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Are there any mini cameras available to give a "train's eye view" of your layout and will fit into N guage?
Posts: 8 | From: Coatesville,PA,USA | Registered: Feb 2003
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That's another project I have under development. The only real problem is that right now, while the technology exists for cameras that small, and pretty cheap too, the transmitters still take up a lot of room, and compatablility with DCC may be an issue, in that the noise from the motor may interfere with the radio signal from the camera. Common sense is to put a capacitor accross the motor leads, but that cannot be done with DCC, as that system uses carefully regulated pulses of full voltage to turn the motor at a given speed. A capacitor would absorb these pulses, and occasionally put out a large pulse, which is highly undesireable. But, like I said, it is under development.
Jared
Posts: 61 | From: New London, CT, USA | Registered: May 2001
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Aren't there enough people who still run conventional DC that there would still be a market for your camera? Also, even people who use DCC, couldn't they just use conventional DC when using the camera? I don't see the camera as something that would be used very often, only as a novelty.
If the transmitter is too big, would pieces of it fit in a couple of cars? Then the locomotive could push a few cars with the camera and transmitter (or however many cars it takes).
It would be nice if you could develop something that works.
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
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Thats the funny thing about DCC. It keeps comming down in Price. I am helping a gentlemen with a DCC web site. In doing some research for it, I found that you can now buy a basic DCC system for a smaller sized layout for less then the basic DC controls needed to run the same sized layout. I have a 4X6 layout. The control system for it with dual cab train control, managing 11 track switches cost $375.00. The cost for a Digitrax Zephyr System plus the three 4 switch acessory decoders for $260.00. Locomotive decoders are not figured in here because I beleave they should be applied to Locomotive cost rather than Control Cost. For this reason, I beleave that within a few years, DCC will bet he control system of choice for the majority of model railroaders.
[This message has been edited by Challenger (edited 02-08-2003).]
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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Lionel USED TO have one in both O and HO in a locomotive - IF you can find one at a train show, (HO that is) remove the camera and electronics and build it onto a flat car, you MAY be able to get an engineers eye view.
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