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I saw an ad for their line of products for control of locomotives and turnouts. At first glance it seems quite well done and simple to use. Do any of you have any hands on experience with this system? I'm curious how it works and how do the locomotives sound? Does anyone know if you can combine their "decoder" with the sound side of say a Tsunami? Their system seems familiar somehow-is it perhaps like some of the European ("plug and play")Systems?

Curious-thanks,



Peter
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Peter I googled it and was astounded at the prices.

You may want to go with DCC for O scale, or maybe even better yet go Self Contained battery R/C. No track wiring as I have done. Cost is much less, and layout has no wiring at all. You can visit youtube and search reutling and see a 44 tonner in O Scale which is self contained R/C. Don't mind the noise, it is in the camera.

The Ring products look to be for HO?


Ed R
Hey Ed! My Google search is what prompted my questions. I am not looking for a system as I'm happy with my DCC. I am always curios about new technology irregardless of cost!!. For example I've read all your stuff on batteries and RC, not to use but to compare and learn. This (Ring) is a funny one as it seems to just be out there under the radar with no direction to it. At first blush it looks fantastic. 2 wires to track, plug in their "decoder-receiver" and away you go touching your screen etc. Where's the sound come from and what's it sound like? Is it a rich man's toy train controller or a serious attempt at simplifying function control? I'll admit to forgetting F commands quite frequently.

The other funny thing is I posted this on 3 boards and nothing-not even a blurb from Ring.

Peter
Peter,
I just saw a couple videos for the Rail Pro system and thought I would see if anyone here had any info on it. Looks like a nice system, the prices did not seem overly expensive to me, the main unit was similar in price to a legacy system. Looks like it is about 100.00 to add command and sound to a locomotive so that is a bit cheaper than either TMCC or PS2.
Looks like it is for HO however, I could not find details on how many Amps their decoders could handle.

Here is the link to the videos I saw. RailPro Video
I would highly encourage you to send your requests to Ring as they are really great guys. They have made references to plans to produce higher amp modules for O Scale. I did install one of their 1A modules in an Atlas MP15DC for test purposes and to get familar with their Rail Pro system.

One of the nicest things about their system is you can take your locos and throttle to anyone running DC or DCC and operate! Very nice.
Battery technology is in its infancy. But great strides are being made - I am going to guess that what Ed is suggesting will be the future of model trains. Think of it - no more excuse for a center rail, no shorting from brake shoes, no dirty track issues - and digital control with back emf or whatever. Lots less magic than in this stupid iPad, which seems to know everything and lasts for ten hours between charges.
Someone sent me a link to the Railpro/ring engineering site a few months ago.

I like to know the specs on my system. I read all the information on the their receiver/decoder module and I could find no reference to the current rating for the device. I have no idea what it will support. Also, I noticed the size and I think it is bigger than the NCE 408 Decoder which is a very good O scale decoder. I can fit a 408 in most steamers, but I don't know about this thing. And I felt a little insulted that won't give out the specs so I can decide if it is useful for me or not. I have a few older USH and MG locos and they draw some amps.
You might want to check out the Stanton RC battery DCC system that NWSL is selling now. I have used conventional RC car components and battery to operate a MTH 2-8-0 as an experiment. It worked really well. And I will be doing more in the future with RC. I hope to have a trolley/interurban layout operating off overhead. With RC battery powered diesels and steam locos as well.

Phil Randall
Nortonville,KY
The RailPro module available today is designed for 1A rating. It handles motor, lighting and sound. It's definitely smaller in size to a NCE 408. It does have a fire proof casing around it which also helps protect the module components from shorts since it's designed to fit into an HO locomotive using the 9-pin JST connector.

quote:
Originally posted by prrjim:
Someone sent me a link to the Railpro/ring engineering site a few months ago.

I like to know the specs on my system. I read all the information on the their receiver/decoder module and I could find no reference to the current rating for the device. I have no idea what it will support. Also, I noticed the size and I think it is bigger than the NCE 408 Decoder which is a very good O scale decoder. I can fit a 408 in most steamers, but I don't know about this thing. And I felt a little insulted that won't give out the specs so I can decide if it is useful for me or not. I have a few older USH and MG locos and they draw some amps.
I am running Self Contained battery R/C in my 44 Tonner. If the stuff will fit in that it should fit in most everything you boys are talking that you have and are curious if it will stand up to your needs

I have a 2 amp ESC-R which is good for 12 volts. There are also 5 Amp/12 ESC and larger capacity, but really not that much larger.

The brand I am using Action-electronics.co.uk has nice controllable speed graduations.

I am using a 2.4 ghz transmitter/receiver, which allows me to run different locos with a single transmitter. I am not sure about double heading.

Power is LI-PO battery 7.4 volts .5 amp. I'm running just a 1 amp motor in the 44

I finally ran the batter down to where the battery protector [absolutely necessary with li-po] shut the power off. About 4 hours worth on a small battery--the smallest available [everything is jammed into a 44 hoods] Recharge time some where around 35 minutes.

I am working with a combination of both 1st and latest generation tech parts.

Ed Reutling
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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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