BlueRail Upgrade to Atlas AEM-7

Good job Ron

I'm thinking about getting at least 1 new board for either my MTH 4-8-4 or Willams brass 2-8-2 I recently purchased.  I have 2 older Bluerail boards I'm not currently using so maybe it's time to upgrade.

Someday soon, I want to convert at least one G scale engine to run on battery outside during the winter. I haven't decided on which one and how to do it (which brands to go with). So I just keep watching you guys!

Ron: Thanks for the comment on my support, was glad to help out. For those OGaugers who have not tried DCC, my working with BlueRailTrains on this new board was my introduction. DCC is extremely  comprehensive in its coverage of the main loco functions: speed control, lighting control and sounds. Also, once you get going, it's easy to work with.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Someday soon, I want to convert at least one G scale engine to run on battery outside during the winter. I haven't decided on which one and how to do it (which brands to go with). So I just keep watching you guys!

Joe, I have a Bachmann G scale 4-6-0 Annie that has one of the first BlueRail boards installed and uses a 12v 2000Mah NiMh battery and runs great. The 1st board was only rated for 1amp I believe (BobW correct me if I’m wrong) but have not had any issues with it making the engine go but I only have 2 cars and a caboose to pull.

BlueRailTrains first board (BlueHorse) did have a 1 amp spec limit, but was able to go somewhat higher. I have several OGauge engines running with this board (track & battery powered) and have not had a failure. However, I would be cautious with G scale due to the typically  higher motor current draws. One of the newer BlueRail boards has a 5 amp rating which is better suited to G scale and includes DCC capability.

BTW, my very first battery powered engine project used that same 12V 2000mah NiMH battery and is still running fine today.

Good evening Ron and Bob:

I have been lurking on this thread for quite a while, and now I have a dead MTH AEM7 that I'd like to try this system out on.  I also have at least one Atlas AEM7 that might be ripe for an upgrade as well, but that will depend on how well this works.  However, as a proto/3RS modeller, I am rather underwhelmed by the Soundtraxx audio.  The ESU LokSound 5x decoders have a specific AEM7 sound file, and the overall sounds are considerably better, (minus the horn, which, while clear, still sounds off).  Of course they also have a number of functions for lighting effects as well.  MTH AEM7s have lots of LEDs, and I'd like be able to use them as I do with DCS.

After reading the documentation, my understanding is that the BlueRail board will work with any DCC decoder.  Can I assume this would be the case with the LokSound decoders?  Has anyone tried that yet?  Also, I figured the 2A board will be sufficient for an MTH AEM7; I'm not sure I ever drew more than 1A with them.  Would you also be able to control several lighting functions with BlueRail, or would an actual DCC system be required for that?  I know you (Ron) control a few LEDs with your Atlas install, but there would be closer to a dozen LEDs in an MTH AEM7.

Please forgive me if any of these questions seem obvious.  Given the potential investment, (with the possibility of a control system down the road), I'd appreciate some reassurance that this will work before I set out to do any conversions.  Thanks.

This looks great to me. MTH closing and the boards for P3 will be hard to get eventually. It does enough for me.

@Pantenary posted:

After reading the documentation, my understanding is that the BlueRail board will work with any DCC decoder.  Can I assume this would be the case with the LokSound decoders?  Has anyone tried that yet?

Yes, people have used Loksound.  In the BlueRail app you would just select that option so the functions would map properly.

Also, I figured the 2A board will be sufficient for an MTH AEM7; I'm not sure I ever drew more than 1A with them.

You could do that and maybe it would work.  I myself would not.  I would spend the extra $40 and ensure my engine and sound decoder are protected and operate as expected.  You have plenty of room in O gauge for a 5amp board.

Would you also be able to control several lighting functions with BlueRail, or would an actual DCC system be required for that?  I know you (Ron) control a few LEDs with your Atlas install, but there would be closer to a dozen LEDs in an MTH AEM7.

Your DCC sound decoder controls the lights though the BlueRail app.  I am not familiar with Loksound.  But on the Soundtraxx decoder I have Fwd light, Rev light and then FX3 through FX6 available to control different ights.  I tried to simplify my 12 lights on the AEM7.  The headlight and three rear red marker lights are all on Fwd control and the opposite rear headlight and front three marker lights are on Rev control.  Then I control front strobes and rear strobes separate.  I have two controls left over.  No separate DCC system is required.

Given the potential investment, (with the possibility of a control system down the road), I'd appreciate some reassurance that this will work before I set out to do any conversions.  Thanks.

Reason enough for me to get the 5 amp board.

I trust the above response will help.  If not, feel free to reach out.  Happy to help where I can.

Ron

DCC is an option to dead MTH boards? Our HO brothers will not let DCC die.

Ron -- Thank you for your responses; that is very helpful.

Alan -- I wasn't aware DCC was on it's deathbed.  I was rather soured to it from my HO days, but there appears to be some very good systems these days at all power levels.

I am more than happy with DCS for the moment; it has worked well and I enjoy it.  There are no plans to rip out perfectly good PS2/PS3 boards or ditch DCS.  I am also aware that DCS is apparently becoming its own 'brand' so to speak, though it remains to be seen exactly what that will look like.  However, I now have two MTH motors with bad PS3 boards, and three 'original' PS2 motors that are probably living on borrowed time.  Their replacement or upgrade represents a significant investment into a proprietary system with a somewhat iffy future, which does not seem to me a wise or forward-thinking move.

While I am not presently making any changes, I am leaning towards transitioning away from propriety protocols in favor of something more universally supported as the current boards fail.  DCC fits that requirement, and there is plenty of quality hardware to choose from, (with the added benefit of using the current PS3 boards as long as they last).

Like Ron, I have used the BlueRailDCC board with several DCC decoders in OGauge locos with great success using both track and battery power. The decoders that worked best were SoundTraxx Tsunami2 and TCSWOW101. It takes a bit of practice and patience to get used to using the BlueRail app, but it is definitely worth the effort.

DCC isn't dead you misunderstood. DCC will outlive DCS thanks to HO.

FURTHER, DCC is not as robust as either DCS or Legacy.

I don't look forward to conversions if it becomes necessary.

@AlanRail posted:

FURTHER, DCC is not as robust as either DCS or Legacy.

I don't look forward to conversions if it becomes necessary.

I can do everything with BlueRail DCC that I can do with DCS.  My MTH F7's in DCC run better as as consist (lash-up) than they ever ran in DCS mode.

Ron

How does the Blue Rail app handle programming the sound decoder? I’ve done a lot of programming first gen Tsunami decoders with an NCE system. A programming booster was also needed. I haven’t worked with any Tsunami 2’s yet and I’ve been curious about how intuitive programming is with Blue Rail, especially how it handles the presence of 2 decoders. I did a number of G and O scale DCC and sound installs using a dual decoder setup and had to install a pair of DPDT toggle switches to isolate the decoders for programming. A little odd but it worked well enough.

Running a Tsunami decoder through a 4” speaker in an Accucraft Rio Grande K-37 sounded unbelievably cool!

I don't understand what you mean by two decoders.  Unless you are calling the BlueRail board the decoder.

The Tsunami sound decoder will work right out of the box.  But if you want to customize it you program it right inside the BlueRail app.

Ron

There are many more features of DCS, most of which admittedly i never use, but still cannot be activated or controlled with DCC.

One such is the doppler effect. Can DCC activated that or any of the many other unique DCS features?

@AlanRail posted:

There are many more features of DCS, most of which admittedly i never use, but still cannot be activated or controlled with DCC.

One such is the doppler effect. Can DCC activated that or any of the many other unique DCS features?

LoL... Doppler effect?  That's the best you got?  Doppler doesn't even work in DCS.

Oh... By the way.  My DCC has Doppler.  And it works better than DCS.

@Ron045 posted:

I don't understand what you mean by two decoders.  Unless you are calling the BlueRail board the decoder.

The Tsunami sound decoder will work right out of the box.  But if you want to customize it you program it right inside the BlueRail app.

Ron

So is the Blue Rail product not a DCC decoder that responds to bluetooth? I was under the impression it was similar to a straight DCC decoder that has motor and lighting functions but instead of using a DCC system, you use a phone. Is this not correct?