Question Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility

Question Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility - Printable Version

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Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility - TwoFingerTyper - 1st-Dec-20

Hi all,

I tried this on the Scalextric forum (scalextric.com) but haven't had a response, it may be that the question is just that bad that people don't know where to start with responding to it...

I have a Scalextric Digital Super GT which has managed to survive many years in the loft - I feel that it has been left slightly behind by the recent wave of app-enabled kit, but wanted to know what it would likely be compatible with?

Would I be looking at getting more of the same from a similar era, or is some of the newer stuff backward compatible?

Thanks!

RE: Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility - woodcote - 1st-Dec-20

Welcome to SlotRacer Wavegreen

I presume your set is this Scalextric C1201 Digital Super GT set...

[attachment=10561]

A very nice set back in the day - 2007 to be precise... so not too old!

The basics of Scalextric Sport Digital are still exactly the same - so your cars will work on a brand new ARC Pro digital set and all the current digital cars and accessories will work on your old set. The standard Scalextric Sport track is still 100% compatible with the track in your set. Replacement hand controllers are still available too.

What will be a bit obsolete in your set is the powerbase - either the original six-car powerbase or the subsequent four-car base. Although both should still work and give you basic digital racing, I would recommend an upgrade - especially if you like the look of the app features of the ARC Pro system.

You might already have found it, but I've written a guide to using the ARC app here on SlotRacer Online: slotracer.online/arc-pro-guide

The Scalextric ARC app is free and there is also the independent Magic ARC app, which is donationware. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. I prefer the Scalextric version, but if you are planning to race on your own against 'pace cars', the Magic app offers more features. You will need a compatible smart device to use the app - there are some compatibility issues with some Android devices, but this have been much improved with a new version of the app. Apple devices (from the iPhone 4s onwards) and the recent (2017 onwards) Amazon Fire tablets seem to work very reliably.

ARC Pro also offers two power modes - digital and traditional one-car-per-lane 'analogue' mode. There's a small switch on the side of the powerbase to switch between the two. There's no lane changing in analogue mode, but it means you can use non-chipped cars, should you want to. I find it particularly useful for testing new cars before I put a digital chip in them.

If you want to upgrade to ARC Pro, the simplest way is to buy a new set - preferably one with a pit lane so you can use all the features and simulations of the ARC Pro app. That will give you more lane changers, more digital cars - as well as the ARC Pro powerbase, power supply and wireless controllers. From your old set, you will be ditching the powerbase and hand controllers. If you have the 4-car powerbase, the 15 volt power supply can be used as a second unit on ARC Pro. If you have the original 6-car powerbase, the 12volt power supply is not compatible.

Prices do seem at a premium at the moment! Scalextric has been selling very well this year and a lot of digital sets and accessories are in short supply. A new top-of-the-range set - the C1413 ARC Pro Platinum GT - has just arrived and I suspect some retailers will split the set for the components, so you may see unboxed ARC upgrade kits on sale for around £120 and unboxed pit lanes for about £30. The cheapest ARC Pro set is the two-car / two-controller C1404 Le Mans 24h set at around £250 - but this does not have a pit lane. The three-car / three-controller C1388 Sunset Speedway set is around £350 and the four-car / four-controller / two power supply Platinum GT is around £450. Those two come with a pit lane. Extra wireless controllers are about £20-25 each.

One final thing is that the curved lane changer included in your 2007 set is no longer made. However, it will work with the latest ARC Pro powerbase (included in the three sets mentioned above) in digital mode - but will need a simple modification to work in analogue mode. This involves cutting the flat copper cable under the lane changer so the two lanes are not connected electrically.

I hope that's the info you were looking for!

RE: Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility - TwoFingerTyper - 1st-Dec-20

Amazing response - thanks so much!

Will take a look at the Arc Pro sets and see if I can find a suitable upgrade, good to know that the old track and cars (although to be fair, the cars have seen better days...) will still work.

RE: Scalextric Digital Super GT Compatibility - Anthony B - 1st-Dec-20

Outstanding Andy!!!!