wireless layout

[Anonymous]

Looking to build a wireless layout.  Any recommendations.  New to all of this.  Currently have a small Backman layout.  Thanks.

[CSX Robert]

First question, are you talking DC or DCC?

[ARTHILL]

Welcome to the forum. That is a more complicated question than you may think because there are so many answers and there are new things on the market.

I have Digitrax Super Chief with radio and I love it. It is not the least expensive, but it works pretty well.

[Texas Zepher]

Looking to build a wireless layout.  Any recommendations.  New to all of this.  Currently have a small Backman layout.

What scale are you talking about here?  In G-gauge, putting a battery into the locomotive shouldn't be to hard.  There are several off-the-shelf wireless control systems.  For HO or N this is going to be much more difficult.

[tomikawaTT]

I actually had a wireless layout early in my modeling career - totally scratchbuilt, 5DC, 1:196 scale.  (Translation - built with bits of wood and cardstock, moved by the five-digit non-electric propulsion system.)

At the opposite extreme, the SVLS 'layout' in Rancho Cordova was also wireless.  It was ride-on live steam.

Several decades ago a modeler whose name escapes me built a radio controlled A-B set of covered wagons in HO, powered by on-board batteries.  It was demonstrated to Linn Westcott on a restaurant tablecloth (with not a rail in sight.)

Seriously, all of the powered/controlled systems currently in use, including those which use radio-link or infra-red remote hand units, have under-layout (or on top of the layout) wiring to get power (and DCC signals) to the locomotives.  So, that form of 'wireless' layout - isn't.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

 

[jecorbett]

It would probably me more accurate to say a less-wire layout. DCC with wireless remote control is the way to achieve that. Because DCC is more sensitive to power interuptions, you will still need main bus wires with feeders to the various sections of track. It depends on whom you listen to as to how many feeders you will need. Some will say to every section of track so that power doesn't need to be carried through rail joiners. I wire every other joint so each section of track is getting power from one end or the other. Unfortunately, onboard power supplies are not yet practical. It can be done, but the batteries will run down very quickly. For now we will still need to wire out layouts.