Arboretum Valley - Invasion of the Daleks

[Jaz]

rmweb291JMRI8

 

rmweb292JMRI9B

 

 

 

[Kal]

From the Top of the Roster window, select New Loco and this window opens.

 

Next Select read type from decoder, at the bottom of the Roster window you should see it start reading some of the CV's.

 

If not, either the loco wheels are dirty, you have not switched to your programming track, you have no decoder in the loco or the decoder is U/S

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb293JMRI10B

 

rmweb294JMRI11

[Kal]

It will...if Decoder Pro knows the type of decoder you have (which is most) come up with a bunch of related decoders.

 

You could just select any of those and it will work, but try and select the correct one for Reference later and so that it has all of the correct options, e.g., correct number of functions, sound options etc.

 

Here I know it is a Loksound v3.5 21 pin, so I highlight this.

 

I make sure Service Mode (program Track) is selected, as I want to be able to read CV's. (JMRI can also programme on the main)

I select Comprehensive Programmer , as I want to see all CV options and then Press Open Programmer

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb295JMRI12B

 

rmweb296JMRI13

[Kal]

It will open this Window, every Loco entry in Decoder Pro will have its own window and you can open as many as your PC can handle.

 

Now we can fill in some details of the Loco, notice it has added the decoder type you selected automatically.

 

Point to note, if you later change the decoder type to another, you will have to do this detection and entering again.

 

When you have filled in the details, press the save to roster button and you will see it appear in the main roster table.

 

From here you could close it or go on to read or change the CV's in the decoder.

 

OK let us have a look at a few of the Tabs on the loco window.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb297JMRI14B

[Kal]

Roster media:

 

here you can Drag a picture of the loco into the big window for reference.

 

You can add a smaller loco picture that is used in the main Roster Window, when doing so make sure it is side on and with the No 1 end to the right, which seems to be the accepted convention. Why? well when using train controller (definite) or I believe panel pro (someone can confirm) this is important to show the orientation of the loco on the layout window. Otherwise you think you are sending your train to the left and it shoots off to the right. I have done this many times before 

 

You can also add a web reference to a web page where you can get more details for reference, wikipedia or another website.

 

You can also add custom attributes to the main roster window, BUT, learn more about decoder pro before getting into changing or adding these.

 

I will not look at all tabs, but I have picked a few I think are of interest. Bear in mind the number and types of Tabs are based upon the decoder, not all decoders have all tabs or options.

 

Next tab please Jaz

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb298JMRI15

[Kal]

If you want to set up more precise speed curves in your loco decoder, you could always, do it CV, by CV.

 

With Decoder Pro though you can take all the pain out of it. If you want a complex curve make sure the radio button is checked at the top.

 

You can only use Basic Speed control or the Speed table, so choose one or the other as you wish.

 

NOTE: not all decoders have this option, for example the Hornby R8249 is very limited on what you can change.

 

From here you can read what the current settings are for this sheet, I should have said earlier that you can also read all the CV's on all sheets from a button at the bottom.

 

I tend to read all CV,s and then save the roster, so I have a starting point.

 

REMEMBER: if you want to change anything, 

 

1 change the setting on the sheet (tab)

2 press the button to write the changes to the decoder

3  Go to the Roster Entry page and save the settings back to the roster after each change.

 

Next tab

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb299JMRI16B

[Kal]

This is the more simple speed settings,  start, middle and top speed. As said in the previous tabs you can have this or the speed table.

 

The radio button at the top must be checked if you prefer this way of setting up the speed curve.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb300JMRI17

[Kal]

With sound decoders, setting volumes just right can be  full time job with CV's, here it is more simple.

 

With later Decoders such as the Loc v4 and Zimo, it can be more complex than this where, indexed CV's are used, but lets not get into that level of complexity here, there are more specialised areas and people if you get that far...

 

Next

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb301JMRI18

[Kal]

Some decoders have specialised pages, Decoder pro can be helpful along side the Decoder manual for really learning what a decoder can do.

 

understanding some decoders, can become almost a hobby in itself.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb302JMRI19

Edited December 30, 2013 by Jaz

[Kal]

Which CV to change the functions or sounds?

 

Is this not easier than remembering CV's.

 

AGAIN, some later decoders need much more complex configuration, but with ZIMO there is a pseudo programmer for dealing with the latest decoders and I am sure someone will come up with a clever way of dealing with LOKsound 4's complicated structure in the not too distant future.

 

Jmri is constantly being updated, so if it doesn't exist today and someone wants it, it could appear in the near future. OR, if your good with such things, why not add it yourself and share it with the rest of the JMRI community.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb303JMRI20

[Kal]

Stuck in the Mud Single CV programmer?

 

Well here you can do that too

 

I really have just scratched the surface of Decoder Pro here, but hopefully it gives someone a taster.

 

JMRI actually contains many other programmes, which maybe of use too.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb304JMRI21

[Kal]

Once you have changed your CV's, you can pull up a custom throttle for the loco.

 

Each roster entry has it's own throttle and so each can be customised to that loco. you can open as many throttles as your PC can handle, or if you have more than one PC, join them up as clients and run, more.....  Make it a family affair

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

rmweb305JMRI22

Last one.....YEAH!!!!!!  

[Kal]

OK

 

so if anyone is still awake, I will leave you with this....  If you never connect it to a layout, it is cool just to keep a record of you loco's

 

Give it a go.....   if you got this far, you know you want too.

 

 

This is a layman's overview and I do not claim to be an expert..... In fact.... that is the point of this....  I am not and can still use JMRI very well.

 

There are many real experts here on RM and on the JMRI Yahoo page, so... if this has grabbed you attention , don't be shy.

 

Happy New Year everyone!  

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kal

[Jaz]

Quote ..  Make it a family affair.....Unquote

 

Noooooooooo