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Wireless cab control

3956 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Makemineadouble, 
Doug
Has anyone anything to recommend in this department?

Anyone anything to say on the ESU Mobile control?

More info here.
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D
Funny that you mention that model. I have my eyes on that one as well. I know it cost around $321 for the unit with base station and $249 for more hand units.
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L
4
Here's some more wireless options from Digitrax;






or there's a complete wireless system;


There's also another radio starter set, and plenty of InfraRed wireless throttles, but I figured I'd just show the radio equiped ones in pic's.
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T
Have played with ESU mobile in my local model shop. It is fantastic; a really great bit of gizmo that I would really like to own. Only hand held that would replace the Roco Mouse II, I use. That nice.

This shop even has two or three in stock.... but ... what a price!!

(An ESU or all the hardware for computer control - easy choice in the end)

TVGB
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Makemineadouble
Are you on Radio control as well Liza ?, are their any restrictions on use in Australia ?
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L
Hi Mmad, running Super Chief on Radio, no restrictions down here.
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C
Be very careful with wireless radio controls that are supplied from outside the UK. The frequencies that are allowed in the US are not the same as those allowed in the UK. This is, I suspect, why Digitrax do not sell their radio equipped versions in the UK but instead rely on a system like your TV remote which is part of the basic handset supplied with the more expensive systems. This should be quite adequate for most UK sized models although the handset might need pointing at the receiver. Digitrax owners please comment!

The penalties for bring caught - & they do look for you - using illegal frequencies are severe.

The radio wireless systems such as the Lenz that are sold in the UK must use UK legal frequencies. Stick with UK supplied components if you are using radio links.

In another part of my life I have suffered from illegal use of radio frequencies causing real accidents so I take this very seriously.

Chris
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Doug
I'd agree with what Chris says. I wrote this recently at MRE Mag:

QUOTE ... I think Wireless DCC (or wireless controllers) is great as it removes the clutter of controller wires and lets you move around the layout with your locos. I've used the Infra-red IRIS 66500 from Uhlenbrock and that's good, but wireless radio would be better as you don't have to worry about interruption of line of sight Infra-red.

CVP Products (www.cvpusa.com) have a good looking wireless system - The AirWire900. Their frequencies are not suitable for Europe, though. We'll have to wait for some other source.

On a BUS level, wireless is interesting. It could be an option for bi-directional hi-bandwidth data transfer. These days a wireless WiFi transceiver for home networking can fit on a USB dongle - and that's big because of the connector. CVP also produces a wireless decoder, the AW9D10 wireless receiver with built in 10 Amp motor drive, measuring 1.43 x 4.23 inches. These systems are used on garden layouts where there is no power in the tracks. Locos are either steam driven or run on batteries. More info on their site.
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John
Dear All,

Zimo have the new MX31FU which comes in two versions. one for the European fequency range and one for the US. See here for more details :-

Zimo MX31FU

I would assume that the European version covers the UK as well.

Regards
John Russell
Vienna, Austria, home of Zimo
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Doug
John, we have talked about this before. It is really a great system. It's just very expensive, not compatible with Xpressnet or Loconet, and the Zimo guys are not that easy to talk to.
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D
QUOTE and the Zimo guys are not that easy to talk to

Warum ist das so?
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Doug
Well I asked them a bunch of questions last year. They forwarded them to their US importers who - seeing that I was in Europe - refused to help me. They then referred me to the Austrian guys, who forwarded me back to the US...
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Makemineadouble
It's possible that we may end up with cordless buses as the standard of the future.
Its also possible that this might we one area where we could end up with an acceptable
NMRA standard.
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D
It's also possible that Santa Claus exists as well.


Sorry I couldn't help it. What's wrong with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?
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Doug
Yes, they don't have to go and invent or define a new wireless protocol. It would be a big issue with getting it approved all over the world.

A WiFi local network could be very interesting. Simple and cheap PCMCIA WiFi cards could be used in the various modules to link them all up.

This is basically using a computer Ethernet network as a data BUS - something that has been talked about.
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Makemineadouble
2
Good point.............but we can't call it blue tooth "far too simple" what about loconet mark 2, I suppose dear old AJI will want to patent the idea
. Lenz will then get the hump and we are all back to square one !!!!
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