Interesting, and nice improvement in slow-speed starting. However, seems way too complicated for my older brain. For example, does the start percentage have to be higher if the engine is on a 2.5% up grade? Even higher on a 3.3% up grade? And then what happens if the engine is starting on a downgrade? Will the starting percentages have to be lower?
Probably just not my cup of tea, but I'm glad it works for you.
Chuck
Nice work Ron! Well done Sir
Yes, the orange handrails look better.
Question; how does this system compare to the BlueRail installs you've done? ie, ease of installation, functionality, sound quality, functions? overall impressions? What you do this again or would you go back to BlueRail?
@Casey_Jones posted:Nice work Ron! Well done Sir
Yes, the orange handrails look better.
Question; how does this system compare to the BlueRail installs you've done? ie, ease of installation, functionality, sound quality, functions? overall impressions? What you do this again or would you go back to BlueRail?
I don't have enough time under my belt with RailPro to make that decision yet. I do still very much like BlueRail and I'm not ready to toss it aside. If I could have found an IOS MFI bluetooth game controller that had a rotating dial, I'm not sure I would have ever looked at RailPro. All these gaming controllers have buttons and sticks, no dials.
Installation: I'd say it was a tie if you consider that with BlueRail, you are also adding a Sound Decoder for lights and speakers. You still have 2 wires for power, 2 wires for Motors, 2 wires for speakers and various wires depending on how many lights you have.
Functionality: Still too close to call. I just don't have enough usage yet. I do like the tactile dial throttle offered by RailPro. After that, using the RailPro Handheld or a Cell Phone for BlueRail is the same. A touch screen.
Sound: I think this is one of those areas that anyone could make a case for the system they like best and they would all be correct. With BlueRail you can use any Sound Decoder brand you want. There are a bunch of them from very generic to very sophisticated. The RailPro sounds are from their web site. They seem to have a lot of Diesel choices as well as horns and bells. Steam choices are limited, but they are saying, more are coming. The thing that does sound neat is you can create and add your own sounds with RailPro. They even have a users forum where they share sound files which are just wav files. One fella recorded train wheels going over a crack and looped it. So it's like the Clicky Clack function in MTH DCS... very very cool and realistic sounding unlike the MTH clicky clack. More to come in this area. I hope to play with this a little.
Quality: Can't really address that fairly. I have four BlueRail trains. I had one board issue with an early version of software with a known bug. They updated it and paid for shipping. I had one Soundcard issue and Soundtraxx sent me a new one no questions asked. I have not had a problem since. Knock wood, no problems with RailPro. I have received timely emails from Ring Engineering when I had a question about speakers and both RCSofNE (Don Sweet) and GScaleInstallations (Bob Buck) have been very helpful.
Price wise, I guess you have to decide how many of these upgrades will you be doing and how many handheld controllers or iphones do you want, in order to make a fair comparison. Assuming you have an iphone or ipad, buying 1 BlueRail board and 1 SoundCard is going to be less expensive than buying a RailPro Handhold Controller and RailPro board. But for upgrade, 2, 3, 4, etc, one RailPro board is less expensive than one BlueRail board and one SoundCard. So you have to evaluate what it is you want and what functions/sounds you want.
Would I do it again? Well yes, I purchased two RailPro boards, so I have another engine to upgrade. It's a MTH PS1 Chessie GP38 that I stripped. This engine will be consisted with the SD40. Based on size, I'm estimating this 2nd install will be a little easier, although there are more lights, so we'll see. I can also fit a bigger speaker in the MTH fuel tank. But again, I'm not ready to toss out the other system. I can and have run both depending on how I feel and which engine I feel like running. No different than people who run both Legacy and DCS. And if I have company, I'll have plenty to share.
I'll tell you one thing I am 100% +++ sold on and that is battery power. I will NEVER (Bold, Underline Italic) own for myself an engine that will run on track power. It will most certainly be converted to battery. However since my Son, Daughter and Brother-In-Law have not yet seen the light, my layout will always have track power, DCS and Legacy.
Thanks for asking and I hope this helps. Sorry if it was long winded.
Have Fun!
Ron
Everyone,
I had an MTH PS-2 steam engine and a 3rd Rail RDC professionally converted to battery with RailPro in late 2020. As many of you know, MTH PS-2 engines do not have DCC and the 3rd Rail RDC was conventional. I was going to have to buy a decoder whether or not I went with RailPro or another system to do a battery conversion. The decoder is a significant cost of any conversion.
The initial RailPro cost was more expensive because I had to buy the controller and charger, etc. I was not confident that I could convert the engines to battery myself so I paid to have it done. I plan to do subsequent conversions myself using these two engines as a wiring model. I haven't had a chance to do a conversion yet.
The RailPro controller is one of the most expensive parts of the system but only one is needed. It has full features for programming engines. Hopefully, RailPro will develop a less expensive basic controller sometime in the future.
I am very happy with the RailPro system. It is very easy to use. I have used several other battery systems but not Blue Rail. RailPro is easier than the other battery systems that I have used.
I agree with Ron that battery is the only way to go. It makes running so much easier. Wiring a layout is just painful and expensive. Having to have both Legacy and DCS in O gauge makes O gauge more costly and painful. I run Legacy and DCS on my layout but wish that I had only one system.
I think that everyone in the larger gauges should try battery and I hope that manufacturers will start making battery powered trains. NH Joe
Over the past few years, I have installed and tested nine different wireless control systems. Required time and effort to remove the original factory electronics and replace with an after-market system is about the same with every system. A great deal of planning and care is essential to achieve a properly working result. Costs for these available systems varies widely. Every system I tested worked well within its unique set of features and design parameters. As an aside, all of the tested systems were compatible with battery power and worked equally well in this mode. The interest level in these new systems and operating modes is increasing, but there needs to be more available info on proper installation techniques and procedures.
@BOB WALKER posted:The interest level in these new systems and operating modes is increasing, but there needs to be more available info on proper installation techniques and procedures.
Amen to that. I follow these threads with interest but I'm an electronics novice. I'll be delighted to make the switch when even a rube like me can pull it off.
So I had a little fun with the computer and the Handheld HC2 device yesterday. You can load pictures of your engine into the RailPro board for display on your remote. This will replace their generic engine picture.
First, take a picture.
You don't have to do this part, but I wanted a clean background, so I cleaned it up in MS Paint.
Then the file must be transferred to the engine where the remote will read and display when the Engine when recognized. Here is the comparison of the default graphic and the custom graphic.
Thank you Ron!
No Sir your replay was not long-winded at all, it was very informative, thank you
Some thoughts
So it seems it will come down to:
My personal thoughts/questions
BlueRail is Bluetooth, RailPro is a proprietary "Direct Radio + Net", any pros/cons? I can see the comparison listed on the RailPro site, but not sure how objective it is
The RailPro Controller is also proprietary, For me, I kinda like the idea of using the iPad large screen to navigate through the menus.
Also, according to the last BlueRail Newsletter email, we should be seeing a major announcement of a new product VERRY Soon. Depending on what it s it could be a game-changer
Ron, thank you again for taking the time to share this information with the rest of us, I look forward to your progress reports as you play with the RailPro system more and more.
@Ron045 posted:Hi All,
I have decided to try the Ring Engineering RailPro system. I was able to get the hand controller (HC2b) and RailPro control and sound board LM-3S-G for a nice price. The system is schedule to be delivered next week.
I was also able to get a Weaver SD40 from a forum member at a VERY nice price to use as an upgrade model.
Here it is with the original QSI board still installed.
I took out all of the electronics to prepare for the upgrade. I also replaced the original lights with LEDs. Here are some pics of that process.
Original grain of wheat bulbs.
LED replacements with 1k ohm resistor
The model had black handrails but the original Chessie #7619 had orange handrails. So they got a first coat of paint tonight.
That's all for now. I will post updates to this thread as I make some more progress. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Since I have converted to the dark side, this one will be battery powered like my last engine upgrades too. I am definitely hooked. My operating sessions are fun and trouble free.
Have Fun!
Ron
Great post Ron!
Great post Ron! Very informative, thank you! What size LED’s did you use as replacement lights?
also, I have a LM-3S module I will attempt to install in an O scale locomotive (Adding sound too). Can I use this or do I need the LM-3S-G or LM-4S-G?
thank you!
mike
@rvhirailer posted:Great post Ron! Very informative, thank you! What size LED’s did you use as replacement lights?
also, I have a LM-3S module I will attempt to install in an O scale locomotive (Adding sound too). Can I use this or do I need the LM-3S-G or LM-4S-G?
thank you!mike
I use 3mm LEDs. But I figured out an alternative for the Class and Market lights which are smaller. Watch this video on my BL2. I keep calling them 2mm LEDs in the video , but they are 3mm.
The LM-3S has sound built in. However, that may not work well for O Scale. It's meant for HO, On30 and maybe S. I used the LM-3SG on the Weaver SD40 and the new LM-4SG on the BL2. One simple board for sound and control.
I absolutely love RailPro. My only complaint is it take three different button pushes for an Emergency-Stop. There has been some discussion about putting either a physical button on the next version of the remote or at least a screen button that only needs one push.
Ron
Hi, Ron!
I've been following your work, especially the Blurail install on the AEM-7.
Have you seen that Blurail and Soundtraxx have joined forces to develop an all in one Blunami? They're releasing it in their 2Amp version first and this may be the one I go for to install in my AEM-7.
Thanks!
- Mario
@CentralFan1976 posted:Hi, Ron!T
hey're releasing it in their 2Amp version first and this may be the one I go for to install in my AEM-7.
Thanks!
- Mario
Mario,
Do a current stall test on your engine first to make sure the new Blunami can handle that engine. I assume you as doing DC, DCC or Battery? No AC, right?
Ron
@Ron045 posted:Mario,
Do a current stall test on your engine first to make sure the new Blunami can handle that engine. I assume you as doing DC, DCC or Battery? No AC, right?
Ron
Luckily you posted a great video for me with the current draw.
DCC is AC, and the decoder can handle up to 21VAC.
Thanks!
- Mario
I have the same engine in 2R. BTW, if you update the fuel tank to the MTH version, it makes a big difference. I also added the bell, sunshades, and some other details.
@ESPEE 8722 posted:I have the same engine in 2R. BTW, if you update the fuel tank to the MTH version, it makes a big difference. I also added the bell, sunshades, and some other details.
Beautiful. Love the fixed pilot.
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