Train America Studios (TAS) Engineer-on-Board (EOB) Availability?

@raising4daughters posted:

About 15 years ago, I found a conventional MTH SW-8 switcher in the livery I wanted and had the guys at Train America Studios upgrade it with what I believe they called a SAW board to TMCC and Rail Sounds.  Works fine, but I've kicked myself ever since for not having them add their EOB board, equivalent of Cruise in ERR.

The engine runs fine, but doesn't have the speed control I've come to appreciate since then, especially in switchers.

Anyone know if EOB boards are still available? I wondered if any of the upgrade gurus on the OGR forum have any such as @gunrunnerjohn???

I know I could replace the TAS electronics with ERR but, at that point with costs considered, I'm thinking I'd be better off selling this SW-8 and just getting a PS3 version. Just guessing, but I figure adding EOB might be less costly.

You can sometimes find some EOB boards for sale here on the forum. In my opinion you might as well just go the ERR route or buy a PS3 version. I believe I might have some EOB boards that I could sell you, but whether they still work well I don't know. The extra money for ERR cruise commander would be well worth it.

Same I have an EOB board I'm not using, it worked when it was removed. Not sure about now though.

You might find an EOB board, but remember they're getting long in the tooth at this point.  I have to go with Sid's idea, if you want to upgrade it, go with ERR.

BTW, I looked, I still have two old SAW boards, but I don't have any EOB boards, someone came along a few months ago and bought the ones I had.

I personally would just go the ERR route if you are looking to do another upgrade. EOB is an ok system, but I view it as an Extremely Obsolete Board. Many may question that, but they go bad all the time and don't have the smooth operation that a ERR cruise commander has. ERR also has a decent sound selection to choose from. EOB just seems to be more work than its worth.

I also have some spare EOBs I could part. I had planned to also replace my SAW boards with them but with having to replace a number of EOBs in friends engines I have decided to just go with ERR or PS3 when they fail. Between the high failure rate and funky startup its not worth it.

If you want keep your radio and audio boards you can get a diesel motherboard or steam motherboards for the engine and tender and get an ERR Cruise M. A bit less $$$$$ than a Cruise Commander and new Railsounds with a more wiring.

Pete

Here is one of the EOB setups I have. It would need some rewiring as it is from a steamer originally. I believe I may have one from a diesel, but it's just not worth the time. The thing I dislike about EOB the most is the very choppy speed steps. ERR Cruise is much better. I also found this old TAS smoke unit board. Kinda neat.

Thanks for the quick responses everyone. You've got me re-thinking things.  I have two other switchers (WBB NW-2s) that a local fellow forum member upgraded for me to ERR with cruise.  They're fantastic. I was thinking the TAS EOB was an equivalent, forgetting that it was older technology and not realizing it's not as good as ERR. Will have re-think doing ERR.

Sid, if that's a Puff n' Chuff board, that thing had the best control logic. Instead of trying to pulse/puff the motor at all speeds, it just went to full blast after so many chuffs/time. It also had a nice reduced stream at idle.

I'm a bit of an EOB fan in the sense of 'if it works then run it'. It was ahead of its time in many ways as it could do a lot of neat things in one package. I seem to have good luck with it as I just got a 3rd Rail M1b that is set up correctly and runs well after correcting some non-EOB related issues (stinky rollers).

The EOB from steam may be missing the VCO to provide prime mover ramping with motor drive.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

Sid, if that's a Puff n' Chuff board, that thing had the best control logic. Instead of trying to pulse/puff the motor at all speeds, it just went to full blast after so many chuffs/time. It also had a nice reduced stream at idle.

I'm a bit of an EOB fan in the sense of 'if it works then run it'. It was ahead of its time in many ways as it could do a lot of neat things in one package. I seem to have good luck with it as I just got a 3rd Rail M1b that is set up correctly and runs well after correcting some non-EOB related issues (stinky rollers).

Oh I get that EOB has its positives. I've just never been a fan of the finiky stuff. I already deal with finiky stuff because lots of my models are brass. Norm if you are interested in anything I got I am glad to sell it to ya for cheap. I don't have a need for any of it.

On that M1b I love it. Love the series you are doing. Also if ya ever want legacy in it you know where to find me 😁😉.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The EOB from steam may be missing the VCO to provide prime mover ramping with motor drive.

Yeah it is probably missing that.

I'm of a different opinion, I was going to convert my EOB engines to ERR but have decided to leave them alone, as ERR expense is just to high when you need to ad Gunrunners super chuffer and chuff generator.   Plus with Bob Krivacic doing improved firmware with added features, any future upgrades I'm going EOB since I have spare boards.

The one place I know who has spare boards, tested and untested is . Royz Trains.   WWW.ROYZTRAINS.COM

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The EOB from steam may be missing the VCO to provide prime mover ramping with motor drive.

I've been told the boards are the same for diesel and steam.  Firmware is the only difference I think.  Bob Krivacic would be the one who knows for sure.

@superwarp1 posted:

I'm of a different opinion, I was going to convert my EOB engines to ERR but have decided to leave them alone, as ERR expense is just to high when you need to ad Gunrunners super chuffer and chuff generator.   Plus with Bob Krivacic doing improved firmware with added features, any future upgrades I'm going EOB since I have spare boards.

The one place I know who has spare boards, tested and untested is . Royz Trains.   WWW.ROYZTRAINS.COM

I did see some of those improvements, but the components themselves are prone to failing due to their age. That is something I have found TAS products lack is long lasting components. ERR upgrades can be expensive, but that's just the reality of this hobby.

Sid

Well, I've never seen a board failure due to age, yet.  Knock on wood.  Only issue are the traces leading from the power connector to the full wave bridge rectifier, which I just solder direct now.

@superwarp1 posted:

Well, I've never seen a board failure due to age, yet.  Knock on wood.  Only issue are the traces leading from the power connector to the full wave bridge rectifier, which I just solder direct now.

Well then I guess you are lucky. I just see no benefit to it. An engine with ERR, Johns products, LEDs, and all the gadgets you can think of will out perform an EOB locomotive all day long. No doubt EOB has some good features including the chuff adjustment and the speed control features. But if I am going to take a formerly conventional locomotive and put tmcc in it, why would I install EOB (Extremely Obsolete Boards)

Thx Sid but I like to do my own stuff. I have enough TAS spares to maintain my EOB fleet for the time being. The only old stuff I'm hunting for is RS4 PRR sound boards. I hope to get back to M1b project soon. I want to doublehead it with the M1a at some point (EOB was great for that).

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

Thx Sid but I like to do my own stuff. I have enough TAS spares to maintain my EOB fleet for the time being. The only old stuff I'm hunting for is RS4 PRR sound boards. I hope to get back to M1b project soon. I want to doublehead it with the M1a at some point (EOB was great for that).

I got some PRR T1 sound boards if you are interested. Also Lionel can program sound chips for ya.

TAS EOB installation manual complete with settings.   39 pages.   There is a procedure to set diesel chuff rate.   Noted to inhibit unusual reving, up-down.  who knew???   

@superwarp1 posted:

I've been told the boards are the same for diesel and steam.  Firmware is the only difference I think.  Bob Krivacic would be the one who knows for sure.

Firmware is indeed the difference on steam and diesel.  Since unless you have access to the diesel chip, read my previous post.

Look here...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/eob-upgrade-1

upgrade chip

Lou N

Not many of the EOB boards you see today can be programed for chuff rate unless they were originally sold as upgrade kits to the end user. OTOH the EOB Drop Ins are programmable for chuff. They can be a cost effective solution to chuff generation plus work when space is at a premium.

Pete

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Firmware is indeed the difference on steam and diesel.  Since unless you have access to the diesel chip, read my previous post.

Bob's new pic will be universal

@Lou N posted:

Look here...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/eob-upgrade-1

upgrade chip

Lou N

That's perfect Lou, just what he's likely looking for!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That's perfect Lou, just what he's likely looking for!

Thanks. Just sent Bob a PM.

Bob’s chip is for upgrading EOB boards, no? It won’t turn a SAW board into an EOB. How would this chip help R4D?

Pete

Pete, all of the full EOB setups I have now or in the past, whether DIY installed or OEM, support the programmable/selectable chuff in steamers - if the encoder is used and not some type of chuff switch.

The drop-in could be used with either chuff method.

I put a full version of EOB in my MTH Centipedes years ago but didn’t need anything extra for diesel RPMs. I just had to set the chuff code to trigger them right.

@Norton posted:

Bob’s chip is for upgrading EOB boards, no? It won’t turn a SAW board into an EOB. How would this chip help R4D?

Pete

Yep, Bob replied that it's an upgrade to existing EOB, not EOB itself, so back to the drawing board for me.