can someone put into simple language what is the difference between aristo craft Train Engineer and the Train Revolution. I'm very very new to g gauge and am thinking abbout one of these units but am not sure of the difference. Thanks in advance for your help Ken:tb-biggrin:
The Train Engineer by itself was Aristocraft's first "DCC" system for their locomotives. It was limited as to how many engines could run at once. The Train Engineer Revolution system is their brand new "DCC" system. It has a capacity (Total) of 999 Engines. All on one receiver system. Since no one can actually run 999 locomotives, this is considered infinite. They just got a firmware update allowing 20 locomotives and accessories from the retail launch of 7.
Thank you for the reply. Am I to understand that the train engineer originally ran 7 trains and now can run 20. The revolution is actually a unit for people with large setups. I only have about 75 ' of track and two engines so I think by what you said the engineer would be more then enough.Do you agree? Thanks Ken
At the time of the Revolution's release, Aristocraft stated that they would be limited to 7 locomotives, but updates would be coming later. You basically send in your remote and payment (I assume, I haven't been there when my friend did it) and they upgrade the remotes information and firmware at cost. And yes this system was designed for big operations. But in my case where I plan to run 2 mainline trains with 4 locomotives a piece, it also is a great option. The revolution is an upgraded version of the original Train Engineer. And the best part is it's compatable fully with analog units, although analog units require the optional smoke boards to be wired in. Your local Aristocraft/Hobby Shop can explain this better. The ability to have a system that works with a 400 yard wireless range and the ability to run up to 999 locomotives and accessories, make this a great system to consider even for the smallest of a garden railway. The Revolution system has a brand new safety system that the basic and older Train Engineer does not. Something you may wish to consider. A Voltage Overload Switch. If too much voltage spikes the system, the Revolution reciever calls for "ALL STOP!" and shuts the power and all units down to a dead stop to prevent the system from blowing or causing damage to your locomotives. Many have said that "All Stop" can damage the power trucks. But I have tested this with my friend and we can find no evidence to support this. I would suggest watching these Aristocraft tutorial videos on youtube, courtesy of LSOL.com: [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRmm6NpcZOg"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5P_41xzWRw"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-ffrkC7Go"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sqA3AO_dB0"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEMQqUtPcYg"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuqW2Fdm4Qg"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZz-NGTCZFQ"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Gc98b8RbI"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] I suggest the Revolution system for you despite 2 locomotives over the normal T.E. system mostly for the new innovative "Multiple Unit" system. It makes it possible to take 2 locomotives, say my FA and FB, with 2 onboard receivers and to program them as shown in the tutorial videos above (East Coast Large Scale Train Show 2009) and start and stop them at the same speeds. Even if 2 locomotives have different start and stop times, you can manually change their start up momentum easily with the remote to equal both units together. It's a much better, although not cheap, system that really does pay for itself in the long run. I've enjoyed playing with the beta system my friend had and I enjoy the ease of use. I hope those videos I posted will you better understand the Revolution of G-Scale DCC (I sound like a used car salesman now haha). I am not plugging this system because it's aristocraft. I'm plugging this system because it works.
DragonFyreGT, I like you explaination of the new system. USA Trains has definatelly come out with more types of rolling stock and locomotives over the years than Aristocraft, but have not advanced into the electronics part of it like Aristocraft has which is a big gripe of mine. Aristocraft is definately more plug and play freindlier than USA Trains is and they have thier own DCC systems. USA Trains tried a wierd relationship with Lionel because the owner Charles Ro Jr is a Big Lionel person. USA Trains with the partnership of Lionel came out with a system called "Train Command" which depended mainly on a converter to convert from AC to DC current. This system was not a big hit and flopped basiclly. USA TRains is partnered up with Phoenix Sound systems and they are not too difficult to install almost being a plug and play operation. They still don't have thier own plug and play DCC system as of yet and I don't think they will due to the fact they want to give the people thier own choice of DCC manufacturers, but some of those DCC installs can be intense in which you almost need a degree in Electrical Engineering to wire the systems in. This is probably why Aristocraft locomotives are so popular at train shows, since how DCC is really needed thier and they are easy to install. I mself run track power and I'm as close to DCC as I'll ever get. I own 3 Bridgewerks Magnum 1000 DL tranformers and all 3 are full remote controlled, however the down fall is if I want to switch tracks with other locomotives I do have to turn off the motor switch. The cost of decoders is what keeps people like me with big collections from upgrading to full DCC. MTH is the only G scale manufacturer that has DCC and Sound already installed and ready to go, but you can only use it on the MTH system and certain sounds only work on AC power. Yes MTH Rail King Gauge 1 or G scale does run on both AC and DC power just like thier O scale stuff does. Of course the down side is if you are running for example a MTH locomotive with a USA Trains locomotive, of course you can't be using AC power
I had installed recievers in both my units for beta testing on my friends outdoor layout and we even spiked the voltage system to test the overload switch. Without fail the units came to a dead stop and the system shut down to prevent damage. Now the theory is that Aristocraft and USA Trains Power Trucks (yes you can install this system in everything. My friend, Dave, has a Revolution system installed in his LGB Mogul's Tender. And on youtube there is a guy with 2 stainz sets running them), can withstand the "ALL STOP" command w/o damage. LGB Power trucks and the new Piko power trucks may not withstand that as they draw at lower amps. I have pre-ordered a new Marklin/LGB Starter set for my girlfriend's little cousin and Plan to put a Revolution system in place after I test it on my friend's layout. I'd rather hijack his unit then to spend more money on something that might damage the power trucks. LGB/Massoth's MTS System was a good system purely for LGB because their voltage surge protection was geared for the low amp drawing. Bachmann can use the revolution system so long as you know how to wire it correctly. Aristocraft claims their system only works with their units at this time and that's a load of bull. Dave ran 4 beta recievers: USA Trains PA-1, LGB Mogul, Aristocraft SD45, and a Bachmann Shay. All 4 ran perfectly and didn't display any problems. The trick to putting the reciever in a tender means you run additional wires from the tender's front into the cab or under the cab. G-Scale is more enviromentally "green" to use a buzz word. The new ball bearing trucks I ended up with on my FA/FB pull 1/2 an amp each. That's 1 amp per unit; 2 amps total as opposed to 2 amps per unit; 4 amps total. But with this newer power we need better voltage. Newer transformers are proving it like Bridgewerks (which I strongly reccomend you use their power packs to power the revolution system), and newer DCC Systems like Loco-link and the Train Engineer Revolution. Smaller Scales have had decades to work on DCC Refinement. We are just getting our feet wet in the DCC set up. Standard HO Locomotives come DCC Equipped out of the box, much like MTH G-Scale does. Why? It's cost effective. MTH is only 1:32 scale and as such it's cheaper for them to install the systems. AC/Bachmann/USAT/LGB are much bigger causing bigger costs. We'll get there some day on them. As for now, We'll just have to rely on purchasing these systems seperately. One other note, I have used the LGB MTS System and I don't like it. It doesn't respond well with other manufacturers which was a big turn off for me.
Thank you all for your replies. I have listened to the u-tube demo's before and was very interested in the way they work. From what everyone has said I will be getting the revolution system because for the difference in price it can and will do a lot more in the future. I'm a firm believer in buying once not twice. Thanks again for the feedback. Ken
