What do you think? Don’t hesitate to comment.
This blog was launched a few weeks ago now, and I am glad to have more and more visitors. I hope Digital Train World is a welcome drop in an ocean of interesting hobby blogs!
A funny thing I noticed: about half of you read the French version. Having a bilingual blog has proven to be a good decision – despite the additional work. But somehow no one dares to comment in French. So, dear French readers, n’ayez pas peur: use the comments function as well!
The new design is a bit “heavier” than the old one, but presents more posts on the front page.
I like it & I hope you will!
Yours,
Pierre
Bonsoir Pierre,
I’m following your blog since last week, and it’s fantastic! great job! Can I put a link to this blog in mine? (I invite you to visit it whenever you want: http://www.rintiland.es).
I think I will learn a lot with you!
Kind regards,
Jose Luis.
Hola 😉 I’ll be glad if you add a link to my blog, I’ll do the same for yours.
You have a great layout project, and many interesting posts! I’m looking at your shinkansen review right now, and I like your track bed option from lokliege.
Bonsoir! 🙂 It’s nice to share knowledge between N-modellers! Thanks for your comments of my blog, I wish I could have more time to write posts, but… I do my best! 😉
Yes, LokLiege trackbed is incredible, and very easy to use! And KATO Shinkansen is a spectacular model (I received my new E6 Shinkansen last week, but I couldn’t write anything about it, you will see in the future!).
Une salutation!
Bonsoir Pierre,
What a refreshing blog to read. I applaud you. I ask for your opinion.
I have 3-rail K-track HO
Marklin/Fl/roco/–AC trains
Track cut-S88 for detection
Viessmann Commander
Although routes can be contructed they are not going to help me running conflicts on my ‘Rubiks cube’ of a track plan. By what I read, I have to change to computor control which I tried to do with Viessmann but as you found out the the PC in/out will not support computor control. What a waste. I do not like’ dead ends’ or ‘wrong turns’ They waste time, money.
Please critisise anything I am about to say.
TC gold computor control– along with Z21 as Interface—as the basics
i pad/i phone as throttles OR +SmartHand mobile by TC.
Do I continue with my SS88 by Viessmann with a Uhlenbroch (UH) 63880 adapter or do I scrap them and restart with UH63330 feedback moduals
What of ‘two way’ com to enable computor to know what the loco is doing.
How is loco slowing/braking prototipically plus being able to stop at the correct place achieved. Can TC do this by itself. Does TC need all sorts of additional feed backs.If so what types.
Sorry for so many questions all at once but without knowing all the way through I could be going up another blind end, as I did with Viessmann.
Not sure if normal moniter and mouse is the right choise or at this point to push the boat out and go touch screen, not sure of the extra money as I think the other bits are already a big cost.
Your thought on all the above would be most helpfull.
If I have missed anything in the overall sceem of idea please say.
Kind Regards
Anthony
Well Anthony, that’s a lot of questions, and I’m just a guy playing with trains. Don’t forget to ask for other opinions around you 😉
These are just my thoughts:
– Viessmann Commander
I had it, discovered its strong limits with automation, was annoyed by bugs. It lays in my cellar, I won’t blame you for getting rid of it.
-Z21
Seems good on paper, now supported by most software (incl. TC). Remember what I said in my post: if you plan on only using PC control, you don’t need to buy a fancy command station.
You can of course… I do use an ECOS II. So just remember: in PC mode, you won’t use the luxurious CS capabilities. Know there are Loconet adapter in front of the Z21 if you need to. I only switched to Loconet for its addressing capabilities (modular layout). Never had any problem with S88; people who do (interferences) normally have huge layouts.
– TC
The Gold version can do anything you want; breaking and so on. This often involves little or no change to the layout. TC can live with one detection zone per track section, though 2 or 3 is advised. You need to look at the TC Gold manual to get an idea. Remember PC driving is a matter of taste: I love playing with software options, as much (maybe more) than installing wires. Remember it’s a hobby 😉
Bonsoir Pierre,
Thank you.
Small de- code –What does CS capabilities stand for please.
Regards
Anthony
You’re welcome. I mean “Command Station capabilities”. In other words: with PC control, the station is just a PC interface, so whether it is a cheap one or a fancy one doesn’t matter.
For example, I love my ECOS II, but I nearly don’t use it anymore, except as a PC interface.
Pierre,
Thanks for sharing and looking forward to learn from you layout automation and detection.
Jimmy Low, Frankfurt
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