Moonraking Red

I’ve got a headache now. Where’s the chuffin’ trains at?

View Advert Layout for refurbishment Old exhibition layout, stored for many years, with only occasional use. Will need a good clean and some TLC. Not run since before COVID. St Odan was built by a Home Counties club (Princes Risborough?). Cornish freelance BLT and narrow gauge feeder line. Based on a 1987 RM railway of the month. Scenic part 8ft x 2ft (2 boards) plus fiddle yard 4ft x 2ft More photos available on request. Collection only (Devizes, Wiltshire). Trestles not included. House move means sale or dismantle. Advertiser Moonraking Red Date 07/06/22 Price £30 Category OO / 4mm scale  

Always learning! What is the purpose of the ‘hook on a post’ just by the tender steps? Great image, by the way.

Sorry, the bits I viewed were very good by the way.

Been a bit impatient, and ticked the trial box in My Profile, various features then worked as expected. Not the Gold stuff obviously.

Yes I do, AY.

Hello AY Mod, Have logged previously, using the link given, prior to my original post. This took me to my ‘station‘. No access to video plus, trackplans, or Gold member enhancements. In my profile, the only thing I didn’t do was tick the box for a free trial of WORplus (given I had signed up on 17th). Definitely no email re Exact Editions received.

I also like the World of Railways plus deal, duly signed up, but cannot access any of it’s features, even though I can log in (apparently). Tried using the Contact us route with no response. Even received my d/d correspondence from Warners. But still dead as a Dodo. Any help out there please?

Gentlemen Thanks to all for the advice. A lot of information to digest, and very helpful. Matt C - the tip re vehicle 12 works for me, although as Iain noted, looking forwards to reading up on the subject. RMWeb is a great source of encouragement.

Already got a question, will the z21 tell me the make/model no. of the decoder associated with the CV1 address?

Thanks gents for your advice and encouragement. Got some more learning to do.

Iain, Thanks for your PM, offer much appreciated but it looks like I have made some progress. It seems the problem is caused by the iPad (6th generation) not liking Z21. So although I had seen the unit operated by an iPad, it just didn’t want to work with mine! In desperation, I pulled a Sony XA2 mobile out of the drawer, and fired it up, it set up the app straightaway. So I’m afraid for whatever reason Apple have contrived to waste all our time. I thank Iain in particular but also the other RmWebbers who have given me their time / expertise. l would love to know what makes the iPad throw a ‘wobbly’, but my task is primarily to dispose of the railway stuff for my late friend’s estate. Reminding everyone that I’m very much a DCC novice, my next task is to test the various locos to check they work okay. Given I have no loco addresses and minimal loco-specific paperwork, can the z21 detect the existing address and functionality of each loco? Would I use cv programming manual mode to do this? Thanks again.

Iain, thanks for the PM. I will reply later. The use of plain http worked, and brought up the TP login screen, which I didn't fiddle with. The Z21 app reconnect did not work.

Iain Sorry for taking up your time, I really appreciate your help. So I have switched the iPad back to Automatic on the TP WiFi page to get the screen/ IP address section shown below. However, when I try to input https://192.168.0.1 into the browser it returns ERR_CONNECTION_FAILED. Assume this means although the iPad is recognising the Roco router’s signal, it will not talk to it. From the Z21 app therefore it will still not reconnect to 192.168.0.111 when the button is pressed on the relevant settings page. Do I need to try another input device? The only thing proven to date - I am definitely a complete novice.

Iain My iPad network screen now shows the following under IPV4 address (entered manually, assume the subnet mask does not need to be changed?). However, I still get an error message in the Z21 Updater app (getting the error message shown in one of my Tuesday posts), and the Z21 app will not reconnect to 192.168.0.111 (still saying no connection to z21. Should I give up or alternatively try a different input device?

Gents, I thought I was following you but now admit to some confusion. So I have managed to reset the z21 unit to IP address 192.168.0.111 by pressing the front button. Yes? On the iPad the TP (Roco router) WiFi connection currently shows the table below, but should the IP address entry line be changed from 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.111 to match the reset z21 address? (I would need to do this by switching Configure IP from Automatic to Manual, with no change required to the Subnet mask). The iPad will then talk to the Z21 or maybe not? Am I on the right track?

Iain Just before I go in search of the activation code, I can confirm I tried a different network cable with no change. Can I just check - 1. The router IP address (ending .100) will be different from the Z21 unit. 2. Holding the button until the light goes purple, does this restore the IP address to 192.168.0.111? Further to other posts re iPads my IOS is 14.8, if it matters. Sorry to be more trouble!

For TPC, my connections photo

Lost my text from the last post. The router detail on the iPad shows an IP ending .100. Do I try to change the IP on the Z21 app’s settings page to match this and try to reconnect?

I told you I was a complete novice!

Thanks for your latest responses Iain and John P. It really is frustrating that I watched a seven year old running trains via aniPad one day , a few weeks later I had to disconnect the system from the layout. My issue is that I have the 10825 Z21 start control unit and the 10814 router, all with boxes and manuals. It was disconnected from the original layout, the two wires reconnected to a length of Peco Streamline, and a new input device (tablet) fired up and the app was downloaded. The tablet connects to the TP WiFi, using the password on the case of router. Then nothing, open app, no request to setup, no request for an activation code. The manuals are next to useless as a step-by-step guide. Section 5 mentions the activation code is needed “to activate your Z21…” Having seen the unit in operation I assumed the Z21 was activated. I followed the steps in section 6, but didn’t get a start-up screen when opening the app (which is the Z21 app, not the old Z21Mobile one). No mention in the manual that each new input device needs a new activation code. Likewise, no prompts when opening the app for use ( I would expect the app to say “Is this a new device connecting to an existing Z21 control unit? If yes, find a new activation code.” Anyways, I will follow the steps suggested. I have one more question - where is the serial number of the Z21? Is it contained in the QR code on base of the unit, or is it the little sticker which shows 10825 6 25 B8 on the unit in front of me. Thanks again for your patience and input. The manual should have a big sticker on it - any problems don’t bother Roco, refer to RmWeb!

Rewinding the saga, I have previously seen the z21 start unit in use with the 10814 router via an iPad, but which I don’t have access to at present. So I set up my own iPad using the Z21 app (the latest black version, not z21 mobile). Used the Updater to ensure lates version of firmware. On the z21, reset the unit by holding the start button until the indicator changes from blue to purple. This should reset the IP address to 192.168.0.111. (Yes?). On the iPad WiFi set for the TP-Link router with the IPV4 details showing IP 192.168.0.100, subset 255.255.255.0, router 192.168.0.1 The indicator light on the z21 is steady blue. Router lights showing three green as noted in a previous post. On the settings page of the app, Z21 connection shows IP 192.168.0.111 Pressing the Reconnect to Z21 button appears not to work. Switching everything off for ten minutes has no effect. In CV programming tab, the message No connection to Z21. No tick or light in the top corner of the main app page. Checked power to track by shorting out across the rails, then pressed the button on the front of the Z21 to reset unit. Now waving white flag!!! Not sure how I overcome the “No connection to Z21” message. The only thing I haven’t done is install one of the older versions of the app.

Thanks, still got my fingers crossed that RmWebbers will provide the answers. When the iPad auto-detects the router it shows an IP address 192.168.0.100. In the Settings tab I input this address and tried to reconnect to the Z21, but no joy. The router has 3 green lights - power, WiFi, input 1. I’m off to look for the Roco internet page. A couple of YouTube videos I have viewed did not have the “No connection to Z21” problem.

Just one other point, the Z21 is the white boxed Start version. I am using the Z21 app, not Z21 Mobile or Mobile HD, does this make any difference? My iPad is a 2019 model.

So my iPad shows the router as connected, but when I go into the Z21 app it shows a ‘play’? button (which brings up a ribbon of 12 x continental locos). Six options - Vehicles, Control Station, CV Programming, Driver Cabs, Layouts, Settings - surround the ‘play’ button. In Settings I used the Updater app, which now says the firmware is up to date. If I look into CV Programming option, it says no connection to Z21 on any of the three choices across the top of the screen. No progress sadly.