Radio Control

The S-CAB Throttle

The Stanton Radio CAB (S-CAB Throttle) is a hand-held wireless controller for operating locomotives equipped with an S-CAB radio receiver and DCC decoder. By sending commands directly to a loco's radio receiver, S-CAB avoids both the expense of additional DCC equipment and the inconvenience layout rewiring.

A Radio Control Starter Kit that includes everything needed for a first radio control installation:
an S-CAB Throttle,
a USB cable (for battery charging), and
an S-CAB receiver with choice of sound or non-sound decoder.
It does not include battery power.

Starter Kit

Radio Control

Radio control requires a transmitter and a receiver. When using an S-CAB system, an S-CAB throttle is the radio transmitter and each item of traction equipment, typically a loco, requires a compatible S-CAB receiver. Operating sessions with more than one participant require a throttle for each loco operator.
However, non-radio controlled locos can continue to operate with their respective controllers, but be aware that various manufacturers' wireless throttles can cause radio interference.

The S-CAB Throttle

During an operating session, an S-CAB throttle can control up to 15 locomotives with decoder addresses from 1 to 99. It's designed for one-handed use with slide throttle and direction switch arranged so a user can watch the layout while operating with the controller held, relaxed at arm's length, by his/her side. There are no batteries to replace. S-CAB throttle includes a rechargeable battery, which can be recharged from any USB socket.

Quick Start

User Guide

Tweaking

S-CAB Radio Receiver (LXR)

The latest version of the S-CAB radio receiver measures 1.42" x 0.69" x 0.125" (36 x 17.5 x 3 mm). The crosswise mounted antenna shown in the photo is now standard and typically provides 30 feet radio range indoors. Since there are no components on back of the circuit board (which serves as the radio ground-plane), a decoder can be mounted back-to-back with the radio circuit board, so long as no components are placed in close proximity behind or in front of the antenna. Some "air-space" around an antenna generally improves its performance.

Loco Receivers for HO, On3, On30 and some S-scale installations

A loco receiver is an S-CAB receiver combined with a commercially available decoder.

NCE D13DRJ decoder side

Non-sound installations: NCE produces an S-CAB compatible decoder; the D13DRJ, which is intended for use with battery power and combines radio receiver with decoder on the same circuit board.
Since this decoder has no protection for reversed voltage input, it cannot be connected to track pick-ups and polarity of battery connection must be correct.

Measurements are 1.4" x 0.63" x 0.25" (35 x 16 x 6 mm).

For use with S-CAB, the factory-installed wire antenna is replaced with a ceramic chip and the battery switch is modified to work with S-CAB battery power supply (BPS). The decoder is also programmed to turn off BPS power using a function command.

NCE D13DRJ radio side

Sound installations: The standard S-CAB arrangement combines an LXR receiver with a SoundTraxx ECO-100 decoder. This replaces Tsunami decoders with similar or improved functionality, reduced size and lower cost.

ECO-100 measurements are 1.1" x 0.42" x 0.2" (27 x 10.5 x 5 mm)

Photo right shows standard back-to-back loco receiver package where length and width are determined by the LXR receiver ( 1.42" x 0.69") and overall thickness is 0.35" (8.5 mm).

Decoders for larger scales

Since S-CAB receivers connect directly to decoder microprocessors, high current requirements of large-scale models are completely independent of radio control. For example, an LXR receiver can be packaged with NCE's 4 and 8 amp decoders.

Customized Packages

Simple: Separating S-CAB receiver and decoder with wired connections of arbitrary length is a simple requirement. Only 3 wires are involved.
Not difficult: The antenna can be mounted with a different orientation (vertical is a useful alternative).
EasyWire: Some installations can be simplified by use of a "motherboard" on which receiver and decoder can be mounted along with other components such as lighting, motor connections, etc. "EasyWire" can be a useful product in this situation.
Unsupported decoders: S-CAB loco receivers are configured and tested to help customers avoid risks of connecting components from different suppliers, but this philosophy is not feasible for an unlimited selection of decoders. However, since S-CAB has been tested with a variety of decoders, there may be a custom solution to a special request.
Brass locos: Since radio signals are reflected by metal surfaces, metal locos often require custom choices of antenna and its location.

Vertically mounted antenna

EasyWire Boards