sdmann posted:I might be a hard sell to keep the Mini Commander as a licensed product. There is very little interest / orders in them.
Bummer, the MC is really the only practical way to add TMCC to operating accessories and rolling stock. I'm surprised there is no interest.
My main interest for my train items would be in automating operating accessories and rolling stock. So I agree with GRJ and would also be interested in the Mini Commanders. To me, more so than engine conversions and upgrades.
I suggest you order some...
electricrr.com
Scott, you don't have the standard Mini Commander ACC on your list! 
I would think a price increase would be necessary. Of course hoping they didn't raise the price because they could. We should be thankful someone picked up and ran this item for us.
Jim
GRJ, I don't know a lot about these and they all sound quite similar from the descriptions? Is the Mini Commander ACC the most common and versatile of these offerings?
You can use the HC model, but it has a large triac sticking out and kinda' getting in the way for some applications. I've only used a few of the HC model, but I've probably used around 30-40 of the regular ACC one.
Thanks, I take it that you would like to order this one as well? If they add the ACC order info I will order a couple to try and help with their production. The smaller size sounds preferable to me too.
Dave Funk posted:
Thanks Scott for carrying the ERR line forward. I think it is the best older loco /TMCC upgrade possible and can be done by an advanced novice (like myself!!) I like small steam and have several to do yet. Most have small tenders making sound a challenging install. Sound for me is a novelty and smoke a non-starter. I will create a sound boxcar to use when I desire sound. To me the cruise commander makes these steamers perform like a correctly geared scale brass loco. To me they are worth the new price and continued availability. Photo is of my K line B-6 which is ERR CCM upgraded and repainted and weathered. I love the way she runs!!!!
I have the Lionel AC motor version of that engine from 1989 and tried to do a ERR & sound upgrade. Could not find the room for complete install so just upgraded the sound. Am still trying to figure how to squeeze the motor & receiver boards in. Just curious if anyone has managed to accomplish this.
Tom
I would be in for several mini commander 2 version 1's if offered. The easiest conversion for S gauge American Models or Flyonel can motored engines.
Rich
The ERR page only lists the Mini Commander 2 Kit. There use to be 3 versions of that kit - Smoke, Lights, Electro Couplers. We need those options since each install may require different features.
FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
tontee posted:I have the Lionel AC motor version of that engine from 1989 and tried to do a ERR & sound upgrade. Could not find the room for complete install so just upgraded the sound. Am still trying to figure how to squeeze the motor & receiver boards in. Just curious if anyone has managed to accomplish this.
Tom
Tom, the AC motor is the fly in the ointment. There is no small TMCC option for AC motors. It's a tight fit with a can motor.
gunrunnerjohn posted:tontee posted:I have the Lionel AC motor version of that engine from 1989 and tried to do a ERR & sound upgrade. Could not find the room for complete install so just upgraded the sound. Am still trying to figure how to squeeze the motor & receiver boards in. Just curious if anyone has managed to accomplish this.
Tom
Tom, the AC motor is the fly in the ointment. There is no small TMCC option for AC motors. It's a tight fit with a can motor.
So I found out John but I'm still cooking the idea of putting the control boards in the tender and the sound board in place of the e-unit. When I was first trying to fit things, it seemed I could get the controller & receiver to fit under the coal pile area with the speaker in the rear in place of the old speaker. The sound board would not shoe horn in at all. If the controllers can be fitted in the tender and the sound board in the engine then the only obvious issues are to tether the sound board to the controller, rig a chuff driver in the engine and install caps on the brushes For now, I do at least have sound to replace the old Railsounds 1 board that ceased to work years ago.
No problem with the AC Commander in the tender I would imagine. You just need a tether with enough wires, I use the MTH 10-pin tether for many of my upgrades.
Remember, now the sound boards are a small single board, it used to be the package was much larger. You can likely fit it in places you couldn't before.
gunrunnerjohn posted:FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
Dumb question: ERR has to load the software or is that something we can change as end users?
Good to know that only one board is needed no matter which version you choose and any order should help the cause.
rtr12 posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
Dumb question: ERR has to load the software or is that something we can change as end users?
Good to know that only one board is needed no matter which version you choose and any order should help the cause.
NO, you can't change the firmware
superwarp1 posted:rtr12 posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
Dumb question: ERR has to load the software or is that something we can change as end users?
Good to know that only one board is needed no matter which version you choose and any order should help the cause.
NO, you can't change the firmware
That's helpful to know you only need one board, BUT, how do you let 3rd Rail know which software you need in the board? The website does not give you any options on how you want the board configured if you place an order.
superwarp1 posted:rtr12 posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
Dumb question: ERR has to load the software or is that something we can change as end users?
Good to know that only one board is needed no matter which version you choose and any order should help the cause.
NO, you can't change the firmware
So much for that idea...I figured it probably worked that way.
Joe,
Under 'Reserve' on the ERR website (menu on left) they list these 3 Mini Commanders:
EER MINI COMMANDER HC KIT
ERR MINI COMMANDER EX KIT
ERR MINI COMMANDER 2 KIT
The one that's missing is the MC ACC that GRJ mentioned above. Unless one of these takes it's place?
rtr12 posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:FWIW, the three versions of the MC2 only differ in the software load, so it's only one board that has to be produced.
Dumb question: ERR has to load the software or is that something we can change as end users?
Good to know that only one board is needed no matter which version you choose and any order should help the cause.
I have the development tools to change the firmware, but since the actual code is not available, I know of no way for a user to change it.
The MC-II has three options, couplers, lights, or front light and smoke. All of these have LED lighting outputs, so I typically use mostly the front light and smoke or the couplers options.
FYI: Our current order of ERR Boards, Cruise Commanders, M Commanders, AC/DC Commanders, Railsounds Commanders, are arriving in about 2 weeks.
Scott
We should all thank Scott for picking up the ball where Lionel felt it was rolling off the table in profit terms. TMCC is from 1995, about 23 years old now but still runs your trains with very little issues. Pick up a cab-1 and away you go! That simple!
If you don't want to upgrade a particular engine, then use a cab-1 with another product that Lionel stopped making, the TPC and run it conventionally but still have the walk-around control. I know the Legacy powermaster is designed like a TPC but then you have to buy Legacy. I've done this with some of large, unique MTH PS-1 engines that no other company made and the prices now are very attractive.
Besides, I could still have the option of converting with the ERR boards with the accolades going to Scott Mann for keeping ERR alive and well.
Art Lites posted:Got my ERR boards last week and RS commander. Shipped long before the Oct. date. ( good news). When I first ordered from ERR the price was $70 ok 69.95. This order was bounced and 3rd rail took over and we were told price would increase to $79.95. Ok it is a high increase but I understand price was four years old. However ( bad news ) when billed the price $90 ea. ( Ok 89.95). That was close to a 30% increase. With sound that makes an upgrade $180.00. I wont be converting many more AC motors at this price which is a shame because I liked the ease of upgrade and the reasonable cost. I don't see any additional features. Maybe 3rd rail can give us some rational for the increase.
FWIW I ordered ERR RS commander boards directly from ERR in late-2017 and early-2018, before the transfer to 3rd Rail. The RailSounds boards were $84.95 for diesels and $89.95 for steam locomotives. 3rd Rail now sells them all for $89.95, so other than a very modest $5 increase for the diesel boards, Scott has not increased the price of the RS boards.
Some people would complain if they were hung with new rope! 
Ted Bertiger posted:We should all thank Scott for picking up the ball where Lionel felt it was rolling off the table in profit terms. TMCC is from 1995, about 23 years old now but still runs your trains with very little issues. Pick up a cab-1 and away you go! That simple!
Besides, I could still have the option of converting with the ERR boards with the accolades going to Scott Mann for keeping ERR alive and well.
Give thanks? Despite all the accolades, 3rd rail was likely primarily motivated to scramble to preserve the ERR product line as a matter of self-preservation as necessary to continue production of their trains which utilize these components.
And, how accurate are the numerous suggestions and dire statements on the ERR website to "heed warnings", purchase now, and purchase extras in case production ceases? They claim that production could suddenly end due to component obsolescence? Take a look at the Railsounds Commander PCB which is identical to the Railsounds Lite (RSL) boards that Lionel uses for current production of Legacy engines. Correct me if I am incorrect, but it appears that the only difference is separate programming, and an on-board volume pot instead of a harness connector. So, really, what are all these claims? If ERR can't produce Railsounds Commander cards, then Lionel is in big trouble also.
So Greg, we should instead seek out Scott and stick a sharp stick in his eye?
FWI, the other end of the spectrum is a key component, the Cruise Commander and AC Commander. Without those, there is no upgrade. Also, if obsolescence forces a change of the Lionel RS-Lite board, there's no certainty they'd keep it compatible with the ERR product line, that might be the end of the line for the RS Commander.
I do agree that Scott has a vested interest in keeping the ERR line alive for his own products, I suspect that was one motivating factor in licensing the ERR line. I also find it's best not to assume the worst of people. 
GregR posted:Give thanks? Despite all the accolades, 3rd rail was likely primarily motivated to scramble to preserve the ERR product line as a matter of self-preservation as necessary to continue production of their trains which utilize these components.
You must be popular at parties.
TRW
Thanks Todd and GRJ, I make a general comment about a system that is now almost 25 years old and still works like it was produced yesterday and some folks make a negative comment towards a company that is preserving it for themselves and for us, the end users.
And if anything, TRW would know firsthand about TMCC and its initial production!
sdmann posted:FYI: Our current order of ERR Boards, Cruise Commanders, M Commanders, AC/DC Commanders, Railsounds Commanders, are arriving in about 2 weeks.
Scott
Are all of these spoken for, or are there some extras for the Johnny-come-latelies?
---PCJ
Scott, thanks for keeping the line alive. While I may not be looking to do upgrades at this time I do have several TMCC engines and knowing I have an option if I need to have those repaired is greatly appreciated. Legacy is out of my price range and if ERR is not around I guess the only alternative would be to convert those engines to conventional.
gunrunnerjohn posted:So Greg, we should instead seek out Scott and stick a sharp stick in his eye?
FWI, the other end of the spectrum is a key component, the Cruise Commander and AC Commander. Without those, there is no upgrade. Also, if obsolescence forces a change of the Lionel RS-Lite board, there's no certainty they'd keep it compatible with the ERR product line, that might be the end of the line for the RS Commander.
I do agree that Scott has a vested interest in keeping the ERR line alive for his own products, I suspect that was one motivating factor in licensing the ERR line. I also find it's best not to assume the worst of people.
No sharp sticks...or pessimism intended. I think Scott does a great job. As an engineer working with building contractors, I have the survival instinct to be on the constant lookout for the motivations behind any favor 
Well, as I said, I suspect that some of the motivation for Scott to jump in was to save the product line for his products, can't hardly fault him for that!
I would also imagine taking over the ERR line required a sizeable investment as well. I would hate to guess what something like that would cost in initial outlay to restock from scratch? Then the royalties would cut into the profits as well. And there is still risk involved, with no guarantees. I think we should all be thankful that Scott was willing to take this on, no matter what the motivation was, I certainly am.
rtr12 posted:I think we should all be thankful that Scott was willing to take this on, no matter what the motivation was, I certainly am.
Bingo! Consider the alternative, we wouldn't have this upgrade product for any price!
Oh, I'll be first to admit that the ERR line was a great opportunity that came along. Yes, I wanted to preserve and control my ability obtain the hardware needed to continue offering TMCC equipped models, and broaden our reach to customers interested in TMCC models.
Glad to help, and it helps us too. Yes there is risk, added work and profit after selling enough of these. Yes there is considerable investment in hardware. But it's no different than the projects we are already working on.
Your reservations have really helped us understand the relative quantities of boards that we needed to order to have stock of these for 1 to 2 years going forward. Re-ordering and the costs and delays there of are the biggest risks.
Like you all, I have expenses and my business has overhead. As long as these things are supported by sales in trains and ERR boards we will continue.
Again, thank you all for your support in ordering these and suggesting new products.
Always happy to help.
Thanks again for keeping the ERR line alive Scott.
Scott, I'll second the thanks from GRJ above! It is much appreciated that you have kept the ERR product line going!
Our current order of ERR Boards, Cruise Commanders, M Commanders, AC/DC Commanders, Railsounds Commanders, are arriving in about 2 weeks.
Ok great to hear. I have two mini-Cs on order
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