I was a bit disappointed with my buying experience for the Atlas Signal System. Let me first say that the signals look great and that animation; such as these signals, really would enhance the model railroading experience. Unfortunately I got off to a bad start with these by not knowing what I was gettling and Atlas not having (IMHO) adequate packaging information. I purchased the Type G Single Target 4-pack; and have to say that I would be remise if I don't make the following comments & suggestions to Atlas regarding this product. 1) The box of Type "G" Single Target 4-pack, does not mention on it that there are other parts required to make the signals work. Only when one buys the product and looks at the 24 page (3-5/8" x 4-5/16") instruction booklet does it say: "NOTE: Each signal target requires its own signal control board and its own block detection board". I suggest that 'on the box' be marked with that 'NOTE mentioned above' and the words "NOT INCLUDED" or "PURCHASE SEPARATELY" on the 4 pack. 2) The website for Custom Signal, Inc is listed only on page 3 of the booklet... unfortunately it is not in bold letters; AND, more importantly, it is only listed 'parenthetically' with the information regarding the Double Target style signal. So... if one didn't buy the Double Target style signal... and chose to skip that page... one would not know about the website for Custom Signals, Inc. I suggest that the link to www.customsignals.com be put in a more conspicuous location and in BOLD letters. I did go to the site before making this post and that would have been very helpful. Not to cast any more aspersions on Atlas regarding this fne signal sytem... it is probably better than others on the market... but I cannot attest to that. Most of the issues I've encountered could have been avoided by ME and the LHS where I got them. First, I should have educated myself more on the product BEFORE buying it at the LHS. Second, caveat emptor (buyer beware), the LHS staff member said, "This was a complete system in the box, ready to run". Since the box didn't say otherwise... I trusted the LHS staff member... whom I later called back and set him straight on the contents of the product. The staff member was surprised that the near $100.00 price did not offer a complete system of four signals... and said he may have mislead others who purchased same items. That's not good... there could be others peeved about having to buy MORE stuff to get the signals to work. The worst part was... the LHS didn't carry either the signal detection board (SDB) or the block detection board (BDB). So for those that want to get the complete set... Atlas does offer a single pack of the 'Type G Single Target signal plus the SDB' for an MSRP of $49.95. I don't believe that includes the BDB board... but... someone may be able to confirm that (as block detection is optional?). In my case... to get the four signals operational... I'll have to spend an additional $60.00 +/- AND if I want the optional block detection another $40.00 +/-. There are other items such as cables with may be needed to complete the circuits and will vary depending on the layout size and location of signals. I'm not sure if all of this expense is really worth it.
I was very enthusiastic about these signals. When they came in at my LHS, I immediately opened up one of the single signal "kits" and started reading the instructions. The claims seemed too good to be true. The whole idea of plug and play signals sounded real cool. I have very little experience with signal systems, but I have a Digitrax SE8C and did a fair bit of research into it. What I found is that signals systems have four main components: block detection signal logic signal driver (makes a prticular signal aspact show an a signal head) the signals Of these things, the signal logic is the most difficult. This is the part that Atlas' system claimed to automate. In a way it does, but only on a very simple level. In the Atlas system, they sell three components (aside from the wiring). They sell block detectors, signals, and a combined signal driver / signal logic board. That signal logic board is very simple. It can only do one thing, a single direction of track with no turnout protection. Any other case and you need a different controller. This is in contrast to the SE8C which doesn't include any signal logic at all. With the digitrax system, a computer or other logic device has to handle that function. The new board coming out from NCE (I think it was NCE) appears to be an integrated block detector and signal driver and might have some simple signal logic as well. I haven't seen enough information to know for sure. I think this is going to be an area where a lot of improvment will come in the next few years. Bottom line at the moment, signaling is not easy.
You brought up another point which I was unsure about... DCC compatability. The block detection device is indicated as 'analog'... which would seem contrary to 'digital'. Now... forgive me for my ignorance... but does that mean that the block detection board would not be compatible with DCC?
