Newbie but old timer here and into slots again! Have a Carrera Ultimate Challenge analog 1/24 and now just got digital cool rods. Can I leave the digital lane changers in if I run analog? I suspect not since they are wired different. I hate having to pull out my BB and lane changers to run my analog cars. Of course I will chip them but until I do that I am stuck. My Carrera experience so far is mixed. My analog set I purchased back in Feb came with a Terminal track that grabs the Porsche and Audi like a warping or braking effect. Slow speeds it will stop the cars. D.K. said he would replace it if I send it to Carrera but I did not want to be without for 2 or 3 weeks so I still am using it . Then when I bought this Digital set last week one of the lane changers was not working and the Rocker arms on both cars will not stay locked in place. Guide pins keep popping out even after using all track slips. Amazon replaced the set and now I am good to go. I have million ? so here goes: How come the controller cables are so short you cannot get four drivers side by side. When are the new 2.4g coming out?? Are they better than the ones out now with the Mobil Tower? When are the Porsche 917(1/24) coming and how bout that New Audi with the Dorsal fin (1/32)?? I am planning on 1/24 and 1/32 digital with the same 1/24 power pack and controllers. Can I use the 18v power pack for both scales in digital mode? I have been running 1/43 and 1/32 and 1/24 alll on my analog 18 volt set up with no problems. Can 1/43 be chipped with the F1 chip? Many more questions later.
Anthonyalonso
AA,
Many of your questions have already been answered here on SCI, so I sugest you do some reading in the digital and Carrera subforums. Also try the forum search tool to look for threads about adding extensions to Carrera digital controllers, running different scales on the same track, and the new wireless controllers (which have not hit stores yet).
Yes, you can run D124 and D132 on the same power pack. 1/32 cars will probably need to be set at a lower throttle setting than usual when running on a 1/24 power pack. 1/24 cars will lose a lot of acceleration and speed when running on a 1/32 power pack but it does work - especially if you remove some of the magnets.
You will find SCI members more likely to respond if you limit your questions to only one or two per post. That helps the discussion stay focused on one thing.
To answer your comment about the cable length of the controllers. I was told by Dave Kennedy of Carrera that it is because it is marketed as a toy company. So the cables are short to prevent a child choking. The same reason applies to why the magnets are confined within the chassis instead of have the adjustable ones on the outside of the chassis.
You have a couple of options on the cables. You can buy a cable extension and a connector box that connects the cable and the plug of the controller from a company called black box. I did that with my set and they work great. I think it was a little under $90 to do 4 controllers. Another option is to get wireless controllers. I would wait until the new IR ones come out later this year. A more expensive option but they will give you more freedom to move. ~Ron
To Phil and Ron,
Thank You for welcoming me to the site. As you can tell I need lots of help in my new hobby.I am 54 and had Revell as a kid and now just returning to the hobby I loved as a child. I raced 1/12 scale R.C. in the mid eighties and I am sure that will help me in car chipping,etc. I must say I am overwhelmed by the products out there and it has taken me by storm..Thanks again for answering my tedious questions ( the same ones you always here from newbies) and I am sure I will have more coming your way and it is nice to know I have a place to go for help. I live by Hotslots and they have been very helpful as well. Great Place!
Tom
Hi Tom,
I have a similar background, 57yo, ran HO as a teenager, raced R/C for years and got back into slot cars about 2 years ago. Trust me you made a good choice with the Carrera. I have an 88 foot digital
and love it. Not to say Carrera is perfect, but I analyzed the brands and they all have some sort of shortcoming. I wish the Carrera could switch from analog to digital easily, and that there chips were smaller. On the upsdie there product is well made and holds up. It's made in Austria so it's not as iffy as the Spanish/Italian companies with all the problems in Europe and the world. Carrera has upped the quality of the bodywork on it's cars and has a lot of cars in the works.
Regarding your question as to when the new stuff is coming out. Most of it will be in the last quarter so they can sell for Christmas. Typically, there is a big slot car show in Jan/Feb where they reveal the cars for next year. Companies typically give which quarter they will be released. Don't hold much to those dates they are always late. A lot of the first quarter releases are just coming out.
Some companies cancel releases if the pre-order sales are not strong. I haven't seen that with Carrera. You'll have the most fun racing same brands as the cars perform equally. I have chipped some slot.it Group C cars and they are fun running on Carrera Digital, but I don't run them against Carrera cars. Carrera is also one of the few brands where you can run 1/24th as well. We generally run without the rear magnet and use Urethane rear tires. The cars slide more like real cars and it's an inexpensive upgrade. Finally, find other people in your area that have the same brand. We get together even couple months to run at each other's place. You'll meet interesting people and learn a lot and have a lot of fun.Which is what it's all about. ~Ron
I've a much simpler solution for the wired controllers. Run to wall mart and buy a phone cable of the appropriate size, and a double female connector. On the double female connecter box, cut the corner off so the wired controller will fit in and presto, you've got extended wired controllers. I've got three lengthened an additional 12 feet.
Hey Skipper
Thanks for reply and what do you mean by appropriate size?? Do you have any part # or something for the female phone jacks from walmart?? Sounds too good to be true and I know if I go into walmart I will get confused and not get the right stuff. Are you able to post any pictures of this set-up?? (I like to make simple things really complex and difficult) Sorry I am not really understanding ..
Tom
AA,
The type of plug Carrera uses is called MMJ (Modified Modular Jack). If you want extension cables without cutting or modifying parts yourself, here are the parts you need:
Hey Skipper
Thanks for reply and what do you mean by appropriate size?? Do you have any part # or something for the female phone jacks from walmart?? Sounds too good to be true and I know if I go into walmart I will get confused and not get the right stuff. Are you able to post any pictures of this set-up?? (I like to make simple things really complex and difficult) Sorry I am not really understanding ..
Tom
By appropriate I meant whatever length you need to reach your racing station.
I'll try and go buy Walmart the next couple of days and get the numbers for you and try and post pictures of my modifications.
I just took down the track in the garage today in preparation for a re-build so I'm pretty sure I'll be fiddling with it over the next couple of days (depending on whether I take the kids camping tonight).
analog digital
Linear Mode
