Harry

Thanks - will try that later and fingers crossed it doesn't fail! I got the following response from DCC Concepts: "Unfortunately, there is no memory in the ADS-*FX range. Depending upon the DCC system you are using, you may have a macro program that can do a "startup" reset. For example - the NCE Powercab. The FX range has now been superceded by the SX range. They have a memory feature that will reset the point relays to the condition when they were powered down. Other features added to the SX are a protective cover, integral self-discharge circuit and screw terminals for the LEDs." Which confirms what others have said. I will make a macro as suggested and will use the SX in the future I think! Thanks again for all the replies.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. It seems I need to upgrade for the next batch to the s8sx! I have an NCE power pro 5 amp system so route setting would be an option. I’ve also emailed dcc concepts just to check there isn’t a way with the decoder. Will post back if there is. Thanks again. PS - does anyone know how to re-centre the operating arm of the cobalt digital point motors while I’m asking about DCC concepts stuff??

Apologies if this is a simple error on my part but I have recently fitted a DCC Concepts ADS8fx to control the seep motors in my fiddle yard. It is a solid piece of kit and very easy to wire and set addresses and can easily throw 3 or 4 N gauge points at a time! However, I'm finding that it doesn't remember which way the points are set each time I turn off and back on and as a result, trains often short out the system when they travel over the points for the first time. I can solve it by switching each point once after turning it on so it remembers the address and before running any trains but I already have 15+ points and there will be in excess of 30 when this part of layout is finished so that will be a lot of points to cycle through each time I turn on. Is there a way for the decoder to remember the previous setting so I don't have to do this? Thanks in advance,

Thanks again everyone - excellent advice throughout. I have purchased a PSX1 which I liked the simplicity of. I shop at the physical Gaugemaster shop near Arundel and buy a fair amount from there so hopefully they’ll take the sniffer back! Thanks again,

Hi all - thanks so much for the replies and I think you’re right about it not doing what I thought. I’ve read back through emails I had from DCC concepts and I think I misunderstood them - the ast One said: ‘Adding the SNX is the cheapest way to get an accessory bus if you do not already have a DCC system or you have limited power on your DCC system and want to use a sniffer to create a separate DCC bus to control things like accessories. You can connect the SNX to the NCE Command/Cab bus via RJ12 however you will need an separate adaptor like the UTP to daisy chain the AEU into that RJ12 command/cab network as well. Remember that the AEU with Alpha Switch D is like a throttle but for DCC accessories only. The SNX in this case is a 1A booster and its output must not be connected electrically to the main track bus.” So I think when I put my alpha encoder and switch-d’s in you could connect it to that (although the AEU only has one rj-12 socket so don’t really understand how it can take signal from the NCE system and send it on to the sniffer. So in conclusion , if you wanted two completely separate buses you could have a setup like Mike in this post and use the sniffer for that (post 15) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/121974-control-panels-dcc-concepts-alpha-versus-lots-of-wires-which-way-to-go/ But where I still want to be able to control the chess pries with the handset, alpha switch-d’s and the laptop then I should just split the bus using a breaker and add a booster if ever needed. Many thanks all! You should all work on commission for DCC Concepts! Anyone want to buy a sniffer......

Thanks Nigel - that’s useful. I know the lack of manuals makes it hard to decide which product is suitable so I did send a diagram of my layout to DCC Concepts to check and they Ok’d this usage but I’ll ask them again what the issue may be. For information, I’ve attached photos of the manual that came with the sniffer as I don’t think they’re online anywhere. I have a real lack of knowledge about the circuit breaker approach (as this does sound an easy solution). Could you post a link to a suitable circuit breaker to use in this instance? I also thought this approach would reduce the available power to the track and accessory bus which is why I was going for the separately powered accessory bus but am I wrong with that thinking? Thanks again,

I’mhoping someone can help identify what I’ve done wrong with the initial setup of a new system using the DCC Concpets equipment. I have started wiring the accessory decoder (ads8fx) and wanted a separate accessory bus so have used the new DCC Concepts sniffer. This is connected to a separate power supply and directly to one of the outputs on a DCC Concepts alpha panel. I have attached a clear visual plan of exactly the components used and what they’re linked to. The system isn’t complete yet obviously but I thought with the attached setup I’d already be able to control the points with the NCE handset (it’s a power pro 5 amp). The problem is - when the system is turned on, it works and doesn’t short and when the cabs are plugged in to either the NCE panel or alpha panel they work UNTIL the bus wire from the panel is connected to the sniffer. As soon as this happens, both the cabs screens scramble and turn into random symbols etc (the first message is normally ‘for a normal display press xpn’ but no buttons work at all. It doesn’t short though. Missing out the panel and connecting bus straight to the sniffer from the NCE panel doesn’t prevent this either. Disconnecting the ads-9fx doesn’t stop it either. It seems I’ve done something wrong with the actual sniffer. The only thing that does work is if I miss the sniffer out completely and power the ads-8fx with the track bus but this defeats the object really as the layout will grow and I wanted the separate busses. If someone can look at the diagram and work out what I’ve done wrong, I will be forever grateful! Thanks in advance, Untitled Page.pdf

Great! Thanks very much - ordered 10 to start too see if they’re what I need and will then order the rest if so! Thanks again.

Hi - I’m bumping this question that I asked about 4 years ago as I have never found a solution and still have the same problem. My older spine wagons (about 12 of them) have still not seen any use in that interim time as I have been unable to source any suitable 5.1mm wheels for them. I have enquirer with all the suppliers mentioned above at shows etc but they have said they no longer have any atm wheelsets and the range generally is no more. Is anyone aware of any other suitable replacements or even another model that has the same size wheel that I could contact the supplier? (Already tried Dapol) Many thanks in advance.

I am very happy! Not only is the quality of the product good but I had a small fault with my first unit and after I emailed to tell them the company shipped a brand new unit the next day! Excellent service!

Hi All, Just a couple more snaps from my work with the Greenkeeper - apologies for the poor Photoshop skills! I blended a few layers to increase depth of field and (very poorly!) added a sky which I thought was better than the bookcase but maybe not!

I use a muslin from my youngest daughter (which the wife hasn't noticed yet!!) The layering spray seems to be similar to extra-hold hairspray but definitely has extra grip. I use woodland scenics scenic cement as the base layer as I've heard it's extra tacky then the layering on top of that which can almost be done instantly. There is a YouTube video demonstrating the spray here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v-E_ElExUts. To prevent too many of the fibres shooting out I touch the crocodile clip onto the metal base of the cup which seems to discharge any remaining static. I don't know whether this is bad for the unit or not but it seems to help. Thanks for polak tip - I'll have a look for that.

Wowsers -my rts Greenkeeper (35w) arrived yesterday and I had a quick 10 minute play today. I have had a grasmaster before, a home-made fly swatter and one of the intermediate cheaper ones of eBay. This is FAR better than all IMO. It covers well and the number of fibres sticking upright seem much higher than others I've used (including the grasmaster) I have attached a couple of pics (sorry the quality is poor - I had to reduce the size to fit with the limit but that lost a lot of the clarity!) - they are my very first attempt so nothing mind blowing but I'm hoping if it's that easy to use, it won't take long to get more realistic results. My two quick observations are that the WWS layering spray was very good and also fit for purpose - it is expensive for what it is but does the job well (I haven't tried strong hairspray to see if there's a difference but there seems to be). My second observation is that when I used the miniatur fibres everything looked very real - as soon as I tried to add some Noch, the colour looked very false. I'll be selling these on eBay and replacing with all miniatur! A great product. Only slight problem I seem to have fibres now attached to me and have made a nice little trail of them up to the bedroom. Wife unimpressed. She'd be even more unimpressed if she knew how much I spent on a machine to make small pieces of fake grass stand upright!!

Hi, hoping some one can reply from this thread (John maybe?) I ordered a 35 RTS nearly 2 weeks ago and received an email to confirm the order but haven't had it delivered yet or confirmation of it being posted. How long did it take to get to you from Germany? I've emailed to check all is ok but no reply and my German is a bit iffy! Thanks.

Great - thanks. They look just right so will hunt for a supplier.

I am hoping someone can help with a small problem. Over a few years I have collected an almost complete rake of 18 GBRF spine wagons by Dapol. They look great although I have an issue with about half of them as the wheels are very different. I am guessing they were produced in two batches and the first had much wider, coarser tyres and the latter had more refined wheels similar to modern wagons. The issue is the older wheel type derails frequently on normal Peco curved points and also won't go through some of my handbuilt n gauge points. Does anyone know where I can get replacement wheels from that would be suitable? I contacted Dapol directly (to be fair over a year ago now) and at the time they said they didn't stock the newer wheels as spares. The picture below will hopefully show the difference - one on the left is the finer profile! Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know what diameter the modern orange cable pipes are that pass under the track? I'm guessing about 4" (1.3mm in 4mm scale and about 0.65mm in 2mm) but would be handy to know so they don't look massively under or over scale. Many thanks - an interesting thread.