Hi everyone
I've spoiled myself with Railpro in november and I'd like to give you all my review so far. I have HC-2 and six LM-2S.
But before, here is a small listing of what I have installed and a few comments on the installation:
- Kato SD45 and SD40: both DCC ready with and 8 pin plug. I just had to remove the jumpers, get a 8 to 9 pin connector, fit in the LM-2S and voilą. They run flawlessly even if I had to remove weights.
- Atlas silver series Gp40-2: I had to remove the factory board for decoder and speaker to fit in. All in all it runs fine but I still have fine tuning to make so the wires don't touch the flywheels. This one wa sa bit more painful to install railpro in.
- Proto 1k F3 unit. I could easily install decoder and 2 speakers, all hardwired: everything runs flawlessly.
- Athearn RTR DC GP-38: Oh boy. It's the not DCC ready type, mostly a new kind of old bluebox thing. I had headaches trying to fit the module inside and even after reading and watching Kevin's how-to install thread many times, I still got trouble to fit all in, and even now, it doesn't run flawlessly because some wires are touching the flywheels and ugh. Anyway.
I have one LM-2S left, yet to install.
I tried to fit it in a Athearn bluebox sw1500 switcher with no success. And I have a proto2k s3 switcher: same result. The thing just won't fit. I am thinking of keeping the shell of the athearn sw1500 (nice weather wisconsin central 1551) and put in on top of a new athearn frame dcc ready thing but I have doubts it will work.
As for the system itself I think it is very nice and fun to use. So far my layout is all Code100, all wired correctly, and when tracks and wheels are clean I have little problems. Just the same hobby related problems such as "oh there is a shorting frog here, or a bad power-pick up there"
I also downloaded stuff from RE website, sounds and all. no problems.
At some point I got a most frustrating problem: I lashed up 2 locos using the MU link. All locos had been tested for max volatge prior to this. Uusally it all works well, but that specific time, when I applied voltage they started to move and then I settled the voltage at 30%. locos were acting starngle, one pulling more than the other, then stops, then again, sometimes moving in unison but slowing down, then regaining speed then slowing down again, all erratically. I gave up and went to bed. The next morning all was fine. I had no fault reported.
Also, I have a loco with a fault saying: sound is not compatible with current version of software. However, all locos were updated, with same version, and the same sound plays on other locos. odd thing.
All in all I am really happy (I never tried DCC, I jumped from straight DC to RP). In comparison with straight DC I think RP is very sensitive and locos will stop and sound reset for the slightest current fail. It is very sensitive to rail dirt and I hate when it stops and reset, which was something that never happened on DC.
Also, I am canadian and bought the thing from YakeeDabbler since Ring doesn't sell in Canada. With the conversion, it cost me a lot more than in US dollars, and that was a bit a downer, but I am still happy.
Thanks for having me along in the forum.
Have a good day!
Antoine