Subject:
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Re: New Press Release about Power Function Trains
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:24:08 GMT
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Viewed:
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11319 times
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In lugnet.trains, Chris Gray wrote:
>
> It occurred to me that a WiFi system could work nicely. It could have greater range,
> reaching 50 feet or more even through big piles of Lego. If the system were designed
> so that it had 10 "domains" of 10 channels each, it could even work well at a big
> Lego train show - allowing up to 10 layouts of 10 trains each. In the next couple of
> years, I think the cost of using WiFi will be minimal, so perhaps we should all lobby
> Lego to switch to WiFi in a couple of years. If the power functions system ends up
> modular enough, this could be done as special-order items on Shop@Home that are not
> normally included in train sets. Or, it could be custom-built stuff.
>
> -Chris Gray (NALUG)
I was thinking of switching to radio control. From what I've read regarding IR
systems, it should be straight forward to to modify LEGO IR transmitters and
receivers to work with small radio modules. Converting them to transmit the
unmodulated data pulses over RF as well as/or instead of over 40Khz IR. Either
way the original LEGO controller or RCX/NXT is used to generate the control
pulses. And a LEGO IR receive is needed to decode the control pulses. And the
modified devices are still compatible with unmodified IR devices.
<http://www.futurlec.com/Radio.shtml>
Connecting the radio receiver to an IR receiver will require a diode and voltage
regulator. Connecting the RF transmitter to the IR controller will require a
40Khz IR detector. To save some battery life on the transmitter, a data signal
inversion at each end should be used.
Or build IR some repeaters controlled by a radio modified controller. That way
none of the train receivers need be modified.
Of course this will only make the 4 channel limit issue even worse if several
clubs are doing this and use the same frequency. I guess I could experiment
using the current IR train controller.
Mat Clayson
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: New Press Release about Power Function Trains
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| (...) Several people, myself included, have tried Lithium camera batteries in the RC trains. They run for 4-6 hours, and can be recharged in 15 minutes. I would hope that the Lego battery box would be similar. That, coupled with fixing the traction (...) (17 years ago, 26-Mar-08, to lugnet.trains)
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