Alan Kettlewell

Some info here about all that stuff - makes my eyes glaze over very quickly .. https://dccwiki.com/Address_Range Cheers ... Alan

Glad you have it sorted .. Cheers … Alan

Yes - silly isn't it! An example where some chip manufacturers have chosen to step outside the NMRA rules for their own reasons - to do with bits and bytes, 0 to 127 being one byte etc so some choose to make this the short address range. To avoid this confusion I don't use addresses from 100 to 127 at all. Cheers .. Alan

Hi Simon, I had a similar issue with a very old chip last year. I've copied a link to the post above. Basically the problem was that the old chip didn't support 128 speed steps and the simple fix was to change my controller settings to 14/28 steps. Can't be sure your issue is the same but you never know. I hope this helps a bit. Cheers … Alan

Hi John, Well I don't mind at all if it's of interest to someone...

I had it set to Private instead of Public - doh! Have set it right now, cheers ..

Stopping Distance Check So the speed profiling has been done and now it's time to test that the loco stops at the desired position. I'm going to run the loco under automatic control into Platform 1 of the main station. Here is a picture showing the settings for that block where you can see that the stopping place is 180cms and set to 'Middle of Train'. To explain a bit more, at the entrance to platform one block there is a reed which will detect a train arriving, trains are to stop exactly 180cms after the reed switch BUT in this case I've set it to 'Middle of Train' ie the middle of the train should stop at 180cms (not the front). If my train was 200cms long then the front would stop at 180 + 100 = 280cms, and so on. As an aside, different trains can be made to stop at different positions so for example passenger trains can stop in the centre of a platform but freight trains, if they have to stop, can go to the signal at the end of the platform. It now might become obvious why each train needs to measured. Anyway, I digress ... As measured earlier my Class 1044 loco is 30cms long, therefore I expect the front of it to stop at 180 + 15 ie 195cms. Finally, a short video showing my loco arriving in platform 1 under automatic control. The old paintbrush marks the spot exactly 180cms from the reed at the entrance to the block - the loco should stop with its mid point here (excuse my dead passenger lying there!) Well, not bad, about 1 cm overshoot so I could do a further tweak to the brake compensation to get it spot on. I hope all that wasn't too long winded and boring. It's quite a long process but this is what I do before a loco is let loose on my layout. Cheers … Alan

Continuing with the Speed Profiling... In the 'Speed' tab there are a couple of things to do before going on to the 'Automatic Speed & Brake' option. I've set maximum speeds of 100kph as I do for most of my locos on the layout. I don't run anything faster than that on my layout as I find it just doesn't look right - even on a fairly large layout like mine. Setting this here will limit the speed profiling range between crawl speed and 100kph. Also I set the deceleration and acceleration sliders to 0% for profiling. Later I'll amend the acceleration to about 50% but I'll leave the deceleration as it is because the software takes care of deceleration automatically. On to the 'Automatic Speed & Brake' dialogue box. The first thing to do is set the 'threshold speed' which is the slowest speed that the loco will move along smoothly. In automatic operation, a loco will be decelerated over a specified distance down to the threshold speed, where it will crawl along to its final stopping point. With the loco on the track, the sliders (right hand side) are used to drive it in each direction. Just little nudges are required until the loco crawls along smoothly, these speeds are then stored. The figures 83 and 73 you can see here are for internal use only. Once done we can move on to the 'Speed Profile' tab. This is a busy screen so I'll attempt to describe the key parts hopefully without re-writing the entire manual! Basically the system is about to take over and drive the loco backwards and forwards between two locations on a stretch of track. I have two reed switches on a long stretch of track, located at either end of my station, that I use for this specific purpose and these reeds will be used by the system to measure and calibrate the speed profile of the loco. The two reeds happen to be 346cms apart and I've entered this distance in the dialogue box. Note: 3+ meters is probably a bit long - it's recommended to use a minimum of 1 metre as any less will not give accurate enough measurements. 2 metres is probably a good distance. Anyway, mine are 346cms so it just means my profiling routine takes a bit longer - time to go for a cuppa while it's going on. Note that I've set the 'Contact Spot' at 4cm - as per my measurement earlier being the distance of the magnet from the front of the loco. On the 'Forward' speed chart you can see a small red circle showing that the profiling has started - the first pass is done very slowly at threshold speed, then the same in reverse. On the next pass the speed steps will be notched up a bit, then in reverse. Subsequently each pass will be increased until the loco reaches a scale 100kph in each direction. With each pass the speed table will be set until the whole profile is built for each direction. Once started, I usually go and get on with something else as it can get boring to watch... It's all done and the speed profile tables are complete for each direction. This process if done for every loco will ensure that all locos will be driven at the same scale speed and stop at the same stopping point regardless of motor type or characteristics. One final thing to do is test that stopping distances are accurate. I do this by setting up the loco to drive under automatic control on a schedule and put a marker at the precise point where it should stop say, in a platform. If it overshoots a little then a final tweak can be done by adding 'Brake Compensation'. Mine overshot a few centimetres so I added a figure of 10 to the brake compensation - the figures are not representative of a particular distance so a bit of trial and error is needed In the next post I'll show the final results of the test ...

Speed Profiling in Train Controller For those interested I've put a few pictures together showing the process of speed profiling in Train Controller. (I have the gold version so I don't know if the same methods are used in bronze and silver versions.) Speed profiling is a very exacting process and it is important as it enables the system to measure constant and correct speeds of all locos and ensure accurate stopping positions. By doing this for the whole fleet, stopping accuracy of any train or loco can be achieved to within a centimetre of the desired place eg in platforms or at signals. I should add that it's a requirement that DCC chips are BEMF enabled. Speed profiling can be done using several methods. I have reed switches fitted on my layout, so I have the system use a pair of these as a means to measure speed profiling. First thing then is to fit a magnet to the underside of my loco. I'm using the recently added OBB class 1044. For accurate stopping, it's important to measure the distance of the magnet from the loco buffers at the front, in this case 4 cms. The system will make this appropriate adjustment to ensure accuracy: Now I need to set this loco up as a new engine in Train Controller. Here's a screenshot showing my loco roster table overlaid with new engine dialogue box and where the loco address is entered: Further details are entered in the 'General' tab. I found the correct loco picture in the database and give it a name. As a standard practice I like to include the loco address in the name field - it makes it even easier to identify. Note that I've also input the length of the loco. The system will need to know this so you can avoid having long trains stop in short blocks during automatic running. Later, when I attach a train, I'll amend this length. There's also an option to put in the loco or train weight which will realistically affect the driving characteristics of the loco, however for now an arbitrary figure will do - again, I'll amend that later when I attach a train and it isn't necessary for speed profiling purposes. Next, we'll go to the 'Speed' tab ...

I've had to close down the tab, re-open it and come back to the thread before it's allowed me to upload further photos, hmmm... odd. I'll send a report to Andy York later. Meanwhile, back at the job in hand, I also like to set CV 29 to suit my preferences. I keep this handy table for easy reference when working out the CV29 address: I'm only interested in setting 128 speed steps (2) and the long loco address (32), so 2 + 32 = 34 .... There it is set. I don't need Railcom or DC enabled, at most I might add 1 should the loco run in the wrong direction - it's much easier to change CV29 than take the loco body off and turn it round, And that's about it for setting up in the App - easy peasy. Next to do is the set up in Train Controller - a fair bit more complex and a little duplication. Cheers ... Alan

Preparing for Duty I spent some time preparing a few locos for duty on the layout today so I thought I might as well document it and post up the process on here for anyone who is interested. There's two main aspects to the process being a) set up in the Z21 and b) set up and speed profiling in Train Controller. I've ommitted the part about initial testing under DC and fitting the DCC decoder as that kind of goes without saying - as it's a DCC layout! The first part is what I do in the Z21 App which is relatively straight forward. It's appreciated that folks have their own way of doing things and this is just my way - sounds like a Frank Sinatra song coming on! As usual I prefer to show things in pictures - paints a thousand words and all that. The loco is the OBB class 1044. First step, set up the new loco in the App. Very straight forward really, I didn't have a stock photo to use so I took a photo and uploaded it: Apologies for the poor photos, they don't come out too good when taken of a screen with loads of fluorescent lights in the room! Next I go into the programming screen to set up the address alter a few CVs. On these continental locos I prefer to use the loco class number ie #1044 in this case. I also set CV3 (acceleration) and CV4 (deceleration) to 1. I find this setting helps when it comes to doing the speed profiling in Train Controller later. [Hmm.. the system is refusing to let me upload another photo. I'll try in a new post ..]

After a few days of doing goodness knows what and not getting down the shed, but I did get some new locos chipped, at last today I made it down there and got some of these locos ready for duty on the layout. I'm well pleased with these two Austrian trains in lovely Montafonerbahn (MBS) livery. And this nice OBB class 1044 by Roco I set all the above locos up for duty today and ran them round a bit. They make very nice additions to my Austrian line up on level 3. I'll follow up later with a post showing how I go about preparing the locos for duty and work through the process of speed profiling in Train Controller. Cheers ... Alan

I don't see this for Android in Google Play store- is it in the iOS version? Cheers ... Alan

I do sounds. I use +4D Sound extensively and it is quite brilliant.. Cheers...Alan

Here's another approach. You could build your layout for DCC, but keep one track or circuit isolated and wired for DC. This way you could take a phased approach to converting your 200 locos to DCC, and importantly, spread the cost whilst continuing to enjoy seeing your analogue locos run around until they too get converted. It would be very simple later to convert the DC track to DCC, or you may decide to keep it as DC. Cheers ... Alan

I too have not got on yet with the new app track drawing tools. I have mine on a mini iPad so 7 inch screen and I use a touch pencil as others have recommended. I find it awkward to make a set of ladder turnouts where the turnouts need to angled ie not parallel to the gridlines. It can be done with them parallel and connected by odd looking short curves but then this takes up a lot of space. The other thing is the way a turnout will insist on trying to join to everything else around it when you try to move it, it even connects to itself with a ridiculous tight loop. So I gave up after several attempts and have stuck with the old app. Fortunately for me I don't need a track diagramme with the entire layout on it, in fact it's a bit big and I don't think I could do it anyway, so having several track screens with a cluster of turnouts suits me and for now I'm happy to stick with the old app - although I realise of course it will become unsupported at some time. One day I may get round to sending in a report. Cheers ... Alan

Interesting chat about current draw. I attach a picture from my layout thread that shows the Roco Z21 screen. Here it can be seen there's a current draw of under half an amp - this was two HO Locos, fairly modern models, one is running with sound on. This concurs with the info that more modern locos consume much less power than some of the older models. It's also an extremely useful tool to have available.

I'm also an original Hornby Zero 1 user, then after a lot of years away from the hobby I started again with a DC (analogue) layout. After taking a long time and feeding back what seemed like hundreds of wires to a mimic panel, I revisited modern DCC with some research - and saw the light! This triggered an immediate switch to DCC, 40 odd locos were chipped with Lenz chips, out went the mimic panel and in came a laptop computer for control - what a world of difference. This was 15 years ago and I've never looked back. My most recent layout is state of the art, it can be operated fully automatically by the computer, or I can drive trains myself, or a combination of both. I can trigger sounds anywhere in the room, automatically operate signals, level crossings or anything else you can imagine. I can automate shuttle sequences, have the system change locos automatically (ie unattach and attach locos from a train by the use of DCC uncouplers), play loco sounds for those locos fitted with sound chips, and even on locos without sound chips. The system will drive trains with full collision protection by interlocking routes, amend speeds to obey signals and speed limits, delay in stations a preset time. I can operate trains, points and accessories on the computer screen, on an iPad or tablet, on my smart phone or with a wireless handset. Visitors can also operate the layout using their own smartphones. I could go on but the list is endless. The reason for writing the above is to describe some of what can be achieved with DCC and what is already being acheived by many layout owners out there. Now, full automation or computer control may not be for everyone, and there is of course a cost to it all. The good thing is you don't have to go the whole 9 yards as I've done, but you can choose how far you want to go. One thing I will say is that once converted you'll probably never look back. As to equipment, I've deliberately left out direct recommendations because there are many good systems out there and you'll get more questions than there are answers. The single best two bits of advice I can give are A) visit as many DCC layouts as you can and get a feel for the systems available, go to shows and shops and talk to owners and providers. B) don't skimp on costs by buying cheap DCC decoders, they will disappoint. A couple of great makes have been mentioned already. Oh and a final bit of advice - just do it! And if you ever head north up the A1 through North Yorkshire pop in to have a play in my shed, the kettle' s always on. It may well be the most expensive free lunch you ever have, but worth it .. lol... Cheers ... Alan

Another addition to my metre gauge stock, I finally bagged a Bemo HOm Rangier Tractor I've been after for a while. This will look the part shunting around in St Gallenkirch bahnhof. Now I have three locos to get chipped and prepared for operations. My preparations for operation are fairly involved and include the following actions: Testing under DC Fitting a chip and testing Fitting with a magnet underneath to activate the reed switches for tracking on the layout In the Z21 set up the new loco and address On the programming track I'll check and change various CV settings and set the loco address. Also set and learn the sounds if it's a sound chipped loco. Usually I'll adjust CV 29 to my preferences and tinker with acceleration and deceleration settings Set up the loco in Train Controller Carry out speed profiling in Train Controller - speed profiling is quite an interesting sequence which I may do a post about sometime. Run it in. That's about it. If there wasn't so much layout to build I'd probably include weathering and detailing on that list, however I've decided to look at weathering on masse much later when the layout build has progressed more. Cheers … Alan

Ah you speak of Hans Peter Porsche's amazing layout - yes must progress quickly to that level. See you at the clubhouse later... Cheers ... Alan

Hi, Thanks, yes I wanted it to be high enough to duck under without bending too low - not getting any younger and all that... Cheers ... Alan

Hi, Thanks for the tip, twas taken using my phone but it's a modern phone with good quality cameras. I'll have a try with these different methods. Cheers ... Alan

Meanwhile, some action down the shed, even if it was just a big tidy up. At least now I can feel ok about making another mess!

To kill time during my recent time laid up I thought it would be a bit of fun to set up playing of some alpine horns across the mountains in the shed. Using the RR&Co programme '+4D Sound' and playing through the all round sound system in the shed I'm able to have Alpine Horns, or Alphorns, playing to each other back and forth from the two mountains at the end of the layout. Although it's not possible to hear it quite correctly on a video, the clever software actually plays the sound from the two different positions in the shed - the idea being to represent an Alpine call and answer across between the two mountains. Er...just one thing - I haven't actually created the mountain on the right side (the snowy side) yet so you'll have to imagine that for now. I also haven't got any Alphorn players yet but I'll order some of the Presier figures next time I have an order from Modelbahnshoppe-Lippe. Apologies for the poor video quality, I get flickering whenever the shed windows get in the shot. Anyway, just a bit of fun stuff... For those interested in the method, I create the individual sounds by slicing up a recording in a free sound editing software programme so that each separate part of the tune is saved in a separate small file. These small .wav files are then accessed by the +4D Sound software and arranged so that the first part of the tune eminates from the area of the first mountain, then the second part eminates from the second location ie the other mountain, and so on. As you can probably tell it is just one tune. Cheers ... Alan

Well it's turned out that I haven't got down to work on the layout at all this week due to no particular reason. The only visit to the shed was to take down some models and tools that I'd used up in the house during my time laid up. I can report that the mess I previously made down there is all just as I left it and waiting for me to do something about it. Meanwhile though this arrived in the post today: This nice EMU set is a RBDe 4/4 NPZ in Montafon Railway livery. Those who read my back story might recall that I fictitiously extended the Montafon line so this is a nice addition to my Montafon rolling stock and will look good running on my Austrian line through St Gallenkirch station. Right, must get on with some modelling. Cheers ... Alan