What are your options on digitrax signal? They appear pretty crude, do you dress them up
Well, they aren't trying to coomete with NJ Internatioonal or BLMI or any of the others that make highly detailed signal models - the fact that the MSRP is $25 for 4 signals and all the hardware pretty much tells you that. What they are designed for is the person whoo doesn;t want to figure out how to solder all the wires coming out of one of the nicer signals - they simply plug in and work. I wouldn't use them as-is, I'd buy detail parts available from various sources and dress them up. I probably wouldn't use them at all, actually, as my era and prototype needs mostly Type G signals, no the more modern 3 light style. But as an easy way to get working signals with the Digitrax SE8C signal controller? You can't beat them, especially for the price.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I didn't even know Digitrax was making signals.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 I didn't even know Digitrax was making signals.
Only for the past 15 years.
I'm a big believer in the idea of using place holders or stand ins that can serve a useful function and give you a fairly good image of how the area will look when fully scenicked.
Those Digitrax 'signals' are basically control PCBs with a little tab that sticks up and has three RYG lights that can show signal aspects. Paint them black or silver and they don't look too ridiculous or out of place on a partially scenicked layout. They actually look pretty good and give you working signals while you work out and fine tune the logic involved. They could stand in for years if necessary. I've seen a lot worse. And then when you're ready, cut off the 'signal mast' and install NJI or Tomar or whatever store-bought signals in their place, one at a time or the entire lot.
I think it was kinda clever of Digitrax to offer them. They fill a useful niche.
Just my opinion, of course.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Stevert riogrande5761 I didn't even know Digitrax was making signals. Only for the past 15 years.
Not really, these are new. You always got a test mast with an SE8C - these are more or less the same thing, just larger ones for HO (the original test mast is about N scale size). About the only thing differently they did was prewire them for the 4 different positions on the cable. Package with the mounting hardware and - instant product.
rrinker Stevert riogrande5761 I didn't even know Digitrax was making signals. Only for the past 15 years. Not really, these are new. You always got a test mast with an SE8C - these are more or less the same thing, just larger ones for HO (the original test mast is about N scale size). About the only thing differently they did was prewire them for the 4 different positions on the cable. Package with the mounting hardware and - instant product. --Randy
Right, they just (end of July) introduced some new signal mast kits.
But the SE8C signal controller, the SMBK (Signal Mast Base Kit that contains three Signal Masts), the SMHK (Signal Mounting Hardware Kit) and the TSMK (Terminal Strip Mounting Kit) were released in June of 2003.
So my original answer is correct. Digitrax has been producing signals for the past 15 years.
Thankyou Robert.That’s what I was wanting to know. By the way I like following your layout updates
Either my wife hs been keeping me too busy with honey-do chores, or Digitrax isn't advertising their signals enough - or both.
I'm a long way from needing signals but will investigate for future reference.
ALl the ads I've seen in print have been for the LNWI wifi interface. I think if they advertised their signals as 'signals' in a general forum, they'd be laughed at - they really are just the bare PCBs with LEDs on them. You need to add yoour own detail parts to make them look like a real signal like the finished products from NJI or BLMI - of course, you get 4, plus the mounting and connection hardware, for less than half the price of just ONE BLMI signal. Also, the Digitrax signals aren't easy to adapt to other signal control systems, they are specifically designed to work with the SE8C. If you are using something else to drive the signals, they probably aren't a good choice.
Forgot about the old SMBK which already also had the LEDs attached, usaable as an N scale signal, although you were pretty much stuck with it being a dual head signal.So I guess they had "a" signal since the introduction of the SE8C.
Well that splains it. I figure when people talk about signals, they are talking about models of signals that look like them, not a PCB.
The signal mast is also designed to be an interface board to make aftermarket signals plug and play. I use the digitrax signalling system on my layout. I cut off the LED portion of the pcb. There are solder pads on each board to attach your signal of choice. I have a mix of Tomar and homemade signals. The key thing is that you need to stay consistent with the type of signal you are going to use. It all in how they are wired, be it common cathode, common anode. Having the signals set up as plug and play makes things so much easier when needing to make repairs and actually planting the signals.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Signals are not cheap, just a simple fact. The SE8C can drive 32 signal heads, for about $100, and it has some other inputs and outputs as well, so on a per signal basis, the electronics to drive them aren't expensive. But nice detailed models of signals? Not cheap at all. But with some DIY time, you can make those Digitrax circuit boards looks halfway decent - maybe not a foreground model, but certainly fine for those not right up front - so you can use the expensive ones that look really great up front where everyone can see them, and put the self-detailed cheap ones in the back so you have working signals everywhere, in the most economical way. But it will never be "cheap".