I use the verbal speed reporting feature often to set the speeds of my trains if I am running more than one at a time to avoid conflicts if I want to turn my attention to something else such as landscaping other than watching the trains closely. It has worked well for me over the years.
The speed is reported in MPH, however considering most of the world operates in metric, it would be nice to have the speed reported in KMPH. I do just about everything else in metric when it comes to the layout so why not speed as well.
Is there a setting that can change a decoder to report in KM instead of MPH? Do European decoders have a verbal reporting feature and do they report in metric?
I participate in a couple of model building groups on FB and all discussion is in metric, this is the only place I try and remember to use imperial. I know this is an Earth-shattering issue, however, my curiosity has gotten the better of me.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANThe speed is reported in MPH, however considering most of the world operates in metric, it would be nice to have the speed reported in KMPH
I think I've finally found a reason to support a tariff.
maxman BATMAN The speed is reported in MPH, however considering most of the world operates in metric, it would be nice to have the speed reported in KMPH I think I've finally found a reason to support a tariff.
BATMAN The speed is reported in MPH, however considering most of the world operates in metric, it would be nice to have the speed reported in KMPH
I told you it was an Earth-shattering issue.
As far as I know BLI engines are the only ones that can "talk back" and tell you the speed (I know TCS WowSound decoders have the voice programming, but I think that's just for programming) and I don't think they have made any UK / European prototype models. Early BLI engines used QSI decoders, don't know if any UK / European model builders every used them in their engines.
I know some of the gizmos you can use to visually display track speed can be set to do scale MPH or KPH, so it can't be that hard to do.
Maybe take it up with Jason Shron at Rapido, eh??
wjstixMaybe take it up with Jason Shron at Rapido, eh??
NO WAY! Last thing I want is another reason to delay my Royal Hudsons.
I really appreciate the fact Rapido is going to get it right on those engines and don't mind waiting a bit while they do some fine tuning. Besides back in the day of the Royal Hudson, Canada used imperial measure, so MPH would be appropriate.
I find those verbal speed announcements quite accurate. My BLI and Atlas engines must have the QSI decoders as they both have the function, I have not checked my Bachmann for it. I just wish they had a southern bell as the voice, instead of the gentleman that does the job.
Is there an engine decoder or a device that can measure distance traveled on the layout? If not, that could be another product for people to buy that have extra $$$ sitting around.
My ESU ECoS will display in either speed steps / MPH / KPH user selectable. The scale of the spped on the throttle can be user adjusted, meaning a full throttle rotation can be 0 to 30 or 0 to 60 or 0 to 120, whatever you want based on your determined physical speed of the engine. ESU also uses RailCom which is a two-way communication, but I haven't played extensively with it yet myself.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I guess I'm missing something. Do the locos automatically and periodically report their speed? Or do you have to push a function key to make this happen?
And if you have to push a function key, I presume that you do this after watching them and see that the loco is going faster or slower than you like. And then you make a manual speed adjustment.
So if you can visually see that you need to make an adjustment, what is the purpose of the speed feedback? And who cares that it is KPH, MPH, or furlongs per half-day?
maxmanSo if you can visually see that you need to make an adjustment, what is the purpose of the speed feedback? And who cares that it is KPH, MPH, or furlongs per half-day?
I like to have at least one train running, sometimes two, when I am working on the layout. If I set my BLI 2-10-4 with 11 Rapido coaches to 42 MPH and my two Atlas Trainmasters with 28 freight cars to 38MPH, I know they will run all day without one catching up to the other. Why the speed discrepancies between the two? I have a long hard climb of about 46 FT up through my Rocky Mountains, The hill down is broken up along the way. The two trains climb the hill at different speeds and that has to be taken into account when setting the speed.
As far as whether the verbal report is in MPH or KPH, I think of the length of my mainline in KMs. So if I am doing switching I can set the mainline train to come by at a set interval. If my mainline is a scale 4.9km long and the verbal report is 49KPH, I know the train will come by every six minutes. If I know my mainline is 4.9 km long and my verbal report is in MPH, well....... Sure I can use imperial but the world operates in metric so you would think they would have the option of metric in the program.
Like I said, not the end of the world, just one of those things that makes you roll your eyes. Must be a Government operation.
As much as I love the metric system, not all the rail world is metric. When Canada went metric, the railways were permitted to keep their mile-based system. I don't know if they ever converted. I wouldn't be surprised if other countries that converted (Sweden?) have the railways marked out in miles.
My US system, on the other hand, is metric because (as I've read here) it's my railroad and I make the rules.
Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority and CSX Intermodal. Interchange with CSX (CR)(NYC).
CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield