[darainbow]

I probably wont need more, but what would stop one from buying a second terminal and using another four cars?

Are there only four chip types? How are the cars coded?

I cant do the research myself because Pro-X is not available here.

 

[Seth]

Hi darainbow,

the cars are coded like that:

I did a review of the Carrera PRO-X in the German slotracing-magazine "Slotracing NEWS" which can be downloaded for free as an PDF.

In fact you could drive more than four cars using a second Black Box if the Black Box would allow this, but the BB has only four connections for the throttles and the code of each connection is fixed!

 

[joergresch]

Hi,
as described, the PRO-X caters for a maximum of 4 cars. I´m pretty sure though, if PRO-X finds some market, that 3rd party vendors will hack into the protocol used and offer alternative decoders and central units. The limitation to 4 cars is an "artificial" one, it is inspired by keeping manufacturing costs to a minimum (the so-called central unit of PRO-X sells for around 30 Euros). Adding a dip-switch to the cars avoids investment into the process of programming the car´s decoder.
The same restriction leads to the funny way of lap- and time counting with those holes in the guide. Of course it would be technically possible to use RFID for slot-independent lap-counting, but it´s more expensive on the one hand and it would make the system more independent from the track used. This is something which a manufacturer definately not wants because plastic tracks is the most profitable part of the business. And - don´t forget: Carrera is a toys company, it´s not a technology vendor.
Best
Joerg

 

[thomas]

Agree that the limitation to 4 cars is artificial - but as Carreras purpose mainly is to be a toy, they want to avoid any harm to users - just calculate - 8 cars plus ghostcars need much more power - something around 5 Amps would be appropriate - and that's dangerous in a kids hand!

 

[darainbow]

Actually, from the chart Seth posted, I have already thought of a way the unit might be hacked to accept 8 cars. An aftermarket power supply would obviously be needed. Read on. . .

It appears that the existing chips/cars will respond to signals on eight differnt channels. If i understand the chart, a chipped car can be set to respond to 1 of the 4 hand controllers. Alternatively, the car may be set to be the pace car, or one of three ghost cars. The existing chips will accept commands (how much pwer to draw) from one of eight channels.

All that would need to be done is the modify an additional base unit so that the channels 5-8 respond to controller inputs instead of a steady signal required by ghost cars or pace car.

How could this be done? Not exactly sure, I would need to see the unit. Dont know if this could be accomplished by wiring or if the black box would need to be programmed.

 

[slot-breizh]

Iam not sure i understand...
If the cars are coded with 1,2,3,4, the result is 256 coding possibilities...no ?
How can i be sure the car i buy have not the same code ?

jean-marc.

 

[Carrera124]

QUOTE (slot-breizh @ 1 Sep 2004, 09:34)Iam not sure i understand...
If the cars are coded with 1,2,3,4, the result is 256 coding possibilities...no ?
How can i be sure the car i buy have not the same code ?

jean-marc.
In theory, there are 16 possibilities.

The Pro-X cars have 4 little switches, so you can code every car as you like.

 

[darainbow]

QUOTE (Crazy-Chris @ 1 Sep 2004, 09:42)QUOTE (slot-breizh @ 1 Sep 2004, 09:34) Iam not sure i understand...
If the cars are coded with 1,2,3,4, the result is 256 coding possibilities...no ?
How can i be sure the car i buy have not the same code ?

jean-marc.
In theory, there are 256 possibilities.

The Pro-X cars have 4 little switches, so you can code every car as you like.
Yes, but the bases have only been demonstrated to transmit on 8 channels, and they are not adjustable.

 

[Carrera124]

If you have 4 dip switches, there are 16 possible combinations for their positions.
Of course, not all of them are used.

 

[daleg]

Er, not sure if Im not seeing the whole picture here..............but if you only have 4 dip switches operating a binary coding system (ie high output or low) then there are only 16 different combinations for the switches given.

I would think that the power supplies work a bit like a RC car, each channel must have its own dedicated frequency........but thats just me guessing

 

[Carrera124]

You are right... I am to deep in the 8 bit world

Just corrected it.

 

[slot-breizh]

So am i !

sorry!
16, not 256.

 

[daleg]

YAY!!!!!!!! I got something right

 

[joergresch]

...the possible number of combinations with the 4 switches does not determine the maximum number of cars, which actually is hardwired to 4. Ghostcars do not extend this maximum. If you want to run a ghostcar, then only 3 controlled cars would go together with that ghostcar, or, if 2 ghostcars are running, the system would accept only 2 people racing their cars manually.

 

[thomas]

..maybe this is caused by power-limitations of the blackbox - 2,5A and 24V if I remember corrcet - and now add the power consumption of 4 cars...

 

[Carrera124]

QUOTE (thomas @ 7 Sep 2004, 14:10)..maybe this is caused by power-limitations of the blackbox -
This is the reason.

 

[Hwise]

If I may interject a little...I just tested this system and you can race 5 or more cars on the track using the ghost function.

We had 4 racers plus a ghost car for the review. In fact, you can have multiple ghost cars running as right now I set 4 of them to the same ghost function (fastest)and they are simply running around racing themselves (ugh...lazy man slot cars

)

I like the system and feel that 4 cars is more than enough as things get mighty busy. I think for people who race alone, the fact that you can set almost a limited number of ghost cars (power is limited of course) and fight your way to the front to be interesting.

I also hooked a SAMLEX 1203 3-5 amp supply to it and it works fine. I have tested it for only a few hours but so far no damage and everything functions as before.

Harry

 

[astro]

with multiple ghost cars - do they change lane? and do they blindly crash into each other?

 

[Hwise]

Yep they change lanes every other lap and of course at times they bang fenders.

Harry

 

[mach2race]

You guys keep up the brain storming. Sooner or later, we will figure some of the pro-x secrets out. I would love to run more than 4 cars. However, running 4 cars, you can feel the drain on the power supply, so more power is a sure thing.

mach2race