Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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2009 East Coast
Large Scale Train Show
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Introduction
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Features
  • Information about the locomotive that is being operated is clearly displayed on a large, back-lit, graphical LCD display.
  • Power can come from on-board batteries or track power.
  • Outdoor range exceeds 400 feet
  • Locomotives are identified by name and road number such as PACIFIC 5305 or MIKADO 3185
  • Most transmitter control operations can be done with one hand
  • Aristo Craft has already made significant changes to the system based on testing and Alpha tester feedback and more refinements are sure to come from the Beta testing process





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Operation Overview
  • Before we start working with the Train Engineer Revolution there are a few concepts that we need to understand.
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Operation Overview
  • The transmitter and receivers in your locomotives are designed to communicate and exchange information about the way you want your trains to operate.  In order to establish a link between them you need to set up options for each locomotive in the transmitter.
  • These include settings like the locomotive’s name and road number, the top speed that you want it to achieve, the rate at which you want it to accelerate and how long you want it to delay when its direction of travel is changed.
  • Once these parameters are set the connection between the units is finalized by a process called “linking”.  Once the transmitter and a locomotive’s receiver are linked together they are set to communicate and you are ready to run your train
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Operation Overview
  • The second concept has to do with the cab number that is associated with each locomotive. To link the transmitter to a locomotive you must select a cab number that will be used to identify it.
  • The cab numbers range from Cab-0 through Cab-49. This number is also used to identify groups of locomotives that you might want to run in a consist.  Locomotives can be operated independently or grouped for multiple unit operation.
  • Cab-0, Cab-1 and Cab-2 might be used to operate three different locomotives while Cab-3 could be used to operate those same three locomotives in a consist.
  • Changing between single unit (SU) operation and multiple unit (MU) operation is as simple as selecting a cab number.


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Operation Overview

  • Once you have an opportunity to experience the process used to operate trains with the TE Revolution I think you will find that Aristo Craft has found an elegant solution to what can be a complex problem.
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Transmitter Screen
  • The transmitter’s screen is designed to clearly and logically display a great deal of information about the locomotive that is under control.
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Transmitter Control Buttons
  • The transmitter has operation specific buttons and a set of buttons like those on a cell phone that are used to enter text or numeric information.
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Operation Buttons
  • The <<T and T>>
    buttons select a
    locomotive by cab #


  • The ▲ & ▼ arrow keys increase or decrease speed
  • The ◄ & ► keys change direction


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Operation Buttons
  • Stop stops the
    selected locomotive
  • Menu displays the
    main menu
  • On / Off turns the unit on or off


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Information Entry
Buttons
  • The numeric keypad
    is used like the one
    on your cell phone
  • Pressing “5 jkl” once
  • selects “5”, pressing it two times selects “j”, three times gives “k” and four times gives “l”
  • “1 -&/*” is used for punctuation
  • “#” is used to enter a space
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Information Entry
Buttons



  • While operating a train, keys 1-6 operate auxiliary functions like smoke or sound
  • Holding “all stop” stops all trains
  • “#” accesses the auxiliary menu


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Receiver
  • The receiver has a
    socket for the auxiliary
    wiring harness
  • There is a “link” switch
    on the board and a
    socket to mount another off of the board.
  • The antenna is only 1.5” long!


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Receiver
  • The back of the board
    has two headers that
    plug into the Plug &
    Play socket on most new AristoCraft locomotives
  • A wiring harness can be used for non-Plug & Play locomotives
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Track Power or Battery?
  • Both are supported - the choice is up to you!
    • Track Power – up to 24 volts DC
      • No controller needed – wire the power supply directly to the track
    • Battery Power
      • Aristo Lithium Ion, Gel Cell, NiCad or NiMH up to 24 volts
    • Both can be used the on same track
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Plug & Play Locomotive Installation
  • Remove shell
  • & locate Plug
  • & Play socket
  • Remove
  • header
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Plug & Play Locomotive Installation
  • Identify the 12 and 10 pin headers
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Plug & Play Locomotive Installation
  • Carefully align the pins and insert the receiver
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Plug & Play Locomotive Installation
  • Mount the external “link” switch…
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Plug & Play Locomotive Installation
  • …so it can be easily accessed.
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Locomotive Settings (video 1)
  • Press MENU from the main screen
  • Press 1. ASSIGN FUNCTIONS
  • Select LINK address (00-49)
  • Enter a NAME (up to 9 characters)
  • Enter a ROAD NUMBER (up to 4 digits)
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Locomotive Settings (video 2)

  • Adjust optional
    settings
    • Momentum
    • Delay
    • Motor
    • Headlight direction
    • Headlight on/off
    • Top Speed
    • Start Speed
    • Auxiliary functions

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Link the Locomotive & Transmitter
(video 2b)
  • Press the LINK button on the receiver
  • Select m.Linking on the transmitter
  • Wait for LINKING PASSED!
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Select a Cab for the Locomotive
(video 3)
  • Select 2.USAGE OF CABS
  • Choose the highest Cab number that will be used (00-49)


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Associate the CAB number
with the Locomotive (video 4)
  • Select 3.ADD MU/SU CAB
  • Select a Cab number
  • Leave MU MODE set to OFF
  • Select the locomotive by name / link number
  • Menu to exit


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Running One Locomotive
  • From the main menu use <<T and T>> to select the CAB for the locomotive
  • The ▲ & ▼ arrow keys increase or decrease speed
  • The ◄ & ► keys to change direction
  • Use 1à 6 to access auxiliary functions like sound and smoke
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Adding a Second Locomotive
  • Repeat the steps just completed using a different locomotive, link address, name and Cab number
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Operating Multiple Trains
  • From the main menu select the new Cab number and run the train
  • Switch between the two with <<T and T>>
  • Stop both by holding “all stop” for 2 seconds
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Installation of receiver on non P&P locomotive
  • Eggliner installation web page
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Resources for non-P&P installation
  • Revolution Manual pages 31-35
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Consists
  • Up to six locomotives can be joined together in a consist (MU)
  • Each will retain its own settings
  • You do not need to re-link locomotives to put them into a consist!
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Consists
  • Set up your locomotives as single units
  • Select 3.ADD MU/SU CAB
  • Select a new CAB number
  • Turn on MU MODE
  • Indentify up  to six pre-defined locomotives under MU1 à MU6


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Consists
  • On the main screen select the MU’s Cab number
  • Operate as you would a single unit locomotive


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Consists – Operating Accessories / Sound
  • While operating a consist you can assess each individual locomotive’s accessory functions by pressing the “*” key
  • Each locomotive’s name will appear at the top of the screen as “*” is pressed
  • Use the 1à6 keys to operate sounds, smoke and other functions


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Using the Smoke Unit Controller
  • Smoke units typically draw too much current to be operated directly by the Revolution receiver
  • An accessory board for smoke control is included with the system
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Using the Smoke Unit Controller
  • The black “signal” wire from the smoke unit goes to the common Auxiliary terminal
  • The white “signal” wire from the smoke unit goes to one of the lettered wires.
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Using the Smoke Unit Controller
  • Both smoke units now go through the smoke control unit
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Interfacing with Sound Cards – Dallee & Phoenix
  • Revolution article from the Aristo-Craft Insider
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Interfacing with Sound Cards Phoenix
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Accessory Controller
  • Will control up to six track side accessories such as switch motors
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Observations from
First Outside Test
  • In a very short time you can control speed up, speed down, forward, backward, stop & sounds without looking
  • Very responsive – especially when following an engine along as you test track that has been through a Pittsburgh winter!
  • Accepts commands to accelerate even when in the process of reversing
  • Could use a “lock” button to keep from accidentally hitting menu or <<T and losing your loco!
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