Michael-349955

RailCom transmitters will copy all CV's sent to a decoder in a DCC command over the track and will return the data back via the DCC signal to the detector via the track. The disadvantage of the transmitter approach is any CV modified by the motor decoder i.e. BEMF (speed), decoder temperature etc. has no means of updating the transmitter’ likewise all CV’s modified by blue tooth. I do think this is a trick missed by Hornby as it’s being more widely used as people see its potential. The hardware cost to adding RailCom to a decoder design is so small and many decoder manufactures add it as a standard feature these days, So yes, they'll work but to use full RailCom it's only a halfway house, but what address is were on the layout it will do! Michael MERG RailCom developer

The NMRA are not controlling the DCC specs. in Europe any more, this is controlled by RailCommunity in Germany (railcommunity.org) but the NMRA has a seat on the panel. Specs. RCN217 and RCN218 are current and lay out RailCom and RailComplus within DCC. RailCom is predominantly used in the Europe and was never really taken up in the US due to Digitraxx Transponding system. The European equipment manufactures got so fed up with the way that the NMRA handled the specs. that they setup their own organisation to control the DCC specs. and this is RailCommunity of which most of the main European manufacturers have signed up to. I would suggest that Hornby has aimed the HM7000 system at the US market where they expect greater sales. Most of Hornby’s European decoder competitors supply RailCom as a standard feature so, NO RailCom is not discontinued. The NMRA published specs. have fallen behind the RailCommunity issued ones.

Hornby's decoders have always been short on functions, that's what you get with a budget priced product! In reality, to add RailCom to a decoder the extra cost is very small so it's not cost it's more about the fuctionalty that Hornby wish or not the consumer to have.

I think you'll find if you read the spec. (RCN217) that elements of RailCom are optional as stated but the main core of RailCom is part of the DCC spec! The problem RailCom has suffered with in the past is manufactures pick and choose which elements of the spec. they wish to use like supported CV's and Hornby have been classic at that in their decoder designs!

Hornby says HM 7000 is NMRA DCC compliant but how can it be, RailCom is part of the DCC specification and it's not included!

Thanks for the pointer. That a NO then. I can understand the CV's return is covered by blue tooth but the HM7000 system has missed a trick by not broadcasting the loco ID for a given track location imho.

Do the new HM 7000 decoders support RailCom?