reposting from another thread as I'm interested in what folk think: Digitrax Zephyr allows the connection of a 12V DC source as an external throttle ("Jump Port"). I've got some battered old loco shells . I figure if i can glue them wrapped around a bit of PVC pipe, mount a pot in the top of the pipe or a slider pot inside it, and a DPDT switch, then connect it to 12V in and the the Jump Port out using a coiled phone cord, I'll have a way cool hand-held controller for the Digitrax. I'm motivated by a complete lack of any really good ergonomic handhelds for any DCC system, not just Digitrax, that I have seen so far, with the exception of the Roco mouse which looks pretty easy to use. personally i don't want to carry a handheld computer around with me, I want to control a train. So any manufacturer that puts throttle, brake, direction and a set of keys marked "whistle, bell, couple..." instead of F0-F8, in a nicely shaped handheld is going to have my business. Most of them look like VCR remote controls to me and I have yet to use more than half a dozen keys on one of those either cheers Rob
yeah that was a bit unclear wasn't it? do you agree that there isn't a nice ergonomic hand-held DCC throttle out there? have I missed one? do folk like lugging around the "slabs of buttons"? is it something I'll get used to? has anyone made a nice one for themselves? cheers Rob
I haven't done enough research on throttles to really be able to answer your question. I bought the Lenz Set 100, which comes with the throttle below: I haven't operated with it yet because I don't have any track down yet, but I have played around with it and I don't think it will bother me. The LH90 model from Lenz (shown below) appears to be more ergonomic and simple, but it also doesn't perform all of the same functions that the LH100 does (shown above). I think it's a matter of preference...and I prefer buttons with a digital readout.
Throtle should have a rotary knob. The up down button thing just doesn't get it for me. I like the idea of the loco shell, sounds like it would have some real personality. I'm sure the big keypads are great for programing and what not, but for running trains I like the K.I.S.S. principal. Keep It Simple, Stupid. I shouldn't have to study a manual just to run trains.
Why a rotary knob? Because it's traditional? There's nothing complicated about the Lenz LH100 throttle. Push the up button and the train goes faster, push the down putton and it goes slower. Hit the top middle button and it changes direction. Of course....everyone has has their own personal preferences. Personally, I don't really care too much either way.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned (oh God, did I actually say that) but there's something to turning a knob that just "feels" right. More like actually opperating the train, not just programing. Like you said,"Personal preference".
I agree with John here. In other walks of life, for instance car radios, I just find with a round knob I get "there" (where I want to be on the dial) a lot quicker. It has to do with how the push buttons work - they just go slower through the progression of settings than a manual turn of a knob. One push of a pushbutton doesn't get you where you want to be, and so you need to do one of two things: either keep clicking, or hold it down. We all know the "keep clicking" takes longer than a simple twirl of a knob. The "hold down" also takes longer, because you need to hold it down for a second or so to tell it you really want it to advance. And then you can't control the stopping point as clearly as a knob. Not to mention the five nanoseconds you waste... I have operated with Aristocraft pushbutton throttles as well as "round" knob throttles, and each time I use the AC it reinforces my preference for the old fashioned knob. But, as with all aspects, of the hobby, you have to go with whatever floats your boat. Now with all that said, what do they use on the real locomotives? A gas pedal? So... Rob, once you make your loco-knob throttle, let us know how you did it, OK? William
I got real used to my NCE Hammerhead controller. It has a thumbwheel encoder instead of a potentiometer, so it rotates 360 either dirrection. I like it in Yard Mode, where you diddle your thumb over the zero mark and you can run the engines forward and back easy with one hand. You can do the same thing with buttons, but the thumbwheel gives you real good control.
With NCE you can also choose an 'engineer' cab of either type: or I suspect one reason very simple cabs aren't made yet is that DCC is still generally the domain of users who want the 'features'. So being able to select locos and use functions is required on most engineer cabs. Once DCC becomes the standard for most systems (when DC layouts are a minority and all new locos come with a decoder), then I'm sure very basic cabs for 'one engine' users will get produced. I too have a hammerhead, but I find I use the 'Fast' inc/dec buttons most of the time. The reason is that I use Soundtraxx decoders and to get the sound to 'synch' with the movement you really need to use momentum. This makes using the wheel a bit tricky because the engine takes a few seconds to change speed (Unless you look at the display it is hard to tell how many steps you have 'wheeled'). I have the fast buttons set to 4 steps per press (28 step mode) which covers probably 90% of my activity at the moment. Yes, it does make stopping right over the Kadee magnets tricky - but it's more like the real thing, with bells and whistles too .
These look like something I'd be comfortable with. Compact with enough buttons to get the job done. Some I've seen are huge, may as well put a mini keyboard on your fore arm!
they are still a bit uninviting for me, sorry The Roco mouse is nicer (and their turnout controller is prettty neat too ) I'll post pics of a homemade one by March I hope
