TCS LCC/DCC System Update
TCS has at least three more products planned and in development.
- DCC/LCC command station (integrated booster)
- Smaller knob based WiFi throttle
- Stand alone DCC/LCC booster
TCS made a decision about a year ago to focus the majority of their efforts on their large WiFi based throttle in order to accelerate it to market. Both this throttle, as well as the smaller knob based throttle, are dual protocol WiFi. Both handhelds support the WiThrottle protocol, as well as the much more feature rich and advanced LCC protocol that the DCC command station will use. The idea was to get updated technology in the hands of modelers sooner which can be used on existing DCC systems in the market with the WiThrottle Protocol, and in the future also have something that works with the updated LCC protocol should they wish to upgrade other system components to take advantage of the new capabilities.
The Large WiFi throttle is nearing the end of development. We are primarily waiting on a few last minute tweaks to the enclosure molding to polish it off. Therefore, there is already starting to be a gradual shifting of resources to the other planned products.
As you may have already gathered, there is a diverse set of individuals from all around the world working with TCS on these products. Many of us are simply MR enthusiasts with technology backgrounds, who want to advance the state of standards based technology in the hobby, and are not making any money off of our efforts. We have chosen to work with TCS because they have been so willing to engage on this shared vision, and have made significant capital and staffing investments of their own to match our efforts. Other established DCC manufacturers have been offered similar help to advance their product lines, and the primary reason that we have not engaged with them is that they have been mostly uninterested in making any investment of their own.
DCC/LCC Command Station (integrated booster)
Rev C of the hardware was produced just over one year ago. This revision is in pretty good shape, however, we identified a few opportunities to make some improvements. The Rev D version is expected to be the final Rev, and is just about ready for peer review before being sent out for a prototype build. If you have visited a TCS train show booth, or watched a recent TCS video, you have probably seen the Rev C in action, fully working with the TCS throttle using LCC protocol.
While there is some minor hardware effort remaining, most of the remaining effort is focused on software. Remaining items include:
- Improvements to the nonvolatile database for storing things such as locomotives and macros.
- Tweaking the short circuit and overload protection algorithm.
- Some minor refactoring of the NCE/SystemOne/Ramtrax Cab Bus implementation to reduce CPU utilization
- Implement the XpressNet software.
- Squash a few other known bugs that have been lingering for a while.
The planned feature set for the Command Station includes:
- LCC CAN Bus support
- LCC WiFi Support
- DCC protocol w/RailCom
- Marklin protocol
- NCE/SystemOne/Ramtrax Cab Bus master for up to 62 devices
- XpressNet Bus master for up to 31 devices
- DCC Programing on the main w/RailCom read-back support
- DCC Program track w/RailCom read-back support
- Software field updatable by the user over Wi-Fi
- 5A integrated Booster
Our goal is to have this product ready for sale by the 2020 NMRA convention in St. Louis, however, there is certainly execution risk involved.
Smaller Knob based WiFi Throttle
Rev A of the hardware was produced almost two years ago. This revision has some very minor issues that will be corrected in the next hardware revision, which we expect to be the final production revision. The software for this product is about 90% shared with the large handheld, and the scope of the remaining software work is mostly around adapting to the smaller display, fewer buttons, thumb switches on the side, and the potentiometer option.
We haven't estimated the schedule for this product yet, but the largest factors are the enclosure mold, compliance testing, and board revision. My gut tells me that a 2020 NMRA convention in St. Louis release date is possible, but likely a stretch.
This product supports all the same features as the large handheld, but with a simpler user interface. The expected price is also lower.
Stand Alone DCC/LCC Booster
Development work on this product is just now starting with Rev A hardware currently under development. Our goal is to release this product along with the Command Station, however, it is possible that this product will come later.
The command station uses the NMRA standard booster interface (S-9.1.2), and can be used to drive most existing brands of DCC booster. So far we have tested with Digitrax and NCE, but it should also have no issues with Lenz, and modern CVP boosters. If there are other brands of interest, we can confirm as needed.
The only thing that is required to drive another brand booster is a special cable to pull out the appropriate signals. TCS plans to offer a plug in play board that plugs into the LCC standard interface on the TCS command station and then breaks out the NMRA booster signals to connectors that are standard to other popular booster brands.
While other brand boosters may be used with the TCS command station, the TCS booster will add additional features. The TCS booster is capable of collecting RailCom data and forwarding it on to the command station in real time. The TCS booster also supports an LCC connection, which can be used for easy configuration, as well as feedback to the user, such as an active short, loading, temperature, and other diagnostics.
The LCC and RailCom features of the TCS booster are optional, and do not prevent it from being used with another DCC manufacturer's command station.
Thanks,
Stuart