by GRUNZ » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:50 pm
I have SSD with the APB connected to a PC that runs RCS64. For pitsensing I have Smart Sensor.
This combination is the best digital system you can get for the level of simulations: once the APB is connected to a PC as a slave/proxy the RMS running on the computer can take over almost all the aspects of the communication protocol which allows for a great deal of realism. For instance, if the simulated weather changes, the simulated track condition changes as well which affects the way the car drives (delayed brakes, slow acceleration).
This introduces a gear deal of strategy in race where you win not only because you are the fastest but also how you manage your simulated tyres/fuel.
If you do not want to use RCS64, there is also ESRM as alternative that gives a huge amount of simulation options.
But be aware the APB out of the box sucks: you need to get the cable to connect to the pc, the RMS (ESRM is for free, RCS64 has a 30 days free trial),and the smart sensor. after that you have the best system so far.
Now, scalextric has released the ARC PRO which is way better out of the box than the APB. The Scalextric free app is ok, but does not provide the level of realism that you get with RCS64 (or ESRM) and the APB. Something better that the scalex app is the Magic App but it is still not even close to RCS64 and the APB I have the arc pro and tested the magic app, so I am talking from experience).
I have raced on Carrera digital track (Brescia Corse club track in Italy - Giovanni Montiglio's very same club (the guy behind thunderslot cars and all the NSR pre 2016). Carrera digital provides you with a better experience if you get their accessories. You can get even pitlane pieces that can sense when a car is in the pit (this option is not available with SSD unless you buy third-party hardware or modify some of the existing one). The carrera digital system can also be connected to a third-party RSM running on a pc but the level of simulations is not close to what you can achieve with the APB and RCS64 (ESRM).
The above covers the aspects related to what you can achieve with a digital setup. Then there are the track physical properties.
Carrera track is better than scalex* and you can also run 1/24. Because I want to include digital 1/24 in my club, I have bought plenty of Carrera track, digital pieces and borders. However, my idea is to use the carrera track with oXigen and I am waiting to move to this setup once the guys from RCS64 release RCSO2, that is a version of RCS64 that provides simulations for the oXigen system.
hope it helps.
*having said that, I have raced on my current scalex track for 4,5 years now and I do not have any particular issue so far.