Technobots sound simulators

[GAP]

Has anybody had any experience with any of these modules?

They seem like good value for a simple sound system.

http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html

http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html

http://www.technobotsonline.com/programmable-engine-sound-system-mk2.html

 

[tramcar trev]

Depending on exactly what you want of course but the guy who owns this site does custom sounds at no extra charge. All seem a reasonable price too..... Eventually all of my trams will have his "gong" fitted...
http://ittproducts.com/index.html
All his sound modules give a very real sound captured from a real sound making bizzo....

 

[beavercreek]

The ITT sounds are good and could be triggered but then are not controllable except for looping, but excellent for 'ambient' sounds.
Another idea for a background sound:
If it is for a sound unit that is just 'ambient' then these are also excellent http://www.modelsounds.co.uk/ Th...o be placed in a tender ot follwing wagon etc

 

[KeithT]

The ITT sounds are good and could be triggered but then are not controllable except for looping, but excellent for 'ambient' sounds.
Another idea for a background sound:
If it is for a sound unit that is just 'ambient' then these are also excellent http://www.modelsounds.co.uk/
They are a player and speaker in one unit and play sounds from a Micro SD card. They have a volume control and recharge from a usb socket.
There is a good selection of sounds (mainly British based but a few yanks and continental too. But the main attraction is that you can make up your own sounds and load them onto a card and have them play. I have done this with a unit that plays in my Quarry.
They could also be placed in a tender ot follwing wagon etc

Modelsounds are v helpful too and will look out specific sounds and do one-off recordings for you.
I found that the units are rainpfoof after I accibentally left one outside for 2 weeks. 8| Also the unit can act as a speaker for the PC.

 

[dunnyrail]

I have to say that the sound was like an electronic interferance to me. Many of the early sounds are like this. I personally would only go for a truly 'sampled' sound from a real locomotive. Yes it costs more but you gets what you pays for. To my mind the Massoth and Lgb plus other of the ilk chips are the ones to go for.

Interestingly Peter Spoerer (said to be sampled from a real recrding) has a new sound system which sounded quite good when I heard it at Reading. Anyone got any of his new ones yet and care to comment? Or better still point to one of your Vids of the unit in action.
JonD.

 

[Tony]

Ive ordered 4 of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170973253521?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 will let you know what they are like when they arrive . they seem to have the spec as the ones mentioned. Have also ordered 2gb cards at £2 each and there are plenty of free mp3 download sites to put on them of original locos http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/sounds.htm

 

[KeithT]

Apart from the colour those appear to have an identical spec to the Modelsound ones and £20 cheaper!!!
I wonder what the battery life is?

 

[Richie]

I have had some geared motors from Technobots very good service . For the same sort of money you can get a Mr Rails sound unit on there web site you will find a demo of the sound unit in my Rotary snow Plow they also do whistle sound units .

http://www.mrrails.com/html/atcmk1.html

 

[Tony]

plenty more to choose
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290917037299?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230819248707?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
or a square one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280795260445?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
or one with remote control ???????
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360666691747?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
ok a lot more expensive
and here's a power source to run from a battery loco
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300903099794?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Bloody cleaver those Chinese...anyway will let you know if ive wasted me dosh in a few weeks

 

[beavercreek]

I ordered a few of these to dot around the layout using SD files that I will make up from sounds from the net like the one I did for the quarry. It will be interesting to see if the units are as good as the Modelsounds jobbies.
I will run them from a 5v supply that will be run as a cable around the perimeter of the layout.

It would be good to be able rig up an infra-red trigger to set off the sounds when someone gets near. I think that I will disassemble a unit to see if this might be possible.

 

[tramcar trev]

Yes.... those look good.... and note they are IP20 so they should be weatherproof....
And for those of us down under;
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USB-Port...faultDomain_15&var&hash=item1e7a9699ff&_uhb=1

Great for trackside ambient sounds but not so suited to spontaneous sounds on board, eg whistles, gongs etc...

 

[gregh]

Has anybody had any experience with any of these modules?
They seem like good value for a simple sound system.
http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html
http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html
http://www.technobotsonline.com/programmable-engine-sound-system-mk2.html

I guess the answer is no-one has any knowledge of them. Lots of other suggestions but not much help is it?

 

[GAP]

Has anybody had any experience with any of these modules?
They seem like good value for a simple sound system.
http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html
http://www.technobotsonline.com/steam-engine-sound-simulator.html
http://www.technobotsonline.com/programmable-engine-sound-system-mk2.html

I guess the answer is no-one has any knowledge of them. Lots of other suggestions but not much help is it?

Thanks Greg,

Plenty of research material though, Picaxe is looking better all the time.

T minus 2 till wedding and counting, tick, tick, tick, things a man will do for a shay .

 

[Tony]

I ordered a few of these to dot around the layout using SD files that I will make up from sounds from the net like the one I did for the quarry. It will be interesting to see if the units are as good as the Modelsounds jobbies.
I will run them from a 5v supply that will be run as a cable around the perimeter of the layout.

It would be good to be able rig up an infra-red trigger to set off the sounds when someone gets near. I think that I will disassemble a unit to see if this might be possible.

Mike will be interesting to see but no reason you cant just make a very long loop of sound with long bits of no sound so the main sound only plays every 5-15mins. ive ideas for my church with bells then muffled singing with maybe a Rowen Atkinson sermon and then more bells with the rest of the card filled with birdsong. and sorry to steel your ideas but ive found some wicked cattle sounds .......other plans are woodshop, mill, and Bring a Bike night at the pup with disco,chatter and reving motorbikes..... i cant wait.....The other thought is replacing the play switch with a reed one set in the track say before a station and have a tanoy giving information.....one thing i know its going to be very noisy around here

 

[tramcar trev]

Yes, I have the same idea using the reed switch.... and if these use a momentary contact to trigger them then a reed switch is momentary so should work....

 

[beavercreek]

No problem about the cow idea Tony but how are you going to rig them to get more agitated as the cars sway like the QSI ones in my stockcars?

As to just filling the card with looping sounds..that is what I have done with the Quarry card as that will keep on going all the time (well, until the battery runs out if it is not connected to the power supply line that I will lay. BUT for the other sounds I only really want to have them running if someone gets near to the scene.
The Modelsound ones (and some on ebay look like clones) have a non-momentary switch that turns the power on and the sounds begin so a momentary switch will probably not work. A trigger to then switch a relay would work but if you were using battery it would keep on going until the battery drained. A trigger with a time delay set to lets say 30seconds to a minute or so would the best bet for the duration so I will be searching for circuits that can do this...One springs to mind straight away...possibly a PIR detector with a timer from a low voltage security light...mmmmmmmmmmm something like this.....
http://www.ecvery.com/sensors-produ...-motion-light-sensor-module-with-ce-rohs.html < Link To http://www.ecvery.com/sen...dule-with-ce-rohs.html
or a cheap version of this...http://www.pimpmyprop.com/RelayTime...wait until I finish the other ten projects!!!

 

[KeithT]

I shall be watching this thread with great interest. I have ordered one of the Chinese £4.09 inc p/p units to compare with my Modelsound one but I will try to avoid testing its waterproof capabilies!

 

[beavercreek]

As long as the sun doesn't shine on them..these might work...
http://www.rfcontrolsystem.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1130 < Link To http://www.rfcontrolsyste...o&products_id=1130

or still these
http://www.ecvery.com/sensors-produ...-motion-light-sensor-module-with-ce-rohs.html < Link To http://www.ecvery.com/sen...dule-with-ce-rohs.html

I will have to go for one of them and then see if they can trigger the soundmodule. They can take voltage 5v to 9 or 12 so that seems fine......

 

[KeithT]

Trev
I just looked at IP20 ratings http://www.finelightingnews.com/2012/01/27/ip-ratings-explained/ and that indicates no protection against liquids. Despite that, my Modelsound unit survived several downpours unscathed. The aluminium diaphragm is probably the main reaon.

 

[tramcar trev]

As long as the sun doesn't shine on them..these might work...
http://www.rfcontrolsystem.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1130 < Link To http://www.rfcontrolsyste...o&products_id=1130

or still these
http://www.ecvery.com/sensors-produ...-motion-light-sensor-module-with-ce-rohs.html < Link To http://www.ecvery.com/sen...dule-with-ce-rohs.html

I will have to go for one of them and then see if they can trigger the soundmodule. They can take voltage 5v to 9 or 12 so that seems fine......

And on eBay; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-IR-..._Personal_Security&hash=item5d3e7bca62&_uhb=1

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-IR-...cal_Test_Equipment&hash=item3f0fa3f160&_uhb=1