RCS (original)

under construction

Transmitter had 2 headers, B and C

B header sets microprocessor to "posichange"

C header sets center off characteristic

Simple fm modulated one way remote control

There were 4 frequencies sold originally, and when the long range transmitters came out, only 3 were legally usable

yellow -

green -

red -

blue -

receivers were made by Elsema, Tony made the motor driver,

you could reverse at speed initially

 MT-8 / elite ver 6.2 microprocessor - with socketed microprocessor - made by PIC

• 3 triggers out for sound
• front headlight
• rear headlight
• motor

 elite

BlueRail

This page is under construction, so some data may be incomplete, and the organization may change. As always, please let me know about errors, but they will be in this page for some time.

Overview

This is a "DCC" system in that it can control DCC decoders. But, violating the DCC standard, there is no "cooperative intelligence" between locos/decoders and any other throttles, i.e. it does not have an overall central control (command station) that also has a database. This distinction is also often un-appreciated by novices in remote control.

Trying to understand the product

First, the distribution model for Bluerail apparently adds to the confusion.

When I first investigated:

I kept winding up at this site: http://deadrailinstalls.com/blue-rail/ which is clearly pointed at installations. But I did find a link to  "BlueRailDCC by Tam Valley". I wanted the manufacturer's site.

"Cool" I said, I have used a lot of Tam Valley stuff and know Duncan, so I clicked that link... and went to a page that was more of a  "buy now" as opposed to information on BlueRail. So I said heck, I want to learn about it, not buy it now, so I went to the official Tam Valley site, after all it says "BlueRailDCC by Tam Valley"

OK, now I am on the Tam Valley site:NOTHING ABOUT BlueRailDCC on the home page... what the fudge? Surely it would be listed on the products. NOPE, nowhere... so if it is advertised as BlueRailDCC by Tam Valley why the heck is it not on the home page of Tam Valley? Now I'm REALLY determined to figure this out. There is NO search tab on the Tam Valley site, so using Google to search the Tam Valley site, I found this page:https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/deadrailsystem.html. The story went on, but it made me crazy.

Recently, there is a new site: http://bluerailtrains.com/  OK!!! Thank You! Much better and less confusing.

(By the way, there is a related product from Tam Valley, which started the whole "deadrail" thing, of DCC over the air: http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/defunctdrs1wirelessdcc.html, which basically took the DCC signal from the rails of any "real" DCC system, and puts over 900 MHz.)

So, let's concentrate on the main product, the BlueRail decoders that have a motor driver and lights and can ALSO interface to a standard DCC decoder for more functionality.

How the system works:

The BlueRail unit has:

• • Bluetooth transceiver for communication with the phone app
  • motor driver circuitry
  • lighting outputs
  • DCC output to optionally drive a DCC decoder

A neat idea, but not really as cost effective as it seems if you are going to use a DCC decoder in the end, more later. The list price for the 5 amp unit is $160.

The app sends commands to the receiver/decoder, and because it is Bluetooth, while limited in range somewhat, the bidirectional communication is very helpful in giving feedback.

There are some nice features that are helpful on wireless, like behavior of the loco when you disconnect, and also an auto connect option, to connect to a loco automatically when in range.

There is a consisting function, which has more than average features, letting you specify lead, mid, rear locos, and facing forwards and reverse. There is also a speed matching button that allows speed matching locos at low, medium and high speeds.

https://www.youtube.com/@BlueRailTrains

The default video on the web site does say a few things that need a bit of correction:

• • controls all CVs and loco settings - actually not true, only certain cv's supported
  • talks about the external antenna for more range, but it is discontinued
  • only talks about the iphone app, not the android one.

OK, now that I've blown off steam, BlueRail has a nice graphical way to consist multiple locos. The screen will show up to 3 locos at a time, and if you have more, little arrows appear to allow you to scroll. Neat.

The real time speed matching is clever, you run the locos about a foot apart, and then you can tweak the individual speeds of the locos at low, mid and high speeds. There is also what appears to be the start speed (CV2) in consisting. The system does make this easier though, that is for sure. (note that speed matching unloaded locos will get them close, but locos can behave differently under load. In most cases this method works well enough).

How the system works:

One great idea and distinguishing feature is that the receiver/decoder can drive headlights (2) and the motor itself, or operate as a DCC booster and drive a standard DCC decoder directly.

A neat idea, but not really as cost effective as it seems if you are going to use a DCC decoder in the end, more later.

The app sends commands to the receiver/decoder, and because it is Bluetooth, while limited in range somewhat, the bidirectional communication is very helpful in giving feedback.

There are some nice features that are helpful on wireless, like behavior of the loco when you disconnect, and also an auto connect option, to connect to a loco automatically when in range.

There is a consisting function, which has more than average features, letting you specify lead, mid, rear locos, and facing forwards and reverse.

There is also a speed matching button that allows speed matching locos at low, medium and high speeds.

There is a nice video on the web site showing the consisting, but right off it tells untruths about DCC consisting.... saying that consisting requires a programming track, can take hours, that you must edit CVs, and it has added control. I have several NCE and Zimo DCC systems, and consisting is easy and I never have to touch CVs.

When someone tells untruths about a competitor, it puts a very sour taste in my mouth, and it makes me wary and more sensitive to more untrue and misleading comments. Clearly Dave Reese has never done consisting on a DCC system like NCE or Zimo which allows universal consisting and advanced consisting, and much more control.

OK, now that I've blown off steam, BlueRail has a nice graphical way to consist multiple locos. The screen will show up to 3 locos at a time, and if you have more, little arrows appear to allow you to scroll. Neat.

The real time speed matching is clever, you run the locos about a foot apart, and then you can tweak the individual speeds of the locos at low, mid and high speeds. There is also what appears to be the start speed (CV2) in consisting. The system does make this easier though, that is for sure. (note that speed matching unloaded locos will get them close, but locos can behave differently under load. In most cases this method works well enough).

Throttle app:

BlueRail has a small iPhone app, and just released in 2023, and finally, an Android version

Here's a video of the app. Notice that the app supports Blunami (BlueRail and a Tsunami decoder) and BlueRail:

You can run up to 3 trains and display 3 throttles on one screen, again, if you have more than three, small arrows will appear that will let you scroll left or right.

BUT, most systems have a "recall memory" to allow a large number of locos to be pulled up quickly... All the major DCC systems do this. I need to find out if there is any other "memory" for trains, but I doubt it, it appears that whatever is on your screen is also "live" / "connected"

Receiver/Decoder/booster

There are several models, but I will only present the one suitable for G scale.

Kind of a cool idea, use the output drivers to either power a motor directly, or change them to be a DCC booster, to drive a DCC decoder.

Clearly, no sound from the basic board. Notice the now discontinued external antenna.

Cost vs what you get

So the basic decoder costs $160. Sort of expensive for just a motor decoder and 2 lights. For comparison, a top brand of DCC decoder has 8 function outputs, 4 servo outputs, superior BEMF motor control, 4 amps continuous, 10 amp peak AND SOUND for about $110. (clearly the DCC decoder does not have a BlueTooth radio transceiver)

I guess the value proposition here is the throttle is free by cell phone app. But you can get track power and a free app for less for the JMRI software (free) that works with many DCC systems.

Adding sound to the BlueRail is more expense, and there are 2 ways to go, a cheap sound system for $100 that is not synchronized to load or the loco, connected to the motor (ugh), or add a DCC sound decoder with many more features and load dependent sounds.

So, even the best quality 5 amp DCC decoders with sound cost about $240. Now without batteries, your BlueRail loco electronics are $360. Use a cheaper sound card and you are about $260.

The Convrtr from AirWire is $140, 20 bucks cheaper, but I guess that with the free throttle that BlueWire wins here

The issue is there are products like RailPro, where the entire decoder with sound is $170, about $200 cheaper per loco.

Where is the cost? When you think about it the unit with DCC sound, there are TWO 5 amp power output stages in both implementations, in the first booster in the receiver, and in the output stage of the DCC decoder.

So, funny, now I "get" RailPro, the level of features and control are pretty high (compared to simple remote control) and $200 less per loco with sound almost as good as the top line decoders.(I have been researching wireless proprietary systems)

Cost wise per loco, the BlueRail system makes the most sense using no sound or an inexpensive sound card.

More on consisting

BlueRail is not using the advanced consisting capability built into all modern decoders. This is clear since all decoders must have address 3. So all the automated stuff a modern decoder can do (customize which functions operate in which locos, lighting, other sounds, etc.) has to be done by the app itself.

That is not a game changer, if the app is expanded to give the same functionality, and the graphical support stays at the same level (very helpful and easy) then actually BlueRail can go beyond what is in the advanced consisting features in decoders.

What is important is the functionality available and the ease of use.

I know there is theoretically no limit to the number of locos in a consist, but it looks like you can only have 4 consists defined at one time. I don't consider this limiting for most users. In my case it would be limiting. I would need about 8, but I'm the exception. Consists of at least 4 locos have been accomplished.

The only manual seems to be the user guide: http://bluerailtrains.com/blueraildcc/userguide/there is also a youtube video

Reading and writing CVs

One thing that is pretty ambitious is that when you are reading and writing CVs, BlueRail helps you by telling you what the CV does, like JMRI.

What is too ambitious at the present, is you must tell Bluerail what the decoder is, and if the support is not complete, you cannot access that CV with the gui,

There's an additional niggle, that can cause problems, looks like writing the CV is done in OPs mode, not the NMRA service mode. Many decoders have restrictions on what CVs can be written in OPs mode. Reading CVs is indeed done in NMRA service mode with "direct read" (there are several modes to read and write CVs)

Back to BlueRail

OK, first thing I will consider is the LS decoder with a DCC sound board.

Right off the bat I see an issue: The BlueRail LS receiver/decoder/booster has an absolute max input voltage of 18 volts. I will be experimenting to see what the real limit is. There is an overvoltage LED.

This means with li-ion batteries, you are limited to 4 cells (5 cells could be 21 volts right off a full charge)

So after coming off the full charge, the nominal voltage of 4 cells is 14.4 volts, which is WAY too low for G scale locos except some of the steamers that will run a scale 25 miles per hour. This won't run diesels fast enough except perhaps a USAT.

The important thing to get here, is that the designers have worked hard to make the many functions of DCC simplified, but this means custom mappings in the firmware to support different decoders. It would be nice if there was a program to easily map this, perhaps piggy backing on the JMRI database, i.e. JMRI knows what functions are where, and could be used to feed a customizing program for the BlueRail.

Manuals:

so this is a bit scattered, and there is no single manual.

I'm making a list of links here to at least locate the data:

This is a link to the "user guide" http://bluerailtrains.com/blueraildcc/userguide/ but it is a page with several "articles"

The articles are actually a good step for overviews of different installations, especially for non-tech type individuals.

This is a very nice page explaining CV's: http://bluerailtrains.com/what-are-cvs-functions-in-dcc/

This page reveals VERY important information about how BlueRail operates CVs, it writes CVs in POM mode, but when you want to read a CV, it switches to service mode. I'll need to observe how this works in practice. One issue would be that certain decoders will not allow every CV to be written in POM mode.

The u.fl connector for the external antenna (funny, u.fl is the industry standard connector name, not the name of an antenna design, which looked like a dipole) is not on my board. I also wonder what the J4 header is for.

but there is no single "manual" for the unit, which I do miss.

My hardware manual:

Specifications

• 5 amp board runs on 7-18 volts (there is a note on the web site that some would not work over 16 volts), there is a post by Steve Seidensticker that ther will support 24 volts now, posted April 3, 2022
• current rating is 3 amp continuous, and "max" of 5 (so that must be a peak, but for how long?)
• front/rear outputs are max 20 ma
• red LED (overvoltage LED, blinks red constantly, blinks with each command), D3
  
• green LED is "powered up" indication, next to power terminals, D6

Connections:

Most are clearly marked on the board.

End of board:

• Power - DCC or DC input (polarity does not matter)
• DCCOut - to the optional DCC decoder (clearly polarity does not matter)

top connector on long edge (silk screen reads correctly)

• R> - ground this pin to go to BASIC mode
• 3.3 - 3.3 volt common for LED lights
• Gnd - ground
• LF - Light Front
• LR - Light Rear
• RX - ???
• TX - ???

bottom connector on long edge (closest to 'bluerail DCC 5A

• V12 - ???
• Sen
• DCC
• DCC with bar over top
• D1 - extra outpu
• D2
• Snl

My software manual:

DCC decoder needs to be short address 3

 in basic mode, there are CVs, and there are some PWM tuning modes, like PWM frequency

CV29 only has the direction bit working

there is a kick start, and it has a speed table.

CV20 controls allows using service mode to write CVs,

• there is a reverse logic setting for the light outputs
• there is a reverse logic setting for the function outputs
• there is a "swap" for the forward/reverse on the lights in reference to the motor

BlueRail

Throttle app:

BlueRail has a small iPhone app (been asking for Android version for ever)

You can run up to 3 trains and display 3 throttles on one screen, again, if you have more than three, small arrows will appear that will let you scroll left or right.

BUT, most systems have a "recall memory" to allow a large number of locos to be pulled up quickly... All the major DCC systems do this. I need to find out if there is any other "memory" for trains, but I doubt it, it appears that whatever is on your screen is also "live" / "connected"

Receiver/Decoder/booster

There are several models, but I will only present the ones suitable for G scale.

Kind of a cool idea, use the output drivers to either power a motor directly, or change them to be a DCC booster, to drive a DCC decoder.

Clearly, no sound from the basic board.

Costs

So the basic decoder costs $160. Sort of expensive for just a motor decoder and 2 lights. For comparison, a top brand of DCC decoder has 8 function outputs, 4 servo outputs, superior BEMF motor control, 4 amps continuous, 10 amp peak for about the same money. (clearly the DCC decoder does not have a BlueTooth radio transceiver)

I guess the value proposition here is the throttle is free by cell phone app. But the app is only on iPhone, and there are free apps for iPhone AND Android for the JMRI software (free) that works with many DCC systems.

Adding sound is more expense, and there are 2 ways to go, a cheap sound system for $100 that is not synchronized to load or the loco, connected to the motor (ugh), or add a DCC sound decoder with many more features and load dependent sounds.

So, quality 5 amp DCC decoders with sound cost about $200. Now without batteries, your BlueRail loco electronics are $360. Use a cheaper sound card and you are about $260.

The Convrtr from AirWire is $140, 20 bucks cheaper, but I guess that with the free throttle that BlueWire wins here

The issue is there are products like RailPro, where the entire decoderwith soundis $170, about $200 cheaper per loco.

Where is the cost? When you think about it the unit with DCC sound, there are TWO 5 amp power output stages in both implementations, in the first booster in the receiver, and in the output stage of the DCC decoder.

So, funny, now I "get" RailPro, the level of features and control are pretty high (compared to simple remote control) and $200 less per loco with sound almost as good as the top line decoders.(I have been researching wireless proprietary systems)

Cost wise per loco, the BlueRail system makes the most sense using no  sound or an inexpensive sound card.

More on consisting

BlueRail is not using the advanced consisting capability built into all modern decoders. This is clear since all decoders must have address 3. So all the automated stuff a modern decoder can do (customize which functions operate in which locos, lighting, other sounds, etc.) has to be done by the app itself.

That is not a game changer, if the app is expanded to give the same functionality, and the graphical support stays at the same level (very helpful and easy) then actually BlueRail can go beyond what is in the advanced consisting features in decoders.

What is important is the functionality available and the ease of use.

I know there is theoretically no limit to the number of locos in a consist, but it looks like you can only have 4 consists defined at one time. I don't consider this limiting for most users. In my case it would be limiting. I would need about 8, but I'm the exception. Consists of at least 4 locos have been accomplished.

The only manual seems to be the user guide:http://bluerailtrains.com/blueraildcc/userguide/there is also a youtube video

Reading and writing CVs

One thing that is pretty ambitious is that when you are reading and writing CVs, BlueRail helps you by telling you what the CV does, like JMRI.

What is too ambitious at the present, is you must tell Bluerail what the decoder is, and if the support is not complete, you cannot access that CV with the gui,

There's an additional niggle, that can cause problems, looks like writing the CV is done in OPs mode, not the NMRA service mode. Many decoders have restrictions on what CVs can be written in OPs mode. Reading CVs is indeed done in NMRA service mode with "direct read" (there are several modes to read and write CVs)

Back to BlueRail

OK, first thing I will consider is the LS decoder with a DCC sound board.

Right off the bat I see an issue: The BlueRail LS receiver/decoder/booster has an absolute max input voltage of 18 volts.

This means with li-ion batteries, you are limited to 4 cells (5 cells could be 21 volts right off a full charge)

So after coming off the full charge, the nominal voltage of 4 cells is 14.4 volts, which is WAY too low for G scale locos except some of the steamers that will run a scale 25 miles per hour. This won't run diesels fast enough except perhaps a USAT.

Seeking information on this.

The important thing to get here, is that the designers have worked hard to make the many functions of DCC

RailPro

This page is under construction, it is in no way complete.

Overview

Made by Ring Engineering, by Tim Ring. Been around since at least 2011 dates of youtube videos. (FCC approvals in 2009), but only hearing about it now in large scale, perhaps it was because of not having high current decoders.

Wireless range is stated as 100 feet, more you need a repeater.

The frequency band is 2.4 GHz, but no info on what the physical layer is other than not Bluetooth and not Wi-Fi, technologies which the inventor spares no time denigrating. ;-) The frequency range is 2405.0 - 2480.0, FCC part 15 low power. Some of the comments about Bluetooth range are pretty funny since it has a greater range in the high power versions.

I joined the unofficial RailPro user group/forum:  https://rpug.pdc.ca/index.php It should be noted that the forum owner is a RailPro dealer

First impressions:

Well, unfortunately like all R/C systems with with lots of functions, the first stuff you read is 1/2 features and 1/2 denigrating the competition.

You can read the "nationalism" in the forum posts, and some of the mis-information by the users and company. One user just posted that he has been changing over from his "inferior" DCC decoders to RailPro, and then point out some serious issues with RailPro when doing consists. Hah!

Trying to ignore all of this junk, first impressions are:

• • large handheld, color screen cute, but they did indeed address outdoor visibility with the "SUN" model with extra brightness, kudos.
  • Consisting has a feature where the locos supposedly communicate with each other to share the load and "match" each other automatically. This is a great feature for the hobby, since there can be a wide variation in speeds, and I'm anxious to see how it works with distributed power. If it works well this is a unique and outstanding feature.
  • Nothing special with sound, all looped wave files with beginning, middle and end. Old tech of course, but what can you expect from a newcomer and a small company.
  • The decoder/receivers have a DCC mode but it is crippled, and has severe limiting features in consists, which they often blame on other DCC system.

The system is sold on being "easier" and more simple, but beyond the initial setup, it is as complex as any system, and needs the user to become well versed in many computer type details.

System Components:

Realize this is a mesh network, so apparently all units with radios can act as repeaters. It appears to be Zigbee, but technical details are withheld.

Basic components

You normally want the handheld throttle, a decoder in a loco. For more than 15 foot range, you probably want to add the "repeater / power supply"

Throttle:

Handheld with a xxx by xxxx color touchscreen and nice big speed knob

HC-2 is normal unit, HC-2-SUN is extra bright screen.

Like to know battery life on SUN model.

Decoders:

the basic decoder and receiver are in a single unit, and you can run it by itself, or in one unit

LM-4S-G - G scale decoder with sound

• 6 lighting outputs (max and total current?)
• no specifications on RailPro site, you have to dig into the manual (which is on the site) to get:
  
  • Maximum Power Input Voltage: 28 Volts (Absolute Maximum voltage 30.0V)
  • Maximum Motor Stall Current: 8 Amps
  • Maximum Output Current on any Single Light Output: 500mA.
  • Maximum Output Current on all Light Outputs Combined: 500mA
  • Audio Output Power: 13 Watts into a 4 ohm load. 7.4 Watts into an 8 ohm load

More on current handling:

G scale is all about voltage and current.

Not telling you what current it will handle continuously, and how small the unit is and how there's no airflow to the output transistors, I suspect this unit may run 3 amps or so continuously.

The manual says

"You can be burnt by the locomotive module heatsink if you touch it while it is powered on. You should not touch the module until the power has been removed for at least 30 minutes to allow it to cool to a temperature that would be safe to handle."

Wow... there are no exterior fins I can see, so I'm guessing this will be a problem for larger, higher current locos.

Note that there is a retailer that sells a mount with a heat sink and fan:

manufacturer: https://www.ovrailcar.com/online-store/Rail-Pro-Mounting-Bracket-with-50mm-Fan-and-Heat-Sink-p376391580

If you read the RailPro forum, you see that for large scale, this is really a must if you use USAT locos or other high current locos.

https://rpug.pdc.ca/index.php?topic=1380.0;topicseen

Chuff Trigger for steam locos.

Another thing not documented in the manual. There is a wire labelled as "input" and the manual shows it being switched to +5 volts. It is not labelled as the chuff trigger, but it is.

Interestingly, it is switched to positive as opposed to the typical chuff switch that is switched to ground. You may have to invert your signal with a transistor, like the famous goof that Bachmann did on the first K-27s.

Be sure your throttle and the decoder are on the latest firmware. On steam files only (doh) you can find a couple of settings "Use input wire for chuff sync enabled/disabled" and input wire chuff on close and a graphic of a square wave. This setting allows you to chuff on the leading edge, trailing edge or both edges of the trigger signal.

LM-3S-G

no longer produced, had a very limited max voltage, inappropriate for most G scale

LM-3S is HO model with sound

• max voltage 18 volts from manual
• no current rating in manual or on web site
• 6 lighting outputs

LM-3 is HO without sound

again from various sources, stall current is 2 amps, so someone guesses the continuous current is under an amp.

PRM-2 is keep alive module

• has two 2.7v, 3.3 farad caps
• HO only?
• can be configured for what is powered, lights, sounds, motor (very cool)
• $40 (????) (2 caps alone costs $5 on the open market or less)

Starter Kit:

Includes throttle, and power supply and power adapter. Since this was designed for HO initially, the power supply and adapter are really a fixed DC supply to the rails and a radio repeater. It's voltage and amps are basically too low for most G scale applications.

RailPro Assistant - (RPA)

looks like firmware and sound uploads. There are things people are not used to, uploading something does not necessarily wipe out what was there before, so sometimes people need to manage the files in the decoder. Good and bad. In my opinion, great, but many users may not have the "computer programmer" consciousness. I think it is a good thing, but will make it more confusing for users.

There are things like not working if people put special characters in file names, total number of files, a lot of "computer programmer" type stuff that the user is not "protected" from:

"RPA can not see more than 82 folders and not more than 52 files in a folder so if your folder count where RPA is looking in is more than 82 every folder after the 82nd (alphabetically) will not be listed in RPA nor available to it. Same with the files."

System specifics / observations

Motor Control:

Will be investigating what this is, no mention yet of BEMF control or PID parameter access.

Sound files and quality:

As already mentioned, sound is not great, but maybe 1/2 of all the people I meet really cannot tell the difference between good and great sound. I would put this in the "good" category for quality of sound, and "poor" for the ability to have the sound "animated".... things like heavy chuff under load, and Doppler shift are non-existant. So the sound system "capability" is about 10 years ago compared to mainstream DCC systems from Zimo, ESU, Marklin, QSI, etc.

There is a designator on some sound files "ULT" which stands for ultimate. Apparently has to do with better recording equipment and all 8 notches of the prime mover. The loop matching is better, smoother notch transitions. I will have to listen to this.

I need to listen to more, I listened to this video: https://vimeo.com/659142710 and there is way too much reverb in the sound file... reverb is used to make sound "bigger" but it is not appropriate when a loco is not inside a shower or enclosed space.

As an aside, I see it is by my old "friend" from LSC who got angry when I told him his model aircraft controller was silly... hmm, guess he finally agreed with me.

Braking function

throttle needs to be set to zero for brakes to work. Brake squeal is only on ULT files, and only heard very close to stopping. Clearly you must have momentum, otherwise setting throttle to zero will stop the loco before you hit the brakes. (clearly this could be improved to be more DCC like)

Consisting:

Needs more investigation. First off when consisted, the locos communicate with each other to actively speed match. Fantastic idea. Appears to work well, with some limitations, more later. Apparently max number of locos in consist is supposed to be 12, but current reports says system hangs at above 8. Still a good number.

Unfortunately adding and removing locos from consists is nuts, you need to remove all the locos from the consist and rebuild it. Really bad.

There are issues with which loco is the lead, i.e. by running backwards, the lead loco does not change... horn and bell from wrong loco.

When using in DCC mode, they only support universal consisting, and only at 128 speed steps, but in general their whole DCC implementation is not great. Not a big deal, if you buy this stuff to be DCC compatible, you are somewhat foolish.

While the communication between consisted locos is a fantastic idea, it is limited by radio range, and several reports that trying to run locos (even in HO scale) with mid or end train power had issues, seems that the head end locos were not "heard" by the mid train locos. The main transmitter/repeater has either more power or is more sensitive than the radios in the decoders (of course).  You need repeaters, and may need spacing as close as 15 to 20 feet, and there is a max of 4 repeaters. So for large scale, mid train power or end of train power may be impossible or unreliable.

Network architecture:

It's a little confusing and the web site could do a better job of explaining, and I work in wireless communications for a living!

So, all devices can transmit and receive, this is the decoders, the throttles, the USB "computer interface" and the thing that is variously called a repeater, a power supply and other things, the PWR-56.

Even the home page is confusing: "Simple Network Setup - Find Product and Select Repeater" - ???

As far as I can figure out, this is a mesh network, but it is unclear what devices can act as repeaters. There are more gotchas, the USB device does not work well as a repeater, power is lower, the PWR-56 has DC output to power the rails, but why? If you buy it to use as a repeater that does not make a lot of sense. The decoders themselves have limited range, as evidenced by the issues with distributed power in consists.

There are places on the site that say you might need a repeater every 15 to 20 feet, but I believe they are thinking inside HO layout.

Chuff sync / trigger:

There are some issues with chuff sync input.... it has been stated that the chuff trigger input is not always used, even when set. I read some gobbedy goop about this is to make smooth speed transitions, more on this as I learn it.

The auto chuff is of course not without problems, many people report it is the wrong speed, or right at one speed and wrong at slow and fast. Also many people report extra chuffs when the loco is stopped. This reported even by fanboys: https://rpug.pdc.ca/index.php/topic,1440.0/topicseen.html

My guess is that the developer will eventually embrace BEMF "tachometer" and emulate what QSI did for auto chuff, i.e. the hardware can actually count the real motor rpm.

Charging the throttle, you must have the charger plugged into AC before charging. Sometimes its better to be sure you see the charging screen

 Software/firmware updates

The system can easily be updated, the firmware in the decoders and the firmware in the throttle. It seems that many firmware releases do not have a "what's fixed and what is still broke" document.

MyLocoSound

Overview

This page is under construction. The information I have gathered here is a compendium of what I believe to be correct, and some information comes from the manufacturer. I intend to personally try one out, but until then this page has these caveats.

This appears to be one of the most popular non-DCC sound systems, and is inexpensive. https://www.mylocosound.com/

Sold worldwide, especially popular in the UK and the USA & Canada (I think popular in Australia and New Zealand).

In large scale, there are the following sound products:

• Steam Universal
• Steam British
• Heavy Diesel Universal
• Heavy Diesel British
• Light Diesel
• Electric
• Street Car
• Railbus

Within each product, there can be several whistles, for example the British steam has 9 different whistles.

There seems to only be one bell on each product.

The card uses a combination of recorded and synthesized sounds (will try to find which is which)

There are 7 trigger terminals, for remote operation.

Sound output:

System is rated for 8 ohms 3 watts max, and you are informed a 4 ohm speaker can overload the amp if run a while at high volumes. Interestingly, this is one of the few sites I have ever read that guides you to a speaker with a resonant frequency of under 500 Hz, and optimally under 350. (for my steamers I try for 200 and under, but it's all about space in the tender).

To trigger the sounds from DCC the manufacturer suggest a servo switch, driven from a servo output on the decoder.

The manual goes on to say: "Many decoders also have function outputs which can be used to trigger sounds. However, this is technically
difficult and you should only attempt it if you are very familiar with your decoder and the setting of CVs."

 link to manual: https://www.mylocosound.com/linked/manual_premium_universal_steam_us.pdf

Since these function triggers just need to be pulled to ground, I am at a loss why this is difficult, and why you need to be "very familiar", at first glance it appears a simple connection to the function output of any DCC decoder would work. The grounds of the MLS and the decoder should be connected. I'll look for someone who has done this, but it should be simple.

It does appear that the MLS card can run up to 24 volts, minimum voltage is 7 volts

Programming

It has an interesting way of programming, to make things easy for non-technical users, it uses an IR remote like on a TV to change things. You can also control sounds, but IR outside is very limited.

More on sound details:

Diesel engine speed settings:

There are 4 "variations" on this sound:

1. engine revs increase proportionally to the speed
2. same as #1 but with gear changes for diesel mechanical locos
3. this simulates selecting notch 5, so the revs increase to double tickover rate before the loco moves
4. simliar to 3, but notch 8, where the revs increase to triple tickover rate before moving

Clearly, the "tickover rev rate" is adjustable, and for case 1 and 2, the user can set the rev rate limit while in motion

There is a chuff trigger input