Home_Signal

Hi John, thank you (and to James) for the input. I've been following the instructions closely and in combination with my own explorations had some progress... but not successes completely. On the 6 Pin unit. I put (individually) both decoders in a trusty loco. Conducted a C8=4 reset. I've then popped them back into the 156 (this is the one where F0 and F2 where controlling the lighting and directionally, but there was no movement whatsoever). Well.... for no reason known to man, life has been brought to the unit. So... it now moves, F0 controls the directional lighting on/off..... but.... the interior lights is not able to be switched on/off. My uninformed guess is that whatever CV controls the interior lighting is not allocated to Function correctly, or the value of it is not making sense to the decoder. But largely it is now working. On the NEXT18 156. Its gone back to where i was originally was following a CV8=4 reset. - F0 turns on the bi-directional lighting in one of the units, - F2 turns on the bi-directional lighting in the other (!!!) - F4 turns on the interior lighting only in one of the units. - there is no function which is controlling the internal lighting in the other unit - the marker lights still do not illuminate, only the headlight. So the upshot of that is i can run the 156 with it looking 'correct-ish' and if i'm not fussed about turning off the interior lights in both cars then its all good. The thing i'm trying to get my head around is the relationship between: - the CVs : it seems that some have specific meanings, like 1 is the loco address value, etc. - the circuits/ports (whats the correct term) on the loco its, there is something to do with Fof, For, Aux 1 Aux 2 etc. (to which i believe specific aspects like headlights are tagged) - the functions 0-5. I.e. what is it the programming is changing and what is fixed. As given the 'quirks' with my 156s, it feels like there is a misalignment between the two decoders one of the 156s, such that the circuit that controls the interior lighting is mapped to either different CVs, or that the values of those CV differ between the decoders, such that when i use F4... on one the decoder is happy, the value on the relevant CV makes sense, but on the other the value doesn't make sense so its having no effect.

Hello, answers above, and thank you again for your support. I've had some progress/success in part, but i'll put that in the response to John. I'm still in the space of (whilst not fully understanding the coding aspect of DCC) thinking that there are some parameters (like lights) which are mapping to random functions.... and not consistently between the motorised and non-motorised units. For example the internal lighting with the NEXT18 156. One of the units does switch on/off the lightbar via F4 but the other doesn't, like the CV which controls the internal lighting ono that unit is mapping to a function beyond the 6 that i can control. You may read that and judge my level of understanding :)

Hi James, thank you for your detailed instructions. I don't know what's going on! sigh... i'm still in a pickle. on the plus side i realised that i didn't have the full app, and was using the "mobile HD" version. So at least now i have the more detailed Z21 app Firstly I did check the decoders were in the right way etc, and the answer is yes. I.e. when they were put the other way... you get everything ON and that funny noise like the motor is going. So where are we: - On the NEXT18 fitted 156. Very weird: I actually put the decoders in a 153 to check things are working. Kind of was the conclusion. In the 153 for both chips F4 was doing the light bar, but there was definitely an issue with the head/tail lights, i.e. F0 wasn't working, and only headlights would come on on F2 (when i tried the 153 on analogue they all illuminate correctly with direction). I also went thought your steps but no change in circumstance. With the decoders the returned to the 156... When the motorised unit was on the programming track on its own, F4 was controlling the light bar... BUT... when i put this on the track with the non-motorised unit it goes back to being permanently on (in the motorised), whilst F4 is turning the lightbar off on the non-motorised happily. F0 only is only doing tail lights, but not headlights. However, F2 has decided to control the headlight in the motorised, but its not directional. F2 in the non-motorised is now turning both the tail and headlights on/off together. Interestingly i also note the marker lights don't illuminate. The whole thing with the lights is as if the decoder isn't correctly mapped to the lights themselves. i.e. the DCC is turning things on/off... but its just not the right one. In short the Next18 156 is like some programming went in part to one chip, and other stuff went in part to the other chip. BUT neither is doing it all right. On the 6 Pin 156. As before, the lights are controlled by F0. BUT... it doesn't move. I did fire up the analogue (back with the blanking plate in) and it worked fine. I did check both decoders in another loco, and they were working correctly (i.e. F0 controlled lights bi-directionally and it moved) Thoughts gratefully received but i'm starting to ask the question: Does anyone does a 'programming service'? where you can send you stuff to someone and they just sort it all out?

Thank you.... although its not gone well and i've just started a new topic with the woes from that experience.... i reckon DCC is great once you know what you are doing!

Hi all, This evening i've been fitting light bars and DCC to my Dapol 156 fleet. All of which have now got some idiosyncrasies (they don't work properly)- can anyone help? (I use a Z21 DCC unit) 1. 156 - 2 x 6 pin (Imperium 5) fitted. I've placed both the motorised and dummy unit on the programming track. I try to programme both concurrently to a new address. "CV Programming Error". Weirdly, even when i try to read the address the motor on the unit doesn't do its flitting into life, and i get "CV Programming Error". The light bars are on (so its drawing power), and WEIRDLY the directional lighting works in both cars when I establish a new loco based on Loco Address 3 (the default) and attempt to drive it. So i know the headlights and tail lights do work, and can be turned on and off and are 'directionally aware' But. it won't move and no other functions seem to work. 2. 156 - 2 x NEXT18 (Imperium) fitted: Placed both the motorised and dummy units on the programming track and both were able to programmed to a new address. WEIRDLY: F4 only turns the light bar off in one unit (the non-motorised). The light bar won't go on/off on any function in the motorised unit The directional lighting works only in the motorised unit, and can be turned on/off with F0. A combination of different functions allows me to turn the headlights/tail lights on off on the non-motorised unit. As you can imagine, to a newbie DCC'er this is all rather perplexing!!! can anyone deduce what is going on and help.

Thanks all, thats really useful. Managed to get a pair of Dapol 86s DCC'd (motorised + dummy) last night. Think i've ruined a decoder though from my playing on the DTCL. We live and learn. Next... light bars and decoders in Class 156s.... what could possibly go wrong.

Hi all, I very recently (last week) took the plunge into DCC, with Z21 on my N gauge layout... (Twitter @NorthClydeinN). I've got a Farish Highlander coach pack with the 101 DTCL (i.e. a non-motorised DVT but with directional headlights). I put a 6 pin decoder in it last night expecting to be able to code it as its own entity (i.e. own address which you can control the lights through). BUT... it didn't seem to work, and the only way i could get it to work was coding it at the same time and with the same address as a loco. (like you would with a DMU where one carriage is motorised and the other isn't). Can someone tell me if it is possible to code it on its own, or if it does need to be paired with a loco (same address)

Hello, I'm looking for someone who specialises in taking 3D printed shells and turning them into completed model, (painted, powered etc). The ask would be for a number of EMUs (electrostars etc). Potentially up to 4 completed models. The 3D prints themselves of the body shells are already available (i.e. CMAC)

Hi all… Looking for an N gauge layout, up to 13ft in length, exhibition quality. With OHLE. Willing to go up to £2500 for the right layout! for example, layouts like Law Junction I have a large amount of WCML/GEML esq stock… but no time to dedicate to built a layout… sigh…

I think you're absolutely right! I put myself in that bracket of people who 'knew' something must go on, but showed little interest or had no suspicion that it was seemingly as interesting as it actually is... until i saw Aberdeen Kirkhill in RM!!! I'm now in the camp of people who want to learn the subtleties of what constitutes the different types of depot and operations, and avoid any potential faux pas should a layout follow... indeed, for me, AK raises the question; are fiddle yards a missed opportunity (to a certain extent)? Could a fiddle yard, devoid of scenary and hidden from public gaze become a 'depot'... bringing the benefits of a new operational dimension, and displaying the models, rather than hiding them away - I mean, i've certainly stood at exhibitions thinking how much i want to see a particular model which is hidden away in the fiddle yard, but it'll be some time before it runs again. I know this won't be everyone's cup of tea, and i certainly wouldn't want this to be read as fiddle yards are wrong, and it's definitely not criticism of any layout or choice, but for me,AK opened my eyes to the possibilities; in my own genre - the WCML post privatisation... instead of my AC electric rakes and EMUs sitting against a background of plywood out of sight, why not have them sat in the sort of ambience you've managed to achieve, and when watching them whiz by looses interest for the day, there is a whole new operational dimension to embrace. Its now that learning curve of understanding before committing sleeper to plywood!

Hi, Firstly, can i say what a fantastic layout you have created. Tis truly exciting to see a layout and start to sense "yes that's what its like in real life"... but you've done it. I certainly join the scores who hope to see you and it South of the M4 one day! The concept has my own mind spiralling into curiosity regarding T&RSMD operations. Are you aware of any books/dvds etc which give an overview of the operations that take place? my initial digging has yielded very little... i remember a 5min segment in one of the documentary channel style railway series which was at St phillips and as i recall invovled a fascination in the vacuuming activity! The only other thing i've found is a book which literally lists depot locations, but nothing regarding the operations. Regards Simon

That is superb guys, not only answers the question but what a wealth of additional detail. Makes you wonder just how much unpublished stuff exists in our drawers and cupboards which would fill so many gaps! Getting high on the fumes of excitement - imagine a railpedia 'confession booth' of these unpublished pictures etc... my mother might finally get her answer about the number of totems at Calstock station!!! what would we talk about at xmas after that?!?!? Again thank you very much for your inputs!

Ah ok... thats interesting, was it also the entrance to the old steam shed? or was that reached another way?

Hi, Next to Edgehill depot is a decaying vegetation riddled flyover, it is electrified, and seemingly used to serve whatever Wavertree Technology park has been built on... What did this electrified flyover serve? I seem to recall seeing in a book a reference to a Rathbone road coal depot? but can not find anything which actually explicitly confirms this. I do as a youngerman remember passing this and not thinking anything of it, but now it puzzles me... especially given it was electrified. Can anyone shed any light on this? As ever, kindest regards Simon

James, That looks cracking! Having just been camping at Norman's bay and been kept awake by them going along the esat coastway I am reinvigorated with my 2mm electrostar project which we discussed by email! Before abandoning it a few months ago i had got the front end sorted and it was only the lack of response from the Resin suppliers that ground me to a halt... but the enthusiasm is back and its progressing! Any plans for some of the other varients? Still got my Ibiza Cupra... but boy i'd love an acid green Focus RS! Simon