Aristo Revolution system your thoughts and experience

[beavercreek]

A discussion has started over in Mel's thread 'Today on the W&GLR' about battery power and the possibilities of using the Aristocraft REvolution system.
I have seen it in operation at Tony's layout and have decided to create two or three battery locos for the winter running.
Having seen the flexibility and the possibilities with the Revo, I have decided to go that way as one controller can control (if you have this many!) up to 50 individual locos.

What experience and what thoughts do you have.......

 

[spike]

Sounds good to me.
Was thinking along the same lines, it's just the intial expence.

 

[Tony Walsham]

Would you have a link to the thread you mention please?

 

[beavercreek]

No problem Tony.
The thread that I mentioned is Mel's thread on his lovely railway, the WGLR.
He mentioned that he is going battery for his layout and I just mentioned about my plans for some locos but it has developed into a conversation that was threatening to take over his thread so that is why I thought that starting this one was good and proper.
His thread is the 'Today on the WGLR' http://www.gscalecentral.net/m125026

 

[Tony]

No problem Tony.
The thread that I mentioned is Mel's thread on his lovely railway, the WGLR.
He mentioned that he is going battery for his layout and I just mentioned about my plans for some locos but it has developed into a conversation that was threatening to take over his thread so that is why I thought that starting this one was good and proper.
His thread is the 'Today on the WGLR' http://www.gscalecentral.net/m125026

Mike i feel really bad for Mel i just didnt realise we were on his thread well done for spotting it
Tony (the other one)

 

[yb281]

No problem Tony.
The thread that I mentioned is Mel's thread on his lovely railway, the WGLR.
He mentioned that he is going battery for his layout and I just mentioned about my plans for some locos but it has developed into a conversation that was threatening to take over his thread so that is why I thought that starting this one was good and proper.
His thread is the 'Today on the WGLR' http://www.gscalecentral.net/m125026

Mike i feel really bad for Mel i just didnt realise we were on his thread well done for spotting it
Tony (the other one)

Tony, no sweat, don't worry about it.

 

[bunnyrabbit03]

Here is a very good in-depth review of the Revolution:

http://www.elmassian.com/trains-mai...e-control-mainmenu-32/aristo-rc/revolution-te < Link To http://www.elmassian.com/...risto-rc/revolution-te

 

[yb281]

The biggest problem for me is the lack of compatability between the Revolution system and other forms of digital control (Massoth, MTS, Lenz etc.).

 

[beavercreek]

Well so far I have seen Tony's locos and his control over sound, lights and smoke. I was impressed, and beleive it or not, I am not easily impressed by new or 'different ' forms of control unless they have something to offer. BUT as Spike says the initial expense......
Well yes there is the 'starter set' Of £230+ which includes one loco chip, one smoke board, one controller. This does seem high BUT as Tony has already said this is like DCC without a command station expense.
If you want to run it on track power you will obviously need a transformer to supply power and I do suggest the use of a capacitor board with each chip in this case to help with dity track etc...you will not one of these if you use battery power.
The smoke board allows you to use any power smoke unit without drawing power through the main chip. This is a plus point as it is inexpensive (15 quid or less) and also does not put too much duress on the main chip.
Sound cards are easy to hook up and functions easy to map to the sound options as are light options whether built in the loco or customised.
Actual connectionn to a loco is not any more difficult than DCC and in some respects a little more straight forward.

So the ability to control up to 50 locos, lash-ups (consists), run sound, lights and smoke, use battery or track power and have an easy to use handset which has a quality well built feel is quite a case for at least looking at this system.
No, I am not betrothed to Aristo ( I have a massoth DCC set ready to roll and I like their stuff equally as much ) but I do like things that actually work and also are ergonomic and cost effective in the long run.

Comments please

 

[beavercreek]

The biggest problem for me is the lack of compatability between the Revolution system and other forms of digital control (Massoth, MTS, Lenz etc.).

Yes I agree mel, that is one thing that I have issues with..if you go down that route then you are 'tied' to them. But if you are going to be running battery the same could be said for any 'airwire' system.

 

[stockers]

Massoth do do a RC reciever for battery powered stock. I think it bypasses the command station as well. DRC300 I think.
Then you can run your DCC and battery stock from the same contoller.

 

[Tony]

The biggest problem for me is the lack of compatability between the Revolution system and other forms of digital control (Massoth, MTS, Lenz etc.).

With respect Mel im not sure why that is relevent they are after all totally different ways of doing the same thing if someone has a DCC set up they are not going to think about buy anything Revo........... one system relies on the track transmiting information the other relies on airways the good thing with Revo is you dont even need track Ive been demostating mine across the hardwood floor of my conservatory..... plus i can take any of my Revo trains to any ones railway be it anologue, DCC, steam, Clockwork, etc and seperatly control it just by placing it on the track with out the need to reprogram it..... to be honest DCC as we know it will be killed of the minute someone comes up with a chip that works via wifi or bluetooth..... yes so will Revo but the set up costs are a lot less if you have more than 3 locos
It would be intresting to run one of my locos on a DCC system and just see the differences in every day use

Tony

 

[Cliff George]

Massoth do do a RC reciever for battery powered stock. I think it bypasses the command station as well. DRC300 I think.
Then you can run your DCC and battery stock from the same contoller.

Yes with the DRC300 you don't need a command station. As far as I know it is not available yet, although it is listed on the Massoth web site (I haven't checked for a while so I could be wrong on that)
I want to convert a few of my loco to battery for winter running, when I need to get something going quickly, and when I can't be bothered to clean the track. Although I've not decided which system to go for yet, RSC, Cliff Barker, Revolution etc since I'm wedded to DCC I have decided to get a DRC300, when available, and try that. I'll let you know how I get on. The Revolution discussion is interesting.

 

[Tony]

The biggest problem for me is the lack of compatability between the Revolution system and other forms of digital control (Massoth, MTS, Lenz etc.).

Yes I agree mel, that is one thing that I have issues with..if you go down that route then you are 'tied' to them. But if you are going to be running battery the same could be said for any 'airwire' system.

Mike your not tied to it as once you have wired a revo chip in via the supplied plug and play sockets the chip could be swaped for a Dcc chip as they both control the same things and use the same wiring

Tony

 

[beavercreek]

Massoth do do a RC reciever for battery powered stock. I think it bypasses the command station as well. DRC300 I think.
Then you can run your DCC and battery stock from the same contoller.

OOOOOOOOhhh now that could have put a cat amongst the pigeons! BUT it seems to be about 300 euros!

 

[beavercreek]

The biggest problem for me is the lack of compatability between the Revolution system and other forms of digital control (Massoth, MTS, Lenz etc.).

Yes I agree mel, that is one thing that I have issues with..if you go down that route then you are 'tied' to them. But if you are going to be running battery the same could be said for any 'airwire' system.

Mike your not tied to it as once you have wired a revo chip in via the supplied plug and play sockets the chip could be swaped for a Dcc chip as they both control the same things and use the same wiring

Tony

Ahh yes that is true but then you need the command station for the DCC chip!

 

[stockers]

Where did you find it priced. Its on the Massoth web site (as NEW!) but I couldn't find it listed at the usual UK suppliers.

 

[alecescolme]

I found it here for £69:
http://www.gardenrailwaycentres.info/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=2532

Alec.

 

[stockers]

Just had a thought. Should this thread be in the DC, DCC or Battery section of the forum.

 

[stockers]

I found it here for £69:
http://www.gardenrailwaycentres.info/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=2532

Alec.

Nice one - seems pretty good value to me.