Jim

Sorry for the delay in answering. I connected them in the same way as the signals. Use the three raised connector terminals on the top of the sensor. If you want to lock a LED indicator on, after the train has cleared the sensor and go out when the next sensor in advance is cleared by the train, connect the nearest terminal of the first sensor to the second sensor using the terminal closest to the fist sensor..... hang on...my waffle MCB has tripped! I’ll post a picture. It shows a sensor and a signal sensor. They are identical in the way they operate so the wiring linking them is the same. In that diagram, the sensor on the left will “stay on” until the train clears the one on the right. What I do want to find out is, how to lock a sensor for a home signal to several other sensors on signals on different routes. So have three wires from different signals connected to one sensor.

Thanks, I’ll do that. Ive worked out how to link them now but I’ll ask about the sensitivity of them. jim

Hi, I’ve just installed some train tech st10 sensors. Im using them to illuminate LEDs on a panel. Im very impressed by them but have a couple of questions that you may be able to help with. The first question is the sensors’ sensitivity, in outside curves with a stopped train, the sensors “loose” the train, worse with Mk1 coaches. I was wondering if you are able to adjust the sensitivity to enable them to detect a higher chassis. The other question is how to lock one sensor with another in advance, so the LED will stay illuminated until the train reaches the next sensor, just like their similar sensor signals. Ive tried linking them as per the signals in their instructions but couldn’t get it to work. Any ideas will be great. cheers, Jim

Many thanks. I’ll order a Gaugemaster AC power pack. They’ve got two AC outputs so one can go to the CDU and points and the other to the signals. I’ll run a power bus for signals to make life simpler. cheers Jim

Many thanks. I’ve ordered a Dapol stop signal and a Dcc concepts lever to experiment with. Can the signal get its power from the DCC track bus? If so, that would make wiring so much simpler, only having to run the yellow wires back to the lever frame. cheers Jim

If I operated the Dapol signals using the passing contacts on the cobalt levers, would I have to hold the lever over until the signal arm finished it’s movement? Jim

Thanks for the advice. cheers jim

Hi, I’m hoping that this is the best section to ask this. I’m currently using Cobalt levers to operate my point motors. I’m operate them purely by passing contact analogue to keep things simple. I’m now at the stage of fitting signals. I want to operate them in a similar fashion, just by using the passing contact wiring cobalt levers. Im assuming the signals will have a solenoid rather than a motor. I would much appreciate some advice on what signal kits are available. I’ve looked up the Dapol ones but don’t know if they can be used by passing contact type operation. cheers jim.

Right... with the help and advice from you guys and my new Lokprogrammer, I’ve sorted my v5 and v4 compatibility issues.... probably...! I had set the acceleration CV3 on the V4s to 252 giving a nice slow rate. On the v5, I set CV3 to 252 but that didn’t have the same slow rate. It was similar to a v3.5 on max CV3. On this forum a suggestion was made about setting cv23 to 127. That seemed to match the V4s performance. The other issue was the speed steps weren’t matching. After hooking up the Lokprogrammer I noticed the speed curves were totally different even though I had set the V4’s cv6 to 0. I have programmed all the locos with v4s and v5s to true “linear” acceleration, using the Lokprogrammer. Then that was it..the v5 is now performing like the V4s. I’ve learnt so much about decoders from you guys and using the Lokprogrammer so many thanks guys, jim

Many thanks! jim

Thanks for that! Ive found the section to alter the pitch of the sound. When I change values I can’t see how to update the decoder. Ive tried with simple ones like volume. Cheers jim

I’ve got a bottle of single malt ready for later...! My plan is to create a realistic acceleration curves to match the v4 and the v5 locos. I intrigued to see if I can alter the “max diesel sound”. On the v4 it’s cv59 but, that doesn’t seem to exist on the v5. The sound I use is excellent but I just lower the value to 100 from 128 on the V4s as it sounds a little high pitched. I suspect that on the v5, cv59/60 are only changeable at the initial programming stage. jim

I’ve just received my Lokprogrammer. I'm starring at it in trepidation, stroking my beard wondering what utter chaos I’m going to cause myself! Another mug of tea I think! jim

Cheers Wiggy. jim

Hi, I’m really thinking of getting the Loksound programmer. Can you guys confirm that it will be able to program v3.5, v4 and v5 decoders? Cheers Jim

Excellent, That sounds like a plan...! jim

I’d just like to add, yes I was and still am a little frustrated, which came across in a couple of my comments but, I don’t want to be negative about the v5. It’s here and it’s not going away. It’s kind of interesting looking into the guts of the decoders and understanding more about how they work. I’m toying with the idea of buying a programmer so I can learn more and experiment....and then be committed to Loksound decoders..! I’m sure our community will learn more about how to use these new decoders and what more they have to offer. Jim

All very true and I hope we can learn more..but I have £221 worth of loco and decoder that I can't use with the rest of my loco fleet.

The v5 is a good decoder as was the v3.5. I think the issue is the available timing between each power step. On the v4 you could set this quite long, so taking two minutes to get to the max power setting. I think with the v5, it’s the same as the v3.5. The maximum time you can set between power steps is something like 0.9 of a second. if you set the v4 to this then they would probably match in a consist but, that would then mean adapting all the other locos back to a v3.5 type of acceleration which some find a little quick even set at the highest values. If Loksound fix this with a software upgrade the v5 will be a great decoder, just need a programmer unit then! Jim

I’ve been fettling with my v5 today. Im sure the v5 has many features but the huge intrinsic issue is the lack of slow acceleration like the v4 “bug” Brian from Howes was excellent and suggested some ideas about the acceleration. he gave me cv values 68-93. Excellent stuff! It did slow the loco’s acceleration by reducing the speed in each step but that caused the power steps on the controller being different to the rest of my locos and accelerated quickly after the midway point to reach the max power value and the braking rate was uneven. So unable to use in a consist. It reminds me of messing with v3.5s. I think the speed steps in the v5 are too coarse. Until that gets fixed I’m keeping clear of them. I'm a little worried the Hattons 66 will be using them. jim

Well, I’ve been trying all day. The v5 for what I need a decoder to do is no better than a v3.5. It seems the “bug” in the v4 was what I really liked about it, prototypical acceleration. I just can’t achieve that with the brand new v5. I can’t sync the speed steps either even though I can match the max speed. I can’t change the max diesel sound to stop it sounding like an angry wasp. I don’t think I’ll be buying any of these retro-stepped decoders from anyone again. I will ask what decoder then ask if they do anything else, otherwise, that’s me done. jim

Let us know what Biffo suggests. I’ll email Brian. He replied last night with the excellent idea of downloading the manual. Its early days with these v5s but I feel they’ve introduced more capabilities but stepped back in the tweaking area. jim

Well that’s a few hours bashing my head against the proverbial brick wall. I’ve kinda worked out the relationship between cv3 and cv23 but still can’t get it right. I really think these V4s and 5s are not compatible. I cannot recommend these v5s if you run V4s and want all your locos to be trimmed with each other. So now I have an engine that can’t run with the rest of the fleet and sounds different Very disappointed.. Jim Edited for further info.

I’m using Howes. I use his sounds for all my locos with no issues. I can’t find any way of altering the max diesel sound. I’ve even tried to mess with cv57/58 steam chuff sync as a desperate move...! Im battling with this decoder as I write this. I've set cv3 to 252 and cv4 to 120. The same as my v4 locos. I can match the maximum speeds and the intermediate steps seem close. But I can’t fine-tune the acceleration. since cv6 can’t be altered. At lower speeds it accelerates quicker to each step and runs slightly slower then at higher steps it almost matches the other locos. So I can’t use the loco in a consist. Jim

I’m wondering the same thing. Im just about to start fiddling with CVs on my Crompton to try and match it with my others with V4s. I am a little concerned about the actual “max speed” diesel sound as it sounds like a wasp on speed..! i normally reduce CV60 a little to slow the sound down but this decoder is reproducing the max sound very strangely. cv60 is no longer an option on the V5. ahhhhhg! jim