Phoenix Micron and Loco-Node?

[oldmuley]

This evening I got an email from a company called Phoenix Micron and they were selling something they called a "Loco-Node". It looked like some kind of DCC decoder, albeit rather large. The description described it as a wifi device, so from what I could gather it was some kind locomotive decoder that didn't require any DCC system. When I looked at the website, it was really hard to tell if this was an actual product or if it was a prototype. A little snooping around on the web suggests this company is from the same people who brought us the now defunct "Railflyer Prototypes". Anyone here know anything about this company and their product?

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2014 18:19:14 GMT -8 oldmuley said:

This evening I got an email from a company called Phoenix Micron and they were selling something they called a "Loco-Node". It looked like some kind of DCC decoder, albeit rather large. The description described it as a wifi device, so from what I could gather it was some kind locomotive decoder that didn't require any DCC system. When I looked at the website, it was really hard to tell if this was an actual product or if it was a prototype. A little snooping around on the web suggests this company is from the same people who brought us the now defunct "Railflyer Prototypes". Anyone here know anything about this company and their product?

It is the successor to Railflyer. From what I've read on T.O. and some other sites, I for one will steer clear. I want to say that the principle of Railfllyer is the principle of Phoenix Micron, for me that is enough said.

[Judge Doom]

Probably the same-ol, same-ol. P-M seems to be jumping into so many things (if you look at their Facebook page, there's everything from designing full locos, to electronics/control systems/"Loco Nodes", to track CAD diagrams). Lots of grand plans, but it's questionable about how much of that stuff will both hit the market and at the same time be successful. If they were having problems bringing out miniature detailed parts in the past, I'd have my doubts about complex electronics.

The owner also comes off a little rough, he seems to be more of a designer but less fluent in PR and dealing with customer concerns/issues. There's even a FB post someone linked to on another mailing list about him threatening to sue people who complain or talk anything bad about his company.

[bdhicks]

Yeah, I was confused by those e-mails too, until Google reminded me that Phoenix-Micron is the new Railflyer. The good news is they look much more focused than Railflyer was. The bad news is they're focused entirely on the stuff Railflyer was doing that I thought was a pointless distraction from their actually useful detail parts.

[oldmuley]

So, not to bring an old thread back to life, but is Phoenix-Micron gone now too? I saw that they morphed into something called Layout-IOE, but that website is down too. There was a Twitter account, which hasn't been updated since late spring, and the Facebook page links to a Shapeways account for Rebel Locomotives. There seemed to be a lot of effort put into the wi-fi decoders, then nothing. I wonder if this whole thing is finally, finally done or if it will spring up with a new name.

[scl1234]

I once knew someone (now deceased) with too many irons in the mental fire whose ideas seemed to be brilliant, but they tended to never follow through to completion on the few useful ideas they had due to constant distraction (due to lack of focus/getting distracted very easily). They were employed after leaving college, but couldn't keep a steady job due to the focus issue.

Seems the owner of these "start-ups" (I only use "company" if the start-up has been operating at least two years), fits that mold pretty closely...and no, I've never met him.

[roadkill]

I wonder if some of his shenanigans have caught up with him...

[12bridge]

He has a slew of stuff on Shapeways. Atleast there, you dont have to worry about getting burned..