Deltang radio control

ge_rik

ge_rik

British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
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At the request of Philp in another thread, I thought I would kick off a new thread devoted to members' experiences with Deltang radio control equipment.

I thought I would start the ball rolling with a link to a post on my blog which I made a couple of years ago outlining the basics of Deltang radio control gear.
http://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/evaluation-of-deltang-radio-control.html

There have, of course been a few changes in that time as David T (Mr Deltang) is continually innovating and upgrading.

A couple of developments on the transmitter front - he's produced a tx which is more suited to live steam (Tx24) and another that has some programming capabilities for receivers (Tx72).

On the receiver side, his latest rx (65b), can now handle up to 3 amps (though I only ever had problems with one of my locos using the previous 1 amp receivers). His latest rx has more outputs and includes more programming features such as auto-shuttle - see
http://riksrailway.blogspot.it/2015/03/how-i-programmed-deltang-receiver-with.html

Hope that's enough to set the ball rolling

Rik
 
Good idea Rik. As I've posted elsewhere and on Facebook I've just converted my existing 2 r/c items from Cliff Barker to Deltang and added a third. For photos, see Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruritanian-Railways/422439611223628?ref=hl

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Deltang system.

Pros:
  • Receiver size for a 3 amp decoder (Rx65) is tiny. Far smaller than other receivers I've seen. Same goes for the 6 amp versions.
  • System works on 2.4GHz, international standard technology - should be "future proof"
    • Deltang supply "railwayised" transmitters with control knobs: no aircraft/ car controller horrors
    • One controller (Tx22) can operate multiple receivers in "Selecta" mode, removing the need for a handset per receiver, though you can go the 1:1 route if you prefer
      • It's plug & play at battery/ motor level, provided you buy a receiver with wires or connector block
      • Directional lights work as normal if the receiver motor wires are connected (the right way round!) to a factory-fitted circuit board

      Cons:
      • Instructions are OK for basic connections (motor/ battery), but programming instructions seem to require a PhD in wireless technology!
      • Extra connections such as lights which don;t use a factory-fitted loco circuit board require soldering to a VERY small connector area. Experts only!
        • Binding process may not work first time. Care required to check receiver/transmitter have linked
        • Difficult to change channel used by receiver once set: it can be done but isn't (to me) simple

 
Good comments Whatlep.
Yes programing is certainly not easy. Until you have done it a few times.
Connecting the lighting outputs makes programming a lot simpler. The front Headlight can be made to act as a slave for the on board LED to more easily see what the system is doing during programming.

BTW, what do you mean by change the receiver channel?
 
Tony Walsham said:
BTW, what do you mean by change the receiver channel?
Click to expand...

Possibly poor terminology on my part. I mean change the Selecta channel to which an Rx65-22 receiver is bound (binded?). There is a "paperclip" fix described in Deltang's instructions, but it's like the programming data - a bit mind-blowing for those of us not intimately acquainted with the basic principles of 2.4GHz channels and their parameters. Some more detailed data on those parameters and some worked examples for fools like me would be very reassuring!

It's only fair to point out that Deltang do sell a programming tool (Prog 4) which is intended to make reprogramming a receiver easier, though it doesn't look as intuitive to use as (for example) an LGB or Massoth DCC programming modeule.
 
OK. Thanks Whatlep.

I have no experience with the Selecta system.
When it comes to having to connect up, install into a computer and use something like a Prog4, I am about as useless as T**'s on a bull. :'(
 
whatlep said:
Possibly poor terminology on my part. I mean change the Selecta channel to which an Rx65-22 receiver is bound (binded?).
Click to expand...

All I've done to rebind to a new Selecta channel is switch on the receiver, wait for 20 seconds until it goes into bind mode (ie the LED flashes rapidly) switched the Selecta knob on the tx22 to the required position and then turned on the tx while holding down the bind button - ie the normal binding process.

I recently rebound all my rxs to new Selecta channels so they matched their loco numbers, previously the allocation had been fairly random and as I now have 11 Deltanged locos I was struggling a bit to remember which channel each was bound to.

Rik
 
Tony Walsham said:
Connecting the lighting outputs makes programming a lot simpler. The front Headlight can be made to act as a slave for the on board LED to more easily see what the system is doing during programming.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, Tony.
I was going to ask if there was a way of emulating the onboard LED as the rxs on all my locos are buried inside out of sight. Would be useful also as a reminder that the loco was switched on.

Rik
 
The coding sequence for the FL to follow what the onboard LED is doing in early version of the Rx65b is 5,1, 2, 1.
Unfortunately I don't know what the code is that does that on the current Rx65b. Mine come from Deltang already programmed.
 
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ge_rik said:
At the request of Philp in another thread, I thought I would kick off a new thread devoted to members' experiences with Deltang radio control equipment.

I thought I would start the ball rolling with a link to a post on my blog which I made a couple of years ago outlining the basics of Deltang radio control gear.
riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk

Evaluation of Deltang radio control system

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s
riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk

There have, of course been a few changes in that time as David T (Mr Deltang) is continually innovating and upgrading.

A couple of developments on the transmitter front - he's produced a tx which is more suited to live steam (Tx24) and another that has some programming capabilities for receivers (Tx72).

On the receiver side, his latest rx (65b), can now handle up to 3 amps (though I only ever had problems with one of my locos using the previous 1 amp receivers). His latest rx has more outputs and includes more programming features such as auto-shuttle - see
riksrailway.blogspot.it

How I programmed a Deltang receiver for auto-shuttle mode with a Deltang Prog4

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s
riksrailway.blogspot.it riksrailway.blogspot.it

Hope that's enough to set the ball rolling

Rik
Click to expand...
Can't wait to get my hands on the Deltang kit but nobody seems to have any stock! I've two locos to convert and have one in bits on the bench as I type.
 
MickyF said:
Can't wait to get my hands on the Deltang kit but nobody seems to have any stock! I've two locos to convert and have one in bits on the bench as I type.
Click to expand...
You need to contact RC Trains :nod::nod::nod: - but again, it maybe a question of available stock :think:
 
Rhinochugger said:
You need to contact RC Trains :nod::nod::nod: - but again, it maybe a question of available stock :think:
Click to expand...

'We' are in contact.. Should not be long.
PhilP.

Though the most confusing part at the moment, is there are too many "Mick's, Mick(e)y's, and Mike's" I am dealing with! :rofl:
T'is getting a little confusing, which 'Mick' etc. is which, and who wants what! :(o_O;)
 
Last edited:
PhilP said:
'We' are in contact.. Should not be long.
PhilP.
Click to expand...
I have had a few reliability issues with my Deltangs over the past 3 years. I have 8 transmitters, 2 have failed with no 3v output and two have failed where the binding to the receiver is lost every time the transmitter is turned off. It can be rebound? again in the usual way and will work satisfactorily until switched off when it will again lose the pairing. I have had 1 receiver where the aerial wire has broken off from its soldered connection on the PCB, but I had manhandled it several times by using it in different locos.
 
My45G said:
I have had a few reliability issues with my Deltangs over the past 3 years. I have 8 transmitters, 2 have failed with no 3v output and two have failed where the binding to the receiver is lost every time the transmitter is turned off. It can be rebound? again in the usual way and will work satisfactorily until switched off when it will again lose the pairing. I have had 1 receiver where the aerial wire has broken off from its soldered connection on the PCB, but I had manhandled it several times by using it in different locos.
Click to expand...

The binding process, and that information 'sticking' within a Tx/Rx pair, is probably the most 'fragile' part of the system. - It is usually the receiver that looses the 'bind' with the transmitter.
If it is a real problem for you, a receiver can have the software reloaded, which will cure this.

Transmitter modules do occasionally fail. To have had 2 out of 8 transmitters fail, does seem to be rather bad luck. :(

Do not feel bad about 'pulling' an aerial off.. Even I can do that successfully! :rolleyes:;)

PhilP.
 
PhilP said:
The binding process, and that information 'sticking' within a Tx/Rx pair, is probably the most 'fragile' part of the system. - It is usually the receiver that looses the 'bind' with the transmitter.
If it is a real problem for you, a receiver can have the software reloaded, which will cure this.

Transmitter modules do occasionally fail. To have had 2 out of 8 transmitters fail, does seem to be rather bad luck. :(

Do not feel bad about 'pulling' an aerial off.. Even I can do that successfully! :rolleyes:;)

PhilP.
Click to expand...
Thanks Philip. Having 8 Tx and 12 Rx I have proved the Tx to be the problem, not the receiver, as the fault moves withTx if I pair different combinations of Tx and Rx. Despite all this, I am happy with the product and its suits my layout very well.
 
The only Deltang made part I still use is the Tx2 core module.
They are an ongoing problem. Most of the time they work OK, sometimes not.
The latest problem is some old TX2 core modules work perfectly well but will not bind with any other Rx. If I replace the errant older Tx2 with a current model Tx2, the system functions just fine.
DT of course, denies there is any problem.
 
MickyF said:
Yes, have done that but I guess no stock, I'll be patient
Click to expand...
Plenty to do, I'm building the signal box to put all the elctronics in at mo. So pleased I'ved got CNC! I'll post some pics when it's done. Tracks all laid now, about 30 metres of it, plastic but it's all covered up having seen a few posts about the brittle thing. Also it's all raised so it has bridges and tunnels. Loads of work! Wish I could afford to retire!
 
I've taken a pic of the top end of the layout that goes around the raised fish pond. It then goes behind the shed and down to a small summer house where it has a station. Then further down the garden and ends up in the workshop. I hope to pursuade the wife to send down cups of tea!
Pond loop.jpg
 
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