55020

I'm not aware of any other manufacturer of a DCC ready loco that provides comprehensive details, mainly because most of the configuration needed is decoder specific. Of course I could be wrong. To list all info needed for any type of decoder fit would simply be an impossible task I suggest. Whilst feedback allows for improvement, it does need to be couched in the correct manner for the message to be listened to and possibly acted upon. And we're all allowed our opinion, but the same principle applies!

AS provide a fully programmed drop in decoder, something no other manufacturer does as far as I am aware. If you choose to go off piste, I suggest you can't really then complain. If you found it "unnecessarily complicated" did you reach out to AS for any assistance regarding which lights are wired/mapped to which output? If you did I'm sure the answers would have been forthcoming. Steve

Well the magic smoke inside the DCC decoders mean you can do almost anything, as long as you cast the correct spell. Yes, CVs can be modified to stop the automatic turning off of the cab lights. The 55 didn't have this feature, so there were lots of requests for the feature to be added. AS have added the feature and guess what.... Your comment perfectly aligns with the other conversation @woodenhead is having above. Steve

Interesting that we're both looking at the same loco/decoder but are witnessing different results. I have no explanation of that. I'll do a video for comparison when I can find the time, which won't be until Friday at the earliest. Like you said, it's a small thing in the overall scheme of things, but still worth a bit of prodding 😂 Steve

My experience is that you throttle back and the revs fall, but not all the way to idle. The revs then stay at this intermediate setting until I demand an acceleration again. So does yours actually go to idle? I suggest you try moving the throttle from max to say 50%, note the sound; then go from max to zero and compare the sound. Only at zero do I hear an idle setting. Sure there's no increase in revs once the loco reaches an intermediate speed setting, but it certainly doesn't drop to idle unless I throttle back to zero. Steve

@Vecchio @bazil31 That's interesting. I've just received my 37027 and it doesn't do what you describe. Do you have the "refurbished 37" sound project by any chance? Steve

Ahh, maybe I just haven't been paying attention! There's a lot of distraction around with a big blue throbbing thing on the desk 😂😉 I will have to do some testing tomorrow. I guess as long as everything works as required on the layout, then that's what really matters. Good info though. Steve

That does sound odd, and not something I've seen with any of my Deltics. My first 37 should arrive tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how it responds. Steve

You have a "from" in your sentence, but no "to", so it is difficult to be certain what your point is. If you are saying that it switches to a LokSound 5 DCC from a regular LokSound 5 then that is correct. The decoders are the simpler ( i.e. no superflous European protocols) LokSound 5 DCC decoders. Steve

An amazing pair of photos. It also looks like both were still wearing their "lease plates", 50010 is clearly visible. Steve

I did this very recently, with a complete re-install after downloading the W11 ISO to a USB. I did come across some online comments stating that the ISO would only launch from a DVD, but I found that not to be the case. The only thing you will need to do is access the machines BIOS and make sure the USB drive is selected as the primary boot. The install process picked up my licence automatically from the UEFI BIOS. Steve

I agree, a speaker well tuned for the sound spectrum of the loco will be the biggest improvement anyone can make. Problem is Hornby are giving you the "one size fits all" speaker solution as well. I'd rather spend a little bit more cash, get great sound files that also finely tunes my decoder, and miss out on any possible Bluetooth benefits. Steve

And I found myself even more underwhelmed than I thought I would be. Each to their own, of course. Steve

They only cash in if someone buys it. If someone buys it they must be happy with the price. Everyone wins, life is good 😉 Steve

You obviously have more patience than me. It was such a badly presented, narrated and put together video I couldn't see it through. Steve

And we have to thank our UK government for not continuing to pay for European SBAS (EGNOSS) coverage, forcing pilots to use Baro RNP APCH procedures rather than the much safer LPV approach. Another great Brexit related success story! Steve

A non-standard Bluetooth Hornby system will be obsolecent well before the DCC standard decoder is. Standard DCC decoders are gaining more and more capability as the technology develops. Hornby's current offerings are step backward because they simply don't capture a lot of these advances (power output, number of consecutive sound channels, number of Aux outputs (lighting), Aux outputs to control servos, higher quality sound output, etc). Power still has to be fed through the rails. What's so wrong with using that same power supply to communicate with the decoder? Why would that concept become obsolecent, unless we can get to useable battery power? There would have to be large tangible benefits for any existing user in order to switch, especially with the huge the costs of switching to a new method of control. Certainly much more that "you can upload the free sound file easily". How many times will a fitted decoder have to be reprogrammed with a different sound file? The huge downside to Hornby's offering is that it is a unique eco-system, so the likelihood of being able to use different hardware or non-Hornby sound files are slim. I also suspect Hornby will only supply sound files for their own range of models. I think Hornby have introduced something of a gimmick. The upside is that I suspect it will entice lots of modellers into "traditional" DCC once they outgrow the Hornby system. Steve

I'm surprised you are doubting that AS will deliver the agreed quota to TMC. We're not talking Hornby here 😉 Steve

Fourthly .... mmmmm?????

Conditional line up clearances are pretty much the norm at LHR. Nothing really to comment on that already hasn't been said. Steteve

I agree. The thread title and OP text seems to point at issues with the loco, whereas it is the choice of decoder and it's programming that is the real issue. Of course, Accurascale are serving us really well in that they provide an option to buy "after market" decoders fully pre-programmed to capture specifics such as the correct lighting functions. Anyone purchasing alternative decoders are generally going to have to work out the appropriate function mapping and motor settings themselves. Steve

My Personal Cloud NAS still works fine and is visible through File Explorer on my PC as being part of my Network. I also still have the Seagate Media Android app on my phone. This also works as expected as long as I am on the same wifi connection as my NAS. As far as I am aware, the only functionality no longer "easily" available is remote access to the drive when outside of your home network. However this is still possible : https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/kb/nas-os-discontinued-remote-access/ Steve

Charlie with a big smile. Who knows what's behind the curtain 😉

Take a great looking loco and mutilate it. WIPACs are the invention of the devil 😂

Can I correct your post to "a proper decoder will go back in once I’ve had a play". 😉 😂 Steve