No, I was talking about DCC throttles in general, and gave the specific example of the DIY FRED throttle for Digitrax. Every current DCC throttle that I know of has a processor inside of it running a program that handles the user interface and communicates back to the command station(the throttles for the Digitrax Challenger set, and the throttles for the MRC Command 2000 did not). These are not powerful processors or complex programs, and yes, they are little more than input devices, but you said "they do not have programs operating on them" and I was pointing out that that statement is not correct. The statement "The electronics side of the hobby is still in the stone age as far as I'm concerned" does not sound like it is refering to just throttles to me. I have no need for my throttle to store large information files or have WIFI, flash or USB capabilities. You could say the electronics in the keyboard that I am typing this on are "stoneage," but they do their job and they are great at it. I hope not. At the quantities a DCC manufacturer could sell them at and with no cellular contract to make money off of, a DCC throttle that advanced would probably cost three or four hundred dollars. When technology advances to the point that a DCC manufacturer can sell a throttle that advanced for $100, I would prefer that they keep the throttle simple and sell it for $20. Twice you refered to the decoder I showed as "primitive." Again, your welcome to your opinion, but in my opinion, it's not(just curious, what would you require of a decoder for it to not be primitive).
The goal is not to be state of the art, but to provide the functionality needed at an affordable price. As engineers we tend to get all twitchy about the former, but it's the marketing and product folks that understand the latter. Advancement is fine, but you don't want to outrun the market.
Easier to use DCC will have the impact of drawing more people into the hobby who are not 50+. This will only happen when the DCC interface advances from then current state to a more intuitive "Never ever have to read the manual once to use 100% of the functionality" state. The latter is my phone. I was able to use every funciton on it without ever ocne using th emanual - it's an Intuitive Interface. Digitraz throttles are anything but intuitive - you have to read the manual for just basic functionality or you have to ask someone who knows how to use it. The device still funcitons, mind you, but it is simply not as effective as it could be. My vision of handheld throttles at this point puts no fewer then four of five applicaitons on that throttle; this device would be portable to both the layout and your persoanl computer. Yes, you are screaming "why the hell do I want all that funcitonality. I just wan tto run trains!" The underlying foundation would be a database environment that stores information about every single decoder on that DCC system. One download and the entire specs of that layout along with all the layout devices are in your handheld device in a database file with a uniqe name tied to that specific layout. Application 1 would be your General Operation console. Nothing complex here, we know how throttles work! In this case, the interface wold allow you to select components within the system that are not in use and use them. Application 2 would be an inventory program again tied to the database. This program would allow you to input entire rosters into the database, although it might be more efficient to do the heavy work on a laptop andthen import the file to the device. Either way, you could then take this throttle with you when you visit shows, shops, or even Ebay; now you could quickly check and see if you already have that piece you so direly want. Application 3 would be a wishlist account on the database; these are items you want but cannot afford at the moment; the information for each item could include manufacturer, number, perhaps even a picture, and the all important MSRP plus the lowest price you have found the item for. Application 4 would be a track plan editor like Xtrkcad. Yep, right there on the throttle!!! Application 5...Modern communications, anybody? This is convergence at its best!! Yes, I realize the RR market is behind this curve. So I'll wait 20 years for this to become a reality. Ed, I agree it is frustrating some times not having the engineering background to make these things happen. Thus is life!!
I think the over 50s have more trouble with current DCC than the younger people I've got to agree with you there. But this is actually possible with current technology. NCE have been close for years - I'm just surprised they haven't brought out a newer version of the 'hammer' with a bigger screen and even easier use.
Doug, I agree...Applications 1 - 5 basically make this device the "Train Buddy," the single device that allows you to manage your collection, run your railroad, and share your railroad with other enthusiasts - all from a single device!!! So it's not just a throttle - its a device that has market potential to anyone regardles of their feelings about DCC! Someone on DC would use this device, for example, to manage their large collection. Many of us do this already on our computers in train database programs, but the computer is a lug to have to carry out to our store-rooms!! One handheld device means we can move from place to place with ease of portability. One device holding our entire inventory but dockable to the PC means we can transfer data to the main database on the computer back and forth. And a database system allows us to save different collections in different Files so we can load different databases if we have more than one collection. Imagine if we are a merchant, for example, who also has a personal collection! Now in order to fully reach the merchant market, the program should also be able to generate invoices and add in sales tax. If it can do that, we can plug it into a printer and thus your merchant can now print out invoices at shows at a moment's notice. By reaching to as many markets [throttles, decoder programming [JMRI], operations [think CTC-11 but for the modern era], track planning[xtrakcad], inventory, merchant, etc] we expand the market potential of this device beyond the market potential of a another "dumb" () DCC device. Now if the device was $200, I think it would be worth it. 300 and 400 pushes my bank, but then even 50 pushes my bank right now, but I have to think in a realistic manner!! Yes, $200 is outrageous for a new Throttle - but if the device has the capabilities as I described, then it has not one function but many funcitons - suddenly we have a very power piece of technology in our hands!! Anyhow, my thoughts!! We will need to get more complex software under hte hood, while getting a simpler interface int eh cab. The first model T had no less then five or so foot pedals, three of which were for the clutch. Today we're lucky if the car has anything more then gas and brake!! But on the other hand, we have a world of options in our cabs today!!
This thread has gotten way off track. What does any of this DCC crap have to do with the original poster talking about the DC hand-held throttle he made. Not everyone is into DCC. I actually prefer the old DC system. I am building one of these DC hand-held throttles, complete with a built-in volt meter. If it works good, I will mass produce them and sell them on eBay for about $89.95 for the standard version, and $119.95 for the deluxe version. They will be German made, with European quality workmanship. Anyway, lets get back on track. This thread is about hand-held DC throttles, not about DCC crap.
Might have to assemble two of these little DC handhelds for the club in Ohio :thumbs_up: They could hook them up to the digitrax jump ports and use them as handheld DCC throttles. Thanks for the schematics.
Wow, this is an old thread. Yeah, I am bored also. I built a couple DC throttles similar to this back around 1988 and used a LM555 timer for pulse power. Modified the potentiometer circuit resolution for switching and road loco controls. I love modifying circuits. I keep one for trying out new DC locos. Great throttles until DCC came along. Rich
This is a hand-held dc throttle that I made to run my nscale trains. The built-in volt meter lets me know when it is time to clean the track or service a locomotive. I built this using German quality workmanship standards and it is of my own design. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/picture.php?albumid=1419&pictureid=18992
RetroGeek - nice! Looks well made and has a simple layout - direction switch and potentiometer is all a basic unit needs - nice touch adding the voltmeter. I have made some hand-held units myself over the years but never completely happy with them.
