Posts by dwb
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10,744 Posts
>DCC in the UK is at the crossroads.
From the sound of the Dynamis specs that are being "drip fed" out of Bachmann, I think they've decided to cross over. They dipped their toes in the water with EZ-Command; upped the ante with sound and are now going full throttle for an all singing all dancing system.
I deliberately used the term "drip fed" because I have reason to believe that Bachmann are purposely playing their cards close to their chests to prevent their competition getting any ideas. Given that a lot of these features are dependent on software in the command station, it is not unreasonable to deduce that Bachmann don't want Hornby to add some last minute bells and whistles to the Elite before it leaves the factory or more last minute yet, Margate on the delivery trucks.
David
From the sound of the Dynamis specs that are being "drip fed" out of Bachmann, I think they've decided to cross over. They dipped their toes in the water with EZ-Command; upped the ante with sound and are now going full throttle for an all singing all dancing system.
I deliberately used the term "drip fed" because I have reason to believe that Bachmann are purposely playing their cards close to their chests to prevent their competition getting any ideas. Given that a lot of these features are dependent on software in the command station, it is not unreasonable to deduce that Bachmann don't want Hornby to add some last minute bells and whistles to the Elite before it leaves the factory or more last minute yet, Margate on the delivery trucks.
David
Joined
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10,744 Posts
QUOTE Some comparative figures.
Max no of locos & functions
Digitrax Zephyr 10 / 9
Super Emp. Builder 22 / 9
Super Chief 120 / 13
ZTC511 16 / 9
Hornby Elite 255 / 13
Lenz Set 100 255 / 13
Bachmann Dynamis 40? / 20
Roco MultiMouse 10 ? / 20
For completeness:-
ESU Ecos - store details on up to 16,384 locomotives; access 20 functions
Viessmann Commander store details on up to 4,000 locomotives.
Like the ESU and the Viessmann (and Maerklin/Trix), the Dynamis has a large display screen. This suggests that there is a real O/S running underneath (ESU use Linux) which in turn means a file system and that is how ESU can store so much more locomotive data than the list quoted above. So if the Dynamis has a similar structure, it too may be able to store a good sized locomotive database and since there is evidently a "feature war" going on, let's say it's 512 locomotives.
Thinking further about that display screen and having just read the Viessmann catalogue 2007/2008 pages on their Commander at Lokshop.de, it occurs to me that the Dynamis might have some route diagram display software to go with the built in point control. Now that would be something!
David
Max no of locos & functions
Digitrax Zephyr 10 / 9
Super Emp. Builder 22 / 9
Super Chief 120 / 13
ZTC511 16 / 9
Hornby Elite 255 / 13
Lenz Set 100 255 / 13
Bachmann Dynamis 40? / 20
Roco MultiMouse 10 ? / 20
For completeness:-
ESU Ecos - store details on up to 16,384 locomotives; access 20 functions
Viessmann Commander store details on up to 4,000 locomotives.
Like the ESU and the Viessmann (and Maerklin/Trix), the Dynamis has a large display screen. This suggests that there is a real O/S running underneath (ESU use Linux) which in turn means a file system and that is how ESU can store so much more locomotive data than the list quoted above. So if the Dynamis has a similar structure, it too may be able to store a good sized locomotive database and since there is evidently a "feature war" going on, let's say it's 512 locomotives.
Thinking further about that display screen and having just read the Viessmann catalogue 2007/2008 pages on their Commander at Lokshop.de, it occurs to me that the Dynamis might have some route diagram display software to go with the built in point control. Now that would be something!
David
Joined
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10,744 Posts
>It seems biased towards Marklin will it be ok here ?
The emphasis on Marklin is to help broaden the appeal of their product. As I understand it, the Marklin protocol is different to the DCC protocol. ESU equipment is capable of understanding both and as far as I can tell, it will do that simultaneously. Marklin is very big in their home market - Germany, so it is important for them to be seen to support it.
>I have got a bit lost with the s88 system in the manual is this a feedback bus?
Yes it is. You only need it if you want to get information from the layout back into a computer. The usual type of data returned is point positions.
David
The emphasis on Marklin is to help broaden the appeal of their product. As I understand it, the Marklin protocol is different to the DCC protocol. ESU equipment is capable of understanding both and as far as I can tell, it will do that simultaneously. Marklin is very big in their home market - Germany, so it is important for them to be seen to support it.
>I have got a bit lost with the s88 system in the manual is this a feedback bus?
Yes it is. You only need it if you want to get information from the layout back into a computer. The usual type of data returned is point positions.
David
Joined
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10,744 Posts
>With the s88 system I guess this means you run another bus extra to the track in order to connect all the point motors to the system?
>Does this mean you have to get your motors from Esus or can you use any motor and just get there point decoder like on other systems.
You only need the S88 bus if you want to know what position your points are set to. For getting them there, any DCC compatible accessory decoders which is able to drive the point motors of your choice will do the job. There are several threads on the forum about the ease (difficulty) of driving different brands of point motor - standard Peco motors need plenty of juice.
David
>Does this mean you have to get your motors from Esus or can you use any motor and just get there point decoder like on other systems.
You only need the S88 bus if you want to know what position your points are set to. For getting them there, any DCC compatible accessory decoders which is able to drive the point motors of your choice will do the job. There are several threads on the forum about the ease (difficulty) of driving different brands of point motor - standard Peco motors need plenty of juice.
David
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