two tone green Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 The display will be a tad cramped I suspect unless the text is reduced in size to cram more in. This is where the new bigger display is needed. but is quite a while away it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Just had a thought, it happens at times. Its what Graham said yesterday about the colour of the 611 and it being green to differentiate between the 511 and the 611. If we send in our 511's to be upgraded, even the 505, will they come back green ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combe Martin Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I've always had the impression that the case that is returned will be the original (ie grey or black) but with a ZTC 611 sticker/plate stuck over 505/511. So it will therefore be possible to differentiate a new 611 from an upgraded one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combe Martin Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 And ... as far as displaying the status of F9 to F28 goes, what do other systems with small screens (eg NCE Powercab, Gaugemaster, Digitrax, Lenz) do ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combe Martin Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 (edited) Re posts 264 and 271 and the references to 'Block Control and Feedback' does the ZTC335 not do this ?. If not what's missing ?. I'm not starting an argument, just asking ! Edited December 7, 2014 by Combe Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tender Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 And ... as far as displaying the status of F9 to F28 goes, what do other systems with small screens (eg NCE Powercab, Gaugemaster, Digitrax, Lenz) do ? On the Powercab there's a button (expn) that cycles the display between the lower and higher functions. Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Same on the Lenz LH100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combe Martin Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 So that's easily solved then ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingUnderground Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Except that you need a flag or symbol to show you if you're looking at F0-F14 or F14-F28. On Combe Martin's point about the 335 occupancy detection feedback, there is feedback, and there is feedback, it all depends on the device to which you're feeding back the information. As I understand the 335 manual, the 335 is a very simple device that monitors the DCC current flowing through it. No current flowing = unoccupied: Current flowing, i.e. being drawn by a decoder or a resistor between an insulated wheelset, =occupied. The 335 uses that to complete an internal circuit so that a light or LED connected to the output will be illuminated. The light could be in a traditional external track plan diagram. Or you could use it to operate a relay. The relay could be used to switch in diodes into a track feed to produce an asymmetric DCC signal to make the loco brake. That's all the feedback it gives you. But that doesn't matter as the 511, and so it would seem, the 611, have no way to receive that information, and even it they did, could do nothing with it. If you want to use it in conjunction with PC control there is no data output. You would need to connect to the 355's output ports another device that can pass that information back to a PC. Even then it cannot tell you which loco is being detected as it doesn't have Railcom. You would have to use RFID or something similar and a reader to pass that back to your PC. More sophisticated occupancy detectors do have a data bus output that can pass the information back to the DCC master controller and the controller can then pass that on to your PC through its PC interface. If the detector includes Railcom that can also include the identity of the loco. Some DCC controllers can then use that information to trigger routes automatically. e,g, goods locos always go into the loop whilst passenger trains get routed into the station platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Thanks for that info TTG - I guess one of the key questions in January (apart from the issue of reflecting what functions are active on the 611) will be as to whether the larger screen, whenever it is developed, will be done so as an add-on to the 611, or whether some serious money will have to be paid to convert the 611 in addition to buying the larger screen. I know he will have no idea of costs yet, but what is his design strategy - a bolt-on or an upgrade? Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold traction Posted December 13, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) I've spoken to Graham today and asked about this. When you operate a function the function number will be shown on the display, so if you press 2 then 8, number 28 will be shown on the display. to operate function 1 you would press 0, 1 and again number 1 will be shown on the display. The MUCH larger touch screen is at least a year away, and will basically replace the screen that's there, if you want to!!! There is no need to fit the bigger touch screen if you don't want to. The main PCB and software is already set to accept the new touch screen once it gets developed. There are two USB ports on this, type A and type B One is for plugging in the USB stick to update the firmware, the other is to connect it to the PC. Well, I'm suitably impressed and I have given lots of negative feedback over the years on the ZTC controller. Perhaps not on the controller but the way it was being sold and the price even with it's known issues. I've always wanted one as it is a great 'driving' desk, but when it was £500 plus the power supply it was way too much. Graham has had the faith to invest and resurrect it and bring it up to date. Unfortunately he is starting way back due to other owners not improving it, but I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and support him! As such I've put my deposit down for one of the first batch due at the end of January! Yes still a bit expensive, but there's just something about it that I like! Cheers Ian Edited December 13, 2014 by traction 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingUnderground Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 (edited) Your comment about it having 2 USB ports, one Type A for the memory stick for firmware upgrades, and one Type B for connection to a PC, is most revealing. If any firmware updates are going to be distributed via a USB memory stick, that suggests to me that they will be paid for upgrades as it would be easier , simpler, and cheaper for Taunton to distribute them via the internet so the owner could load them from their PC. Of course the Type A socket could also be used to connect other devices that use USB. Edited December 15, 2014 by GoingUnderground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2014 Even paid for upgrades could be done electronically via e mail and the PC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold traction Posted December 15, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2014 Graham did say, upgrades would be sent by email for you to copy onto a USB stick and upgrade yourself. For any people NOT having access to emails, etc then they can send out a USB stick with the upgrade already loaded on it. Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Did he say why they don't just use the connection to the PC rather than faffing with memory sticks? Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold traction Posted December 15, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2014 No he didn't. I can only assume its for those that don't have a PC or internet connection.....possibly. I'm sure there are some. Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Or the PC interface is not capable of handling the firmware update via the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 A memory stick transfer is essential for many of us - my layout is in a barn and the WiFi doesn't get that far. Many people have their layouts in lofts, sheds or garages where the signal would be poor. Much easier to take a memory stick to the unit, than unplug the unit and carry it back/down into the house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2014 Mike I think you have hit the nail on the head. Most layouts are nowhere near a computer. Well thought out Taunton Controls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I use network over mains to reach the garage which is separate from the house, out of reach of WiFi. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted December 16, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2014 Is it really that hard to take the 511 off the layout to the computer while you do the upgrade? Andi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingUnderground Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Andi, I agree with you. It's not hard or difficult, and is likely to be a very infrequent event anyway. However, the memory stick method may be the most pragmatic way to let users who are not comfortable with computers install the updates at home, and not a way to charge for them as I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Is it really that hard to take the 511 off the layout to the computer while you do the upgrade? Andi No, but I would rather not carry £500-worth of gear up and down a ladder more than I really have to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter220950 Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 No, but I would rather not carry £500-worth of gear up and down a ladder more than I really have to! I did drop mine out of the loft hatch and then it went down a flight of stairs, didn't hurt the controller at all but it did put a dent in the plaster at the bottom! - On the whole though, not to be recommended. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I spoke with Graham for a while at the O Gauge Bristol show yesterday and was told to expect a release at the end of the month of the 611. He has suffered a few delays recently due to communication problems with his programmers and the supply of some hardware. But it seems all is well now and the end of the month should see the announcement of the release of the 611. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now