A sneak peek at the BlueRaillDCC board by Tam Valley. For more information visit: BlueRailTrains.com Or join our email group at BlueRailTrains.com/contact
So we now finally have battery-operated DCC Sound combined with Bluetooth control via Smartphone. I am positively thrilled!!! I will so use this with all of my 0 Gauge engines, once I'll be able to start in that scale!
I’ve been thinking of something like this for years and love this idea! Now for the battery, can you leave it in and connected or do you have to take it out in order to turn it off whenever you want? Also, this is an idea that I have had with but don’t have the skills to do it, is there a way to make a rechargeable battery and instead of having to change batteries, maybe add a separate power track where locomotives can recharge just sitting on the powered tracks?
That depends on what battery you pick, the amperage draw of your loco, and what sort of load you pull. In the video above the O gauge loco has a 400mA battery and it pulls a few cars on a grade. This lasts 2 hours on a single charge. If you pull 20 cars it will eat battery faster. If you are large scale it will use more battery - you can get a larger 850mA battery and get more run time.
I like the idea of using the BlueRail board to front the DCC decoder. The latest gen DCC decoders have fantastic motor control and sounds. Why reinvent the wheel right? Having battery option is great too. The problem I have is that I don't like using the app. Despite its features, the tactile interface of using your figure on a screen leaves a lot to be desired for me. I still prefer a remote with buttons, dials, sliders, etc... Is there a way to use this board for battery power but still use a DCC remote? Maybe I'm over-thinking this but I'd really like to use a ProtoThrottle for diesels for example. That is the antithesis of touching a screen.
Here is a video about using an MFI iOs game controller to run the train: czcams.com/video/ZiK_kl95gr4/video.html Its nice to have the app as well for changing settings and triggering functions. These boards are controlled by bluetooth low energy - a popular standard protocol. Perhaps someday Prothrottle will add bluetooth.
You can squeeze the small board into an N F-Unit (or trailing car/tender). If you want battery power, the battery definitely has to go in a trailing car. There is another product in development that may be more suitable.
for just a few euro's more I get a Massoth XLS 4amp 2motor + Sound / Smoke whole shebang for my G-scales why on earth would you chose this is you have trackpower? if you only have battery then perhaps...
What's the benefit here? You pay $100 to have an onboard JMRI type interface but you still have to know which CV goes to which function? Who wants to deal with CV's? Can these consist? And if so, can they load share in real time with other locomotives? I'm an advocate of getting away from the 1988 DCC technology but this just doesn't seem to give any real capability advancement nor for any more simplicity. This is twice the cost of RailPro and has none of the capability. I've been following this development and had high hopes but this seems to have fallen considerably short. If I'm missing something please feel free to point it out.
Here is a link to a video on speed-matching and consisting in BlueRail: czcams.com/video/_4qJFlNt95Y/video.html We think a RailPro system (at $400) is a great option too.
@@BlueRailTrains thanks for the link. But again, why? Speed Matching is the solution for a limitation in DCC. It isn't the goal. You want locomotives to communicate in real time and actually Load Share. Speed Matching is a compromise because your technology, like DCC, isn't capable of doing what it should be able to do. All you've done is made DCC a little easier and you've eliminated none of the problems. $400 for RailPro? How? You can get started for $210. But that system is a decade old and my expectations from BlueRail was something cutting edge, advanced, and moving the goal post forward. All you've done is taken a 30 year old ancient DCC tech and moved it into the Seinfeld and Friends era. I was rooting for BlueRail to deliver an even better alternative to DCC and not another rehashed DCC based workaround.
@@jacobdamron7399 I think you might be more interested in the other product BlueRail is in co-development on (more info will be available when a product announcement is made by the manufacturer). This Tam Valley product is great for people who have a specific decoder with prototype sounds and specific functionality, and they want the freedom of operating that decoder directly with battery option and good range without having to use a programming track. Some of these decoder companies have been building their sound libraries for 30 years, and many users have strong preferences and customer loyalty to a specific decoder company. The BlueRail app is free, easy to update, doesn't grow old (like a piece of hardware), and can control any decoder. In BlueRail, all locomotives communicate in realtime - try not to confuse the limits of uni-directional "through the rails" DCC with how BlueRail operates. I recommend you wait for the next product to release and decide then if the product makes more sense to you.
This board allows you to control a decoder using the BlueRail app. There are many decoders available that work with 2-rail O scale (popular brands include SoundTraxx, TCS, ESU and others). The expected availability is sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
@@BlueRailTrains ok.i have 1 bluerail board now i installed in a 2rail O scale weaver rs3 a couple of yrs ago.i have a number of locos & nyc subway cars id like to convert to bluerail as well.
Great for my garden rail with the 5A module
Very very very excited
So we now finally have battery-operated DCC Sound combined with Bluetooth control via Smartphone.
I am positively thrilled!!! I will so use this with all of my 0 Gauge engines, once I'll be able to start in that scale!
Nice product, I will definitely be giving it a try! Also, I like your railroad, minimal as it is!
I spent a lot of time this weekend talking with Pete in Phoenix about your new board. Put me down for 5!
I’ve been thinking of something like this for years and love this idea! Now for the battery, can you leave it in and connected or do you have to take it out in order to turn it off whenever you want? Also, this is an idea that I have had with but don’t have the skills to do it, is there a way to make a rechargeable battery and instead of having to change batteries, maybe add a separate power track where locomotives can recharge just sitting on the powered tracks?
Interested.
I'm ready to order at least 5 when released for android.
I love it! The only question I got, is how long does the battery last?
That depends on what battery you pick, the amperage draw of your loco, and what sort of load you pull. In the video above the O gauge loco has a 400mA battery and it pulls a few cars on a grade. This lasts 2 hours on a single charge. If you pull 20 cars it will eat battery faster. If you are large scale it will use more battery - you can get a larger 850mA battery and get more run time.
Interesting. Because of battery power, you could get rid of the third rail on o gauge if you really wanted to.
How's production going? I been looking forward to battery power but I couldn't find anywhere that stocks online or anything
How many trains can the bluerail trains app handle?
Got your update email today, this looks incredible, worth the wait!
How can I receive more info on this tor DC layout
Thanks Vito
Mid South Garden Railway
I like the idea of using the BlueRail board to front the DCC decoder. The latest gen DCC decoders have fantastic motor control and sounds. Why reinvent the wheel right? Having battery option is great too. The problem I have is that I don't like using the app. Despite its features, the tactile interface of using your figure on a screen leaves a lot to be desired for me. I still prefer a remote with buttons, dials, sliders, etc... Is there a way to use this board for battery power but still use a DCC remote? Maybe I'm over-thinking this but I'd really like to use a ProtoThrottle for diesels for example. That is the antithesis of touching a screen.
It's Bluetooth, and Bluerails has a video of an Xbox controller being used to control trains.
Here is a video about using an MFI iOs game controller to run the train: czcams.com/video/ZiK_kl95gr4/video.html Its nice to have the app as well for changing settings and triggering functions. These boards are controlled by bluetooth low energy - a popular standard protocol. Perhaps someday Prothrottle will add bluetooth.
Does my engine have to be DCC ready? I have some AtlasO conventional engines I would love to run on battery.
The loco in the video above is a basic Lionel. A sound decoder has wires that connect to your motor and lights. Its a very easy conversion.
So would this be an easy way to convert 3 rail locomotives to 2 rail? install a battery, and 3 rail trains can now run on 2 rail no issues?
Yes. I run all my 3-rail locos on battery.
Will you be making anything for N scale?
You can squeeze the small board into an N F-Unit (or trailing car/tender). If you want battery power, the battery definitely has to go in a trailing car. There is another product in development that may be more suitable.
for just a few euro's more I get a Massoth XLS 4amp 2motor + Sound / Smoke whole shebang for my G-scales
why on earth would you chose this is you have trackpower? if you only have battery then perhaps...
Can it run off an app?
What's the benefit here? You pay $100 to have an onboard JMRI type interface but you still have to know which CV goes to which function? Who wants to deal with CV's? Can these consist? And if so, can they load share in real time with other locomotives? I'm an advocate of getting away from the 1988 DCC technology but this just doesn't seem to give any real capability advancement nor for any more simplicity. This is twice the cost of RailPro and has none of the capability. I've been following this development and had high hopes but this seems to have fallen considerably short. If I'm missing something please feel free to point it out.
Here is a link to a video on speed-matching and consisting in BlueRail: czcams.com/video/_4qJFlNt95Y/video.html We think a RailPro system (at $400) is a great option too.
@@BlueRailTrains thanks for the link. But again, why? Speed Matching is the solution for a limitation in DCC. It isn't the goal. You want locomotives to communicate in real time and actually Load Share. Speed Matching is a compromise because your technology, like DCC, isn't capable of doing what it should be able to do. All you've done is made DCC a little easier and you've eliminated none of the problems. $400 for RailPro? How? You can get started for $210. But that system is a decade old and my expectations from BlueRail was something cutting edge, advanced, and moving the goal post forward. All you've done is taken a 30 year old ancient DCC tech and moved it into the Seinfeld and Friends era. I was rooting for BlueRail to deliver an even better alternative to DCC and not another rehashed DCC based workaround.
@@jacobdamron7399 I think you might be more interested in the other product BlueRail is in co-development on (more info will be available when a product announcement is made by the manufacturer). This Tam Valley product is great for people who have a specific decoder with prototype sounds and specific functionality, and they want the freedom of operating that decoder directly with battery option and good range without having to use a programming track. Some of these decoder companies have been building their sound libraries for 30 years, and many users have strong preferences and customer loyalty to a specific decoder company. The BlueRail app is free, easy to update, doesn't grow old (like a piece of hardware), and can control any decoder. In BlueRail, all locomotives communicate in realtime - try not to confuse the limits of uni-directional "through the rails" DCC with how BlueRail operates. I recommend you wait for the next product to release and decide then if the product makes more sense to you.
so this board does 2 rail O scale?? and its not out yet correct? its sept 30th,2019.
This board allows you to control a decoder using the BlueRail app. There are many decoders available that work with 2-rail O scale (popular brands include SoundTraxx, TCS, ESU and others). The expected availability is sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
@@BlueRailTrains ok.i have 1 bluerail board now i installed in a 2rail O scale weaver rs3 a couple of yrs ago.i have a number of locos & nyc subway cars id like to convert to bluerail as well.
@@BlueRailTrains im looking forward to buying the new board