Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: BORIS on September 26, 2007, 11:30:09 pm
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Can any one recomend a good diesel engine sound simulator, there used to be some good ones on "westbourne model centres website..you could listen to each one on the internet before you buy! but for some reason theyre no longer there :( :(
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Hi Boris,
If I recall correctly the units on Westbournes site are/were JJC.
There is a thread about this somewhere on the Forum.
May I suggest you have a word with Dave at ACTion. (FLJ on this Forum) If I recall there are fundementally two types, typified by the JJC and ACTion models (Although there are a number of manufacturers in the market.
As I claim to be the forum moron on all things electrical I tend to ask Dave or Bluebird. You can be sure they will not lead you up any blind alleys.
Good luck
Clegg
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I think I must be the lucky one. I have just bought 2 JJC Turbo cat sound units .
http://www.jjc-electronics.com/
You can listen to the sounds on the above web site.
I do know that some people are having trouble obtaining these though if you can get them they are the best. O0
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Guys, I would like to recommend my company, "Model Solutions of Canada Ltd."
We manufacture premium sound modules that can store up to ten individual sounds.
One has a built in 16 channel R/C switch decoder built right in, includes a 16 channel transmitter keypad,
and has 8 auxiliary switched outputs to switch your accessories.
Our sounds use digital recordings, and are NOT simulators.
Our modules have a USB I/F and you can download your own sounds to them!!
12 Watts output power into 8 ohms at 14V, with no heatsinks!!
Our Web Site is www.modelsolutions.ca (http://www.modelsolutions.ca)
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Check out the prices >>:-(
£80 odd for just the sound module, I dont think so. :o
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Bloomin heck not at them prices talk about EXPENSIVE >>:-(
Stavros
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£85 (GBP) ... not bad for what your actually getting!
How much for just two JJC sound only units with fixed sounds?!?!
This has 2 functions in 1 module - sound effects unit and a built in 16 channel decoder.
This 2-in-1 premium module stores multiple digital sound clips up to a total of approx. 6 minutes, and plays them back through a 12W power amplifier and loudspeaker. Digital sound clips are stored in the module’s 4MByte “FLASH” memory chip. The module is initially targeted at model boats, but is very flexible and it may be used in model cars, trucks, military models, train layouts or static displays. Includes two lamp flasher circuits that will flash lamps in sync. with two sounds for gunnery, or Morse code applications.
The module operates from 6 - 15Volts.
It has a built in R/C 16 channel switch decoder for direct connection to an unused Radio Control receiver channel. The 16 transmitter switch channels are used to control on/off for
eight-ten sound clips and eight-six auxiliary switched OUTPUTS (2A each) for accessory control. A 16 button transmitter keypad is included.
It is user configurable to operate in either a "10-6" mode or a "8-8" mode.
The 10-6 mode has 10 sound clips, 2 lamp flashers and 6 switched outputs.
The 8-8 mode has 8 sounds, no lamp flashers and 8 switched outputs.
It includes a CD-ROM with a Windows SFXPC application to Download and Upload sound clips, some free sound editors, a USB cable to connect to a PC and two servo cables to connect to an R/C receiver (one for the 16 channel switch control input and one for the proportional engine sound).
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Unfortunately, my first posting got truncated.
Regarding our prices, you are missing the point. You are not getting just a sound module with one or two fixed sounds.
8 - 10 sounds
Total six minutes digital recordings
A 16 channel switch decoder
A 16 button transmitter keypd.
USB interface so you can download your own sounds
12 Watts ouput - NO HEATSINK, NO FAN.
8 auxilliary switched outputs.
Windows PC program + free sound editors.
We are also working on much smaller, simpler AND CHEAPER units with one or two sounds, estimated retail at CDN$60 (30 quid).
Availability - late spring 2008.
BTW, the Robbe sound module, which is our nearest competitor, is 135 Euros (CDN$203), so ours is way less expensive, and their unit is NOT DOWNOADABLE and has only six sounds and two switched outputs.
Regards,
David
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I figure most of you gentlemen across the other side of the big pond in the U.K. are wondering - "just who is this Canadian guy trying to barge in anyway???", so I'll tell you a bit about myself.
Well actually I'm a fellow Brit. I was borne in, and spent the first 30 years of my life in, Ipswich, Suffolk. I used to design silicon chips at the BT Research Centre, Martlesham Heath.
I have a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from University College London and have been designing and building electronics for the last 47 years. I have also been a professional software engineer for the last 25 years.
So there you go.
Hope to have many more interesting exchanges with you folks in the future. I don't mind you emailing me at david.l.harrison@rogers.com or you can even phone if you like. Email me first, then I'll send you my phone number.
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Hi there, before we make any comments about prices I think we should have a good read and digest what we are actually acquiring on one board here...its not just a sound system; as far as I can see you have the facility of inbuilt switching units; a choice of sounds which you can download by yourself; and that is something you could not do with JJC - so in other words, if you want to change your sound you can do - you just plug it into the computer and download and away you go - and also, you have access to far more sound effects on one module.
aye
John e
bluebird
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To Canadian Dave:
Mate, since we're all British, means we can talk man-to-man, right?
You're sales patter is totally shot to bits. You're sounding desperate.
Why?
Your product is obviously one the best things since sliced bread. Those specifications alone should be enough to seal the deal.
I mean, eighty quid is a LOT of dough. Even more so when you don't have eighty quid. But in reality most folk wouldn't think twice about paying such an amount for, say, a digital camera, or a pair of shoes. If truth be known I reckon every Mayhem member here would be the first to stick their hand in the air given the choice of a freebee - simply because they recognise something good when they see it.
The question is, how do get over that price barrier thing? After all, you're a born-and-bred Brit - you know what how hard it is for the Brits to part with their hard-earnt.
Why not try the softly-softly approach? Maybe a few tempting photos first?
Better yet, you could always send a freebee version my way. If it's as good as you say, then I'll do it justice by posting a write-up, making it sound so good that every man and his dog will be queueing for miles to buy.
Who knows, you could even end up being the next CLive Sinclair.
Aw, I'm sorry for the cheesy reply.
Dude, in all honesty, I wish you every success with your venture. I really do. You're British, dammit -- living proof that British engineering is alive and well.
(A class-D amplifier, eh? Man, that's nice).
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Actually. there are product photos on our web site, full specifications, dimensions etc. There are even the full product manuals on ouir datasheets and manuals page. You can get all the information you could want there.
We also distinguish ourselves from some others in the market place by providing exemplary pre and post sales support. We don't mind questions, via email or even phone.
I tried to upload a .WAV sound clip file to whet your whistle, as it were, but this forum only accepts text and pictures. We have an absolutely fabulous PT109 engine start and run sequence - those three 1200 H.P. V12 Packards winding up, then firing sequentially. Email me, and I will send it to anyone who wants it.
Thanks for the offer, but I've already got three product reviews lined up. As for sounding desperate, I am not in any way. However, this is our first foray into the U.K. market. We already have dealers in Texas - U.S., Tokyo - Japan and New South Wales - Australia. Our product has been on the market for 18 months and is selling well globally.
Knowing, as you say, how hard it is to get us Brits to part with our money, I wanted to make sure you guys compare apples with apples. Our units are NOT equivalent to those beloved JJC units. They are WAY superior with all the extra bells and whistles, plus THEY DON'T GET HOT - NO HEATSINKS, NO FANS.
Knowing how there is a much larger market for the cheap and cheerful simple unit with one or two fixed sounds, we are addressing that exact need with our next generation SFX5 series. We are planning some exciting specs. and features, but they're under wraps for now. We'll keep you all informed of features, availability and prices just as soon as we can.
Cheers, gotta go, it's late now.
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This sort of thing does annoy me. When I purchased two Krabbenkutter sound units from Graupner, at well over £100 each, I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread, and in my opinion they are still hard to beat (but unavailable).
Then this chappie comes along advertising a golden nugget for much less, I would have snatched his hand off if they were available when I bought mine.
Cheap and cheerful is just that, if you want quality you have to pay for it.
How long ago did you buy a new mobile phone, you know the ones, they wipe your backside for you, and full of garbage you will never use. I am sure, you didn't moan when you paid for that.
John
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If our sound modules operated down to 8Volts minimum, how many people with 6V or 7.2V systems woul;d be upset?
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Hello Dave
What have you got for a typical Fraser River tug towing a barge, etc. Start up, away it goes?
Interested to hear. Heard a great system a few years ago in Seattle using a tank engine sound but the builder went onto other things and not seen it again.
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Thought I'd let you know that we will be publishing a quarterly newsletter, starting end of this month. It will bring news and updates about existing products, new product announcements and new products in development.
If you would like to subscribe, send an email to newsletter@modelsolutions.ca with "newsletter - subscribe" as the subject line.
You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email to newsletter@modelsolutions.ca with the subject line
"newsletter - unsubscribe".
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If our sound modules operated down to 8Volts minimum, how many people with 6V or 7.2V systems woul;d be upset?
I think their would be a good number of people upset
I think 6v and 12v are the main voltages being used
Colin
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If our sound modules operated down to 8Volts minimum, how many people with 6V or 7.2V systems woul;d be upset?
A lot of people would be upset as a lot a models over here run on 6 or 7.2v. I have 3 fast patrol craft that run on 7.2v O0
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If our sound modules operated down to 8Volts minimum, how many people with 6V or 7.2V systems woul;d be upset?
I would as I mostly use 6v.
Len. :'(
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Hi Folks
Try Rc Modelworkshop at the Epic Centre next weekend judge for yourself !!
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Hi, guys, our next generation SFX5.3 sound modules are now available for ordering and shipping.
Please go to :
http://www.modelsolutions.ca/catalog_sound_systems.htm (http://www.modelsolutions.ca/catalog_sound_systems.htm)
Regards,
David
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RC Model workshops system is at least as good as JJC and a lot more robust. A packet arrives, you plug the system into the boat electrics switch it on and away you go. I've got twin turbo cats in my 1/12 Severn and it sounds great. Why import when there is home grown gear available and..... you don't have to prat around with a computer.
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You don't have to "prat around with a computer" with our new modules either - they come plug and play right out of the box. But you can hook them up to a computer if you are so inclined.
Don't be so prejudiced you Brits - hey, I'm a Brit too. It depends what you're looking for. If you want to lay down your money for a RCMW unit with a honking great huge fan and then add one slave unit for every sound you want then go right ahead. Our units store up to six sounds, plus the proportional engine sound. So I'd say, our modules also represent great value for money if you want more than one sound.
You guys are all to quick to compare apples with oranges. Our modules are simply uncomparable to any other sound module out there - they are simply the best in the world.
Just take a step back guys, open your eyes to other products and suppliers around the world - You'd be surprised to find that many of the best products are not Briitsh after all!
and I'm saying that as a Brit.
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You guys are all to quick to compare apples with oranges.
Sounds more like sour grapes to me. :angel:
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Hello there Modelsolutions,
I wonder if you could clear some points up?
On your sound module: SFX5.3 - is the minimum voltage 10 volts which this unit operates on? 10 volts is of a bit of an 'oddball' bottom end voltage - the majority of modellers either run 6-12 volts or 12-24 volts, so this unit will only a cater for a certain number of people.
also,
The duration of the sound is only 6 minutes? in other words, if you start the sound unit up on your model and then run your model on the lake for longer than 6 minutes - then the sound unit will shut down after 6 minutes? Would you therefore have to restart it again?
also
The other modeul SFX4.2 - can you only play 1 sound at a time? therefore if I am using the engine sound unit I would not be able to use a steam whistle sound at the same time/or a fog horn? whilst the engine sound unit was - or would it switch the engine sound unit off enabling me to use the whistle/fog horn?
Does the main sound on this unit also just run for 6 minutes as well, before it has to be restarted?
aye
john e
bluebird
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First of all to DickyD, not sour grapes - I'm just suggesting that you Brits open your eyes to other possibilities - you do have a tendency to latch onto just one thing and then have blinders on to anything else. RCMW are not the only guys on the planet, and to be honest I fell of my chair laughing when I first saw their sound module with a huge fan on it - they have just got to be kidding!! There are MUCH better solutions than using a wretched fan - like using a more efficient amplifier that doesn't generate the heat in the first place. Think outside the box guys - RCMW included!!
Now to reply to Bluebird. Actually, the total storage time is now more like 12 minutes. But the default behaviour of the sound module is to loop when it reaches the end of the sound clip from the start of the sound cip, so it will play indefinitely until the sound clip is switched off. Further, the loop point at which it starts to play from again does not have to be the start, it can be any point into the sound clip. For example, an engine sound with a startup sequence followed by an idle sound is all one sound clip and once its end is reached, it can be configured to play just the idle part, not the startup as well.
Any sound can be configured to either play once, or to loop, and either latched or momentary mode. Latched mode means you trigger it once and it stays on until triggered again, when it switches off -great for long sounds when you don't want to hold the switch all that time. Momentary means on only while the switch is activated - good for short sounds like horns and gunfire.
The minimum supply voltage is 10V so it won't work on less than a 12V battery unless you want to put in a second battery, which is always a good idea anyway for any sound system. And it will also work on a 24V battery. Note : Power is proportional to the square of voltage, so if you double the voltage to 24V, you can get 4 times as much power - 40Watts output!!.
The SFX4-2 can only play one sound at a time so one sound has to be switched off before another can be played. The SFX5.3 can play any two sounds at a time, and they can be connected together like a master/slave to play more sound simultaneously.
Hope this clarifies things.
Regards,
David
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The minimum supply voltage is 10V so it won't work on less than a 12V battery unless you want to put in a second battery, which is always a good idea anyway for any sound system. And it will also work on a 24V battery. Note : Power is proportional to the square of voltage, so if you double the voltage to 24V, you can get 4 times as much power - 40Watts output!!.
Hope this clarifies things.
Regards,
David
Great, then its all a bit elementary for me as none of my nine boats run on 12volts so it looks as if I will have to go to the man who has done his homework at RCMW when figuring out which voltage to work on to suit most people, and to keep it as simple as possible.
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thank you Modelsolutions for your reply. So, if I have got this right -
the SFX5.3 module - it's minimum real voltage is 12 volts - on its own supply - not from the motor supply battery - and its multiple sound by adding a slave unit - only suitable for super-tankers.
the only one that would be of any real use to the majority of us would be the SFX4.2 module which can run on 6-12 volts but, its only disadvantage is - you can only play one sound at a time....
so....if you have the engine sound module running - to blow your horn lads and lasses you have to turn your engine sound off :-\ mmmmmm if you want my personal opinion; you may be struggling for a market for these.
Elementary my dear Watson and be careful Dicky we will have our friend Barry joining in with a circuit diagram for a DC inverter :D :o to drive these units.
{-) {-) {-)
aye
john
bluebird
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t
Elementary my dear Watson and be careful Dicky we will have our friend Barry joining in with a circuit diagram for a DC inverter :D :o to drive these units.
{-) {-) {-)
aye
john
bluebird
Hes been busy doing diagrams on the "Re: My boat wont go straight" post John ::)
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OK guys, let's cut the crap and criticisms and get down to real facts here. Model boaters in the 6v and 7.2V categories aren't the only customers in the world for R/C sound systems. And do not assume that all boaters are the same as yourselves. I feel that a certain number of you guys have a very narrow outlook and are not considering the global marketplace, only your own very limited view of things.
And I do not feel you have any basis for implying that I have not done my homework whereas RCMW has. So be sure of your facts before you start criticizing me please. The SFX5.3 module plays multiple sounds by itself and does not require a slave unit to do so, but one can be used if desired.
My marketplace is global and includes not only model boaters, but model aircraft and model tanks as well. I do have several years of experience designing these things and I know from my own practical experience with model boats and putting sound systems in them that you do need a LOT of audio power to make any sound heard when the boat is out in the pond some 30-40ft away from you. It might sound great on the bench and near the shore, but sound pressure level decreases as the square of the distance from the source so as soon as the boat starts moving away, the sound level drops off dramatically. It is because of this that my overriding concern was to provide sufficient output power at 12volts and above as my target market groups uses 12-24V and even higher.
Our latest sound module is the result of over three years of development work of going through various versions to come up with our current design. It was well researched and well engineered, not hurriedly put together in a few months to desperately to fill JJC's shoes like another product that I could mention.
So if you're not in my target market group then do not lambast me for a poorly designed product. If you haven'y heard one of our products, then do not criticize it as you have no facts to go on.
Quite frankly the RCMW's and the RAMRC's of the world are not our competitors anyway. Moderated We have to worry about competing with much more sophisticated and more capable sound systems by the likes of Thomas Benedini. And before you complain about the price of our units, the Benedini unts are almost twice our price.
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Let's ease off a bit here guys. Model Solutions has explained his products and the market he is aiming at. If that doesn't suit your requirements it doesn't mean that his products are unsuitable, only that you may need to look at alternatives to match the set up in your own models. It's all horses for courses but let's keep it polite please.
Colin
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The minimum supply voltage is 10V so it won't work on less than a 12V battery unless you want to put in a second battery, which is always a good idea anyway for any sound system. And it will also work on a 24V battery. Note : Power is proportional to the square of voltage, so if you double the voltage to 24V, you can get 4 times as much power - 40Watts output!!.
Hope this clarifies things.
Regards,
David
Great, then its all a bit elementary for me as none of my nine boats run on 12volts so it looks as if I will have to go to the man who has done his homework at RCMW when figuring out which voltage to work on to suit most people, and to keep it as simple as possible.
I think the sensible thing to do may be to fit a small 12v battery for the sound unit.
I am investigating sound modules from the usual suspects and am looking for sound options for a Destroyer (normally do subs with no need for sound) and need some advice from those familiar with RCMW. I just need 3 sounds, main desiel, helicopter and main gun. Does this mean I need the £45 main unit and 2 x £32 secondary sound units (£109 ???)or can I have one custom made for the £45. Also what is the current draw on these units, those heatsinks look mighty meaty.
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OK, that's enough. Three irrelevant posts deleted. Topic locked.
Colin