📱〰🚂 Hornby HM6000 App Based Analogue Controller 🚂〰📱

[@trevorspittle5478]

I'm a bit late to this but I just bought one and here's my take. I have got back into railway modeling since retiring, 009 with most stuff scratch or kit built especially the electronics as I'm a retired IT systems engineer and this was the big draw. I've tried my best to use DCC but it was becoming expensive and frustrating trying to fit decoders into extremely small locos so I recently decided to give good old DC a try. The HM6000 seemed to tick all the boxes, I particularly wanted to try the sounds. Bluetooth PCM with sound! Out of the box I was unimpressed to say the least. Locos going supersonic and humming like a swarm of bees. I'm using Kato N gauge chassis which seem happier to be on lower voltages than most. In desperation I built a simple voltage dividing circuit to go in the feeds from the controller to the rails to cut the max PCM waveform voltage by roughly half. Now I have a 2 channel controller that will give me realistic scale speeds and big bonus the sounds work so much better seemingly in line with what the loco is doing. The locos seem happier too with no more humming. Still using JRMI / CRMI to control the track and signals but train control is moving to DC with block detection Arduino controlled and it's working well. Fed up with the faff and expense of DCC ? With a few modifications this is a viable alternative. P.S. An old laptop PSU works a treat. My old Toshiba PSU even had the right plug on it! PPS Love your channel.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Thanks for sharing Trevor and glad you found it useful. Sounds like you've got a good setup now. Shame that it took your IT systems engineer knowledge and electronics skills to get the HM6000 working as it really should out the box.

[@MartenHall]

I have this controller for my Japanese N scale layout and I think it works really well. The only thing is that it doesn't come with the power pack but Hornby are doing this with their other controllers too.

[@stephenbloomer567]

Thank you for the video. Would you know how the unit reacts to a power outage or electronic timer (to turn the power on and off automatically at set times)? When power comes back on, do these units return to previous settings like a conventional controller would?

[@Theoriginalborgy]

I like the idea of the HM6000 for us who are not running DCC. I understand it can operate 2 points ? Can you use a non Hornby point motor like a tortoise ?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Hi Leigh, this isn't designed to operate point motors, just for providing power to the track. There is an accessories unit that will drive point motors though (amzn.to/3C1Mzrm), along with lights and other accessories. Hornby point motors are solenoid type point motors (electromagnets) and snap between the positions, so they can't move slowly like tortoise motors do.

[@stormbowman7148]

My guess is that it lacks power supply because the rest of the World does not have the UK plug. So instead of having a lot of people cash out on converters or throw away the power supply with the clunky UK plug, you get to choose the controller that suits you where you live. It also has an environmental care wibe to it, they can always argue with "being green". There is always the option to simply buy a 15 volt, 3 A (or 4 A) universal power supply and use that. It will work perfectly fine. Those universal power supplies are not at all expensive.

[@davidclough7346]

If it attracts new people to the hobby that's great 👍 I'm a DC person as I've got a very large locomotive collection and going DCC would cost me hundreds and hundreds of pounds. So I'll be sticking with my 2 Gaugemaster DS controllers that have simulation and nice knobs and switches - far more intuitive than sliding fingers over a screen and gives me a better sense of control. How's the new layout build coming along?

[@ACSMARTIALARTS]

Brilliant video. Helped me a lot. Question though: is there a way to reverse direction on the train - go backwards?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Hi David, you should be able to select the direction on the controller.

[@EsotericArctos]

I've seen the HM6000 and also have watched a few reviews. It's not an expensive unit, and it is not bad for an analgue unit. There is just something about using an app on the phone that takes away some of the feeling of it all for me. This is probably me more than the controller. I just like a physical controller better. I guess not including the power supply is designed for people possibly updating from a different Analogue controller that has a separate power supply. That said, this is not the first time Hornby has used the "power supply sold separately" to make a little extra money out of it all. I always disliked the way Hornby hard wire the track wires on some of their controllers. Makes it hard to replace the wires if they get damaged and I feel it makes them a lot less flexible.

[@jameshardy4354]

I don't like some of hornby way of doing things

[@Junique3]

Hi Rob. Can I please ask if the trains can continue to run if you close the HDMC app? There’s not much information on this topic and I’d be grateful for your advice. I have seen some videos on KZbin with users showing it shuts down the power but Hornby also have a tutorial video for the device settings where you can change what happens albeit they do not explain it properly. They say to go to App Settings > App Inactivity > Pause and Resume OR Disable.

[@SkyFire2112]

You can run the locomotives if you go away from the app and go to text or KZbin or something else but not if you close the app entirely

[@Junique3]

@ ​​⁠Hi, thanks for your reply. I’ve since bought the HM6000 and can confirm that you can minimise the app and use the phone as normal. It does not stop the trains from running. You need to change the settings in the HDMC app (App Inactivity Settings > Disable).

[@tonywincott8448]

Interesting idea bluetooth controller for Dc, Just watched another video about bluetooth Dcc unit that plugs into the Dcc socket in the loco, same application I guess only simple loops. Thanks again for a great video.

[@karmanline2005]

Thanks, useful. DCC is not the answer for everyone. It would cost a small fortune to convert all my stock and DCC offers me no operational benefits.

[@jamesmorgan3623]

Nice review. If Hornby aren't including the PSU, it should at least be USB powered.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Would need to be the type of USB connection that provides sufficient voltage such as a laptop power supply.

[@henrybest4057]

@@LittleWicketRailway What voltage and what current does it need?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

@@henrybest4057 at least have 12V and 1A available for the track outputs.

[@stormbowman7148]

There is not enough power in a USB power supply for running this. USB is like 5 volts max. That is way to little.

[@jamesmorgan3623]

@@stormbowman7148 USB C is up to 20V at 100W.

[@tracksidemike]

Great video thanks for sharing and hello from 🇨🇦

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Thanks Track Side Mike 👍

[@TheRaperete]

Hello, I have an hmdc 6000 unit and the unit does not connect to my cell phone, only the red LED lights up, but never the blue one, I downloaded the app and I have Bluetooth connected, but it can't find my cell phone, I don't know what to do bad, can you help me please?

[@RGJTrains]

i’m still in two minds over this, i can use a tablet for it, hide the wiring etc, but i’m going to have four locos running and then streetlights etc, so for this i would have to pay over £200 to get it all set up, whereas i can buy an ordinary controller, single unit for probably less to do it all in one place

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi. This is a very good review. My brother has one but also has sound-fitted locos. These locos say NOT to use a pulse wave modulation controller, but I cannot find any information anywhere as to what type of controller the HM6000 is; any ideas anyone?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Hi Paul, I don't know for sure, but I imagine that this would be a PWM based controller. Might be worth emailing Hornby to confirm.

[@Kryotek7]

The cost of those Hornby transformers are outrageous, it's the same for the US version. It was the same cost to buy a second hand Hornby controller with a transformer, as just buying the transformer. Those transformers should be £5-10 max. I'm thinking of getting the HM6000 for my 3 year old son so I can fully hide all wiring and he can control via a tablet. A much cleaner install for DC, the downside is relying on the App being maintained.

[@anthonytindale2991]

Thinking of buying one of these. I’ve seen one or two reviews where people have commented that some locomotive’s seem noisier when using this unit than with a conventional controller. Has anyone found this to be the case

[@derekloudon8731]

Basically, a good idea for those that want a more modern application of DC control but it has been poorly though out. Whoever agreed to supplying the unit sans PSU should have their butt kicked (Simon?). I wonder how many units are going to damaged by the application of the “wrong kind of power supply”? Why not supply a basic PSU and have the non PSU unit as an alternative option.

[@stewartclark1847]

Aren’t Apple doing the same. Not supplying power adapters with new phones!

[@PlatformONE]

Why did they not include the essential power supply cord? Answer: To make more money, of course! It should be illegal for any company, be it hobby or not, not to come with essentials such as the essential power supply cord. I'm not sure, but I thought the EU has now made it illegal for the EU not to include the power supply.

[@jameshardy4354]

Can DC locomotives run on this

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Yeah, it's for DC/analogue trains 👍

[@jameshardy4354]

@@LittleWicketRailway it's a cheap way of adding sound I think DCC is too expensive fore what it is

[@LittleWicketRailway]

@@jameshardy4354 the sounds are a nice feature in the app.

[@IanBrearley-y4q]

Sorry to be picky but the haitch word is like fingers on a blackboard to me. The word is aitch not haitch.

[@andrewellis1934]

It’s aitch not haitch!

[@MrCeke]

better Roco Z21 have a look

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Isn't the Z21 a DCC system? Also, quite a bit more expensive I think?

[@MrCeke]

not the z21 start z 21 black ohyeah but that is out of this world on what it can do

[@AlfDeMelmac]

Please, stop to speak and use it 😩. Thank’s

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I don't understand your comment?