PIKO CR(A)P

[Tim Brien]

Well, a word of advice to anyone contemplating a PIKO DCC system, I advise thoroughly researching the inadequate literature on the web and then look elsewhere and purchase another brandname system. My DCC setup has 'gone to God' after only less than ten test runs on a length of track. It has never been connected to my railroad. I am hoping (fingers crossed) that it is only the central station that has gone tits up.

Refer my earlier posting last week about a 'cooked' decoder. It now seems that it was the central station that failed. When I place a known good locomotive on the rails, the loco responds very lethargically to the throttle input, achieving less than idle speed at full throttle input. When the rotary knob is returned to '0' the loco continues to travel in the previously selected direction. If lights are turned on (function '9'), the loco receives full throttle input and takes off like a scalded cat, without altering throttle input. All sounds respond to function input as normal.

On my 'cooked' decoder posting last week, the powered tender (decoder LGB type 1) took off at full throttle with the handpiece turned OFF. Hopefully, the Piko Navigator handpiece may be still useful at controlling the analogue controller, although testing with a multimeter shows a 5 volt variation at full throttle in fwd and reverse and a 3 volt variation fwd/reverse for each of the 14 speed steps in analogue.

I certainly will not be purchasing further Piko products. I tried the central station reset plus the handpiece reset to no avail.

 

[mike]

piko points are about the same..

 

[WillemD]

Like every PIKO digital system will have these problems... It's probably just a monday morning model (or you did something wrong yourself).

Anyway, this is a Massoth system with PIKO badges, so which system do you advise us, considering your "purchase another brandname system"? Zimo, ESU?

 

[Tony Walsham]

Nice to see honest reviews by a person prepared to put his money where his mouth is.:thumbdown:
Caveat Emptor.

 

[Zerogee]

Does anyone know if these systems are actually built BY Massoth (ie: in Massoth's own factory), or is it a Massoth licensed design that Piko are having assembled elsewhere? Does it actually say "Made in Germany" anywhere on the product or the packaging?

Yes, it may simply be a rogue unit - in which case Tim's been very unlucky, especially as he had to have it shipped to him internationally and thus can't easily take it back to a dealer - but it's not a very encouraging first review (first on GSC, anyway). Has anyone else here actually GOT the Piko system yet, last time I asked that question there was a deathly silence....?

Jon.

Jon.

 

[Tim Brien]

The Piko may be a based on a Massoth system but it is certainly not equal to the more expensive Massoth models. Yes, possibly, I may have damaged the setup with the decoder installation mentioned in a previous posting last week (an internal short in the LGB direct decoder sound board maybe), but I certainly did not cause the full voltage power spikes to the rails on the 5 amp analogue controller, every time power is applied. I certainly did not damage the handpiece with its voltage output variations in forward and reverse on analogue power.

A friend has used the 10 amp NCE wireless cab system for sometime with no problems. There is the Zimo starter model for not much more than a Piko system and the ESU Ecos system has received good reviews, although I do not want to be tethered to a control panel.

 

[GrahamMills]

Really sorry to hear that Tim. I had been contemplating a Piko system partly due to your previous postings.
Please post what happens to the unit, how long repair/replacement takes etc.

 

[whatlep]

ReIKO DCC system issues

Tim

Sorry to hear your Piko/ Massoth purchase has been a disappointment. I'm not entirely clear on how you've established where the problem lies. Have you tried a different transformer to power the Piko central station to verify that the power supply is not an issue? As I recall, you had issues with an analogue controller and the handset previously which suggests a problem with one of those elements. Correct? If so, attaching either to the central station with a known problem may have merely propagated the fault. That's particularly likely if there is an issue on the Dimax bus side rather than the power input. I know from experience that it is possible to fatally short out a central station (LGB MTS2 in my case) from a fault on the bus.

By the way, just a reminder that the Piko Navigator boots up with the message "Navigator by Massoth" on its screen. I doubt very much whether Massoth would want to be associated with widespread problems of a system proclaiming their name.

 

[steve parberry]

ReIKO DCC system issues

I know piko Navigator is made by Massoth but for an extra £10-15 pounds you may as well have the fully loaded Massoth Navigator.

 

[Tim Brien]

ReIKO DCC system issues

Jon,
the country of manufacture is not declared on the product, the packaging or the supplied literature.

Steve,
the Piko Navigator controls BOTH the Piko central station AND the Piko 5 amp controller. The Massoth Navigator will NOT control the Piko analogue controller. This is the reason I went with the Piko system initially as I could have both wireless analogue and wireless DCC.

Whatlep,
I tried both analogue and DCC control with a DC power supply (I normally use a LGB AC supply). Results were the same. Further to above, with just the central station powering the rails and the Navigator totally disconnected and turned OFF, the LGB loco with two type 1 LGB decoders (#55020), ran at moderate speed with lights illuminated (I ran each unit separately - Frank 'S' with powered tender). NOTE that this was with NO DCC motor input and Navigator turned OFF. The loco with the Massoth 'L' decoder will not commence to run until the Navigator is connected and turned on. With any throttle input the loco will run, as in first posting, i.e., in one direction only at minimum speed even if full throttle selected and will not respond to throttle or change of direction input. If lights selected on then loco will go full throttle with no throttle input selected. All sound functions are normal.

If the central station is inputting motor commands with the Navigator turned OFF and wireless receiver disconnected, then at least the station is suspect.

 

[muns]

ReIKO DCC system issues

Tim,

I do hope that you do not have the Analoge and Digital controllers connected to your wireless receiver at the same time as this is a no no.

Please sent an email to Massoth (hotline@massoth.com) marking it for the attention of Norbert detailing your problems, they will be happy to help you.

 

[KeithT]

ReIKO DCC system issues

I hope that Tim has better results from Piko Consumer Services than I have had in respect of problems with their points - a resounding silence despite 2 reminders both from me and the UK importer.

 

[stockers]

ReIKO DCC system issues

Tim,

I do hope that you do not have the Analoge and Digital controllers connected to your wireless receiver at the same time as this is a no no.

Interesting point Muns - I was not aware of any problem here. Though why you would want to I cannot see.
Mind you - thinking about it the analogue one is going to varying the volyage!!

 

[bigjack]

piko points are about the same..

Not had any problem with my Piko points

























Yet

 

[DoctorM]

piko points are about the same..

Not had any problem with my Piko points


Yet

All things come to he who waits!

 

[bigjack]

I've got several Piko points out there, and none have failed as yet, and they've been there for a while.
There does appear to be a bit of product bashing going on I had originally an LGB MTS 3 system that everyone assured me was the dogs do dahs, and that failed on me, took over 6 months before it was returned, but by then I'd invested in the Massoth 1200Z, and have not looked back (apart from one little hiccup a week or so ago). Personally, I'd never have another LGB MTS unit again, it was awful, but that's just my opinion.
When it comes to a product, people will by what they can afford. I'm not sure how much the Piko control system is, but I assume that it's cheaper than the Massoth system, and there must be some people out there who have them and that the unit is working well for them. Take my Piko points for example, some have been out there for quite a while (and they had to suffer last winter) and are still working. but poor old mike put his out and they failed within weeks, makes you wonder if it was not just a bad batch, but I digress, back to the controller. Is there anyone else out there that can come back to this subject with experience (that's positive) of the Piko controller. Just so we can compare notes

 

[Tim Brien]

Mark,
no, the receiver has never been, nor attempted to be operated with digital and analogue simultaneously. I used the same power supply for both, so the power supply needs to be swapped over to the required system to be used and the correct analogue or digital cable fitted to the receiver.

For the brandname afficiandos. in so far as choosing the Piko system over the Massoth system, well cost is a factor, but my overriding consideration was that the Piko system offered a Navigator handset that controlled BOTH digital AND analogue by wireless control. The Massoth system does NOT have this facility.

 

[themole]

Sorry to hear about the Piko fry-up, Tim. I built a home brewed set-up as you know. Alyn

 

[frankando12]

Hi Tim
Hadn't seen this post before I emailed you . As I said have ordered this Piko Wireless DCC to replace my LGB MTS Wireless system . James Short advised that this system would work fine. As I advised it has been nearly four weeks and still have not received it from the States, hope it arrives soon. Will let you know how it works. I use the LGB system for switch routes and also have some double heading. Which works OK with my series LGB system, the wireless part some-times fails the range is not good from LGBwireless. Will keep you posted when and if mine finally arrives.

 

[themole]

Well said, Paul.