The end of pickups? Wi-Fi and Battery Operated Control

C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
Dear all,

I am actually not a new member but as I didn’t post on this forum for quite some time, my membership sadly expired.

Many years ago now, I demonstrated the control of a Scale 7, J67 via Wi-Fi from my mobile phone using an internal 3.7 volt lithium ion (cheap mobile phone battery) also with sound. No internet connection or hub was required, and no pickup from the rails or wheels was required either, eliminating dirt, any hesitancy, the hand of god and my poor modelling skills.

Due to the financial risks involved, I was sadly unable to pursue this further, but I produced three working prototypes. 2 x J tanks and a B12 chassis which all ran beautifully.

If anyone is still interested I may release or serialise how to accomplish this, and the many solid weeks of work, over several months I put into this massive effort in order to achieve this. I must emphasise that this is not for the feint of heart, or the technically challenged although using this forum may help other members.

The range was well over 200 feet, despite mounting the antenna internally and everyone said it wouldn’t work! I proved the sceptics wrong!

Best regards to all.

Danny.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Danny,

I have experimented with the TamValley system using a Zimo decoder and 2s LiIon batteries, but found that the standard receiver was unable to provide the current required by my Duchess which has a Canon motor and a Premier helical gearbox. The loco will happily haul a sizeable train using track power, and the batteries & buck booster appear to be entirely capable, so I conclude that the larger receiver is required - this is some £70, which seems unreasonable to me, in addition to the cost of the decoder.

I am aware of the Deltang TX & RX with integral ESC, as described by Giles & others, but these do not offer the potential to use existing sound projects, with synchronised and load-dependent “chuffs”, and a representative whistle/hooter, which I would like. Personally, the other sounds are very much secondary, although others may have different views.

So, if you have “a system” which offers sound and BPRC, I am interested!

There is a couple of threads on the G0G forum. I think there might be some on RMWeb too. BPRC seems to be gaining traction.

Watching with interest
Simon

(The story of the Duchess and the BPRC is at Second hand Duchess)
 
C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
Scale7JB said:
Hi Danny,

Welcome back!! Hope you're well.

Are you coming to John Birch's gathering in a couple of weeks?

JB.
Click to expand...
Scale7JB said:
Hi Danny,

Welcome back!! Hope you're well.

Are you coming to John Birch's gathering in a couple of weeks?

JB.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply Jonathan. Lovely to hear from you. I haven't had an invite so probably not. I loved being invited to Crosscombe Magna (apologies for the miss spelling) Hope you are 'driving' on the Epping and Ongar now ?
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
I've seen Dannys kit working and it is very very good, flawless and perfect synced sound using existing decoders and sound sets.

Personally I can't wait to get rid of pick ups and faffing around sorting shorts.

So, Broadsword calling Danny boy....bring it on :thumbs:
 
S

S7BcSR

Western Thunderer
Hi Danny

Welcome back. I remember that J67 running up and down the wooden floor of the Brightwell Village Hall at one of the Spring Shows a few years back. It was a fun time running backwards and forwards on that floor. I think we all hoped to hear more of the development so good to know that something may yet come of it. Can't wait for the serialisation on here.

Rob
 
C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
simond said:
Danny,

I have experimented with the TamValley system using a Zimo decoder and 2s LiIon batteries, but found that the standard receiver was unable to provide the current required by my Duchess which has a Canon motor and a Premier helical gearbox. The loco will happily haul a sizeable train using track power, and the batteries & buck booster appear to be entirely capable, so I conclude that the larger receiver is required - this is some £70, which seems unreasonable to me, in addition to the cost of the decoder.

I am aware of the Deltang TX & RX with integral ESC, as described by Giles & others, but these do not offer the potential to use existing sound projects, with synchronised and load-dependent “chuffs”, and a representative whistle/hooter, which I would like. Personally, the other sounds are very much secondary, although others may have different views.

So, if you have “a system” which offers sound and BPRC, I am interested!

There is a couple of threads on the G0G forum. I think there might be some on RMWeb too. BPRC seems to be gaining traction.

Watching with interest
Simon

(The story of the Duchess and the BPRC is at Second hand Duchess)
Click to expand...
 
C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
Dear Simon,

Thank you for your reply and genuine interest.

The device I designed delivered a continuous 1.2 Amps at 11.3 volts continuously into a purely resistive load from a 3.7V lithium ion battery. Exceeding 2 x maximum C (or ‘I’ current for us oldies from a lithium ion battery is not recommended and will required a larger battery. Although still small The booster required some very expensive but small capacitors as I modified an evaluation model / PCB from Farnell electronics. Both J tanks can happily draw 750mA but mine only draws a fraction of that < 100mA with no load. I will have to look at my test results log book. I am using a helical gearbox on my J67 but my friend is using a standard worm wheel with no great impact on current draw.

One of our members used, tried and demonstrated the Tam Valley system which from my vague memory now which required a controller and the antenna to be external and was highly susceptible to the position line of sight and people getting in the way. RF eh?

On my prototype J67, I deliberately positioned the 2.4Ghz antenna inside the smokebox in order to potentially create the worst case scenario. I worked on Bluetooth as a consultant in 2000 (yawn) I may have inadvertently created a RF resonant cavity, but I think not as the other prototype I positioned the antenna internally between the frames and this worked much better and immediately connects to my mobile phone via Wi-Fi. I have 200+ feet range through a metal shed even on my worst case scenario and a brass locomotive as documented above. Honest.

The design has over-current and thermal cut-out protection.

I love the Gog / Magog crew. Lovely people!

Best regards,

Danny
 
C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
S7BcSR said:
Hi Danny

Welcome back. I remember that J67 running up and down the wooden floor of the Brightwell Village Hall at one of the Spring Shows a few years back. It was a fun time running backwards and forwards on that floor. I think we all hoped to hear more of the development so good to know that something may yet come of it. Can't wait for the serialisation on here.

Rob
Click to expand...
OMG! I am amazed you remember me! Thank you for your reply. I couldn't afford the risk and development costs at the time.
 
C

Chuffed to Bits

Member
mickoo said:
I've seen Dannys kit working and it is very very good, flawless and perfect synced sound using existing decoders and sound sets.

Personally I can't wait to get rid of pick ups and faffing around sorting shorts.

So, Broadsword calling Danny boy....bring it on :thumbs:
Click to expand...
Thank you SO much. I am amazed to have had so many replies already! I didn't think anyone would remember me!
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Chuffed to Bits said:
Dear Simon,

Thank you for your reply and genuine interest.

The device I designed delivered a continuous 1.2 Amps at 11.3 volts continuously into a purely resistive load from a 3.7V lithium ion battery. Exceeding 2 x maximum C (or ‘I’ current for us oldies from a lithium ion battery is not recommended and will required a larger battery. Although still small The booster required some very expensive but small capacitors as I modified an evaluation model / PCB from Farnell electronics. Both J tanks can happily draw 750mA but mine only draws a fraction of that < 100mA with no load. I will have to look at my test results log book. I am using a helical gearbox on my J67 but my friend is using a standard worm wheel with no great impact on current draw.

One of our members used, tried and demonstrated the Tam Valley system which from my vague memory now which required a controller and the antenna to be external and was highly susceptible to the position line of sight and people getting in the way. RF eh?

On my prototype J67, I deliberately positioned the 2.4Ghz antenna inside the smokebox in order to potentially create the worst case scenario. I worked on Bluetooth as a consultant in 2000 (yawn) I may have inadvertently created a RF resonant cavity, but I think not as the other prototype I positioned the antenna internally between the frames and this worked much better and immediately connects to my mobile phone via Wi-Fi. I have 200+ feet range through a metal shed even on my worst case scenario and a brass locomotive as documented above. Honest.

The design has over-current and thermal cut-out protection.

I love the Gog / Magog crew. Lovely people!

Best regards,

Danny
Click to expand...

Danny,

Thanks for the reply. I should declare an interest - or at least an ex interest - I was involved in a Lithium Battery assembly company for a few years. Moved on nearly 3 years back. No knowledge or skills in the radio world however!

I think a kickstarter may work, though I’ve no knowledge or experience of them either.

When I said “G0G”, I meant the Gauge 0 Guild, on whose forum there is definitely some interest - if you do look for interested parties, it would certainly be worth making a pitch there too, I feel.

Watching with great interest
Simon
 
Boyblunder

Boyblunder

Western Thunderer
Danny,
If you can make it to Albury on the 13th you should come so that we can show you just how much wiring we could have saved under Love Lane if we could have used your system. Richard Carr will probably add when he sees this thread that he has just completed a 4MT with battery power and Tam Valley radio for Masborough nee Croscombe Magna.
Hope to see you soon,
Robin
 
Eastsidepilot

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
Danny Boy,
Nice to see you back in action, it'll be great if you can develop your system further, most of us have gone 'hairless' :)) we just need to be wireless now :thumbs::D.
Get yourself down to the Albury meet and catch up.

Col.
 
Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen

Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen

Western Thunderer
Danny,
Come along to the Albury Spring S7 meeting, all the details are under the Exhibition heading on this forum or just contact me. It will be great to catch up again.
Tim
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
By coincidence, a few days back, I wrote to Peter Ziegler, owner of Zimo, asking if they had any plans to offer an RC product in their range. I received a reply today, in which he confirmed that such a product was interesting, but that they did not have time to include it in their product plans.

Best
Simon
 
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