Unclepeterr Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Can this item sound be activated by a trackside button? I am working with Special Needs populations; a 4 " button wired to reach a wheelchair lap works, a small button on a small handheld not so. Could a non DCC sound unit (DC electrically) be installed in Thomas for trackside activation? Appreciatively, Unclepeterr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman4449 Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 For the pre-installed DCC, reading in the manual it does have whistle. https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/44958_TTTSoundModuleInstruction.pdf Because this is DCC I unfortunately cant help with good ideas on triggering the whistle. I will forward to someone that knows DCC and try and get some input. I can install DCS in them but adds to the overall price. For what you are wanting the most cost effective solution would be to buy it with DCC and be able to trigger the whistle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benshell Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 22 hours ago, Unclepeterr said: Can this item sound be activated by a trackside button? I am working with Special Needs populations; a 4 " button wired to reach a wheelchair lap works, a small button on a small handheld not so. Could a non DCC sound unit (DC electrically) be installed in Thomas for trackside activation? Appreciatively, Unclepeterr Hi Peter, The short answer is that this is going to be more complex than you'd like. For one train, you may want to consider a DC Thomas, and putting in a sound system with support for trigger switches, and then wire up some sort of wireless trigger controller. I've heard of people using something like this from Ram Products with Phoenix sound, although I haven't used it myself. http://www.ramrcandramtrack.com/page2.html#CONT2 Keep in mind one downside is that it's hard to find a whistle that sounds like Thomas' trademark whistle. I have a Thomas with QSI sound and a high pitched European whistle that's pretty close, but this was before Bachmann made a DCC sound system for Thomas. I know from personal experience that some kids with special needs can be especially sensitive to having things "right", As for a DCC trigger, it's definitely possible, but how it works would depend greatly on your DCC system. The DCC signal on the rails is an NMRA standard, but the layout control bus (throttles to control station) is not standard at all. What I use is a kit-built system from MERG, which uses a CAN bus (just like your car) for the layout control bus. My CAN bus is hooked to a computer, which reads and writes the CAN frames. I use custom software that I've been building to run trains from my phone (https://github.com/benshell/RunTrains), and I've been building this app with plans for more automation and guest interactivity in the future. In fact, one thing I want to do is exactly what you've suggested: I want to be able to hand sound trigger remotes to kids, and let them control the sounds as they like without affecting speed. One of the challenges I faced with my software is that typical DCC systems are built to only allow one operator to run a train, until they hand off the session, or the session can be stolen. But that doesn't work if you want one controller to trigger sounds and other to set the speed. Or with my current setup, all throttles can run all trains at the same time. The actual "throttle", from the perspective of the DCC system, is the server software on the computer. Keep in mind that the computer doesn't need to be too powerful; in fact a $35 Raspberry Pi would be plenty, and getting one of these setup as a mobile DCC system is a near-future goal. I'd be happy to talk about this further, but it does get quite technical. Do you have a DCC system already? How comfortable are you with electronics? Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclepeterr Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 Ray and Ben, I apologise for not responding sooner. I had typed out a long response but inadvertently erased it. Ben, I am a competent solderer,electronics not so much. I have used the old MTH Commander unit and find them perfect for the groups I display for. Bigger color coded buttons means less chance of viewers getting frustrated when they want to activate the whistle or horn. !. Would a DC current based system activate the whistle on another DC engine ,regardless if it is HO or G Scale? I am referring to MTH# 50-1033. The engine whistle of course would have to be an older,simpler, non DCC version. 2. Thomas modifications? I was very impressed with Ray's work especially the smoke/chuffing synchronization. Would it be possible to keep the winking eyes by moving the smoke generation to another spot (cab or ??) using surgical tubing? 3. Are the #92401 Thomas couplers compatible with other G scale ones? If not can they we switched out? 4. Bachmann Operating Crossing Gates: Description states: "Product is only compatible with Bachmann Steel Alloy Track". If the rail joiners connect, what is the issue? I bought some Bachmann steel track and found it difficult to do a through cleaning of. I think I will go with brass. Does some else make a operating crossing? Attached is a photo from a summer camp for kids with long term illnesses called "Side-by-Side" i volunteer with. Here is the you tube from the Washington State Games they posted. Note extra large buttons on both media extend out to wheelchair lap. Thank gentlemen for your patience, Unclepete , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman4449 Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 I will respond to what I can answer: The DCS Remote Commander (50-1033) will only trigger Whistle, Bell, Speed control etc on an engine equipped with MTH DCS Protosound 2 or 3. It will not do that on an engine that is DCC only or DC analog. My installs of the PS3 in the Thomas engines do now retain the eye movements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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