I started this thread because I didn't want to hijack a previous thread on a related topic.  I have been using the Airwire 900 throttle and their receivers for about six months now in a couple of battery boxcars.  At a recent local train show, a vendor showed me what he thought was a great new product.  He introduced me to the G-wire receiver, and Aristo PnP decoder/sound card from QSI.  As he explained it, since I already had the Airwire throttle, buying the G-wire receiver and PnP decoder would be cheaper than buying a planned Phoenix P5 sound card and another Airwire receiver.  On top of that you gain the ability to run on either track OR battery power using the Airwire throttle.  The best part is that the decoder/sound card just plugs into the engine's main circuit board.

I decided to try this setup in my new Bachmann K-27.  The install was painless (but their directions and photos don't match up for plugging in the receiver).  I eventually got it working, but haven't been completely pleased probably due to my mis-understanding of its capablities or limitations and my very limited knowledge of DCC.  First I'll start with the observed problems:

1)  Twice now I have lost complete control of the engine even standing 5 feet away.  Turning the Airwire throttle on/off does nothing.  I have to stop the engine by hand and cycle the power on the engine.  Twice in 1 hr of operation is NOT a good sign.

2)  Sometimes the function keys don't work.  By this I mean that F2 for instance should control the whistle.  Occasionally, I press F2 and F2 shows in the throttle display but nothing happens.  The same is true of the other function keys.  I have about 70% success when pressing the function buttons.  I don't have this problem with the airwire receivers.

3)  Programming the decoder/sound card with the Airwire throttle has been hit or miss.  When I enter a CV there is about a 50% chance the receiver/decoder will hear the signal.  I often have to repeat the process several times before the decoder talks back to me that the CV has been changed.  

4)  I can't get the receiver/decoder to accept some of the CVs no matter how many times I try to send the signal.  Specifically the CV that determines the type of throttle control.  One piece of their documentation states that there are four types of throttle control and another only mentions two. 

Questions:

1)  Has anyone experienced these listed problems and if so, do you have a solution?

2)  Does using the Quantam Programmer and an isolated track section work better for DCC programming than the Airwire throttle?

3)  Do you have "Full" DCC using the Airwire throttle or is this somehow a limited DCC capablitity?

4)  Is the Aristo PnP decoder fully DCC capable or is it limited somehow?

I don't want this to sound like the system is a total failure.  I do have the system installed in my K and for the most part I am very pleased with the performance.  I especially like the ability to run on either track or battery power.  I would seriously consider this setup for other engines if I can get some the these problems resolved and questions answered.  Any help would be much appreciated.

thanks...Bret