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Model Railroading > NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE


Date: 01/31/25 13:43
NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: tmotor

First of all, THANK YOU to all that responded to my earlier post on this subject!  :-D
It helped point me in the right direction. (Gotta' LOVE those helpful TO members!)

Here's what I found (so far):

The ProCab-R ("R" for Radio - wireless) I have is ancient and needs the internal board upgraded.  There is NOT a DIY option, and it needs to be sent to NCE.  $109
I also need to send them the RB02 Radio Base Station, to see if it needs a $30 upgrade.  They are a relatively small shop, and have quite a backlog.  They are currently working on throttles they have received Jan 4, 2025.  They estimate 4-6 weeks turn-around time.  With shipping, probably longer since they are on the opposite coast.

I don't have a spare Cab.  Being without a DCC throttle kinda' brings my Speed Matching project to a grinding halt for the better part of 2 months.  :-0

Turns-out the current ProCab-R has an internal antenna.  My ProCab-R has an antenna sticking out of the top, which is now Old School.   Since I don't have a spare ProCab around, I will purchase another ProCab-R throttle.  (The standard ProCab does NOT have wireless capability.)  When my current ProCab-R returns, I will then have a spare throttle.

Some of the keys on my throttle needed to be mashed pretty hard to register.  There is a DIY option for the keypad membrane to be swapped-out.
https://tonystrains.com/product/nce-5240500-membrane-keypad-for-power-cab-or-pro-cab
However, i can't find any in-stock.  Best I have seen is a "special order".  I will ask the NCE folks to swap it when they perform the upgrade on my current ProCab-R.

When I purchased my current NCE system, it was during the days when locomotives were very power-hungry.  I purchased the 10 Amp "Powerhouse" version, thinking I would need that much power to feed the head-end and helpers for an Oil Cans run, all equipped with sound, on a grade.  After my recent experience at La Mesa, I realize that with the current crop of engines with sound, 10 Amps is overkill.  The standard for HO is 5 Amps, and (with properly sized Power Districts) it even works on large layouts like La Mesa.  (The 10 Amp is intended for large scale, such as G-scale.)  I've been looking for an excuse to get a 5 Amp DCC system from NCE, and this seems like as good a time as any.
​[url=https://www.arizonahobbies.com/ph-pro-r-wireless-starter-set-updated.html]https://www.arizonahobbies.com/ph-pro-r-wireless-starter-set-updated.html[/url]

Thanks again for keeping me on the right track.  ;-)

Dave
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/25 17:28 by tmotor.




Date: 01/31/25 14:18
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: ATSFSuperCap

First of all you really should have a back up throttle, in case, well, this happens.    $150 will get you a new NCE Power Cab which does all the same stuff but is corded and needs to be plugged in.   



Date: 01/31/25 14:34
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: funnelfan

Not sure if you get many visiting operators, but adding Wifi to the system will allow people to use their phones or Wifi throttle like the TCS UWT-50P. Just recently I found there is a simple option for NCE systems made by WifiTrax in the WFD-30 which is a Wifi card that can be hooked to the NCE Cab Bus. TCS sells the card as well as Throttle-Wifi Card bundles with a nice discount over buying seperately. I just bought a bundle so I could get the card and my friend could get the throttle (which he loves). I haven't installed the card yet, but will report on it when I do.

Card;
https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/wfd-30-nce-cab-bus-wi-fi-interface

Bundle;
https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/uwt-50-wifitrax-wfd-30-bundle

I prefer the Potentiometer version of the UWT-50 throttle.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Date: 01/31/25 16:11
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: tmotor

Greetings ATSFSuperCap!

> First of all you really should have a back up
> throttle, in case, well, this happens.   
Yup, learned my lesson!

> $150
> will get you a new NCE Power Cab which does all
> the same stuff but is corded and needs to be
> plugged in.   
Some of the modular folks have used them to make a portable test bench.  Modify a plastic toolbox as an enclosure.  Have all of the sockets mounted to the outside of the toolbox.  Plug-in the test track, and the throttle, and you are all set.  It a pinch it can double as another throttle.  Perfect!

Take care and God bless!
Dave



Date: 01/31/25 23:30
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: tracktime

100% Amen with Ted below regarding the WiFiTrax interface paired with a UWT-50E throttle.  This, my friends, is my go-to when using my NCE system these days.  

My plan originally was to purchase a Radio-equipped NCE ProCab System for my layout, but at the time, none were in stock anywhere, so instead,  I went with a tethered non-radio NCE ProCab connected to the WiFiTrax interface which then communicates with any WiFi throttle.  While I am no fan of iPhone or Android throttles due to their non-tactile interface, I am more than pleased with the TCS UWT-50E (Encoder version) Throttle, which provides easy access to the higher numbered DCC functions and is ergonomically designed with a very straightforward interface that allows direct access to the most frequently accessed functions such as bell, horn and headlights without having to even look at the throttle.  The TCS UWT-100 is nice also, but for me, it has nothing over the UWT-50 for ease of use.   I strongly prefer the large easy-access dial on the UWT-50 for speed control over the scroll wheel on the UWT-100.

Most importantly, with the WiFi interface, I have had absolutely ZERO issues with connectivity to my NCE system via the WiFiTrax interface for the 2+ years that I have had this.  No dead spots, NONE, and no ugly radio antennas rubber duckies sprouting up in strange places on your ceiling or backdrop.   I highly recommend this setup (TCS UWT-50 + WiFiTrax) for anyone running a NCE system who wants a wireless throttle.  It just flat out works, and the ease of use is unparalleled.

Cheers,
Harry

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not sure if you get many visiting operators, but
> adding Wifi to the system will allow people to use
> their phones or Wifi throttle like the TCS
> UWT-50P. Just recently I found there is a simple
> option for NCE systems made by WifiTrax in the
> WFD-30 which is a Wifi card that can be hooked to
> the NCE Cab Bus. TCS sells the card as well as
> Throttle-Wifi Card bundles with a nice discount
> over buying seperately. I just bought a bundle so
> I could get the card and my friend could get the
> throttle (which he loves). I haven't installed the
> card yet, but will report on it when I do.
>
> Card;
> https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/wfd-30-nce-cab
> -bus-wi-fi-interface
>
> Bundle;
> https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/uwt-50-wifitra
> x-wfd-30-bundle
>
> I prefer the Potentiometer version of the UWT-50
> throttle.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/25 23:37 by tracktime.



Date: 02/01/25 05:34
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: WrongWayMurphy

I concur with TrackTime.  I use the WiFi interface with UWT-50 throttles and find
this the ultimate solution to wireless operation.  Visitors come and often prefer to use
their own  iPhone throttles with no issues to boot.  I love the ease of consisting with
the handheld UWT-50.



Date: 02/01/25 14:59
Re: NCE Wireless Woes - UPDATE
Author: SPDRGWfan

TCS throttles via wifi for the win!

I've only used my UWT-100's so far but I do have a UWT-50P - I noticed the price went up on the UTW-50 since I bought mine tho.



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