@stan2004 posted:To be clear, the PBW board is an add-on to a DCSRC. You must supply a stock DCSRC base unit itself (handheld remote not needed). Once you modify the DCSRC to become a Perpetual Barking Watchdog, that becomes its sole purpose in life. It cannot be used to control DCS engines via the handheld remote.
So the configuration might look like:
The stock DCSRC on the left is what controls any DCS engines via the handhelf remote. The modified DCSRC on the right barks the watchdog about once per second as long as there's power from the DPDT. As shown, if going this route you should put a piece of black tape over the PBW DCSRC's red sensor window so that any handheld remote commands do not cause the PBW issue DCS signaling commands in competition with the left DCSRC.
Of course going this route means you can skip steps 1 and 3 in previous post. In other words, just turn sidings ON with the SPST and count on the PBW to issue a timely watchdog bark to keep a newly powered DCS engine silent in the shutdown mode. To each his own as to the value of this convenience.
I absolutely love this solution.
It seems very simple elegant, and does exactly what I want it to, with out going full boat DCS, which I really do want to avoid.
I have done a cursory search, for the DCS RC Receiver only, but the only ones that I find are with the remote, and or with the track lock on.
They are all going for about $50, which is a bit steep, $100 per track, plus the PBW.
Approaches the cost of a DCS System, however, I think that I still prefer the simple nature of it.
Do you think that any of the guys here would have any of these lying around from sets that are now running on full DCS?
I guess I will check out the "Want To Buy" forum.
