I have a E-Z command controller, I have been looking for a walk around companion controller unable to fine one. Is there a substitute for the walk round companion?
Not that I am aware of. A couple others have inquired recently.
Rich
Update: as of 5/25/2021 I found a Walk-around Controller Model no. 44907 on E-bay and it sold for $275.00. So I'd expect that Bachmann or someone is trying to corner the market on their discontinued Walkaround.
You could get an entire full=featured DCC system plus an extra controller for that.......
Oh! I didn't buy it. Some other uninformed person did. I was able to get one earlier for $48.00, back in April. Even that might have been too much. But it works for me.
Okay, Hi all. I've been working on my electrical setup and came across the fact that the E-Z Command Connector Panel has two Wi-Fi type connectors on the rear of the panel. I went to Bachmann's manuals webpage and could not find the instruction manual for Model no 36-515 E-Z Command Connector Panel. Does anyone know how I can get a copy of this instruction manual? I'm pretty sure it should be a simple instruction manual. I just want to make sure/verify that the rear connectors are for either the power controller or additional connections to support additional walk-arounds.
Does this help? That's the only thing I could find that was different from the stock Bachmann wording about them.
https://www.hattons.co.uk/198231/bachmann_branchline_36_515_u_ez_command_connector_panel_pre_owned_imperfect_box/stockdetail.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/198231/bachmann_branchline_36_515_u_ez_command_connector_panel_pre_owned_imperfect_box/stockdetail.aspx)
Interesting, but it does not answer my basic question of what the 2 additional bus connectors at the rear of the panel are for.
The two front panel connectors are- one for the controller and the other for the walk-around. The two on the rear I haven't been able to confirm whether they are for additional walk-arounds or for other controllers. I'd test them but all I have is one controller and one walk around. When I eventually purchase another walk-around (if they ever get cheap enough) or additional controller then I could test those two rear connections.
By the way, I know I know, It would be better served to move to the more advanced DCC controllers. But I like to keep my mind occupied solving problems others have given up on. (see my other posts for reference)
UPDATE: Terry, thanks. Your reply had me browsing other messages on this board, and I found what I was looking for. This url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWy-LySuik (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWy-LySuik) . To view Part 3 Bachmann video about Walk Around Companion Connector Panel.
Next time, I'll search this site more closely for there are answers to questions that someone, somewhere has already asked. I just need to look more closely.
I'm glad you found what you were looking for.
an aside. . .
I was just about to post the link in the following when I saw Ralph S update.
Click Here (https://youtu.be/1pWy-LySuik?t=499) this begins a Bachmann video at the relevant point saving time watching needless info to answer question and provides key tech info to avoid a gotcha.
Trivia
After Bachmann for good reasons (no, I will not list them as information was provided to me off the record) discontinued the E-Z Command Walkaround Companion they announced the E-Z Command Smart Interface. It was never produced.
Click Here (https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/docs/E_Z_Command_Smart_Interface.pdf) for E-Z Command Smart Interface announcement.
Wow! I must admit, Bachmann is still sticking to their main theme "First time, Beginner's, Kids under a certain age, as the company's focus. The EZ companion smart interface would ...in my opinion, move the company from that beginning point into the intermediate users.
Again I believe Bachmann is missing a profit making area. Why, because every kid that I know of has a smart phone or better. I'm the obsolete one... still using a flip phone and the E-Z command ;)
Thanks for sharing.
I have a flip phone and E-Z Command. ;D
Quote from: Ralph S on June 26, 2021, 02:44:19 PM
Wow! I must admit, Bachmann is still sticking to their main theme "First time, Beginner's, Kids under a certain age, as the company's focus. The EZ companion smart interface would ...in my opinion, move the company from that beginning point into the intermediate users.
Again I believe Bachmann is missing a profit making area. Why, because every kid that I know of has a smart phone or better. I'm the obsolete one... still using a flip phone and the E-Z command ;)
Thanks for sharing.
Ralph,
Bachmann has tried the smartphone area in a broader way with
E-Z APP product line.
Click Here (https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ez-app.php) It has not been what they had hope it would be.
Mr. Hunt Did I miss Something? From the video you provided, I don't know how Bachmann got from the standard controller to the smartphone's app. From what I see, you have to have an EZ app equipped engine. Am I wrong?
They missed a very important issue. Us old guys will eventually give up our model trains to our kids and grandkids and great grandkids. If you have to buy a new engine in order to get the EZ app to work, the cost is prohibitive to the us old timers. The kids (grand kids) parents aren't going to spend additional money for an old train set. Let alone the fact (my opinion) that a majority of kids today aren't into model trains where you have to have a smart train engine, a phone let alone setting the train up and having extra issues with connectivity.
The prices for DCC engines is not at the level of a train car. For example, I have 5 DCC engines, 4 DC engines that work fine, but my kids aren't going to buy a new EZ app engine, if they can just play on their playstation or Nintendo. Sorry , got off on a tangent.
I can see why it isn't going over big. That E-Z Command Smart Interface that they never produced would have eliminated buying new engines.
Please tell me that I missed something, so I can delete this rant, not at the engineers who designed it, but the marketing management's decision to not at least try a sample first. Ford lost when they stopped making the Bronco, now they're bringing it back, after Jeep kept making big profits.
Again thanks for sharing. And I will stop acting like an old geezer ranting about marketing folks not listening to the engineers.
Ralph, I am a bit confused as to why you think the Smart Interface would preclude you buying new DCC locomotives, or why you seem to think your DC locomotives can't be converted to DCC. I am thinking you don't have a full understanding of what DCC is. First of all, converting most DCC locomotives to DCC is as simple as adding a decoder. On older locomotives you may have to modify the wiring in such a way that the chassis is not used as a ground, like in a blue box Athearn. The motor must be isolated from the chassis, once this is done it is a simple matter of hardwiring a decoder in locomotives that do not already have a DCC socket. For somebody who has expressed a desire to reverse engineer as much stuff as you have on this board, that should be second nature. As for specific recommendations for decoder installation, many decoder manufacturers offer tutorials on installing decoders into specific locomotives. My experience has been that while these tutorials are gears toward that company's products, decoders are standardized enough, especially the ones you hardwire, that you can install anybody's equivalent decoder using the tutorials. Good decoders can be found online for $20-25, economy ones for around $15.
It should be noted that while the Smart Interface would be a big improvement to the utility of EZ Command, It wouldn't add to the inherent weaknesses of the system, namely the limited slots available for locomotive addresses, the limited current capacity of the system, and the inability to do any decoder programming other than an address change. As I read the documentation, it would, however, allow the use of multiple cell phones as additional controllers. In theory, it would allow the use of up to 9 cell phones as controllers, each one controlling a different address. But by that time, you would have inevitably exceeded the current rating of the EZ Command, especially if you are running sound equipped locomotives.
Mr. Ward, I responded to your query in a new topic. (From: Re: DCC walk around companion controller « Reply #15 on: June 27, 2021, 04:14:58 PM »
See New topic: To: Converting DC engines to DCC « on: 6/28/2021 at 06:17:30 PM »
By the way, you gave me something I hadn't actually thought about. Later. ;)