DCC Concepts reveals revolutionary wireless system

DCC Concepts has offered a first glimpse at a new line of wireless communication products to be known as ESP. Compatible with all current brands of DCC control, the manufacturer has said that ESP is "a small step with exceptional usefulness, that makes new things possible, is unlimited in potential for even the largest layout and removes almost all of the need for long wires, no matter which brand of DCC or which style of control system is used."

The ESP transmitter. Ports and connections are 'plug and play', and don't need soldering.

Having first released its Alpha range of products a few years ago which greatly simplify layout wiring by centralising communication and converting analogue devices into a digital interface, its latest product removes communication wires entirely, replacing them with wireless communications.

The manufacturer has designed a transmitter and receiver, which when paired communicate wirelessly to transmit signals that would ordinarily require cables – between a control panel switch and a point motor, or between a signal position and a control panel LED, for instance.

Side-by-side: the new ESP transmitter and receiver units from DCC Concepts.

The ESP Transmitter works as follows:

• Connect the power input to the DCC track bus or to a regulated DC power supply
• Connect an input to any form of switch or detector or anything else that will change state (on or off)
• Move a 'set/run' switch to 'set mode' and give the input an address between 1 and 2044
• Return the switch to the run position

The ESP Receiver works as follows:

• Connect the power input to the DCC track bus or to a regulated DC power supply
• Connect the output to the track bus (or to the sniffer input of the DCC system if fitted)

An ESP receiver unit. Note the coil antennae present on the boards.

Pairing the Transmitter and Receiver works by pressing the 'Pair' button on the ESP Transmitter, then pressing the 'Pair' button on the Receiver. The LEDs flash for a few seconds and the system is configured.

Any ESP transmitter can be paired to two different receivers if required. Any input can be volt-free or have an active DC voltage connected to it if required, too.

Unlike other wireless layout control systems, ESP doesn't require routers, passwords, iP addresses, and promises no channel number limitations, or conflict with other wireless structures.

Invited to its launch party in Settle, Howard Smith was shown how the system operates by Richard Brighton of DCC Concepts:

Despite a world-wide shortage of critical microprocessors, DCC Concepts says it has secured enough stock for production to remain on schedule.

For more information, including up-to-date pricing and availability, visit your local stockist or the DCC Concepts website.

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