DaveArkley

If only it were that simple. There's no guarantee that DHCP will start with a low address, and then allocate them sequentially. It may do so for a span of time, and then (down to the software on the router, and entirely unpredictable unless you know in detail how that software works) may allocate any address it chooses. The only way to ensure it won't is to reserve and address in DHCP as I described earlier. Truth is it's very unlikely so there is a low risk, but still possible so not no risk. Cheers Dave

You can set up a reservation in your home router's DHCP rules, you'd need to find the mac address of your Z21 and add using that. If that isn't crystal clear then I suggest you don't do it, too easy to get wrong if you aren't familiar. Cheers Dave

Why would you buy a new system as it wouldn't solve this? This is clearly a network config problem on your iPhone since the iPad works fine Cheers Dave

If they have to be told, you're not wearing enough

Once a cheat, always a cheat in my book. I won't put my money in the pocket of any company that pulls a stunt like that. YMMV Cheers Dave

You added Be aware GAUGEMASTER users/owners Complete waste of time asking Gaugemaster for help ........... before their verbatim response, so you did put your own spin on it. Reading their verbatim response I can't see that they are being anything but helpful. Cheers Dave

Always thought the Select was compliant, not capable, merely compliant. You're correct it doesn't even meet that lowly standard Cheers Dave

Hornby have, since Zero 1 was made obsolete by NRMA standards done the bare minimum I feel. Their controllers (Select and Elite) and their decoders are NRMA DCC compliant but implement the bare minimum. I particularly dislike their lack of robust short circuit protection, the only decoders I've ever seen go up in smoke were both Hornby when being driven by a Select. Not for me.. Cheers Dave

I started DCC with Digitrax kit, but gave up on their throttles and eventually command stations because of poor button life. I love LocoNet, but not the buttons! Cheers Dave

Can't see that being viable on an N gauge loco

I think that's a massive assumption

I'd have thought this was self evident, if there's no decoder fitted, than the user is free to choose to fit anything, and whatever they fit will need to be programmed.

Which has opened it up to attack by thousands of bits of malware. I hope that machine isn't internet connected.

Actually, thinking about it, you can resolder the DC trace on the motor shield if you did cut it. Then you can use DCC++Ex. Cheers Dave

Are you running the DCC++ sketches or the newer DCC++EX? Did you cut the power trace on your motor shield? If you did cut it then you're stuck with using DCC++, if not I suggest you visit this site https://dcc-ex.com and follow the instructions there. DCC++EX is a much more capable system than the older DDC++ Cheers Dave