Posted By DKRickman on 10/13/2008 11:14 PM
It seems to me, then, that there are three distinct options for a useful system.
1) Use regular DCC decoders, unmodified, and clean your track. The advantages are that you don't have to modify the decoder, can use any decoder you like, and get to keep the warranty. The disadvantage is a dependance on track power.
2) Modify decoders as mentioned above, using a capacitor just large enough to get the engine over any spot of dirt without causing it to take off and run forever. The advantages are the ability to use any decoder and being able to operate over dirtier track. The disadvantages are voiding the warranty and sometimes losing control of the engines.
3) Use the Lenz Gold decoders. The advantages are being able to buy a decoder off the shelf, keep the warranty, and use the fancy features even on really dirty track. The disadvantages are being limited to a single decoder and occasional odd behavior.
Without having tried all three, or in fact any of the three, I'd guess that option 1 is the most practical when it comes down to it. Now, if the battery terminals and capacitance pickup became standard features on all, or at least most, decoders, that might be different.
Perhaps I can help you out with this. The easiest way to look at all this is the separate the concept of getting the signal to the module in the locomotive and getting the power to the module in the locomotive. Once you separate these two concepts you can understand just about any control system.
On the power side you need to determine the amount of time you will depend on track power and the amount of time you want to depend on on-board power. For locomotives with good pickup or clean track the amount of on-board power needs are much less then you need if you have no track power at all. Some decoders are designed for Aux power but many are not and have no method for differentiating when the track signal is present or when it is absent.
When you consider the signal reception you can get the signal from the track or from a radio receiver or any other method you desire. The concept behind Hybrid drive is to combine the various approaches in ways that can maximize the benefits of the various approaches.
Simply adding aux power does not do much and can have interesting side effects unless you also address signal reception. For example you power the decoder from internal power and hook up an GWire receiver and have a total Battery/RC solution.
Another approach is to use capacitance pickup in the decoder. Currently the Lenz decoder is the only one in the market but this may change in the next year. I have tested this method of pickup with packet testers and can get virtually 100% packet reception to the decoder in all track environments. I have no idea what Greg is talking about in regards to odd behavior and suspect its just another internet rumor. My experience is that most people believe they do not need capacitance pickup with on board aux power until they try it out. The improvements in performance quite dramatic.
Hope that helps.
Stan
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