Freiwald Traincontroller

[Shirleybasm]

1 minute ago, pohlmannx said:

 

I don't find the logic strange. It may not be easy to understand. But in my eyes it's not sexismus, it's more a parable.  He compares your point of view with something he says himself is nonsense to show how nonsensical it is in his eyes.

As I said, maybe difficult to understand, but not illogical.

maybe a parable but is certainly not backed up by hard evidence which I have asked for, how he can be so certain the stick is not at fault. I have over 30 emails from him and not one has tried to engage with trying to resolve the issue. He has just made up his mind. And quoted this and that from license agreements to it’s not possible for the stick to stop the program starting and has not backed this statement up. 

[pohlmannx]

4 minutes ago, Shirleybasm said:

maybe a parable but is certainly not backed up by hard evidence which I have asked for, how he can be so certain the stick is not at fault. 

I assume that he knows his software very well. If he is convinced that it is not due to the stick, then in my eyes it is quite weighty.

If you don't trust his expertise, I would look for another program.

[WIMorrison]

53 minutes ago, pohlmannx said:

I assume that he knows his software very well. If he is convinced that it is not due to the stick, then in my eyes it is quite weighty.

If you don't trust his expertise, I would look for another program.

 

Why do I get the feeling that you have just joined the forum to defend Herr Freiwald?

[pohlmannx]

24 minutes ago, WIMorrison said:

 

Why do I get the feeling that you have just joined the forum to defend Herr Freiwald?

 

I registered here to express my opinion on this topic. Just like Shirleybasm, who also signed up on Thursday. Or was he allowed to do this because his opinion fit into your worldview?

[WIMorrison]

Which would therefore suggest to me that you are already a member of this forum and are hiding behind a nom de plume to air a view that you do not want associated with your normal forum profile. I arrive at this conclusion simply because unless you were already on the forum how would you know that a new poster had joined and made a post that you disagree with?

 

I find it rather difficult to accept that you have randomly come across a post in an obscure part of a specialised forum just at the time when there is something you disagree with, 

[melmerby]

Stick A - ver 9A4  works

Stick A - ver 9B2 does not work

Stick B - ver 9B2 works

N.B. same software installation on same computer.

 

Logically to me that means stick A has a peculiar fault that causes a problem with ver 9B2

IMHO It cannot be the software as the software works with another stick with the same license version.

Apart from the encrypted license code the rest of what is on the stick should be identical.

 

You can take any uncorrupted, downloaded copy of the software and use any valid license stick for that version of the software and it should work.

 

Herr Freiwald's many strange comments and rants about things he doesn't agree with as well as some of his odd replies in the forum suggests to me he isn't capable of making logical decisions.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2020 by melmerby

[jpendle]

23 minutes ago, pohlmannx said:

 

I registered here to express my opinion on this topic. Just like Shirleybasm, who also signed up on Thursday. Or was he allowed to do this because his opinion fit into your worldview?

So what you are saying is that Shirleybasm's logic is flawed in someway.

 

For example let's suppose that I buy a loco for my layout and when I try it, it doesn't run, but when I try my friend's identical loco on my layout, it works fine.

 

The logic you are defending would say that it 's just as likely that the loco doesn't work because I'm 4 years older than my friend,  rather than because the loco has a fault.

 

From what has been said, the most likely issue is that the dongle is at fault. Given that both the software and the dongle are the IP of Herr Freiwald, and assuming that the user has paid for a licence, then I would expect that Herr Freiwald should be more than happy to exchange the dongle for one that has been shown to work with the relevant software revision.

 

Regards,

 

John P

[Shirleybasm]

7 hours ago, pohlmannx said:

I assume that he knows his software very well. If he is convinced that it is not due to the stick, then in my eyes it is quite weighty.

If you don't trust his expertise, I would look for another program.

he may very well know his software. But that’s like a doctor saying there is nothing wrong with you without seeing you but you clearly can see you have a problem. The point is herr freiwald is jumping to conclusions and thinks just because he thinks a stick can’t be at fault doesn’t mean that the stick can’t be at fault. The common factor has been the Stick. If he based is replies on hard facts and data instead of parables this might have more weight. And the time he has taken in email replies probably exceeds the time it would take to look at the stick oh how can I assume such a fact when I don’t know how long it would take to look at the stick. And remember I offered to pay for postage and a new stick if needed is this being unreasonable which herr freiwald considers a demand. And a final thought even on the freiwald forum there is evidence of a stick that can stop the program starting. As a developer I would of wanted to see what was wrong so to be able to give help to others if it ever happened again, and the point of bringing this here was to highlight how at risk we are of the stick failing and would certainly be up the creak if freiwald was no longer trading would will come sooner than later as he is no spring chicken. And the intention to shut up shop was referred to in an email. If you want to defend him that’s your right if your a user then smell the coffee and wake up that this product has a shelf life due to the stick

Edited July 22, 2020 by Shirleybasm

[peach james]

I wouldn't panic too much about when he shuts up shop, in that if the support for the USB dongle is removed, then using a circumvention to make it work would be legal at least in the USA/Canada.

 

He's a knob.  I've not upgraded from 5.0 because in part of his attitude and pricing structure.  I'd go to JMRI or ITrain before I further support him.

 

James

 

[pohlmannx]

15 hours ago, WIMorrison said:

I find it rather difficult to accept that you have randomly come across a post in an obscure part of a specialised forum just at the time when there is something you disagree with, 

 

Don't you notice that exactly the same goes for Shirleybasm? The only difference is that he agrees with something. Is that easier to accept for you because you agree with him?

 

BTW: I've been following this part of the forum for several months now because I'm looking for a new program. I did not come across this randomly. And I don't suppose Shirleybasm either.

 

I was actually hoping to find professional decision-making aids for my program selection in this forum. Unfortunately, I mainly find quite a bit of bashing here combined with the tendency to allow only one direction as an opinion. Too bad.

Edited July 22, 2020 by pohlmannx

[pohlmannx]

15 hours ago, melmerby said:

IMHO It cannot be the software as the software works with another stick with the same license version.

And in Freiwald's HO it cannot be the stick as the stick works with another version. Same logic, isn't ist?

 

I don't want to defend somebody here. I don't care who is right. But I am reluctant if someone thinks something is logical and something else not that follows the same logic just because the other does not suit his plans. That is my point.

Edited July 22, 2020 by pohlmannx

[BoD]

15 hours ago, melmerby said:

Stick A - ver 9A4  works

Stick A - ver 9B2 does not work

Stick B - ver 9B2 works

N.B. same software installation on same computer.

 

 

I am not overly familiar with this software but is ver 9B2 an upgrade of ver 9A4 that requires a different version of the USB dongle  too?   Is stick B is one of the newer dongles?

 

Herr F alludes to this in the extract from his e-mail.  ?

 

 

21 hours ago, Shirleybasm said:

 

“Looking at the facts, I realize that TrainController 9.0A4 works with your stick; Version 9.0B2, however, does not. So there must be a software difference (!) between version 9.0A4 and 9.0B2, that does this. This difference in the software cannot be remedied by exchanging the stick.
 

He says there must be a software difference between the two versions. Is that a difference he has programmed (so a swap for an identical dongle would make no difference) or is he suggesting a wrongly loaded installation?

[Shirleybasm]

1 hour ago, pohlmannx said:

 

Don't you notice that exactly the same goes for Shirleybasm? The only difference is that he agrees with something. Is that easier to accept for you because you agree with him?

 

BTW: I've been following this part of the forum for several months now because I'm looking for a new program. I did not come across this randomly. And I don't suppose Shirleybasm either.

 

I was actually hoping to find professional decision-making aids for my program selection in this forum. Unfortunately, I mainly find quite a bit of bashing here combined with the tendency to allow only one direction as an opinion. Too bad.

 

im a she not a he 

[melmerby]

54 minutes ago, BoD said:

I am not overly familiar with this software but is ver 9B2 an upgrade of ver 9A4 that requires a different version of the USB dongle  too?   Is stick B is one of the newer dongles?

 

Herr F alludes to this in the extract from his e-mail.  ?

 

TC Gold ver 9B2 is the current version and no you don't get a different dongle.

New major versions usually start as e.g 9A1, minor patches are progressed 9A2, 9A3. A bigger patch will update the letter to e.g 9B1, not all letter and numbers in the sequence are used.

 

A current Train Controller Gold license dongle* (in this case ver 9) can be used with any release of the current Gold version (and any previous version, including ver 8 or 7 etc.)

 

EDIT

* I still used my Version 7 dongle which was "updated" each time I purchased a new major version (8 & 9)

It is done by entering a new code sent by e-mail.

Edited July 22, 2020 by melmerby

[BoD]

3 minutes ago, melmerby said:

TC Gold ver 9B2 is the current version and no you don't get a different dongle.

New major versions usually start as e.g 9A1, minor patches are progressed 9A2, 9A3. A bigger patch will update the letter to e.g 9B1, not all letter and numbers in the sequence are used.

 

Ok.  Was just a thought.

[melmerby]

Just now, BoD said:

 

Ok.  Was just a thought.

I've just added the edit that my ver 7 dongle was updated to 8, then 9 by a new code, sen tby e-mail.

[Shirleybasm]

1 hour ago, pohlmannx said:

And in Freiwald's HO it cannot be the stick as the stick works with another version. Same logic, isn't ist?

 

I don't want to defend somebody here. I don't care who is right. But I am reluctant if someone thinks something is logical and something else not that follows the same logic just because the other does not suit his plans. That is my point.

 

will admit that this is a very odd issue, but if this was a software issue then many more would have the same issue as me, which freiwald has stated aswell.

 

but I will clarify the tests done

 

stick A = my stick

Stick B = other users stick

 

layout A = my layout

layout B = other users layout

 

 

9A4 stick A layout A = works

9A4 stick B layout A = works

 

9B2 Stick A layout A = does not work

9B2 stick B layout A = works

 

9A4 Stick A Layout B = works

9A4 stick B Layout B = works

 

9B2 Stick A Layout B = does not work

9b2 stick B layout B = works

 

so the common factor is stick A does not work on any layout that runs 9B2

 

additionally a fresh windows was done with only TC installed which resulted in the same results as above.

 

tests without a stick installed in demo mode, the results that all layouts and both versions work. So my conclusion is that something is corrupt  with my stick and using v9b2. I think that due to the odd nature of the issue is what is influences freiwald, but without examination of the stick then freiwald could not state 100 % my stick is not at fault and this is what I was asking for him to just look at it or replace. My tests is hard data by pure scientific testing, but at no stage has herr freiwald backed up his logic with hard data to support his logic. How long would it have it taken him to to look at my stick would of been just the briefest of time. but as the saying goes once you eliminate the possible then the impossible remains

[ahellary]

I do find this tale of woe concerning as a long time user of TC i have also come up through the v7--8--- 9 route

Edited July 22, 2020 by ahellary

[melmerby]

3 minutes ago, ahellary said:

I do find this tale of woe concerning as a long time user of TC

There have been plenty of tales of woe regarding TC over the last few years.

 

2-3 years ago I would have recommended it without hesitation.

Now I would recommend anyone considering buying, think hard, you may end up with problems as Shirley has and end battling with an unco-operative Herr Freiwald.

Maybe look elsewhere for a computer control program.

 

[ahellary]

1 minute ago, melmerby said:

There have been plenty of tales of woe regarding TC over the last few years.

 

2-3 years ago I would have recommended it without hesitation.

Now I would recommend anyone considering buying, think hard, you may end up with problems as Shirley has and end battling with an unco-operative Herr Freiwald.

Maybe look elsewhere for a computer control program.

 

that is a shame as i do think it hase a lot more features than any of the newer software but im sure they will catch up and possibly supass tc in the future ... so there looks like another learning curve to be had in the fullness of time

[melmerby]

Just now, ahellary said:

that is a shame as i do think it hase a lot more features than any of the newer software but im sure they will catch up and possibly supass tc in the future ... so there looks like another learning curve to be had in the fullness of time

It still has more features than the top version of iTrain but the price differential is getting staggering, it was at one time probably on a par bangs for buck wise.

[ahellary]

Just now, melmerby said:

It still has more features than the top version of iTrain but the price differential is getting staggering, it was at one time probably on a par bangs for buck wise.

yes it does and as i use some that i dont think are in itrain but i havent properly looked at version 5x of itrain to see if what i need is avaiable

 

[melmerby]

As a guide TC Gold in the UK is now $847 which is about £705 £667 at today's exchange rate

iTrain Professional is €349 which is about £320.

 

Makes you think.

 

I would go iTrain if I was starting now.

EDIT

Currency figure corrected for wrong exchange rate

Edited July 22, 2020 by melmerby

[ahellary]

1 hour ago, melmerby said:

As a guide TC Gold in the UK is now $847 which is about £705 at today's exchange rate

iTrain Professional is €349 which is about £320.

 

Makes you think.

 

I would go iTrain if I was starting now.

that is the real issue that once you have chosen a route its very difficult  to change ant thats i feel is where the developer has you

[melmerby]

15 minutes ago, ahellary said:

that is the real issue that once you have chosen a route its very difficult  to change ant thats i feel is where the developer has you

I got the figures for curreny slightly wrong.

$ is about 1.27 to pound which brings price down to about £667, still twice that of iTrain.

 

other post edited