G Scale Model Train Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Airwire T5000 arrived

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 37 Posts

tmejia

· Just another old guy
Joined
·
842 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
A big thanks to Jonathan at Electric Steam Modelworks. I had preordered a T5000 at the SWGRS. It seems everyone else was getting theirs and I was left out in the cold (We're in the 60's here). I only live 20 miles away, so something happened. Okay I confess, me (my Dog)
Image
and the United States Post Office (USPS) don't get along, hence a P.O. Box. Anyways I emailed Jonathan and let him know, no T5000. He proceeds to send another one on 11-23-11. Come 2 days later not one but 2 T5000's are waiting for me. Both with identical addresses except one has postage dated 11-13-11 and one has postage dated 11-23-11. Go figure. Anyway I sent the extra back. Hopefully it doesn't have a problem going the other way. As for the T5000, it took me longer to unpack it and put the batteries in (the cover was super tight) then to program it. So all is well on the Rio Gracie. I have the C19 and SD-40 at my command.
Image


Tommy
Image

Rio Gracie
 
#2 ·
Congratulations Tommy!!!

Glad to hear you finally got it. And you are right........it takes longer to unpack and install batteries, than it takes to program. We'll all have to get together at Russ Rutalj's and run. I am replacing the coal load in the #346 C-19 with a styrene one and the range is phenomenal with this new transmitter!
Image
 
#10 ·
Well Tommy - have fun and enjoy your trip there!!

Let us know here how your 'test' works out?!!

Just for comparison, My layout area is large enough for 7-8 Fairplex's, all wrapped up into one layout!

Looking more like I will try one of the T5000's with a QSI decoder in a new loco soon and see what I get here also!!

Dirk - DMS Ry. - http://dmsry.blogspot.com/
 
#11 ·
Dirk
your next to last post i do not under stand this is what airwire says " POWER LEVEL of Transmitter: The range is 0 to 10 with 0 being the
minimum power, very short range but long battery life. A value of 10 is the
maximum power level, furthest range and shortest battery life.
The factory default setting is 5 which sets the output power at about the
same level as an RF1300 or T9000 throttle. It can be changed at any time
and is remembered even if batteries are removed."
 
#12 ·
I think what I got was mis-communication between Airwire and Myself,

So we can disregard my earlier point, THX!!! It was pointed out to me after my post....but then it also cleared the air......so all is well!

Dirk
 
#14 ·
Dick,

Thanks for your interest and pointing out my 'flaw', Still learning all the radio stuff for trains, and meeting the needs of a new layout! Exploring the many options..in and out of the 'Box'..

Need to get back to work on the layout - brake has been too long - getting thru My Dad's health and a car accident, so really need to get going again.. I need to see some progress...

Dirk
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
I had a great time running at the Fairplex.
Using the T5000 set at highest power level (10) I had motor control at over 250 feet but lost sound control (Phoenix) at a little over 100 feet.I also picked up a 2nd T5000 from Jonathan at the show.


Tommy
Image

Rio Gracie
 
#16 ·
There's a reason for that, and it is part of how DCC works, which was designed for communicating the signal over the rails:

(remember this stuff was invented a while ago, so some of the basic design is not really needed in the same way with today's microprocessors)

Speed commands are sent pretty much constantly... so if you have an interruption in reception, you will get another speed command in just a short while.

So if you miss one or 2 commands to go a certain speed, it's not apparent and everything keeps going.

Sound however, especially things like the horn/whistle, are only sent once or just a few times. (Clearly sending the horn command constantly would have it blowing continuously)

So, the first thing that suffers from range is sound controls.

You were also missing speed commands, but because the loco keeps going the same speed if it does not hear a new command, enough of the commands were received to allow you control.

So you were most likely at a marginal control level of control above 100 feet, but you were not in a critical "stop" situation where you would notice a problem.

Greg
 
#17 ·
Greg,
They have somehow improved the function command response. I have noticed that with my T5000,a G2 decoder and a Phoenix P8 that when a loco would normally be out of range for say a horn or whistle command that when I push the function button and get no immediate response I will still get the function a couple seconds later. Say I push it while a train is in a short tunnel. No response but as soon as it comes out of the tunnel it will play. Make sense? Years back the horn might stick on,that is gone too.
 
#18 ·
So - we're not getting out to over 200 ft than ......?!!

Have others in the past been 'fooled' by this signal system also?

Very interested .....
Very motivated to get further out also!!!!!!!

Has anyone tried the small add on antennas for the Receiver board to improve range at all??

Too many hills and valleys,eh! but fun!

Dirk - DMS Ry. http://dmsry.blogspot.com/
 
#19 ·
Yes, makes perfect sense Paul.

In traditional DCC systems of higher caliber, the number of function "packets" sent is settable. For example, by default, the horn button might send 3 packets (the horn command 3 times).... but many systems allow you to increase this number in noisy situations, or in a "club" situation where there's many operators and a lot of commands flying along the rails.

I would suspect, since early Airwire systems often had the horn "stick on" in certain situations, that they increased the number of "horn off packets"... (being a momentary function, there are horn on and horn off commands).

I'm pretty sure they increased the number of horn off packets some time ago... I noticed the change myself.

Perhaps they just added a few more "horn on" packets too... often this is just a setting to change from 3 to 5... I've had that on a poorly wired DCC system where there is a lot of loss and electrical noise. (not easy to do, but I've seen it)

Regards, Greg
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Greg, so at over 250 feet I could slow down, stop, reverse, accelerate, slow down, stop and resume forward speed and I have "marginal control"?So if was at 50 in 128 speed step mode on the T5000, and slowed down to 45, it would possibly skip 49, 48 and 47? Even at 10 feet away, I would not notice the skip.


I normally run in 128 speed steps but if I was in 14 step or 28 step mode, missing a few steps would be noticeable.
Also at 250 feet I had trouble just seeing the locomotive let alone determining if there was a delay in the response.
Image

Tommy
Image

Rio Gracie
 
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
About this Discussion
36 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
FlagstaffLGB
G Scale Model Train Forum
posts
460K
members
32K
Since
2007
A forum community dedicated to G scale model train owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Live Steam General G Scale Discussions Beginner's Forum Model Making Track, Trestles, Bridges and Roadbed