Has any body else seen this thread @ MRH?

[Joel B.]

 I just ran into this today and found it to very interesting. http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/25866  It's rather long but if nothing else a good read on developing something new and yet keep everybody happy. Ring Eng. is mentioned on p.6 and 13 (i think) and that's why I am posting it here. It also kind of points out the neatness of Rings system. The configuration looks like it would be a nightmare unless you are DCC savvy. It would be neat to use something like this for the more life like "touchy - feelyness".

Joel B.

P.S. If this fits in another place better, please feel free to move it

[William Brillinger]

I've been following it at a distance, but I can't find the posts that mention RailPro.

[Joel B.]

I numbered wrong I guess. This was the quote form P 14, About 2/3rds down the page.

"Sure, it's possible, but building one's own Decoder is not the stated goal of Scott's project.

Equally, while it is indeed possible to "DIY DCC decoder for $5",
we're yet to see any such decoder which has even a modicum of the Motor + Lighting + Sound capabilities of the commercial offerings,

not to mention in a form-factor HO and N scale switchers require,
(the commonly-held form-factor benchmark,
and current "can't jump over it" stumble for a number of otherwise DCC-threatening control options).

or broadly enough to achieve "basic compatibility" with the range of DCC Command Stations available...

...and even if a "$5 decoder" _did_ manage to address all of the above,
it would _still_ have to work within the comms limits which is the DCC protocol...
(Check how close RingEng's bi-directional comms comes to realising the features/behaviour you desire,
then consider why Ring couldn't achieve it "via DCC", and developed their own protocol?)"
 
I have'nt found the other one though,,,
Joel B

[William Brillinger]

Thanks Joel. Here is a direct link to Prof K's comments on PG 14:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/25866?page=13#comment-235778

And I found an additional reference to RailPro on Page 8:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/25866?page=7#comment-235018

[G8B4Life]

Wow, that was a lot of reading!

That's the sort of throttle I always wanted, and in some respects still do; proper 8 notches with a proper throttle lever and reverser. Such a thing could be done with RailPro too; that would mimic more modern loco's well that have real levers and on board computers with touchscreen controls.

- Tim

[SD90]

That is a very cool idea!