Deltang Rx65b shuttle mode

ge_rik

British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
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I recently invested in a little 32mm gauge industrial diesel loco to haul skips to and fro on a feeder line from the copper mine to the loading hoppers on my main railway. I thought it might be a nice idea to construct a little Picaxe program to get it shuttling back and forth until I found out (by reading the manual) that the latest Deltang receiver for large scale locos includes its own shuttle mode. This can be programmed by the user to change the deceleration and acceleration time and the amount of time it stops. This can also be set to be random for a bit of variety. In addition, there is a buffer-stop mode (the loco slows to a halt at the buffers until you intervene with the transmitter) and a station-stop mode (it slows to a halt, waits and then continues in the same direction). And, it can be controlled as normal using the transmitter. The stops are signalled via magnet on the track and a reed switch under the loco. And all this for the princely sum of £31.

Here's a little video showing it in operation
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drxH1UMhcmc[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drxH1UMhcmc

I never cease to be amazed by the innovations which David T at Deltang introduces.

Rik

BTW - I have no connection with Deltang other than a very satisfied customer.
 
Brilliant. I don't have the need for a shuttle but I am enjoying using the other features of the Deltang set up.
 
What a brilliant system. I have been pondering on the concept of a Railcar or some such Shuttle Service on the part of my line that is only ever used for continuous running. As this is only when I am in Play or Live Steam mode that bit of the line is very underused. Hence my thoughts of using this setup as a Shuttle.

Just so that I understand what your set up is,
You mention the RX65b which has a Shuttle Feature. Which Transmitter have you used please?
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
What a brilliant system. I have been pondering on the concept of a Railcar or some such Shuttle Service on the part of my line that is only ever used for continuous running. As this is only when I am in Play or Live Steam mode that bit of the line is very underused. Hence my thoughts of using this setup as a Shuttle.

Just so that I understand what your set up is,
You mention the RX65b which has a Shuttle Feature. Which Transmitter have you used please?
JonD
Am I correct in saying that if just want to shuttle and not have actual radio control at other times, you wouldn't need a transmitter at all?
 
You may need to fine tune the Rx65b and it is much easier to program the Rx65b with a DSM2 compatible TX. The Deltang TX20 is very suitable. Not all other Deltang TX's can easily program the ESC.
My Deltang derived TX handpiece range can all program the Rx65b with the exception of the Tx-3
 
dunnyrail said:
What a brilliant system. I have been pondering on the concept of a Railcar or some such Shuttle Service on the part of my line that is only ever used for continuous running. As this is only when I am in Play or Live Steam mode that bit of the line is very underused. Hence my thoughts of using this setup as a Shuttle.
Just so that I understand what your set up is,
You mention the RX65b which has a Shuttle Feature. Which Transmitter have you used please?
JonD
Hi Jon
You could use any Spektrum DSM2 transmitter to control the rx if you already have one to hand.

gregh said:
Am I correct in saying that if just want to shuttle and not have actual radio control at other times, you wouldn't need a transmitter at all?
As far as I can tell, you need a tx to set the initial speed at which the loco travels. I'm not sure if you can set the speed without one.

You can program the rx with the Tx20 (as Tony says) or any DSM2 joystick transmitter or with the £12 Prog4 which David sells. This connects to the computer with an RS232 lead. The software for the programming is a free download. There are all manner of settings which can be programmed - directional lights, flashing light sequences, max speed, etc. - as well as the auto features (eg buffer stop / station stop and shuttle)

The programming takes a little getting used-to but once you have the basic concepts it's dead easy.

Rik
 
£45 for the RX/ESC and programmer is cheaper than many shuttle units..
AND, it can do more than a plain vanilla shuttle. Nice!
 
BTW - recently posted something on my blog about how I adapted the diesel loco for radio control .........
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-i-converted-battery-diesel-to-radio.html

..... and how I programmed the Deltang receiver/controller for auto-shuttle mode
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-i-programmed-deltang-receiver-with.html

Rik
 
Well done Rik.
Unfortunately I don't understand a thing about the Prog4 device. I get what it is for but when it comes to making it work through a computer, that is a bit over my head.
I will have to stick with the tried and true direction switch flipping procedure.
 
Tony Walsham said:
I will have to stick with the tried and true direction switch flipping procedure.

Que¿¿
Is that the paper-clip settings?

Rik
 
Hi Rik.
Sorry, I know zip about the paper clip method.
I use a Tx handpiece to invoke programming using Ch # 2 and Ch # 4 low. Same as any regular DSM2/DSMX stick R/C
The spring loaded direction change switch (Ch # 3) is used to make changes and embed those changes into the memory of the ESC.
 
Tony Walsham said:
I use a Tx handpiece to invoke programming using Ch # 2 and Ch # 4 low. Same as any regular DSM2/DSMX stick R/C
The spring loaded direction change switch (Ch # 3) is used to make changes and embed those changes into the memory of the ESC.
Now I understand. Not having a DSM2 tx that's all a mystery to me - hence the Prog4

Rik
 
OK.
I don't think that version Tx is able to program the way I do.
I don't bother with Selecta, so Ch # 2, like Ch # 4, is free for a total of 4 sound triggers and programming.
I make 5 different versions of the Deltang TX and only one, the TX-3, cannot program ESC's.
 
Tony
Just discovered the Tx22 can be used for programing (see bottom of this page - http://www.deltang.co.uk/tx22c.htm )
I keep learning new things about Deltang stuff all the time. I'll try investigating that - though Prog4 is so easy to use I might stick with it.

Rik
 
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