Here’s my initial, home review of Ring Engineering’s RailPro.
I purchased the RailPro HC-1 control unit and (2) LM-1 receivers with sound. RailPro is currently available for HO only. Installation of the receivers was done in a Genesis F3 A/B set. The exiting loco circuit boards had to be removed for the receivers to fit. I also test fitted the receiver into my Bachmann S4 switcher, which is the smallest loco I have. The LM-1 receiver just snugly slid in after I lightly scraped the little bit of plastic flashing from the side seams on the receiver. LM-1 receiver wiring follows the 9-pin JST DCC standard. The common +wire (blue) output is 12V DC and rated for 200mA total draw. Each of the (4) aux/function outputs are rated at 100mA each. Motor output is rated at 800mA continuous, 2 A at stall. My Genesis A unit lights are 1.5 V incandescent bulbs. I used 867 Ohm ¼ Watt resistor in series with the outputs. I installed a QSI HB.090 extended bass speaker for sound in the A unit. The plastic baffle for it is just slightly too large. A little sanding down of 2 opposing sides and the top surface on the baffle was required. The next size down QSI speaker would fit better if using the plastic baffle. I don’t really care for the sound of the plastic baffle, so I make my own baffles out of thin cardboard stock with a plastic cover. Sound is decent. Much better than with the plastic baffle, IMO.
Downloading software upgrades, loco pictures and sound/light effects from Ring Engineering’s website to the HC-1 controller was smooth and easy, but sometimes is lengthy, depending on what and how many files are being downloaded at once. PC only, no Mac yet. Ring Engineering provides generic loco pictures on their site for use with the RailPro system. The pix are used to give specific ID to each individual LM receiver/loco. It’s a real convenience fo
Man, I don’t really want to start a fight over DCC. For those that are already deeply invested in it, I think it’s fine. It was definately an improvement in control when it first came out. But for me, I was turned off by all the convoluted programming and high component count of DCC from the get go. I have also been witness to a lot of swearing and frustration at the SDMRR museum over DCC. Now, the SD&AE layout (where I run) also has analog DC integrated into the layout, so that could be a factor, but the cab plugs and wires, connecting and disconnecting all the time seemed problematic. They can’t use wireless cabs, cause it interfered with the G and O boy’s wireless. NCE said they would look into it. That was 3 years ago. The SDMRR association as spent a lot of time and money trying to work out DCC problems. Upgrades seem constant, but the system gets a lot use there, too. I have been running a marginal, custom 75mHz HO Train Engineer system that I designed and built for my P2K E units for about 5 years now. Been totally reliable, but poor reception/transmission. Can always stop/start, but lose speed control. When the DCC crashes and is reset, I’m up and running while everyone e
And that was NOT my intention for posing the question in the first place. I see from the RailPro webpage that they do have comparison chart for those interested in learning more.
I should also mention that I ran it on both 12V DC and the NCE DCC SB5 booster. No difference in ops. I’m going to be using the SB5 for rail power on my new home layout. I want to stay a little closer to SDMRR, and I may get a friend or 2 that can bring their cabs over and run with me.
I recently purchased a RailPro controller and an LM-1 locomotive module from Yankee Dabbler to test it out. The locomotive I selected is a Model Power re-released Mantua 4-6-2 Pacific with a long tender, because I wanted to make sure the LM-1 and speaker would fit…
The tender floor is a solid metal casting with no provision for sound, but it does have a 9-pin JST socket in it. I was able to put a QSI deep bass speaker with enclosure in the floor of the tender after I drilled a large hole in the center of the tender floor. The LM-1 fits loosely on top of the speaker enclosure.
I run the loco on our club’s DCC powered layout which is in a 20 x 40 foot room. It has plenty of volume for a club setting, even with the volume set at less than 50%…
Surprisingly, the RailPro receiver doesn’t seem to be as sensitive to power glitches caused by dirty track or dirty wheels as the DCC locomotives do.
I have been trying to find a sound-ready diesel locomotive that the LM-1 will fit into, or one with a LM-1 pre-installed.
The generic photo mentioned that is provided by Ring Engineering is of a Union Pacific diesel locomotive, but they don’t say whose model it is.
I have never heard of a HO sound-ready loco that doesn’t already have a sound decoder. Sounds a little expensive to pull the decoder to put in an LM-1, but I don’t see why one couldn’t.
Talk to Ring Engineering. I think they do installations, and may know dealers who have locos, pre-installed with an LM-1 and a speaker. Wouldn’t hurt.[:)]
A sound-ready locomotive is one with provision for a speaker, but is either not DCC equipped or comes with only a motor/light decoder. Athearn Genesis locomotives are an example of ones offered as “sound ready” but not sound equipped.
A recently purchased Athearn Genesis was sound ready but had no decoder installed.
I have contacted Ring Engineering, who suggested contacting Yankee Dabbler from whom I had purchased the RailPro controller and LM-1, but YD never responded to my question.
I may have to buy it. Next months budget goes for new tires on my car ($170 ea.) Wish they had a Mac interface but I can use vmware. My greatest concern is that they are the only manufacturer so if they go belly-up I am stuck with unsupported technology.
Tom! You gonna buy one? What are your thoughts?[*-)] [?]
Atlas Silver series locos are also that way, they still have the speaker tower that the Gold sound units use, but usually have an extra weight mounted there. Remove weight, repalce with a pair of speakers, no mechanical fiddling to make room for the speaker.
I just had a good laugh, it’s been a while since I looked at the Ring Engineering site and I noticed the icon they use on the HC-1 page screenshots for the “low speed boost” (what many DCC decoders call kick start) - the turtle used everywhere especially on lawn equipment to indicate slow, with a boot in his rear.
Thanks for the education on “sound Ready”, guys. I haven’t bought a new loco for many years, and not a DCC user, so I plead ignorance.
Ring Engineering and RC? Well, they have been in business for 8 years. They have had the EOT device for most of that time - selling well, from what I heard. I bought a couple. Very nice. They have quite a large list of authorized dealers, too. I’m not worried about them going belly-up. They are quite excited with the way things are going, and Tim Ring sounds VERY confident about the future of model train control. He’s even talking WiFi. I agree…after all, why not? The model airplane/boat/car RC guys have been laughing at us about DCC for years, and having a blast with radio. The RailPro and Ring Engineering potentially have applications in that field, too. Large scale RC is very successful, and Ring Engineering is developing for that. Look at Aristo Craft, G wire, etc. Aristo Craft was even developing their Revolution for HO a few years ago. I was slated to Alpha test at the museum for them. They did drop development, though, about the time RailPro came out. Daahhh! RC, and eventually battery power for HO, just seems like the natural way to go. RC does have WAY less component count than DCC, thus, inherently less problematic by design. Some other testers for Aristo Craft, and couple of dealers I know have told me that there are parallel developments to RailPro going on with RC right now.
If one is really worried about it, wait. [:)]
cacole, sorry you are having difficulty with installation issues. I’m a little surprised that no one has offered to do it for you, yet. It is pretty straight forward. QSI has a nice varity of speaker sizes/shapes. I don’t have the physical stamina or time anymore to do it, or I would offer to. My layout and pass car modeling is taking all I got for
Thanks for the offer, but I have had no install issue with the 4-8-2, but with finding out who, if anyone, makes an HO diesel model with the RailPro LM-1 already installed, or who can say which locomotives can be so equipped without needing to have the frame milled.
Here’s some email excerpts I received from Tim Ring that might be of interest:
The HC-1 control knob and touchscreen are designed to last a lifetime. Push buttons and click pots that are used on typical DCC throttles are much more likely to fail.
The horn can easily be played without looking down to the screen if the horn button is located in the lower left corner because you can feel the screen edge and operate the button without looking down.
Also, with RailPro button setup, you can make any button in any potion easily with the on board software.
As for reversing we admit you need to look at the screen with the current software. It literally only takes half a second to find and press the reverse button. We do believe that in a future software update we will move the reverse button to the upper left corner of the screen. Then you will be able to use the upper left corner to locate the reverse button without looking down. Then you will be able to control speed, direction, and horn with one hand and without looking down.
The reason why we change all files to RailPro format before they are loaded to the HC-1 is because existing formats (bmp, jpg, etc.) are not the best for model train control system like RailPro. Further, when the RailPro system uses all RailPro formatted files, you end up with a stable system that does not have compatibility issues and crashes like PCs often do. We currently do not have software that can easily be used by customers to convert files to RailPro format. However, we do plan to make PC software that will allow customers to use and convert their picture and sound files to RailPro format.
So far, Tim as shown that he really listens to customers. Soooooo important these days. [:)]
Another Railpro user here and very satisfied. I’ve had it for nearly a year now and am thoroughly enjoying it.
Regarding sound installs and ‘sound-ready locos’, there are a few options that can make things relatively easy. As stated earlier, some Atlas Silver Series locos have the speaker enclosures already installed. Putting sound in them is as simple as measuring the size for the speakers, buying them, and installing. I have to add that out of all the sound installs I’ve done (which isn’t that many) the Atlas sounds the best. The way they designed the shell allows for a very good baffle and can bring a lot of the deeper sounds out.
For hood units (geeps and such) I’ve found that using Railmaster speakers is pretty straightforward. Their smallest speaker with enclosure has pretty good sound for its size and fits easily, along with th LM-1, in smaller hood units like a GP35. Larger units can fit one of Railmaster’s bass reflex speakers, which sound much better due to the larger speaker size and enclosure. On some installs (non-sound ready Atlas) I had to remove some of the weight to allow a reasonable size speaker to fit.
I’m looking forward to when they release PC software to allow us covert our own pics and sounds into Railpro format. Their sound library is good, but releasing that to the community to use would open the door to a huge number of custom sound files. Exciting prospects!
Now that would address my biggest usability concern. Once I can use the throttle without having to repeatedly look at it to find the buttons I most commonly use, I’d be willing to try it out.
The direction button is located close enough to the upper right hand corner, and there are no other usable objects up there, that I can change direction without looking by locating the corner and pushing down on the screen with the flat top part of my finger - not the tip. It is a little too much of a reach, and I think the upper left corner would be better and faster, though.
Being a gadget freak I think these look really cool and it seems I can run it right on top of my Zephyr (or hell maybe even hooked up to a 300W PS from an old computer.) But I run old timey-wimey stuff and that receiver chip would be hard to fit in my babies.
