I recently read a review of the Rail Lynx Infrared Direct Digital Control system in Model Railroader.
I’m on verge of converting to DCC, but first I would like to know if anyone has first hand experience using the Infrared Direct Digital Control system. How does it compare, for an example, to a NCE system?
Happy Holidays,
No comparison. The club I used to belong to installed Rail Lynx. They have since given up and gone to normal DCC. Funny though they are still listed as one of the try out palces on the Rail Lynx web site LOL.
It would appear they improved a bit, since they give 2 sensors for the receiver now so you can put them in the cab windows instead of drilling a hole in a fan like before (for diesel installs). That was a huge objection at the club. The next problem was with hidden trackage and tunnels. They had tons of the repeaters and STILL had control issues. Still no sound on-board. Once you get beyond a few locos (to recover the cost of the DCC command station and booster), it actually is MORE expensive - there’s no $12 Rail Lynx receiver (NCE D13SRJ decoders in 10 packs are $11.99 each - and it’s a QUALITY decoder, not a stripped down model). I also always found the control to be a bit clunky espcially as they tried to hide the 8-bit 255 address using two dials - a natural for hexidecimal numbers (00-99 and then A0-FF) so you dialed in addresses like 12 on one dial and 8 on the other for 128. Not to mention with just 255 addresses you can;t simply address each receiver by the cab number of the loco like you can with DCC.
Sorry, maybe back when DCC was still in its infancy and systems were limited to 99 addresses and not much more function control than turning the headlights on and off, Rail Lynx was an attractive alternative. But DCC has long surpassed what Rail Lynx can do and relegated it to an also-ran in the command control world. There’s just so much more you can do with DCC. And their little article on the NMRA DC standard notwithstanding (even that is a bit dated), the fact remains that there IS an NMRA standard for DCC and so you can use whichever manufacturer’s decoders fit best in you loco, you are not limited to the products of the one company that makes ther rest of your DCC system. This is perhaps more critical in N
Rail Lynx is one of those products that isn’t mentioned in any of the hobby magazines as something that they have used and recommend.
Before investing in anything of this type I’d want to see it in operation on a large club layout and find out more about its strengths and weaknesses, especially in regard to product reliability and customer service.
I don’t recall anyone here on these forums ever mentioning that they use Rail Lynx in the past couple of years that I have been participating.
Another drawback to me is the fact that you can get Rail Lynx receivers from only one source. With DCC you have 10 or 15 different manufacturers all making compatible decoders from which you can pick and choose.
Our round robin group has been using RL since early 90’s. We love it. Why? It is much more universal than any other system. If there is 12 volts on the tracks, RL engines run without programming. You need a power supply regulated 12VDC with amps that suit your needs. I have 12.5 amps, but have only seven operators. You need a controller to send the signal to the engine. It is totally wireless, no plugging in, no programming. Finally, you need to install the sensors. As mentioned above, we created a reamer that could be used to drill out the circle in a fan. It is so inconspicuous that it has to be pointed out for most operators. However, the dual set up in the cab is the way most of us go today. That is it. No boosters, no master. Simplistic. Also simplistic controls. Also, a DC loco can be easily wired to run RL. That is a big savings. Controller has options for lights, several steps, front and back, etc. Controller is tethered for true hands free operation. We love some areas for switching. That may not be for everyone. The receiver picks up well…how…just let the receiver hand naturally around your neck and it should point at the ceiling above the local, where the signal bounces and spreads, making all of us a marksman. No problem whatsoever.
Drawbacks. No sound. Some of us have purchased NCE, the same maker of the board. But with 13 operator on one of the layouts, if everyone had sound…well you get the idea…not for us. That does not mean we dont like sound on a couple…so for us…it is a perfect fit. They run side by side without a problem. Fewer options on the controller. But we use handthrows for our turnouts because we like the hands on operation. Yes, avoid tunnels…if you do have any, be sure they are high enough inside so the signal can bounce. We have overcome that problem year ago. High ceilings won’t work. For the basement it is fine, but in a large convention hall with 30 ft ceilings, well…too high. Then you would have to point at the loco, which
DCC is an NMRA standard, DDC is not.
David B
Please read my post on 10-08-08 at 1:01 PM at the following link:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/129157.aspx?PageIndex=3
To quote myself,
Rail-Lynx costs you more and gives you less. If they ever go out of business, you’re completly sunk. It’s more awkward to operate, it’s not compatible with anything else, and things like tunnels, second decks, and ceiling types can completely defeat it without $35 repeaters and a string of LED’s.
After looking into it, I don’t know why anyone would buy it.
Paul A. Cutler III
I put Rail-Lynx right up on the shelf next to Dynatrol back in the day they were both impressive but now a days with DCC becoming much more affordable and having so many more features available, such as sound, stationary decoders, block detection, signaling etc. It’s like comparing a piper cub to a Jet fighter.
Besides it being a line of sight application and having to mount sensors so they can pick up the signal which is a horrible idea you still need to wire the layout same as you would a standard DC layout. So you don’t gain anything like the simplicity in wiring with DCC. I feel that is one of the biggest but least talked about advantages of DCC. The extra money you will spend is inconsequential to what you will gain with DCC.
For what you would pay for something like an MRC Tech 4 list price $87.98 or a control master 20 with a list price of $250 You can buy and NCE power cab for about $170 or less you would be foolish to go with Rail-Lynx by the time you buy the hand held, THE BATTERY’S? the sensors etc. etc. you will wind up spending more then you would for an entry level DCC system and depending on the amount of locomotives and sensors and other handheld’s you would have to buy you would most likely equal or exceed the cost of the top of the line DC system.
Sorry but Rail-Lynx would be a poor choice.