Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set
Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set
I am new to the hobby and would appreciate hearing if the Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set is a worthy start as a DCC system? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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dileTTante
- Posts: 933
- Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Vancouver British Columbia
Re: Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set
I own the SmartControl Light hand controller but not the associated SmartBox. Instead of the SmartBox, the SmartController throttle is sold with the Digikeijs DR5000 command station as a package from Iron Planet Hobbies in the U.S. The SmartControl uses the Loconet connections. I have used the SmartController throttle with the DR5000 and with the Roco Z21. Both command stations can work with Loconet or Xpressnet throttles.
The SmartController works well but there are two features to note:
The throttle action is gradual and slow. The control knob needs a few turns to produce higher speeds. Roco controllers (Lokmaus, Wlan maus) have more abrupt response.
The other thing is that the SmartControl has a database for storing addresses of locomotives but it is impossible to delete unwanted locomotives from the database. I asked Iron Planet Hobbies about it but they were unable to help. I asked Piko USA about it but never received a reply. The database contains addresses and settings for some Piko locomotives, and settings can be changed but the entries can't be removed. Any locomotive which you put into the database can not be deleted. Possibly a firmware upgrade would fix this but a Piko command station is required, I think. I have seen no information about what a firmware upgrade will do.
Fortunately a locomotive can be selected by just entering the address. The database isn't needed if you can remember the addresses you want to use.
Generally, I like using the Piko SmartContoller Light.
-Terry C
The SmartController works well but there are two features to note:
The throttle action is gradual and slow. The control knob needs a few turns to produce higher speeds. Roco controllers (Lokmaus, Wlan maus) have more abrupt response.
The other thing is that the SmartControl has a database for storing addresses of locomotives but it is impossible to delete unwanted locomotives from the database. I asked Iron Planet Hobbies about it but they were unable to help. I asked Piko USA about it but never received a reply. The database contains addresses and settings for some Piko locomotives, and settings can be changed but the entries can't be removed. Any locomotive which you put into the database can not be deleted. Possibly a firmware upgrade would fix this but a Piko command station is required, I think. I have seen no information about what a firmware upgrade will do.
Fortunately a locomotive can be selected by just entering the address. The database isn't needed if you can remember the addresses you want to use.
Generally, I like using the Piko SmartContoller Light.
-Terry C
Re: Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set
Many thanks Terry for your informative reply.
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dileTTante
- Posts: 933
- Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Vancouver British Columbia
Re: Piko 55017 SmartControl Light Basic set
Probably nobody cares about this, but I want to correct my comment about the Smart Controller Light. I said that locomotive entries in the menu can not be deleted, but they can be deleted.
The instructions say that the stop/delete key can be used to "delete last entered number or loco data set". This is done in the menu group "change loco data". When I tried this and then returned to operation, the address was still displayed and I assumed the deletion hadn't worked.
But I have noticed that some items are now missing, such as locos entered at last TT get together. I thought at the time that they couldn't be removed. I experimented again just now. I selected the 'change loco data', then entered the unwanted address and confirmed the entry, then hit 'delete'. As before, the address was still displayed when returning to operation, but I discovered that when I scroll through the lok menu to pick a locomotive the deleted address has indeed disappeared.
Perhaps the instructions about this could be improved, but knowing I can remove unwanted loco entries has increased my respect for this controller.
I hope no one was deterred from the controller by my mistake.
The instructions say that the stop/delete key can be used to "delete last entered number or loco data set". This is done in the menu group "change loco data". When I tried this and then returned to operation, the address was still displayed and I assumed the deletion hadn't worked.
But I have noticed that some items are now missing, such as locos entered at last TT get together. I thought at the time that they couldn't be removed. I experimented again just now. I selected the 'change loco data', then entered the unwanted address and confirmed the entry, then hit 'delete'. As before, the address was still displayed when returning to operation, but I discovered that when I scroll through the lok menu to pick a locomotive the deleted address has indeed disappeared.
Perhaps the instructions about this could be improved, but knowing I can remove unwanted loco entries has increased my respect for this controller.
I hope no one was deterred from the controller by my mistake.