JJGraphics

You could Hide two of them yourself by using the Moderation tool: Options > Hide at the bottom of the frame. John

I would not let Chrome or anything from Google or Microsoft anywhere near my Mac. The same goes for Adobe Flash! It is possible to configure Java to run the screen view of the ECoS on a Mac, but it is complex to do so and using VNC is easier if you really want to do that. However, the throttle response is not especially good when running the screen view via the browser or with VNC. Everything else seems to work quite well. Throttle response on iOS and Android via VNC is also not very special in my experience. TouchCab throttle response is normal on iOS and the App is very stable on the latest version of iOS/iPadOS. The standard installation of Java which comes with macOS is fine for JMRI and JMRI throttle response is very good in my experience. John

When is anything handled by Local or Central Government, especially to do with Planning going to incorporate joined-up thinking? John

Sounds like you need to update the Firmware on your ECoS before you go any further. Follow the instructions carefully to upgrade the Firmware. Sign-in to the ESU website with your user id (create one if you have not got one already) to look at the section with the downloads for the ECoS. John

More and more in the last few days I have noticed that the "Forum marked as read" black banner at the top of the page sporadically hangs, sometimes for as long as thirty seconds. While this is taking place all navigation comes to a standstill. I'm not sure that we need to see that banner and I'd like to see it disabled. John

You don't lose all your data when you shut the ECoS down if you have a set of batteries installed. The (rechargeable) batteries need to be fully charged before you insert them into the ECoS and then the ECoS will maintain them via its trickle-charge facility. To remove the risk of data loss, you can back-up the entire setup of the ECoS externally onto a Mac or PC using the "Store Configuration" interface via a web browser on your Mac or PC: You can have up to sixteen "control boards" which can be set up to show different areas of the layout. I can't comment on the issue of driving Tortoise motors as I use the Traintronics TT300 motors which have a built-in decoder. PM me if you'd like to have a play with an ECoS . . . John

The first thing to do might be to get in touch with Howes and explain the problem. John

The problem is that any book would be out of date before it was published as things change so quickly in the world of DCC. John

It does seem to remember some functions, but does not necessarily show them as active them on the display. I don't know if that is decoder-specific as I only have LokSounds; other decoders may behave differently. As a matter of habit, I turn off all the functions on the active locos and re-set the point work on the layout to a known starting position using the "reset-all" button I have created on the track diagram before I shut the controller off. That way I know exactly what to expect on start up. I had a Prodigy Advance2; that seemed to remember some things and not others. Not sure if that was decoder-specific, either! Really happy with my ECoS 50200 which I also use with JMRI from my Mac. Works a treat for making all those odd little adjustments to CVs! John

Very interesting, please keep them coming! John

Logged-in a few minutes ago and it took more than a minute between when I pressed the button after entering my details and the forum loading the first page. General navigation is currently variable from almost instantaneous to slow and Followed Unread is particularly slow. John

It is very unlikely that you would "blow" a decoder by changing CVs. Dave's suggestion of recording CVs is something really worth doing, especially if you are making a few changes. If you get in a tangle with CVs, you can always reset a decoder. For example, writing a value of 8 into CV8 on a LokSound – and many other makes of decoder (but always check with the manufacturer's manual) – resets the decoder to the state it was blown by the supplier. You can then start over with CV changes. Contrary to things you may read elsewhere, doing a reset does not erase the sound. John

If it is very loud, you may find that you have to reduce CV63 a lot more than seems logical to get the volume you'd like. With a new sound project, I try it at 96 and then adjust up or down in steps of 8 until I'm happy. John

I don't think Firefox is the problem. I use a Mac and the same problems exist on both Firefox and Safari on that platform. I also sometimes use an iPad to access the site with the same outcome. I have additionally accessed the site from PCs and Macs in different locations using Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Opera. If the forum is going well, they all fly if it is not they all behave badly, but the situation can sometimes change for each click . . . John PS: This post added in a couple of seconds and the site is absolutely flying for me at the moment.

I'm experiencing the same problems – slow yesterday afternoon with several 552 errors and definitely a bit slow this morning compared with the very fast performance I normally see at this time of day after the changes made recently. In particular I notice the long delay if I click on a Go to latest post star or button. John PS: This post took over half a minute to save first time before I could resume using the Forum.

Just to add another comment in support of ECoS, (not really related to the original question) . . . the ECoS works perfectly with JMRI software on a Mac or PC to make a lot of the really useful features the ECoS has even easier to use, including the ability to "drive" from the computer if you wish. John

I moved from a Prodigy Advance2 to an ECoS and I have never regretted it, but I would definitely not waste £299 on a 51113 which basically an Android phone. If you already have an iPhone or an iPad look at Touch Cab or if you have an Android phone or tablet perhaps take a look at Engine Driver. These are not the only options. John

Yes, that was a typo on my part. We'll see about the 701s in due course. John

At least the seats on the 450s on the Waterloo - Reading services are not like bl**dy ironing boards! John

Absolutely agree! The comparison sites appear to go mainly on cost and fail to take into account things like the quality of service you might get if you switch to their cheapest supplier. That's mainly why I suggested that if you are basically happy with the service you have, you should negotiate on the price for renewing the contract. John

Be very careful about recommendations for Broadband on comparison sites and from other sources as a low price is definitely not the best way to judge a Broadband service. Some companies have poor technical service, are useless when it comes to solving problems and often have billing problems. If you are basically happy with your service, do what Teaky did and negotiate on the price; most decent suppliers will drop their price at least a bit to retain customers. Before you make the call do a bit of research and, if necessary, throw something along the lines of: "I can get such and such from XYZ Broadband for £xx.xx per month" into the conversation which will sometimes prompt a better offer. Don't accept the first offer, but at all times be polite and businesslike in your negotiations. If you p*ss off the person on the phone with a bad attitude you will definitely not get the best deal that is available! The cost of my fast broadband connection, line rental and two mobiles with unlimited calls, texts and a more than adequate amount of data for each is less than my "know-it-all" millennial neighbour plays for his Broadband alone and I have never switched suppliers! John

No OHLE in the city centre in the future. The battery-fitted trams are all about having no OHLE to avoid the visual clutter in the centre of a city, especially where there are older buildings of architectural interest. Quite a few cities in other parts of the world already do this for the same reason. There are also a number of cities with battery-fitted trolleybuses which run part of their route off-wire. John

Fingers crossed . . . I am currently experiencing the best performance of the forums since the new software was introduced. It's been much better since Monday morning, but I did not want to speak too soon! Thanks to Andy for whatever has been done. John

Bookmark is as above . . . and has been since the new forum software. John

There are still some strange things going on. When I signed-in this morning, I got this even though the sign-in actually worked correctly: I've seen this before on several occasions and in every case the sign-in takes place despite the warning. John