Exciting new bluetooth control for model railways.

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Mr Badger, Apr 1, 2023.

  1. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    For them that's interested.
    Up to now we've needed loads of controllers, cables, expensive stuff for digital control, but now Hornby have brought out a new digital bluetooth chip with a sugarcube loudspeaker for instant control from your smart phone.
    You fit the chip into the loco, install the app into your phone, apply a power source to the track and away you go, direct control from your phone via bluetooth.
    You can programme loco sounds into the chip to match what you've installed it into.
    Look at Hornby HM7000 on youtube, it's fascinating how things have progressed.
    Only available on Apple app at the moment, Android to follow soon apparently.
     
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  2. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    It's a shame all my stuff is analogue and I haven't got the money or the time to change up my collection. My Dad will be interested. He's become a DCC snob. Paying over odds for locos just because they have sound.
     
  3. Cow

    Cowboy Well-Known Member

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    You need to get him back on track SD before he goes off the rails
     
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  4. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    Joking aside. To me it's just a fad.
     
  5. Redhelen

    Redhelen Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't it take the fun away from it, doing it digitally?
     
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  6. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    Yes it's become a very expensive hobby.
    Even these new chips I've been describing are the best part of 60 - 70 quid each BUT if you don't have digital controllers then you avoid the cost of buying those.
    I don't know if there are these new basic chips available for bog standard dc locos where you might just want a forwards/reverse function but if they have a built in sound function then it might be worth experimenting with one just to see if it works on an old analogue loco.
     
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  7. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    I just feel like they've ditched analogue. There's no reason for me that they can't put smoke, firebox and sound function in analogue locos. Triang did it back in the day.
     
  8. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    Don't know .... and I won't offer an opinion. Each to their own etc but digital can be made exciting but complicated but analogue is also great fun.
     
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  9. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    I'd say so. My Dad's gone all Lloyd Grossman too about it.
     
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  10. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    I watched a James May video t'other day and he built up an old Flying Scotsman with synchronised chuffing noise which was a bit of metal scratching on a little box in the tender.
     
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