Talk:Model Railroader

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Trains

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DYK	February 2 2006

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Searching for reference(s) regarding early use of signaling light multiplexing[edit]

Hi, in our article on Charlieplexing, in early 2013 an IP added a note ([1]) that similar multiplexing techniques (obviously not named Charlieplexing, a term coined in 2003) were used in complex model train signalling applications for train layouts ("It was used as a method of switching signal lights to show track polarities.") at least as far back as 1972, vaguely and unspecifically referring to 'Model Railroader' magazine as a source (possibly either some 1972 or 2012/2013 issue). This isn't implausible, even if light bulbs with diodes rather than LEDs would have had to be used at that time as LEDs were almost non-existent, but we need historical references of some sort for that claim. For context, today, Charlieplexing is in fact used for this purpose, and "signal multiplexers" are available from various vendors including Viessmann (since about 2008) and Bogobit (probably others as well). I thought that editors over here might have access to archives of old Model Railroader issues or other magazines where this might have been discussed as a trick to simplify cabling. So, if you find any sources supporting the claim, please add them to the Charlieplexing article. Thanks. --Matthiaspaul (talk) 17:26, 11 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]