Tell me it's not true, Deltang!

[David Palmeter]

I have been on a hobby hiatus while wrestling with my neighbors, the city, the county, the state and assorted other friend and foe in my position as "volunteer" (actually 'railroaded' to keep the spirit of why we are gathered here") President of the Board our neighborhood Home Owners Association. Do you enjoy the guidance of this wonderful creation in parts of the world outside of the Hoosier Flatlands USA?

Regardless, I was back in the basement to finish up a lighting project on a Hartland loco that my grandson and I had started and I decided to make a list of some supplies needed to continue my Deltang/MyLocoSound battery RC conversion projects. That is when I was updated by this shocker on the Deltang (DelTang) site:

Date​	Item​
July 2020​	In the end Further to my obsolescence announcement below (November 2019), my main Train receivers (R6x series) will cease to be available around the end of 2020. I think they have been well received in the market. I believe the core design has been mostly extremely reliable. I think as a prototype they are well proven. But to be continued they would benefit from more investment. Ideas would be easier Programming, BEMF, Sound and more global regulatory Certification. They also need better Support than I can provide as a sole trader. I am open to offers to take over this part of my business. It would need to be a business with a better understanding than I of technical options current available. The ideal outcome for me would be for any offer to be brokered through someone who has been helpful. I expect my Rx2x, Rx3x, Rx4x and Rx5x receivers to continue to be available but obviously I am open to suggestions.​
Nov 2019​	Obsolescence The radio chips used to make some DelTang products are in short supply. The products affected are all Rx6x receivers and Rx47. This is not expected to affect production in 2020. Tx1/2/3, Rx102/105, Prog1/2/3/4, Rx2x, Rx3x and Rx4x products are not affected by this shortage. (Updated April 2020)​

Did I miss a discussion about this disaster? I immediately began searching for a supply of Rx65c esc/receivers and, as I feared, NOT IN STOCK is the standard comment on all the suppliers sites that I found! For those in the know, some questions:

1. Is there any hope at all for an available supply before production ends in December, 2020?
2. If not, is there a substitute available today that works with the Micron Tx22 transmitter?
3. Are substitutes in the works that might be available soon?
4. As a relative novice in the 'RC for trains' world, any comments and suggestions would be welcomed.

Thank you!

 

[PhilP]

Did I miss a discussion about this disaster? I immediately began searching for a supply of Rx65c esc/receivers and, as I feared, NOT IN STOCK is the standard comment on all the suppliers sites that I found! For those in the know, some questions:

1. Is there any hope at all for an available supply before production ends in December, 2020?
2. If not, is there a substitute available today that works with the Micron Tx22 transmitter?
3. Are substitutes in the works that might be available soon?
4. As a relative novice in the 'RC for trains' world, any comments and suggestions would be welcomed.

To answer your questions first:

1. Yes, nothing certain but 'death and taxes' but 'we' believe we will get some supplies..
2. Sort-of, but not necessarily yet. - More after the four answers..
3. Yes, see above.. (and below)..
4. Don't panic Mr Palmeter. - Check with Management.. it may not be your turn.

To clarify matters a little:
Tx1/2/3, Rx102/105, Prog1/2/3/4, Rx2x, Rx3x and Rx4x products are not affected by this shortage.

It is 'only' the Rx6n series of receiver controllers, AND the Rx47, which are affected.


There is already an alternative for the Rx102. - Which perversely is not now affected.
Alternatives for other models are being designed / programmed (the biggest part of the jigsaw) / tested..

 

[PhilP]

There are also many, many, 'DSM/DSMx' receivers out there.. Most of these would work with your Tx22 (or any other DT-based transmiter).
BUT,
They would not know what to do with the 'Selecta' information.

This would mean you could run one loco, equipped with the alternative Receiver only. - If you ran one of your loco's with a DT receiver, and this other non-DT receiver was switched on, then it would very-probably run as well.

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

I got caught out with the non availability of Rx65, I wanted 3 and managed to get just 1 from Micron so I should consider myself lucky. I also got a couple of baby Rx22’s with my order which have gone into my 2 Pway trollies. So for the moment I am ok. But still have 7 spare spaces on my Rx to use up. Not sure about the other offerings still proposed to be available, perhaps I may find out sometime.

As for the future, what is most certainly needed is a DCC option as both Fosworks and Crest have offered, this could transform the life of Deltang particularly if they could be as small as the Rx22 as this would be a big lead into the smaller scales that are on the cusp of a possible Battery future. Fit sound in as well and they would certainly be onto a winner.

 

[Tony Walsham]

I have never understood why anyone really needed Selecta.
To me, Selecta justs wastes a perfectly good channel that can be used for something else.
You can bind as many Rx's to one Tx as you wish.
You drive them one at a time by simply turning them ON and OFF as needed.
Just switching a running loco out of actual control and letting it run uncontrolled, is not actually controlling it and is a recipe for disaster.
You can gang them together of course as an MU'ed pair, if speed matched.

It is actually quite easy to control 2 x Centre OFF locos at the same time from one handpiece.
I have a handpiece called the # DUPLEX. This the same as a Tx20 with the pots laid out differently, that can control 1 x loco on Channel # 1 (Cab A) and a second loco on Channel # 3 (Cab B). Sound triggers are on Channels 2 (A) & 4 (B). Ch 5 is not actually used, although it could be.

EDIT notes. Corrected an error and added extra information.

 

[JimmyB]

I have a TX 22, as I thought the idea of running multiple locos (at the same time) from a single controller a good idea, however I struggle, especially selecting one, then another loco that is already running, trying to ensure the settings are correct. I now just run one at a time, though easy to switch to the next loco

 

[chris m01]

To answer Tony, this is why I love the Selecta. Trains and camera all operated by me. I must confess I learned very early on that trying to control three locos at the same time is not a good idea!

 

[dunnyrail]

Have to say I think running one loco at a time is enough for anyone, well it is for me anyway. However I do like the selecta for the option of using it for multiple locomotives, one at a time of course. The hastle of having to link or bind a different loco each time you want to run it is a complete pain as is the process at any time no matter how simple manufacturers claim it to be. Always a new read of the instructions when I have to do it.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Have to say I think running one loco at a time is enough for anyone, well it is for me anyway. However I do like the selecta for the option of using it for multiple locomotives, one at a time of course. The hastle of having to link or bind a different loco each time you want to run it is a complete pain as is the process at any time no matter how simple manufacturers claim it to be. Always a new read of the instructions when I have to do it.

You can bind up to 10 locos on one Deltang Tx without selecta - no hassle.

I choose not to, only having about three or four per Tx

 

[David Palmeter]

I appreciate the responses so far, folks, thank you.

PhilP - thanks for your encouragement. We need to have further discussions, I very much appreciate your past help and will be in touch.

dunnyrail – thanks. If you have used DCC in the past, I am sure it offers some possibilities. I have never used DCC so I am satisfied with the Deltang system as is.

Tony Walsham - thank you for a different point of view on Selecta, which is the primary feature that led me to Deltang. Since I was a child in the ‘40’s, the Lionel train layout that my Father built for my brother and me had everything I could want except I always wished for operating vehicles. I did build a 1:24 scale Ace balsa kit of a Jeep back then and added a battery powered electric motor, but it was too big for the Lionel layout, of course.

In more recent years, I have been intrigued with what I have named, generically, ‘Mag Steer’ vehicles on train layouts. The ‘GrandDaddy’ is Madurodam in Holland; there is also a Large Scale modeler, Willibald Pichler, in Germany that has several operating vehicles on a highly detailed indoor G scale layout. And right here on G Scale Central is Ed’s Garten Bahn, possibly the only manufacturer of 1:24 scale Mag Steer vehicles and roadways. Also, I have experimented with Mag Steer several years ago and, more recently, on my test layout.

All that being said, with Deltang’s huge range of systems for cars and trains (and helicopters and boats and flying saucers), it seems ideal for what I want to do with my layout, to control both trains as well as Mag Steer cars.

JimmyB – Since I only have one loco converted to Deltang so far, I may be overly optimistic about my ability to control several moving objects with a single controller. It took me a while to remember to return my ‘Center Off’ transmitter to Center when disaster was eminent, rather than slamming it all the way left as I have done with all my transformers since the Lionel days! But, I am determined to try to keep Selecta sorted.

Chris m01 – great video! On my garden layout, I like to run my track-powered, Aristo Train Engineer-controlled passenger train on the mainline loop while I use my Deltang 0-4-0 to switch the yard and sidings. I look forward to Selecta so I only have one controller to lug around.

So, overall, I am very happy to hear that all the prep and standardization I have been doing to prepare for an All-Deltang future is not for naught! I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Tony Walsham]

Hello Jon.

The Tx2 core modules are supposed to stay bound once they have been bound to an Rx.
There should be no need to rebind when swapping from one loco to another.
Just turn OFF the loco you want to stop using and switch on a different pre-bound loco.

There were a batch of Tx2 modules made a couple of years ago that continually kept on forgetting their bind.
If you have to continually rebind when swapping between locos, I would advise you to talk to the Tx supplier about having the TX2 core module tested.

The current version of the Tx2 core module is capable of 7 channels, with 7 x profiles and 3 x servo settings for each profile.
Eventually there will be a totally new 10 channel Tx2 replacement made.

BTW. It took me 2.5 years to find a reliable supplier in China who would make a basic version Rx with Auto Bind that worked reliably.
It then took the genius of Andy Rutter (Micron) to adapt it to specific purposes.

 

[ge_rik]

The main advantage for me in the Selecta option of the Tx22 is that I don't need to carry around seven transmitters when having a running session. I have up to seven locos 'in steam' during an operating session but the most I have running simultaneously is two - mostly I run the locos sequentially. I generally focus my attention on each loco in turn and the Tx22 allows me to switch literally from one loco to another with the twist of the Selecta knob. No need to hunt around for the relevant transmitter, no need to switch locos on and off, I can re-energise the next loco from anywhere in the garden as and when it's needed. Much like DCC, but without the need to clean rails.

It was what attracted me to Deltang in the first place.

On the odd occasion when I am running locos bound to different txs I seem to spend a good chunk of my time trying to remember where I'd put the other tx down.

Rik

 

[dunnyrail]

Hello Jon.

The Tx2 core modules are supposed to stay bound once they have been bound to an Rx.
There should be no need to rebind when swapping from one loco to another.
Just turn OFF the loco you want to stop using and switch on a different pre-bound loco.

There were a batch of Tx2 modules made a couple of years ago that continually kept on forgetting their bind.
If you have to continually rebind when swapping between locos, I would advise you to talk to the Tx supplier about having the TX2 core module tested.

The current version of the Tx2 core module is capable of 7 channels, with 7 x profiles and 3 x servo settings for each profile.
Eventually there will be a totally new 10 channel Tx2 replacement made.

BTW. It took me 2.5 years to find a reliable supplier in China who would make a basic version Rx with Auto Bind that worked reliably.
It then took the genius of Andy Rutter (Micron) to adapt it to specific purposes.

I think we have miss-understood each other a little, I have a Selecta with 12 options and thus far have used 5. I just went out and tested out the swopping between different Locomotives using my Selecta with 2 locs having Rx65 and 1 having Rx22. With fast swop-over there appeared to be some slight confusion in the Rx still being {Linked} to say 1 when I had changed to 2 on the selecta. However giving a short break between changing commands appeared to be the thing when swopping loco via the selecta, not a problem once you understand. Perhaps I will count to 5 each time. I wonder if Rik had encountered this issue?

 

[PhilP]

Hello Jon,
There has to be a slight delay, when swapping between loco's on Selecta..
Example:
You have loco's 1, 2, and 3 running, and are controlling loco No.1 and bring it to a stop. Loco No.2 is a through-train, running at speed around your layout. You now wish to control loco No.3, to do this you have to move the Selecta control through the loco No.2 position to get to loco No.3..
As you have stopped loco No.1, the speed control is at '0'. If there was no delay, then loco No.2 would accept the '0' speed command, as the Selecta control passed that position. - Not what you want.

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

Hello Jon,
There has to be a slight delay, when swapping between loco's on Selecta..
Example:
You have loco's 1, 2, and 3 running, and are controlling loco No.1 and bring it to a stop. Loco No.2 is a through-train, running at speed around your layout. You now wish to control loco No.3, to do this you have to move the Selecta control through the loco No.2 position to get to loco No.3..
As you have stopped loco No.1, the speed control is at '0'. If there was no delay, then loco No.2 would accept the '0' speed command, as the Selecta control passed that position. - Not what you want.

PhilP.

As I suspected count to 5 or perhaps 10?

 

[PhilP]

As I suspected count to 5 or perhaps 10?

IT should only be a couple of seconds, once you have got to the desired position..

You can see it has 'locked', by the indicator (or front headlight) coming on solid, from a slow-flash..

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

IT should only be a couple of seconds, once you have got to the desired position..

You can see it has 'locked', by the indicator (or front headlight) coming on solid, from a slow-flash..

PhilP.

Oh on most the indicator is and not fitted lights to anything. Perhaps I should now, certainly pretty easy as there is a duplicate wire for the indicator on the Rx65, on the Rx22’s will have to be brave with the soldering iron.

 

[casey jones snr]

I think that I have too many transmitters, any suggestions on an alternative?

I have 41 operational transmitters all 2.4Ghz.

 

[chris m01]

Chris m01 – great video! On my garden layout, I like to run my track-powered, Aristo Train Engineer-controlled passenger train on the mainline loop while I use my Deltang 0-4-0 to switch the yard and sidings. I look forward to Selecta so I only have one controller to lug around.

I too use my trusted train engineer for track
Power locos and points. I have also got a receiver from Phil (rx22?) connected to a 24volt 10 amp Viper unit that I can switch in to control track power from my RC trains selecta transmitter. The switch is either TE or Viper .

 

[PhilP]

I think Jon has only part of his receiver model number?

I believe he is using a Rx45-22 (the '22' signifies that the Rx is Selecta enabled).

Chris is using a Deltang Rx102, connected to a mTronics Viper speed controller for 'trackside' RC, or switched to the trusty Revolution Train Engineer.

PhilP.