Transponders are devices mounted
in locomotives or cars which will respond when they receive a command
packet. This allows you to devise ways to know where that loco or
car is on the layout. While some throttles are designed to receive
these messages and show them on the display, any other purpose will
require a computer to be connected to the system for monitoring, showing
results, and acting upon those results.
To receive the transponder response,
the layout must be block-detected with BDL162s
equipped with RX4 transponding receivers. When
the transponder "pings" back, the RX receiver will "hear"
it and report to the BDL162. Since the BDL162 was also monitoring
command packets, it knows which loco pinged back and what block it
is in. It reports this information via LocoNet. All devices, such
as throttles and computers, programmed to intercept transponding messages
will then get those messages.
NOTE: Transponding
is NOT required to do signaling.
Wires for installation are about
5" long. |
