Third party products and add-ons
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Third party products and add-ons

Scalextric Digital has spawned a community of slot-car petrolheads who are also a dab hand at electronics and computer programming, who have come up with a selection of products to fill gaps in the Scalextric portfolio. Hornby is above all a toy manufacturer and can't justify developing high-spec electronics for a product that is bought in large part by families and children. But if you are coming to SSD as an experienced slot car racer looking for more functionality than is available in the standard boxed product, you may find it here.
Lap Count / Timing Tower
A trackside tower which shows all 6 race positions and lap times on a clear display screen is available by special order. Connects to the 6-car powerbase. These are made in batches to keep component cost down, you will need to pre-order a tower from Richard. The more orders he receives it brings the cost down. The tower comes in the format shown so you can build it in to your trackside scenery. See our one built into the side of a Control Tower on the Hornby Scenics page.

To enquire about or order, either the PC cable or Lap Count Tower, click here to email Richard direct.
SSD Powerbase Pro (PB-Pro)
This is an unofficial firmware upgrade for the original 6-car powerbase C7030 which provided additional functionality while the C7042 was being developed. Outwardly there is no difference other than on-screen. But the PB-Pro Upgrade provides the following additional functionality, and more:
A more informative screen and structured menu system
"Track calls" - the ability to stop or slow other cars in the event of an accident
The ability to tune the speed of cars for novice and junior drivers
One touch Car ID setting (not the half a dozen on the original product)
Pace cars / ghost cars to race against, with fine-tuning of their speed; they even change lanes and can be told to stay out of the pit lane
Slowing down / victory laps
True 1000th of a second timing (the original powerbase suffered from some rounding errors)
Hand controller equalisation to iron out any slight performance differences between throttles
Compatibility with, and control of powerbase by, PC programs such as PC Lapcounter, SSDC and Slot-GP, and also interface to the Lap Count Tower
Retention and enhancement to original PB racing modes (Pursuit, and so on)

Analogue mode, run analogue cars on a digital track without a chip
Optional additional upgrade of internal power modules to provide more current to the track

For full details see the PB-Pro home page. Much of the PB-Pro functionality (except for power module upgrade) is now included in the new C7042 powerbase. C7030 powerbases are now largely only available second hand, e.g. on Ebay.

PB-Pro or C7042 - which one should I go for?

PB-Pro is a software upgrade for the original C7030 version 1 6-car powerbase, The upgrade improves the menu system and adds bi-directional communication to the powerbase for things listed above like pace/ghost cars, throttle maps, refuelling and other features that can be controlled via a cable connection, to a PC running software such as SSDC or PC Lapcounter (see below for more details). The cost of this upgrade on its own is about £25 and can only be done to a V1.5 powerbase.

But because the C7030 was not really up to the job of running 6 cars at full power, with lanechangers and so on as well, there is also the Simple-H "Robot Power" upgrade option to overcome power shortages by making around 25 amps of current available to the cars by by-passing the original internal circuitry, and which also permits single-car analogue running on a digital layout (a further upgrade to internal wiring will allow 2-car analogue) as well as the ability to run cars with motors more powerful than the standard 18-20K ones. To get all the power available you will need to hook up a third party power supply, but even with the original C7004 Hornby supplies the power available is much improved. The Simple-H upgrade costs about £100 and can be done to any version (V1.2 or later) of the C7030. Once upgraded to Simple-H, the PB-Pro software upgrade can then also be applied.

Now then - the C7042 includes most of the software features of the PB-Pro (since the PB-Pro developers provided some input to the C7042 design process), but will not offer the 25 amps of the PB-Pro (more like 5 amps, out-of-the-box still an improvement on its predecessor though) largely because of EU toy regulations. So if you are likely to be a heavy-duty user of Scalextric Digital, PB-Pro may be more suitable and gives you more freedom to chip powerful cars and add in lots of lanechangers and pitlanes. You can also add in the LED lap timing tower and Pit-Pro which is a modified version of the Pit Lane Game that can be used to show and manage fuel loads. Whereas for typical domestic use with stock Scalextric cars, the C7042 (with computer connection if desired) should provide all you need.

Cost-wise, the full upgrade, (PB-Pro, Simple-H, and 3rd party power supply) will probably cost around £250-300 or more depending on whether you need to source a C7030 to begin with. The C7042 with two power supplies will be about £170 but not as powerful, but will still connect to computer programs. In either case you will still need to buy the computer cable and your choice of software so allow another £30-£50 there.

PC-Lapcounter computer software Ref: PCLAP
PC Lapcounter was developed by Guy Langenakens of Belgium, this is the package we use here at Cheddar on the trackside computer, to display lap times and race positions from the v1 6-car powerbase (it's not compatible with the 4-car powerbase). But it does much more - you can also use it to provide race commentary, car sound effects, simulate fuel strategies, manage pit stops, run endurance races with timed driver stints and more besides. It works via the cable below and has recently been upgraded to work with the PB Pro (see power and control page) and also other digital systems such as SCX.
To order, visit pclapcounter.be

SSD-Console computer software Ref: SSDC
A recent addition to the SSD PC software stable, focused specifically on the 6-car C7030, C7042 and and PB-Pro versions, and provides the same kind of functionality as PC Lapcounter but with enhanced features like pace car speed control, track calls, and throttle maps specifically designed for the SSD environment. Requires the connecting cable below. Not compatible with 4-car powerbases. Version 5 has now been released and works with the C7042 powerbase.

To order visit the SSDC web site

SSD-Console PC to powerbase extension cables Ref: PCCABLES
These can be obtained from slot car and electronics enthusiast Richard Girling.

Price is 20 Pounds Sterling for a 1 Meter lead.
For 2 Meters £20.50 GBP - For 3 Meters £21.00 GBP - For 4 Meters £21.50 GBP - For 5 Meters £22.00 GBP - For 10 Meters £24.50 GBP

Postage to the UK First Class add 1 Pound Sterling.
Postage to rest of World, Air Mail, Add 2 Pounds Sterling

To enquire and purchase from Richard, email him direct.

SSD computer and extension cables are also available on Ebay from SSD electronics wizard sportdigital.

Scalextric Digital Car ID Labels Ref: LABELS
These labels have been specially commissioned by us for use on digital cars - they are peelable and can be re-stuck several times on different cars. ...
more info…
£7.50 (€9.30)

Availability: Limited Stock

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Overseas power supplies
To use a UK Hornby power supply in Europe or the rest of the world, you need a Travel Adaptor like the ones available at Maplin - we've run a UK Scalextric set in France with no problems using one of these plug converters. If you buy a set from another retailer outside the UK it should have the local version of the standard power supply already included - we don't have access to foreign power supplies here.
TrackPower
TrackPower is an alternative to the Scalextric Track Designer program, a 2D planning tool that will allow you to model analogue and digital layouts using other brands of track as well. Available from the developer direct for a small fee paid via Paypal.

Wireless hand controller projects for SSD
So the last really important upgrade that is required for Scalextric Digital, that is available on some other systems but not yet developed by Hornby, is wireless hand throttles. All racers know that being tethered to a specific location at the trackside can be a right royal pain if you have a de-slot and there is nobody nearby to put you back on track. Wireless throttles will overcome this problem, and you will be able to stand anywhere around your layout and drive your car, and if you are driving alone against ghost cars, you will easily be able to perform marshalling duties yourself. Also for larger circuits you can choose to stand close to a particular corner you are having trouble with, and so see what you are doing a little more easily.

The Scorpius project which is a wireless, powerbase-free digital slot car racing system developed in Australia is working on this problem. It's compatible with SSD and Ninco Digital, and uses a wireless in-car chip, wireless throttles, a semi-wireless lane change mechanism (you have to wire it in to your existing lanechangers), all driven from a wireless USB dongle that plugs in to your PC. Intended for top end home and club users and due for release in 2011. Find out more at the Scorpius web site.
Also working on this feature are the Italian manufacturer Slot-It, who have already produced an SSD compatible controller, the SCP01D (pictured right - see the Slot-It site - and a wireless add-on for this is also due for release in 2011. The controller alone costs close to £100 though so it looks like wireless will not be a cheap option at least to begin with. However if you are interested in getting hold of an SCP01D in preparation for potential wireless use in future, we are Slot-it stockists and can obtain one to order if we are out of stock. Use the contact form link at the top to ask for more information and latest prices.

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