Puggers Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I have just read about a wireless system for DC made by BlueRailways and, as I use a handheld Gaugemaster feedback controller with a very long lead (over which I am constantly tripping!), I thought that this sounded like a great idea. Does anybody have any experience of using this system, please? I do not want to go down the DCC route as I have well over 100 locos purchased over many years and I have neither the time, money, or knowledge to convert the non DCC ready locos (I am in my 70s and the eyes and fingers do not work as well as they used to!). Thank you, in advance. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I don't know anything about this, but as well as experimenting with battery powered radio control locos, I'm also looking at using a DIY radio system to control DC layouts. I'm using Arduinos and various add on boards. You could probably build something that will do the job very well for a tiny fraction of the price of a commercial system. If you don't have the skills and knowledge to do it, it could be well worth learning, and there are people on RMweb who are familiar with Arduinos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted September 17, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 17, 2017 (edited) I have just read about a wireless system for DC made by BlueRailways and, as I use a handheld Gaugemaster feedback controller with a very long lead (over which I am constantly tripping!), I thought that this sounded like a great idea. Does anybody have any experience of using this system, please? I do not want to go down the DCC route as I have well over 100 locos purchased over many years and I have neither the time, money, or knowledge to convert the non DCC ready locos (I am in my 70s and the eyes and fingers do not work as well as they used to!). Thank you, in advance. Richard We've recently installed these on the main lines of Bournemouth Central, replacing a pair of elderly American walk-around radio throttles. The radio throttles were fine for driving trains but had a massive amount of inertia that couldn't be dialled out so we had to switch over to local hand-held controllers for any shunt moves. The BlueRailways equipment does everything with the one handset, much more convenient. They've not had much use yet but our initial experience suggests they are very good indeed and a big advance on the previous gear in use. Build quality/finish looks very impressive and they seem very reasonably priced for what they are. Also very simple to set up On current form, I'll be getting some for my new layout currently being planned. Not really my preference, but I understand the base stations can be controlled using a smartphone/tablet app, potentially saving the cost of the handsets. John Edited September 17, 2017 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puggers Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 Thank you to you both for your replies. I think that I am going to buy this system and, John, not the one controlled from a smartphone, as I am known in the family as 'Gorilla Mitts' where those things are concerned and I am not allowed to touch anybody's! Richard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Let us know how you get on with it,please. I'm watching wireless and dead rail development with some interest, and am finding Blue rail a possible option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Looking at the specs on the BlueRailway website the I was surprised to see that the 522 dual unit cannot be used with common return wiring, something I would have thought made it incompatible with the vast majority of layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Looking at the specs on the BlueRailway website the I was surprised to see that the 522 dual unit cannot be used with common return wiring, something I would have thought made it incompatible with the vast majority of layouts. Can two singles be used with common return? Presumably there are a variety of frequencies or side bands available. If so individual units makes sense. Could be connesting + and - to the same terminal the unit short it out, like I did to my Duette 45 years ago and fried a rectifier diode. I wired common return 35 years ago and wish I had not done it. The saving on wire was minimal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puggers Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 Looking at the description on the website, I think that not being able to use common return wiring only applies if you want to run two locos simultaneously with two separate controllers. Ben, I will let you know how I get on but we are going to have to be patient as, when I went to order a system today, I found that they are out of stock until early October. I asked them to let me know when they are back in stock and received a very prompt reply from the proprietor, Ian MacFarlane, and he said, I quote, 'It has been relatively quiet for the last couple of months while the sun has been shining and, as soon as it starts raining, men get back to playing with model trains (I don't know what he means!). This has resulted in so many orders that their stock has been cleared out. Regards, Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetheroad Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 don't get confused between Bluerailways and BlueRail as they are completely different products!. BlueRail is about radio control of individual locomotives with either track or battery power or a combination of both. Actually BlueRail and the Deltang system I use can replace a DC controller by using their receivers to provide PWM power directly to the track. Bluerailways looks like a direct replacement for standard DC controllers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 (edited) Can two singles be used with common return? Presumably there are a variety of frequencies or side bands available. If so individual units makes sense. Could be connesting + and - to the same terminal the unit short it out, like I did to my Duette 45 years ago and fried a rectifier diode. I wired common return 35 years ago and wish I had not done it. The saving on wire was minimal According to their FAQ page multiple single controllers (601) can be used with common return providing they are fed from independant DC supplies.Regarding common return wiring I'm always surprised when people are critical of it, probably because in the forty five years I've been in the hobby (and in the same club) every layout I've been involved in has been wired that way. I disagree that the saving in wire is minimal, on a large layout it can be considerable and the switchgear is simplified as well Edited September 20, 2017 by JeremyC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejstubbs Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Wrong thread: that argument is here. Bottom line: people are going to have to agree to disagree because there is no "right" answer - there are pros and cons on both sides. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puggers Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 Let us know how you get on with it,please. I'm watching wireless and dead rail development with some interest, and am finding Blue rail a possible option. Hi Ben, Just to let you know that I received my blueRailways 720 controller and 522 wireless receiver yesterday and have installed them on my layout. It is a great system and simplicity itself to set up (thank goodness) and is great to be able to move around the layout without the dangling wires from my old Gaugemaster feedback handheld controller. It uses PWM technology which means that the driving technique is different to the old controller but once I mastered it (after a couple of kangaroo starts and demolished buffer stops!) I am finding that it is controlling all my locos very well. The biggest surprise is the difference in the half dozen or so elderly Limas I have with the old pancake motors - they are now very responsive and quiet. I think that this is a great system and deserves to be more widely known about - I have no connection with the company other than being a very satisfied customer (honest, guv!). I hope that helps. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted September 30, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Can two singles be used with common return? Presumably there are a variety of frequencies or side bands available. If so individual units makes sense. Could be connesting + and - to the same terminal the unit short it out, like I did to my Duette 45 years ago and fried a rectifier diode. I wired common return 35 years ago and wish I had not done it. The saving on wire was minimal We have used two singles on Bournemouth Central, which is wired common return and they work just fine. We weren't expecting any problems, because the BlueRailways gear has been a straight substitute for the US radio throttles we used previously but we decided to do a full comparative test to be on the safe side. We have been testing them switching between multiple cabs, both with one another and the static controllers on the MPD, carriage sidings, goods yards (2) and storage loops (2 sets). We have tested nearly all the possible permutations and no interference has been experienced. I just have a couple more areas to finish checking in the morning. John Edited September 30, 2017 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejstubbs Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Looking at the description of the app on Bluerailways' web site, it looks as if it effectively gives inertia control, with configurable acceleration and deceleration (and an emergency stop) rather than 'pure' analogue control. If that's the case then I'm quite tempted to drop £40 on the 522 just to have a play with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruston Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 I am thinking about going wireless to control ordinary DC trains. I have looked at the Bluerailways website and I'm really non the wiser. The pictures show a Model 602 "wireless receiver/controller" that has block connectors for wires http://bluerailways.co.uk/Products.aspx . How is that wireless and so what's the point? The Model 522 is clearly some sort of base station that connects to the tracks and the 702 looks to be wireless but I don't get the 602. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted June 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Ruston said: I am thinking about going wireless to control ordinary DC trains. I have looked at the Bluerailways website and I'm really non the wiser. The pictures show a Model 602 "wireless receiver/controller" that has block connectors for wires http://bluerailways.co.uk/Products.aspx . How is that wireless and so what's the point? The Model 522 is clearly some sort of base station that connects to the tracks and the 702 looks to be wireless but I don't get the 602. My interpretation of the details on their website is that the 602 can be used as either a wireless receiver or a standard wired controller. Flexibility. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Izzy Posted June 21, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 21, 2019 This does all look very interesting for anyone wishing to use DC. The only slight downside I can see is that only android devices can be used and that one is needed running the app in order to be able to make or change any of the settings. Otherwise all you get is simple hands free wireless control. Still a nice advantage but missing out on a lot of the potential on offer. Izzy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Izzy Posted June 27, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 27, 2019 On 01/10/2017 at 13:35, ejstubbs said: Looking at the description of the app on Bluerailways' web site, it looks as if it effectively gives inertia control, with configurable acceleration and deceleration (and an emergency stop) rather than 'pure' analogue control. If that's the case then I'm quite tempted to drop £40 on the 522 just to have a play with that. I thought about doing that, having an old/spare android phone & tablet. But I then discovered that the app needs android versions of 4.3 (Kit Kat) or above to work while mine are stuck on 4.2.2 (Jelly bean) so won't download the app. Oh well, that's a shame. Izzy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted June 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 28, 2019 12 hours ago, Izzy said: I thought about doing that, having an old/spare android phone & tablet. But I then discovered that the app needs android versions of 4.3 (Kit Kat) or above to work while mine are stuck on 4.2.2 (Jelly bean) so won't download the app. Oh well, that's a shame. Izzy You're lucky - mine's still running on Sherbert Dip.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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