Hornby Elite DCC - some comments

That's why they have the NMRA seal of approval. (or not) =8^)

Does Hornby claim that their product is fully compliant with the NMRA standard?

- No = don't buy it.

- Yes = buy if you want one - take it back if it proves otherwise.

- No comment = don't buy it.

Regards, Greg.P.

"Greg Procter" wrote

The truth is I have no idea - they've not really said anything too specific about it, and have told their retailers virtually nothing.

John.

but its misleading to say a product is not compliant if the lack of compliance is a result of not implementing a minor feature that is of no importance to man or beast.

as far as the select is concerned I've seen a definate statement that it works with Bachmann decoders and one that says it may not work with tcs ones. So for £50 you have a budget system that has a reasonable number of features and works with a variety (2) of decoders.

Looks good to me and apparently to a number of other people if the sets are selling well.

Simon (A peco track person !)

Bachmann havent done that have they ?

(ducks for cover)

No they dont. After my one attempt at trying to read the standard I dont blame them. I would need paying to keep awake thruogh that. Anyway how long can you sit there gloating that 'my DCC is NMRA compliant'

Far more important :- Does it do everything I want at a price I can afford ?

When do you want the bridge delivered ? cash upfront mind.

Simon

Do they offer that ?

Hey John, don't you go to bed on that side of the world? It sounds like a dodgy product to me - the ones that do claim compliance are bad enough!

Regards, Greg.P.

Do you suffer or benefit from selective reading ? Cheers, Simon

"Compliance" relates to the specific product interfacing, sending and also responding in a specific manner. The product can have as many or as few of the possible features as the designer/manufacturer/marketting department desires and still be compliant. A "black box" with two wires to connect to the track and absolutely no functions could be compliant. OTOH many DCC products have features, disclosed or undisclosed, which are not covered by the DCC specification. Provided they do not interfere with other DCC black boxes and do not operate at unintended moments when used with other DCC (control) equipment they can be given a compliance certificate.

You're a "sleeper"? ;-)

Regards, Greg.P.

If you're a normal human being (I'm assuming you are as you've not shown otherwise =8^) then in a week, or a month, or a year you're going to want more! You lay track in the expectation that all OO manufacturers' stock will operate on it, not just Hornby and not just today but also twenty years from now. Better controllers will come along so you will want, some day, to trade in your 2006 Hornby MkI DCC base unit for the newest, latest, more powerful unit with capability to control Thomas's eyes, or operate sound or ... DCC compatibility means you will be able to change any individual unit of your DCC control setup without replacing the lot.

I can't have it on appro?

Regards, Greg.P.

I don't know - from what I've read of this discussion I assumed they don't.

Regards, Greg.P.

I benefit - those around me suffer!

Regards, Greg.P.

Not getting the 2006 hornby MkI DCC base unit, am getting the Elite. Its the only system with a computer interface that I can justify purchasing. If that will just pass commands through from my PC then I'm away with an amazing number of commands and facilities. Hours of fun ta add to the current hours of fun playing, building watching ....

I wonder if there are a few persons a bit annoyed cos the elite at £90 (after discount) will do as much if not more than theyre £200 system.

Sorry but she cant support the weight !

Simon

Not yet. Simon

I used the term "base unit" in the generalized sense meaning the component between power supply and track. People often refer to them as the "Central Unit" but Maerklin already used that term for their base unit. It's a bit like the IBM computer case and contents - that is in fact 'the computer' but people assume 'the computer' is the whole system, case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, cables, ...

A lot now depends what sort of computer programming comes with the PC interface. I use good old Basic with my DCC system, slow, laborious but other than pretty pictures on screen it does everything quicker than I can push buttons.

My first system cost four figures (NZ$) second one US129- +p&p. Shortly they'll be giving them away with packets of rice bubbles. Don't buy them as an investment for your old age.

I could trade for an Airfix multi-train control in mint condition!

Greg Procter said the following on 23/11/2006 20:43:

The problem is that many people, myself included, would feel that if it says DCC, that it means DCC. I am actually aware of the NMRA standard (my previous post was TIC), but Joe Bloggs buying a Hornby digital trainset for little Johnny wouldn't be aware, then when little Johnny gets a new Bachmann chipped loco in six months time, what happens? There shouldn't be this "will it work?" lottery.

I would expect any major manufacturer to comply with any relevant standards. After all, when I buy a bike, I would assume that the bottom bracket thread was standard, the headset size was standard, the handlebar size was standard etc.,- in other words you don't, or shouldn't, have to think about whether brand A will work with brand B - you just know it will.

Paul Boyd wrote: [...]

The fact is that when model railways were in their infancy, there were no standards. Each manufacturer developed his own. So did every modeller who built from scratch. The mindset of "My/our way is the best way" has not yet died out, especially in the UK, where there are no common standards whatsoever. I've noticed from reading reviews of UK product that some manufacturers don't even produce wheels to consistent standards! That's just mind boggling.

Unless and until the average Joe figures it's worth his while to learn something of the technicalities of the products he buys, he won't be a smart enough consumer to be able to put the only kind of pressure on manufacturers that they understand. I mean the pressure of "I'm not buying this non-standard product, no matter how well known the brand."

Footnote: NMRA and MOROP are consumer organisations. Their aim is to standardise those aspects of model railways that make it possible for brand A to work with Brand B with as little fuss as possible. Support them.

HTH

That's theory but I have had problems with ZTC decoders working with Digitrax systems. It seems both systems are the opposite edges of some of the standards. Had to abandon ZTC. No problem with TCS or Lenz decoders (except the early bug in LE103XF decoders) with Digitrax.

Chris