You're right. People want to be able to choose. That's why DCC is so great. You can choose your manufacturer, the set of features you want, and your scale! Unless theres 100% cross compatibility (meaning that it can do everything DCC can do and more AND is compatible with existing DCC technology) then people will not like it.
Firstly thankyou for your post. And yes these points must be raised so I can explain better.
Sorry, DCC is very good but its very limited in many respects, thats why Im making something far superior in every aspect using technology thats now here. But really
simplicity is my aim.
If 2.4GHZ was around in the early days of DCC what do you think you would be using now?
It will be able to do MUCH more than DCC? Yes much more.
While we sleep technology marches forward.
I see a lot of people not happy with DCC. So people WILL like it (Ive done my research) and some wont like it. Thats life.
If you are happy with DCC this isnt for you (until your mate gets one)
Standard? Yes, DCC has standards. The manufacturers in the industry have set up a standard so that theres i cross compatibility between decoders, functions, etc. The different cabs and boosters and command stations are what gives each brand their individuality. You're complaining that you can't use Brand A's throttle on Brand B's system. Will Scorpius have that type of compatibility with DCC? If not, then your product is proving your own argument.
Standards cover a small % of the overall range of functions. So its a part standard. Lets be clear on this.
No my controller wont be compatible to DCC as I cannot achieve what I want to achieve by sticking to a 30 year old 'standard'
(ie simplicity and ease of functionality)
I cannot achieve the simplicity and ease of programming configurations with a DCC based system overlaid on my system.
And your reason for non compatibility is individuality. You cant have your cake and eat it too, its either compatible 100% or its not. Scorpius is obviously individual. So too are most other components of all other brands except the relationship between black box and loco.
DCC IS going 2.4GHz. Digitrax has "pioneered" the duplex radio system in DCC. (I say pioneered because 2.4GHz is nothing new, but it finally had an application in DCC) It runs at 2.4 GHz and theres no need to plug in the throttle after initial set-up, making for a completely wireless controller. The Digitrax system is compatible with everything else already out in DCC. Uses the same decoders, same base system, etc.
What, just the throttle is 2.4GHz, thats about 15% of the journey. Does it replace the antiquated bus system? Are the signals wireless? Can you reprogram the controller (and all components) wirelessly? Are the turnouts wireless? Are the locos wireless?
Scorpius is 100% wireless. Completely different animal.
MTH's DCS has failed in HO due to their ignorant attitude towards compatibility. They tried to advertise what they thought was a "better" or "newer" or "way of the future" product. The HO community did not like it and did not buy it.
Well a lesson to be learnt. If your going it alone it must blow the existing products off the shelf.
CDs still exist. You can either buy a CD or you can download your music. Same price, different formats.
Yes my thoughts too. When wireless makes in roads into the model train world DCC will still be around.
DCC may die in the future, but the market alone will decide that. "My product is better! Ditch DCC! DCC is old!" is not the right attitude moving forward. Instead of just saying that it is better, say WHY it is better. That's how people converted from DC to DCC in the first place. DCC has simpler wiring, more bells and whistles (literally!), and you can run two trains on the same track. Does Scorpius have some cool awesome new feature(s) that would expand upon what DCC has to offer? Going back to the compatibility thing. DCC is compatible with DC. If you install a DCC decoder, the engine will run on DC as well with all of the functions that you can get on DC. If I install a Scorpius decoder, will it run on DCC with full compatibility?
Mate please read my post carefully.
I said Im not try to make DCC guys dump their product? I never will. I have too much respect for people and like the fact they are getting happiness out of their existing system. Thats what its all about ultimately. Fun and respect for other peoples fun.
Its just another CHOICE. Consumers as you say love choice.
Ive have said WHY it is better. I realise this is important. Have a look and theres many reasons Ive already explained and more to come. Its not something I can explain in 3 posts.
Simpler wiring doesnt cut it, thats only one aspect. The rest you will agree is more complex in every department.
Remember when people transitioned from VHS to DVD? Almost all DVD players were sold with a VHS slot on the left, and a DVD tray on the right. The reason they did that was for compatibility people to become comfortable with DVDs. Also, the death of VHS was dictated by manufacturers in the video industry switching over to DVDs. Unless DCC ceases to exist overnight, there won't be any "revolution" in digital control.
Ok well I might put DCC on my chip to start with, hows that?
We both agree it wont happen overnight, but it will happen.
The revolution will be in your own games room if you do happen to buy a Scorpius type system. It might take 10 years or more. Im patient.
I also noticed that your throttle has three knobs. Does your hobby (slotcars) have bells, whistles, and sound? Some model railroaders like having sound in their locomotives. They want the throttles with the 28 function keys to play all the sounds they want and to control special lighting effects such as ditch lights, strobes, mars lights, gyralights, etc. At the most basic, they want one button to turn on the headlight.
All thought of.
Yes I have a 6 channel light board that is fully configureable wirelessly from your laptop or even your controller
My controller has a menu with as many pages as you want, click menu, scroll to function, adjust parameters, click exit, go.
It has buttons that YOU can assign to ANY function. Any other controllers do this?
You can also assign any trim pot to any function
Scorpius has a powerful microprocessor in the controller. Nothing on the market will have its functionality.
"I won't waste time on converting the old-timers, I'll just appeal the newbies to the hobby" is the same ignorance that caused MTH's DCS to be rejected by so many.
I have a lot of respect for 'old timers' as you say. They have brought the hobby to where it is today
Mate its actually because of the negativity I get from certain people that made me back off from pushing it to the wrong type of modeller. Been there done that
So youre saying Im arrogant? Im not sorry, Im just realistic.
60 year old men by nature are too set in DCC to be bothered upgrading, thats the reality. Anyone here disagree with that? Or anyone else for that matter who's investment is too great to upgrade. I fully understand and respect this.
And yes thats my market plan, to appeal to newcomers, fence sitters and 60 year old men who will come across to Scorpius on their own without being told. Thats just manners and respect
With the age of the internet and all of the reviews and articles out there, even newbies can see what's going on. When they read about the MTH HO engines coming out with DCS on board and how there was so limited compatibility with DCC (the de facto standard), they saw it as MTH giving the HO scale community the middle finger. Don't get me wrong. The DCS system is great, very user friendly, has all of those function buttons that people want, etc, but since it has limited compatibility with DCC, very few people are buying it for HO. MTH has finally seen that. So, they are now releasing engines with a DCC plug on board for those who wish to run DCC. Also, this attitude alienates potential customers. Some people say model railroading is a dying hobby. Some agree, some disagree, but are you sure theres a large enough influx of "newbies" who will buy your system?
Sorry, that doesnt concern me what MTH did. We both agree it didnt work.
Im not a greedy man, Im not after big $. If the system is good enough people will buy it. Simple. If not they will not buy it. Also simple. Ive seen what its done to the slotcar world and I want to share it with the model railway world. Its about passion as much as income.
If Scorpius is indeed better than DCC, then the market will determine that.
No debate here.
I am intrigued though. If Scorpius is really that new and "better", I'd like to see what it can offer.
Time will reveal all. Its not going to happen anytime soon as the development will take a year or two to adapt to model trains.