After having these decoders for nearly a month, I reluctantly try them using an iOS device instead of Android that I was waiting all this time for. Was it worth it?
the Hornby 7000 decoders are a breath of fresh air for us modellers. Far cheaper than any other sound decoder, they also offer bluetooth connection from an Android or apple phone/tablet which will control all the dcc functions on the fly with no more annoying program tracks to alter your dcc settings. So if you look forward and think slightly outside the box you can run the loco from an inboard battery via the bluetooth connection. You now have a dead rail setup with no power to the rails and exceptional sound, that's cheaper than half the price of a standard off the shelf soundcard fitted loco. WOW.😀
@@modelrailwaynoob true, but they will come and the quality of sound is excellent. I had produced a wifi front end for dcc decoders that i called 'dcc air', it has a longer range but the cost involved with miniaturisation was going to be astronomical. So i've switched over to HM 7000 with batteries, you have to see the realism to believe it. Just Like The Real Thing
looks very promising my friend has purchased two and had no problems with them I'm going to get one for my flying Scotsman i think we need to give Hornby a chance for the price not bad enjoyed the video cheers al 👍👍😁😁👏👏🚂🚂
It's ok if you have a model they have a sound file for. You won't know before you buy it. There are more steam choices but for diesel there is a pretty poor choice
In Jenny Kirk’s video I got the impression the sound version came with a plug in stay alive. Given the delay in restart after any cut out in power (eg points) it seems to be essential. Once I add that to the chip price, there is not a great deal of difference in price from a DCC ready plus this to a sound fitted version. On DC the difference in sounds and control is immense, and not available for all manufacturers yet, but on DCC, the benefit of not being tied to Hornby to operate the loco is an enormous value in the weighing the two choices.
The stay alive or battery as Hornby call it is an extra. They don't come with the sound versions of the decoders. I mentioned in the video that I bought three but I have moved home since I received them and mine are still in a box in the garage somewhere. It is good that they just plug in but you need more space of course.
Indeed you did. I had made an assumption from Jenny’s video which you corrected for me. Thanks, it makes a difference in deciding whether it would be worth it once the bugs are out of it.
Hi Dave. Yes once they have added more profiles. There are far too few at the moment. It would be helpful to clearly state what is available so people aren't disappointed.
How dare you want to run the app on Android! I'm also waiting for this app to become available. For "case" read "enclosure" [well, there you go!]. Does the power bank really consist of batteries or capacitors hiding under the shrink wrap? Released too soon? It's probably the app that's not sufficiently refined/developed. I'm not sure these problems would deter me from buying more; the app will eventually get sorted and it *does* work in the end! Let's hope the Android version doesn't have these problems. Your conclusions basically agree with other reviewers.
I see it all as a package. As a package, it's not ready. Even the box gives you a QR code and shows the android logo and you can't use it. There are very few profiles and you don't see what they have when you buy the decoder. I wanted to use my 21 pin in a new class 47 but forget that for now and indeed most diesels. I'm not sure I will get to use the Next 18 decoder as it won't fit any of the locomotives I own. I do hope they improve the package quickly as it could be very good. However, Hornby have a lot to learn about marketing and selling products.
Update: The Android App is finally available
the Hornby 7000 decoders are a breath of fresh air for us modellers. Far cheaper than any other sound decoder, they also offer bluetooth connection from an Android or apple phone/tablet which will control all the dcc functions on the fly with no more annoying program tracks to alter your dcc settings.
So if you look forward and think slightly outside the box you can run the loco from an inboard battery via the bluetooth connection. You now have a dead rail setup with no power to the rails and exceptional sound, that's cheaper than half the price of a standard off the shelf soundcard fitted loco.
WOW.😀
It is a cheap option but they are very slow in introducing new loco sounds and advertising which there are before people buy
@@modelrailwaynoob true, but they will come and the quality of sound is excellent. I had produced a wifi front end for dcc decoders that i called 'dcc air', it has a longer range but the cost involved with miniaturisation was going to be astronomical. So i've switched over to HM 7000 with batteries, you have to see the realism to believe it.
Just Like The Real Thing
@@rdrhouse You should make a video of it
@@modelrailwaynoob I may do that, there are already videos from other users on youtube.
looks very promising my friend has purchased two and had no problems with them I'm going to get one for my flying Scotsman i think we need to give Hornby a chance for the price not bad enjoyed the video cheers al 👍👍😁😁👏👏🚂🚂
It's ok if you have a model they have a sound file for. You won't know before you buy it. There are more steam choices but for diesel there is a pretty poor choice
@@modelrailwaynoob hopefully there will be more choices soon just may take a little time hopefully 🤞 🤗👍🚂
You did give it a shot but I don’t think I’ll be any hurry to buy to many problems to overcome cheers Al
I agree Al. In time maybe but it was a lot of pain for little gain
In Jenny Kirk’s video I got the impression the sound version came with a plug in stay alive. Given the delay in restart after any cut out in power (eg points) it seems to be essential.
Once I add that to the chip price, there is not a great deal of difference in price from a DCC ready plus this to a sound fitted version.
On DC the difference in sounds and control is immense, and not available for all manufacturers yet, but on DCC, the benefit of not being tied to Hornby to operate the loco is an enormous value in the weighing the two choices.
The stay alive or battery as Hornby call it is an extra. They don't come with the sound versions of the decoders. I mentioned in the video that I bought three but I have moved home since I received them and mine are still in a box in the garage somewhere. It is good that they just plug in but you need more space of course.
Indeed you did. I had made an assumption from Jenny’s video which you corrected for me. Thanks, it makes a difference in deciding whether it would be worth it once the bugs are out of it.
I’m very interested in the eight pin non-sound version but I’ve heard a lot of people say it doesn’t always work on some DC layouts
I use Gaugemaster controllers and it worked with those
Well, I think you were spot on. Hornby need a large field dressing. To much marketing combined with ill-considered rush to market
It feels exactly like that. PPPPPP
That was interesting, you have so much patience 😊
Thanks Mandy
Pretty nifty...you'll be the envy of your club ! 👍
Thanks James
Hello your video is also very nice I like it greetings 👍
Thank you very much
Could be worth getting when all the problems are sorted and made easier to work
Hi Dave. Yes once they have added more profiles. There are far too few at the moment. It would be helpful to clearly state what is available so people aren't disappointed.
How dare you want to run the app on Android! I'm also waiting for this app to become available. For "case" read "enclosure" [well, there you go!]. Does the power bank really consist of batteries or capacitors hiding under the shrink wrap? Released too soon? It's probably the app that's not sufficiently refined/developed. I'm not sure these problems would deter me from buying more; the app will eventually get sorted and it *does* work in the end! Let's hope the Android version doesn't have these problems. Your conclusions basically agree with other reviewers.
I see it all as a package. As a package, it's not ready. Even the box gives you a QR code and shows the android logo and you can't use it. There are very few profiles and you don't see what they have when you buy the decoder. I wanted to use my 21 pin in a new class 47 but forget that for now and indeed most diesels. I'm not sure I will get to use the Next 18 decoder as it won't fit any of the locomotives I own. I do hope they improve the package quickly as it could be very good. However, Hornby have a lot to learn about marketing and selling products.