This is an interesting development. There has been a bit of discussion about the merits of cheap decoders recently. Maybe this is why they are so cheap.
Problems with Hornby Select
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QUOTE Lastly, please be aware that the Hornby decoders that are due for release soon have a maximum current load of 0.5 amps.
The current load seems more appropriate for N-Scale than HO/O.
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The current load seems more appropriate for N-Scale than HO/O.
I posted a comment some time ago about a discussion I had with Hornby at STEAM in Swindon.
All I could get out of them at this event was that a Hornby decoder could be fitted to any Hornby loco. In the light of the Adrian Hall email, what they didn't say could be more significant than what they did.
Now, more than ever, definitely going to wait and see what Bachmann come up with.
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All I could get out of them at this event was that a Hornby decoder could be fitted to any Hornby loco. In the light of the Adrian Hall email, what they didn't say could be more significant than what they did.
Now, more than ever, definitely going to wait and see what Bachmann come up with.
QUOTE In the light of the Adrian Hall email, what they (Hornby) didn't say could be more significant than what they did.
I think what Adrian Hall hasn't said is more significant than what he has said.
Bachmann are/were as vague about their new product when questioned so its simply in the nature of marketing and sales people to not answer questions, especially when they don't know the answer!
If I was a Hornby sales person I would say that you could fit a Hornby decoder to any Hornby loco. Why would I say anything else!
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Any feedback from Hornby customers should be passed on to Hornby directly. I'm not too sure that Adrian Hall will be able to help us as well as Hornby!
Happy modelling
Gary
I think what Adrian Hall hasn't said is more significant than what he has said.
Bachmann are/were as vague about their new product when questioned so its simply in the nature of marketing and sales people to not answer questions, especially when they don't know the answer!
If I was a Hornby sales person I would say that you could fit a Hornby decoder to any Hornby loco. Why would I say anything else!
Any feedback from Hornby customers should be passed on to Hornby directly. I'm not too sure that Adrian Hall will be able to help us as well as Hornby!
Happy modelling
Gary
The show I attended yesterday a several of the dealers said they were taking up a Digitrax Agency. So some common sence is coming through at last.
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QUOTE The show I attended yesterday a several of the dealers said they were taking up a Digitrax Agency. Sp some common sence is coming through at last.
And Digitrax will have to thank Hornby (and Bachmann) for this for giving DCC a wider audience in the UK. But of course they won't. I guess the dealers feel that some Hornby and Bachmann Digital customers may want to trade up eventually so it makes sense. If I was a Hornby dealer promoting digital I would want to offer a higher priced system that folk could trade up to also. And having a Digitrax agency might give that dealer more credibility in the local area if there are two dealers locally competing for Hornby Digital customers.
Its one thing offering a system buts its quite another selling it of course!
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Digital is the future so good luck to any dealer offering a range of digital products.
Happy modelling
Gary
And Digitrax will have to thank Hornby (and Bachmann) for this for giving DCC a wider audience in the UK. But of course they won't. I guess the dealers feel that some Hornby and Bachmann Digital customers may want to trade up eventually so it makes sense. If I was a Hornby dealer promoting digital I would want to offer a higher priced system that folk could trade up to also. And having a Digitrax agency might give that dealer more credibility in the local area if there are two dealers locally competing for Hornby Digital customers.
Its one thing offering a system buts its quite another selling it of course!
Digital is the future so good luck to any dealer offering a range of digital products.
Happy modelling
Gary
Adrian Hall (a good mate) runs UK model Shops Directory and is a long time Digitrax user. He's also an agent of TCS decoders and I think this is the reason he got involved with the Hornby "Select". There is a lot of DCC experience here Beer Hunter. We had a lengthy discussion about the Hornby "Select/Elite" a month or so ago the main reason for this was the unusual method of addressing. normally with the cheap sets it's two digit. The more expensive have four digit or two digit amongst their array of advantages.
While I'm not condemning the Hornby system, it is disappointing to hear that a system with so much potiential could be stifled even before it's general release. This could show a lack of understanding on the part of Hornby to the true potential of what their trying to market. But then we covered this subject last month.
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While I'm not condemning the Hornby system, it is disappointing to hear that a system with so much potiential could be stifled even before it's general release. This could show a lack of understanding on the part of Hornby to the true potential of what their trying to market. But then we covered this subject last month.
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QUOTE For some reason, yet again it's the UK market that's faffing around with el-cheapo kit - not the situation in mainland europe or the rest of the world. At the end of the day maybe the manufactures are only producing kit that the UK modeller is prepared to pay for !
Maybe thats one of the reasons that :
Price of 4-6-2 UK outline tender locomotive = approx' £100
Price of 4-6-2 european outline tender locomotive = approx' £200
Personally, I'd rather have a small fleet of Fleishmann/Roco/Trix etc locomotives than a large fleet of other stuff.
Right on the button Brian.
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Couldn't have put it better. If your not going to pay the money what do you expect? As an example of how easy it is to install a decoder in a Continental loco. I have done a short review which I will post on my blog for comparitive purposes.
QUOTE I thought that the previous discussion was about Hornby decoders not the Select Controller.
The problems seem to be with the Select and the deocders if you take the trouble to read the opening item.
QUOTE >but I am a Systems Engineer and so I understand buses)
Then why don't you behave like an engineer, gather some evidence and present it objectively? At present you're coming across as "My Hornby, right or wrong".
I would echo Davids statement. From your previous posts all you seem to know is Hornby and seem to be on the defensive. It might be worth you doing some research and finding out a bit more.
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Maybe thats one of the reasons that :
Price of 4-6-2 UK outline tender locomotive = approx' £100
Price of 4-6-2 european outline tender locomotive = approx' £200
Personally, I'd rather have a small fleet of Fleishmann/Roco/Trix etc locomotives than a large fleet of other stuff.
Right on the button Brian.
QUOTE I thought that the previous discussion was about Hornby decoders not the Select Controller.
The problems seem to be with the Select and the deocders if you take the trouble to read the opening item.
QUOTE >but I am a Systems Engineer and so I understand buses)
Then why don't you behave like an engineer, gather some evidence and present it objectively? At present you're coming across as "My Hornby, right or wrong".
I would echo Davids statement. From your previous posts all you seem to know is Hornby and seem to be on the defensive. It might be worth you doing some research and finding out a bit more.
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Sorry Gary, but I don't agree with your insinuation that a Hornby employee should say that I could fit a Hornby decoder to any Hornby loco.
Unless it's true and every such decoder fitted will work without problems.
The other point to be made is that any such Hornby demonstrator will fully realize that a prospective customer will have locos of at least one other manufacturer in his stud. If said demonstrator knows that there could be a problem with ANY RTR loco and does not mention it, he is being dishonest and trying to sell a product that he knows to be unfit for purpose. If on the other hand he honestly does not know of the potential problem, then he should not be allowed by Hornby to give advice to the public attending the show.
If Hornby did not realize this potential problem existed, then they should immediately make it known and provide a fix.
So let's be informed properly, is there a potential problem? and if so what is going to be done about it?
I'm still (at least at this stage) glad I decided to wait and see how Bachmann compares.
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Unless it's true and every such decoder fitted will work without problems.
The other point to be made is that any such Hornby demonstrator will fully realize that a prospective customer will have locos of at least one other manufacturer in his stud. If said demonstrator knows that there could be a problem with ANY RTR loco and does not mention it, he is being dishonest and trying to sell a product that he knows to be unfit for purpose. If on the other hand he honestly does not know of the potential problem, then he should not be allowed by Hornby to give advice to the public attending the show.
If Hornby did not realize this potential problem existed, then they should immediately make it known and provide a fix.
So let's be informed properly, is there a potential problem? and if so what is going to be done about it?
I'm still (at least at this stage) glad I decided to wait and see how Bachmann compares.
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