DCC - sure you can run it with the remote control still, but then you have all your other locos oeprated like normal DCC locos and this one that uses a little handheld remote control. This is in essecne MRC's answer to the Tam Valley DRS, NWSL Stanton system, or the Ring RailPro. (and others)...
This is in essecne MRC's answer to the Tam Valley DRS, NWSL Stanton system, or the Ring RailPro. (and others)...
Actually, the Freedom One will also operate as a DCC decoder.
Antoine L. ... Has anyone tested this? Any reviews? Comments? Feelings? What do you think? I won't buy before a few reviews come out, but it's quite new, so no reviews around. ..
...
What do you think? I won't buy before a few reviews come out, but it's quite new, so no reviews around. ..
While this is a new item, there is no new technology here. It doesn't look much different than the 1825 decoder they used to offer that also came with a remote for DC operatin, except this comes as one of three different frequencies to allow three locos to be operated at the same time.
Will that Freedom one run a no sound DC only locomotive without a decoder ?
Russell
csxns Will that Freedom one run a no sound DC only locomotive without a decoder ?
Yes it will. Google freedom one dc loco. You will see a PDF describing this device.'
Thanks Rich.
Wait, no it doesn;t, not at the same time anyway (unless by "run" a DC loco you mean have it looping the layout at full throttle). To run the loco with the Freedom One 'decoder' in it, you need to turn the DC pack up to full speed. Speed of the decodered loco is controlled by the Freedom One remote control. The Freedom One remote control only controls the decoder that is on the same RF channel as the remote pendant. COntrol of any other DC locos is left to the throttle knob on your existing power pack, but the Freedom One decoder won;t run below a certain setting, so the two cannot coexist on the same stretch of track. You CAN get a second Freedome One remote and decoder on one of the other frequencies and run 2 Freedom One locos on the same track under independent control.
With DCC - you can mix any number of DCC locos plus the Freedom One equipped loco all at the same time. Though what happens when you select the DCC address of the Freedom One decoder AND try to run it from the remote control at the same time I don't know.
rrinker throttle knob
You mean like what Aristo has been making for some 10 years or more now? Their system is NOT just on-board throttles for large scale, it also is a stationary throttle with an rf wireless remote control.
rrinkerAristo
haha but WHY? Aristo has been making the Train Engineer for YEARS, pretty much big free now. vs MRC coming up with something new? Think I'd prefer to stick with tried and true. MRC made great DC packs, but the more complicated they got with electronics, the lower the quality became.
rrinkerhaha but WHY
Find a LHS that knows what they are talking about. There are two ways to use the Crest system, one indeed has a receiver unit in the loco, but the other has the receiver under the layout, connected to the rails just like any DC power pack with the RF remote control controlling speed and direction.
Haven't seen Sheldon around in a while, he uses this system in HO. No mods to any locos (although clippign the capacitors on Bachmann locos makes them run smoother). In fact, if he finds a loco he wants that comes with DCC already installed, he removes the decoder. He'd be the one to ask about the various forms of the Crest system, I've been DCC for almost 12 years and there's not a chance I will ever switch back.
Randy thanks.
I thought Aristo Craft went out of business?
Joe Staten Island West
joe323 I thought Aristo Craft went out of business?
OK, lets get a few things straight.
The original Crest Train Engineer I use is no longer in production.
Crest has always been a tradename of Aristo Craft, not a seperate company - but, it is now a seperate cmpany, seperated from Aristo right before they closed.
Their current product can be seen here:
http://shop.crest-electronics.net/
The new Revolution can be used trackside just like the older version I use.
OR, they are supposed to be developing HO size receivers for the Revolution - I have not kept up on the the progress of that.
But, as I said many times before, I suspect a day will come when direct radio will challenge DCC.
In the mean time, I'm happy with radio thorttles and advanced cab control, with intergrated signals and turnout control.
I have now used my quarterly alotment of time for posting on this forum,
Sheldon
csxns rrinker throttle knob Now if MRC will come out with a power pack that you can control the throttle knob from something like the Freedom One without a Decoder in the locomotives that is what i will like.
Now if MRC will come out with a power pack that you can control the throttle knob from something like the Freedom One without a Decoder in the locomotives that is what i will like.
Thats what the Train Engineer was.
Now to add fuel for the fire, I have been investing in Crests old system that is plug and play in any DCC ready loco, reason I am getting ready to go dead rail. Wonder if MRC's is easy to convert also, if so it is much cheaper.
Will my sound engs. run with some sound on the old Crest hand held and reciever wired to track???