I am in the process of looking at different systems for my soon to be layout, as I am not a computer or electronics wizard I have just seen a new type system called Railpro which is a radio controlled system rather than thru the tracks, seems about the same price and looks alot easier to use. It also seems to have the same type of control features. It is a DC system but thier decoders will convert A/C on DCC layouts to D/C and you can run engines set up for thier sytem on a DCC track, no need to reprogram or anything from what I understand. It was advertised in Model Railroad Hobbyist the free E magazine., WWW.ringengineering.com Just wondering if any one else has looked at it and what your thoughts are. I have used digitrax and MRC and they both seemed like alot of extra work for what it does. Just FYI I am not connected to Ring Eng in any way.
I think this idea is pretty neat. It is HO and I model in N, so it is of no use for me. What I do see is the begining of a long awaited change and upgrade of our present dcc systems. How long before Digitrax or NCE, for example, produce something similar to this. When they do and competition is formed, the prices will stabilize lower, I hope. Carl
I don't know if you saw my reply in the other thread, but unless you are looking at different prices I don't see how you can say it seems about the same price. Some people may very well like this type of setup, but personally for me and my operating style I prefer throttles like the Digitrax DT402 with real buttons that I can feel: I bet I can punch in a four digit address quicker than I can scroll through several screens looking for the locomotive I want. When switching, I can easily stop, change direction, throttle up a couple of notches, stop, change directions again, etc., etc. with one hand(to keep the other hand free for opening couplers) without ever looking at the throttle. It looks like it would be awfully hard to do that with RailPro. I can have direct control of two locomotives at once on one throttle, something you definitely cannot do with RailPro. RailPro does have some features that I like, but most of them have to do with setup, which is something I don't spend a whole lot of time doing. I spend much more time operating so I would prefer a system that is more complicated to setup but handier to operate than one that is the other way around. Even if I was comfortable with the operating style, the price would rule this system out for me(actually, the fact the I am an N-scaler would also, but if I was in HO-scale). If you want sound in every one of your locos and you only need a couple of throttles, then it may be comparable to DCC. If you only want sound in a few locos, or you need several throttles, then it is much more expensive.
Reading their blurb they seem to be taking the most negative interpretation of DCC functions when in truth they are not that bad in most cases. Size of the loco modules looks like it could be a problem, though as with DCC these will get smaller in time I expect. Installation and wiring look to be about the same, despite what they say, and DCC has the advantage of many ready equipped locos for those that don't want to pull shells off. Robert's comments about operation are interesting and probably very valid. It's only when you get to use things for an extended time that you find that 'easy to understand' doesn't necessarily correspond with 'easy to use'. There is also the compatibility issue - RailPro make negative reference to NMRA standards and say 'patent pending' in a couple of places, so if you go for RailPro you should probably assume will not have any choice of suppliers for associated kit or decoders, whereas with the "20 year old technology" of DCC there is healthy competition for your $$$. All in all I'll stick with DCC until battery with r/c becomes practical enough in the smaller scales to remove any need for track power at all. THAT will be the next gamechanger and I'm (definitely not) putting my savings on that horse
cool: Always interesting to hear about another train control system likw Railpro because such suggests a different type of operating & modelling environment. Have also looked at CTI Electronics approach with interest. And there are other approaches to automated MRR, of course. baffled: Does anyone know a few TB threads that bring some of this together? smile: confused:Myself, I have been DCC from getgo and perfectly happy. Would be same if only one consist and simple loop layout for the simple control of lights, direction, consisting, etc. and growth potential. But, technical curiosity and respect of technical development is valuable. What do we know about non-DCC systems? Digitrax remarks for running trains vs. flipping switches captured my attention. What might the future hold, for DCC & others? RRBill
I have been using the new RailPro system now for about a week. I had Traintek set up a Lionel Challenger, my worst engine, and 2 E8's. The E8 A and B unit are set up as a consist. It took about 5 keystroks (touch screen presses) and that is all it took. Great time saver. My model RR uses a DCC system (MRC Advance 2). I can run DCC engines at the same time as RailPro engines. The Lionel finally sounds great, unlike the original DCC decoder. Acceleration is smoother with RailPro (1000 speed steps vs 128 with DCC). Programming is a snap, no more CV's, no more programming track. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. ALevesque@aol.com Put RailPro in subject line.
Do you still use this system? I'm looking at setting up a new layout and am deciding on either DCC or this system. How do you like it? Is is stable? pro's verses cons on it. what would you like it to do that it doesn't. Thanks.
Go look at the Model Railroad Hobbyist forums. There have been 91 messages about this system so far. It might appeal to you. Depends on some factors. Rich
They shut that discussion down. some people were getting pretty excited about it and it still seems like it's quite debatable. Just curious why it's so contested? it seems that there are people who like the idea and those who are steadfast and seem to be stuck in their ways of it's gotta be like this or else. I like the idea of simply plug and play. drop the controller into the engine, they system looks for it and bing, you're set to go. I've noticed on a few other boards that this is the same feeling out there. I'm doing my homework on this first and don't want to buy a system that isn't expandable or outdated in a couple of years.
Same here. Also an N scaler, with no use for RailPro. But let's face it, DCC technology is 20 years old. Some of the tech in RailPro, particularly the user interface, should be what the Digitraxes, the Lenzes, the NCEes of the world SHOULD be doing...innovating, instead of being stuck in the 90s technologically. USB interfaces should be standard in all control units.
I've noticed that there isn't alot of feed back on this system at all. I still haven't made up my mind and wonder why everyone is so resistant to it. Makes sense to me to keep updating technologies and operating systems. Sure there have been a few flops like Windows ME and others, but as these layouts and setups get more and more complex, the technology has to keep up.
