i was looking at tech 4 power packs and i noticed they do not have a walk around compadability. so i was wondering if there is a way i can hook up phone jacks and a mrc walkaround. is that possible?
I want to say my Tech 4 takes tethered throttles and it is going to be for sale soon, but I'll take a closer look at it when I get home. Would you be interested in buying it? It's virtually brand new. Has less than 20 minutes usage on it, no BS. I went to DCC shortly after I bought it. I paid $99 for it at the LHS, will sell it for ??
There is a brand called Megatech that makes a walkaround (with memory) pack for about $40 on *bay, but I don't think the seller I got mine from isn't listed any more. It is called the X6000. The one I got cost me about $55 with shipping and has variable momentum, brake, tethered cord, memory of settings for when switching the cord to another jack (you can add a few around your layout), etc. It's basically a clone of the $120 MRC version. Mine works fine and I haven't had a problem with it over the couple weeks of testing that I have done. It has different power levels from N to G scale, aside from the standard throttle voltage knob. I tried to do some research before I bought it because I had never heard of it before, and there was only an internet press release and one prior positive feedback to the seller on another X6000 pack, where the owner said something like "very impressed after doing a test with it - a must for the larger HO layout". So I took a chance and bought one. Now I wish I had bought two, because the seller had a few available and no one was bidding. Now he's gone.
Yep, my Tech 4 Rail Power 250 has an RJ11 jack on the back which supports the optional hand held walkaround. Let me know if you're interested. jason@boche.net
I have a couple of brand new, in the box, Megatech X6000 Power Packs. I'll let them go for $35 each plus shipping. John
But, IMHO, I would not use tethered walkarounds. I prefer the freedom of no tethered throttle. I use Aristocraft. Just my preference.
John S, welcome to TrainBoard! Great to have you on board. Can you tell us a little more about the X6000?....all of it's capabilities etc? Thanks, Bill
This is something I am interested in as well. I am probably a year, perhaps 2 away from going DCC. The biggest PITA I have is the central throttle. How long are the tethers? Currently have a tech 2 2500, was going to purchase a CM20, but for the same $$ I can get 1/2 to 7/8 of a DCC system (depending on whose pricing I use) , so it does not make economic sense. The decoder cost is obviously above and beyond these figures. Are there any handhelds tethered or otherwise, available for the older MRC Tech II's? nodima
I'm not ready for the expense of converting my locomotive fleet to DCC and since building this layout seems to be an eternal process, I'd rather get it done first as an analog layout (just to say I did it!) before I think about changing. Otherwise I'm afraid I might never complete the *#)@ thing! I use the Innovator 1400 (still available from Alpine Scale Models). It uses standard 4 or 6 wire telephone plugs. (The six wire set up allows you to use the throttle with a sound system). The system is compact and can be easily hidden away under the layout so that jack stations on your control panels are all that is needed. Tether length is entirely up to the user based on how far apart the phone jacks are located.
For those interested, here is a review of the Megatech X6000: http://www.k4yk.com/trains/MegaX6000.pdf John
John, When I click on that link, all I get is a small icon in the top left corner. Is there something wrong with my browser?
I've noticed with my X6000 that its wave form is very gentle when set at the N setting. My Katos run perfectly on that setting but my Atlas GP40 and SD60M are much happier with low speeds if I turn the pack to the O gauge setting. It's like the O gauge setting has a more aggressive current wave form that the Atlas locos respond better to. Every loco I have runs better on the O setting. Does the MRC walkaround have this kind of amperage / wave "power" setting?
William Cowie, I veiwed in Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it the site may not open. Looks like a nice control, but then I'm new to this insanity.
I use a radio throttle from Remote Control Systems it works really well and enable me to walk around the layout withmy throttle in hand. Here is a pic
