Robin2

The Wifi smart phone bit is trivial if you have a phone with a browser. I can already do that with a small web server program that I wrote and which controls the trains through my Hornby Elite. I am in the process of designing a new chassis for my old Grafar Prairie tank so I have room to install the motor from a small relay a Deltang receiver and a LiPo cell. I'm still wondering whether to make the chassis with plastic or brass. I don't foresee any problem controlling a Deltang Tx2 transmitter from my PC (and smartphone) and, apparently, the TX2 can control up to 7 locos - though I only have 3. There should be no problem converting the other 2 to radio control - one is a DMU and one is a tender loco. I might even be able to insert a 2 or 3 cell Lipo so there is no need to change the 12v motors. ...R

Manufacturers could start moving in the direction of battery power if they built all new locos with lower-voltage motors that would run on a single LiPo cell's 3.7v. It would be trivial and very cheap to include a suitable resistor to allow the "out of the box" loco to run on existing 12v DC or DCC systems. I doubt there would be any difference in the price of the motors themselves. Such low voltage motors could pave the way for battery powered DCC systems with control signals and top-up power going through the track but with much greater operational reliability. And the more enlightened could easily use radio control instead of DCC. ...R

In case anyone is interested ... Following Giles' helpful references I have had a long exchange of correspondence on the FreeRails forum http://freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=4451&forum_id=45&page=28 and I am thinking of building a simple computer-controlled radio-controlled system for my 3 n-gauge locos using a Deltang transmitter and receivers. ...R

Very helpful, Thanks Giles.

I discovered there was a previous long thread on this subject with many of the same contributors. Wouldn't it have been much more sensible to continue that discussion rather than start a new one. At the very least there should be cross references between the two http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64384-any-other-ways-of-controlling-model-trains/ Taking both threads together there has been an awful lot of discussion of the merits and demerits and the commercial viability of radio control but as far as I can see the only working example in a small scale is the youtube clip at the bottom of this link http://www.deltang.co.uk/rx45-v5.htm It's all too easy to make a long list of must-haves that effectively rule out new options. As I think I said earlier all I want is a system where my n-gauge locos can move very slowly without fear of stalling. I only have 3 locos and I will worry about the problems of controlling 7 if I ever get to the stage of owning 6. With a small number of locos it is feasible to have a separate controller for each. I don't have room for a continuous run so it would be sufficient to have a few minutes of run-time between charges. And in principle most of the tracks could carry top-up charging current so that the batteries should be fully charged most of the time. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has "built" a radio control system from components in O-gauge or smaller. (As far as I can see standard aircraft systems with servos and normal batteries etc can be used on larger gauges).

Thanks, I will look back over Ron's posts. Regarding "inappropriate R/C equipment" ... If it's legal, it works and I can afford it how could it be inappropriate? I think I was really hoping you would take a few paragraphs to describe the sort of system you consider appropriate because it would be very useful for a newcomer to have an expert's view (I mean this seriously). ...R

I don't disagree with your comments but I'm not sure why you included my post in your reply as only the person I referred to (Oakydoke) is in a position to explain his own comments. I fear, now, that he will feel he has been let off the hook, but I hope not as I would like to hear his opinion. ...R

Where are they "already available in some form"? And in what form? What have you in mind with your "square wheel" reference? ...R

I have been wondering whether it would be possible to break up one of the small (and cheap) model helis and replace all of the "works" in a loco with it. If so that would be much the same price as adding a DCC chip. The little helis have "batteries" that recharge very quickly so it should be possible to have a few live-rail charging points on a layout. I've done nothing about this because the mechanisms are too big for an N gauge tank loco. But it looks like they should fit in an OO gauge loco. One shortcoming may be that the very cheap systems have a very limited number of "frequencies" so only 2 or 3 locos could be controlled simultaneously. Someone in another topic drew my attention to the DT systems which (to my amateur eye) look very interesting. All I want is my locos to move slowly without stalling. Someone on this topic has said the DT systems "are rubbish" without any explanation for his opinion. Perhaps if he sees this he would be kind enough to explain. As far as I can see the DT systems have the capability to operate some auxiliary features. I have no interest in DCC sound. Even in O gauge locos it is far from realistic. It needs large floor based loudspeakers and a big amplifier. (Imagine the sound from competing layouts at exhibitions