An answer from Massoth....!

Zerogee

Zerogee

Clencher's Bogleman
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A while ago I sent Massoth another email about the progress (or lack of it) on the fabled DRC300.....

Well, this morning I got a response!

Here is what they had to say:

"Sorry about our Late respond.
The DRC300 was a verry nice idea.
But the concept some years ago was not good.
Since a half year, we make a new concept about this part.
Some first test was verry succsessful.
The DRC300 will be produced in serie.
I hope we can provide it at the beginning of 2015.
Best regards, Norbert Rosch"

OK, to the cynical eye it is just another promise - BUT I think it's a major step forward in that they have acknowledged that the development of the original version had stalled for technical reasons, and they are now working on a new version. Certainly they would have been better off telling people this earlier, but then I suppose that no-one (especially in business) really likes to admit that something has hit a developmental dead end and is being started afresh.

So, here's hoping for early 2015! There probably would not be any harm in those of us here who are seriously interested in the project each dropping an email to them confirming that we're still keen to buy the product as soon as it is available - even a small surge in declared interest might help to push the project a little further up their priority list! ;)

Jon.
 
VERY interesting information Jon. Thank you.

What a shame that Massoth haven't been more open over the past 4 years. A simple statement on the lines of what you've now received would have made a world of difference and might just have stopped people going to other solutions in the interim, thereby reducing the potential DRC300 sales down the line. To put some flesh on that remark, I was planning to buy two locos' worth of r/c gear for winter running, but now I'll wait to see what Massoth announce.

Fingers crossed for 2015!
 
Progress indeed...

But they do not respond when questioned about the dreaded consisting issue....mmmmm

Although I have massoth gear for when running DCC I have decided, that the wait for the mythical DCS300, could see me into my 70's!
So I elected to go with Aristocraft/Crest's Revolution system for the R/C winter running. It gives very much the same sort of operation as with DCC (many possible functions, sound either on board or with added soundcard etc) and has a handset that operates similar to the Massoth navigator and lets you chose between up to 99 locos (as if..).

In the locos that I have Revo-ed, I am also putting a couple of DPDT switches which will switch it from Revo board to DCC board for when running from track. There will also be a switch to take out both the Revo and DCC board circuitry, so that the locos can run on old analogue DC as well.

The Revolution system is pretty cheap now (if purchased from US and that includes the shipping and VAT), each loco receiver/decoder (now with quite passable generic steam or diesel sound on board) is about $70 (£42...approx £55 landed)...handset is about $175 (£110 ...approx £145 landed)

http://www.crest-electronics.net/
 
I think this is good news, better than none even if delayed. I still look forward to it's availability. Many thanks for posting the news.
JonD
 
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