Dougjuk

Good idea Rob, Mallaig would be a better solution especially for the running of a timetable. Doug

Yes in one way your right but the quality of the speaker makes a lot of difference. I have done a video recently comparing 5 speakers in a class 25, they were all different. Going back to the review maybe a picture of the loco with the top off and showing the speaker or space would be nice. I have 39 sound fitted locos and have been involved in conversion of several others. Each models has had its challenges, information beforehand could be very useful. All I am saying is in a review it would be nice if that was actually commented on. For example I have now found out that the inside of the new 24 is different to the last batch of 24's. (Thats was because I saw it in another magazine that I do not subscribe too) Accurascale have stated they are making space for an EM1 speaker and another so why can't we have the information from other makers and reviewers. All I am saying is to consider a little more information in reviews, not necessarily buy a chip and try. Also if you do review a sound chip fitted model what about finding out what make of chip and version, after all that makes a lot of difference to value. When Charlie produced his 156 he quoted what the chip was and the speaker. Only trying to be helpful not a criticism of the work you do in the magazine. regards Doug

Hi, I am a subscriber of BRM and have been along while, tend to use my iPad and enjoy all the video's and pictures that go with it. I really enjoyed reading the review of the new Bachmann class 24 but there is very little information about the fitting of sound, just comment that a speaker is included. It would be a nice touch if when reviewing you would mention any space left for fitting of speakers or in fact if there is a speaker and its quality. I fully understand that not all modellers fit sound in fact some are DC only but this is an area of modelling that could be expanded on in the magazine. The only source of information for sound matters is on YouTube, facebook and forums, some of the providers of the information are sellers of the equipment so any review of sound products etc would be very welcome as it would be independent. Just a thought. regards Doug

Not yet apparently they spent more time driving trains, he tells me the 156 was on an intensive service. LOL

Getting worried about you Ian, next you will be selling of the loco's and buying more sprinters. Doug

Was a good day, I cleared up and packed the car in dry wether for a change, had a good operating day with my two guys learning the NEC system and the computer signalling. The show was very good and reasonably well attended considering the appalling weather. Lets hope for better weather next year. Doug

Looking good Rob, going to be good to get the WHL driver onto Marshend tomorrow, in return maybe time for me to come down and drive on the WHL. regards Doug

I will be there with Marshend, diesel from Hydraulic to Diesel electric blue to Dutch livery.

MY home layout runs wit A DR5000 and booster, JMRi is used for a signalling centre and wifi/web server. I id trial iTrain instead of JMri, it was very good however the cost to run an iPad was too much so I went back to JMRi. I am very pleased with the setup especially as you can enter all your sound locos in the roster with all the function buttons. My exhibition layout is still running an NCE power cab with a JMri panel but it may change in the future. It has been nice to push the technology within the hobby. Regards Doug

Write to Bif, but my mate has a Gaugemaster Prodigy and also the 156 he does not have internal lights on F2. As I said contact Bif or Charlie. Regards Doug

Great show loved it, thanks guys. Doug

Nice job Ian, I completely agree with you about the iPhone speaker I have come to think its just being pushed by people who sell them. There are far better speakers available that are just as easy to install.. Doug

I am beginning to think you are right but the cost is rather high. If I could afford it I would have gone down that road. Doug

That’s very interesting, not had that happen to me as yet. My firmware is 1.5.5.

Well I went for the DR5000, I was a little tired of the limited ability with a NCE Powercab. I Have bought the DR5000 supported by a 5033 booster and a simple cabled PIKO handset as backup. (However the Powercab is still in use on my exhibition layout) I did try iTrain for a couple of months which was excellent apart from you have to pay the pro price of over £300 to use its app. You can use the Z21 app but it does not connect to the iTrain loco database, you have to load the Z21 app separately which is limiting. I have since gone back to using JMRi and created a panel, loco database and can use the iOS app to drive the loco's from the central database (roster). I have had no problems with the DR5000 other than the Z21 app freezing causing runaway trains, but that was only with that app. I have not experienced any other issues with the DR5000 so far. regards Doug

I might have to put my hands up to that one, put it down to needing more training. Maybe the week after next !!!! Doug

HI Rob, I need to do some of mine, so I will look to make some sort of funnel for the task. Doug

Hi Rob, This is a common problem, I have had it with pairs of 20's. It is something to do with the consist mode, Bif once told me there are some options to cover this but I have never stopped it. Mind you it does not happen all the time. Its a very strange behaviour. Doug

With regard to loco selection you are almost bang on, it was one of the reason I changed. You have to select the loco from the address which you must know and once selected it does not reflect the actual situation with the loco. So if it was moving make noise etc it will be all clear when you select it again. However having said that there is a function to recall up to 6 last loco entries which is fine for most people with low number of locos. As I said above the old style of the NCE was why I changed, but it is a good system that was fairly cheap a while back. regards Doug

I have been an NCE user for many years, still have it for my display layout "Marshend", bu my home layout went through a big change recently. I bought the Digikeijs DR5000 and a cable handset. The handset was a PIko and only for backup in case of any wifi issues. The new system worked well after a few very minor teething problems. One of those issues was that my circuit protectors, 2 x PSX1's were not quick enough. I have separated my track bus from my assessors bus so any short does not leave unable to change points. So after a lot of help from James at DCC Control I bought a Digikeijs 5033 booster to run the track. Now the system is rock solid and I have enough power to run my sound locos and assessors with ease. The whole lot ended up costing me £340 but the quality and flexibility is fantastic. With the new system all the functions for each loco are easy to see and transfer from handset to handset. Added to that I have got a trial version of iTrain to run my point work and signals, I am very impressed it is much easier to use than JMri although it can be expensive depending on the level you require. I would need the lite version which is about £90 but you cannot use its app at the price. Although there are plenty of options with the Dr5000, so I recommend it very much as a very modern DCC system. regards Doug

Hi Rob, Nice job, need to sort mine out but so much to do its low on list. Got some scale model scenery boards to try out for home and Marshend. Just viewed that video, looking forward to your interpretation of it. regards Doug

And to think he was talking about getting another to play with the coupling procedures. lol Doug

Well its looking good Rob, cannot wait until we get to see it up close. Doug

good show really enjoyed it. Doug

Nice job, are all you loco's sound equipped ?? Doug PS: your making me think I need to write a blog for my fixed layout.