Until the magic of electricity, model train lovers had to push their trains to receive their trills... It wasn't until the introduction of electricity that modelers began to tackle the problems of operating multiple locomotives simultaneously on one block of rail!
Thanks to lessons learned during WWII, Lionel was able to master a system that changed the frequency of communications equipment in order to shield the allies from axis ease dropping! This concept was used by Lionel to create oscillating frequencies that can be transmitted to the tracks and received through the rails.
The engineer could control his or her model train through a switch or dial of some sort. As you where able to control your speed and direction using this technique, it was never the less cumbersome which made for a daunting setup and timely dissemble.
Lionel's lack of electronic savvy held the hall of fame company back in the development of command control. GE hit a home run when they stepped up to the plate and belted out a winning 5 channel system, capable of controlling more the one train on a single block!
This new system called ASTRAC (Automatic Simultaneous Train Control) by GE used silicon rectifiers to incorporate a receiver in each cab. Signals travel from transmitter to the tracks where your receiver picks up the intel and executes its commands.
Other systems followed such as, Dynotrols carrier control and their CTC-16 which was a successful player in the early days of model train electronics. Throughout the seventies and early eighties these earlier command control devices had one major setback, they weren't compatible with other devices from other model train manufatuers.
Due to these inconsistencies, Lenz, a prominent European DCC innovator, suggested to the industry leaders that they device a system in which compatibility of decoders, transmitters and power stations be mandatory. So in honer of this decree we now enjoy uniform electronics as far a s basic DCC is concerned.
As long as your decoders and power stations follow NMRA standards you're good to go! Be sure to check your decoder before operation to assure positive results. - 31503
Thanks to lessons learned during WWII, Lionel was able to master a system that changed the frequency of communications equipment in order to shield the allies from axis ease dropping! This concept was used by Lionel to create oscillating frequencies that can be transmitted to the tracks and received through the rails.
The engineer could control his or her model train through a switch or dial of some sort. As you where able to control your speed and direction using this technique, it was never the less cumbersome which made for a daunting setup and timely dissemble.
Lionel's lack of electronic savvy held the hall of fame company back in the development of command control. GE hit a home run when they stepped up to the plate and belted out a winning 5 channel system, capable of controlling more the one train on a single block!
This new system called ASTRAC (Automatic Simultaneous Train Control) by GE used silicon rectifiers to incorporate a receiver in each cab. Signals travel from transmitter to the tracks where your receiver picks up the intel and executes its commands.
Other systems followed such as, Dynotrols carrier control and their CTC-16 which was a successful player in the early days of model train electronics. Throughout the seventies and early eighties these earlier command control devices had one major setback, they weren't compatible with other devices from other model train manufatuers.
Due to these inconsistencies, Lenz, a prominent European DCC innovator, suggested to the industry leaders that they device a system in which compatibility of decoders, transmitters and power stations be mandatory. So in honer of this decree we now enjoy uniform electronics as far a s basic DCC is concerned.
As long as your decoders and power stations follow NMRA standards you're good to go! Be sure to check your decoder before operation to assure positive results. - 31503
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