Date
1 - 5 of 5
advanced electronics (was NMRA convention)
|
Kurt Laughlin <fleeta@...>
Those already exist, more or less. The are called RFID tags (which is what AEIs are too) and are available as small (1 x 1 inch, 1 x 3/8 inch, and similar) self-adhesive films less than .020 thick. You could put them on the undersides of loads, inside house cars, and so forth.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I think many modelers *like* the idea of using car cars though . . . KL
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim O'Connor To: STMFC@... Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2007 6:37 PM Subject: [STMFC] Re: advanced electronics (was NMRA convention) I only wish for one hobby advancement -- a very small (about the size of a baby aspirin) programmable "AEI" tag so we could retire all the car cards and buttons and other means that we use to keep track of cars on the layout. Scanners could be hand held and used by the yard operator or crew to scan cars in a train wherever its appropriate on the layout. A PC then could keep track of the cars and generate new destinations for cars when they finish their trips, and print switchlists or waybills as needed/desired. Of course the scanners should be wireless too, just to make it easy. Found a car and don't know where it belongs? Just scan it and the PC will tell you... I figure such devices should cost about $2 or less. Also the devices could encode the owner of the model, so they may offer a small amount of security over other methods, if hidden inside the model... Tim O'Connor
|
|
|
|
jmo99999 <joseph.onorato@...>
Tim,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
You should look into the RFID technology that is used for inventory control in warehouses. My understanding is that passive RFID chips are available for about $0.25. They are small enough to be inserted into a pet's ear through a syringe. The active chips are about $2.00 and can contain at least several K of memory. JMO
--- In STMFC@..., Tim O'Connor <timboconnor@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Kurt wrote
Those already exist, more or less. They are called RFID tags ....I don't think ANY idea will appeal to ALL modelers. But so what? I've used car cards, and they are fine for single use, but not adequate for long term use (IMO). Tim
|
|
|
|
Dennis Storzek
--- In STMFC@..., "jmo99999" <joseph.onorato@...> wrote:
The problem isn't the cost of the chips, it's the cost of the readers. This issue comes up on the RY OPS SIG list from time to time, but isn't going to go anywhere until: 1. Readers become cheap enough to justify buying a dozen or so; 2. Someone makes software available that does something useful with the data. Protrak software can do the second, but is a all encompassing layout management program. I suggest anyone interested in this join the OPS SIG list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ry-ops-industrialSIG/ and search the archives. Dennis
|
|
|
|
Schuyler Larrabee
Kurt wroteSingle? We have cards at the club which have been in use for probably eight or nine years, if notThose already exist, more or less. They are called RFID tags ....I don't think ANY idea will appeal to ALL modelers. But so more. Yes, some of the show it, but they're still legible. SGL La vita e breve, mangiate prima il dolce!
|
|
|