JST

Yes, I understand and sorry if I caused confusion. I currently use the eLink as a "booster" in as much as I use it to power the accessories bus run as the second controller by RM. I was wondering if the second Elite could replace the eLink in this set up.

BTW, just been watching Bob’s iTrain tutorial videos which are great and extremely helpful. Pitched at exactly the right level for me!

Yes, that all makes sense. It is just that when the ADSX decoders are all fired up at the same time the capacitors all try to charge up at the same time and trip the system - hence the phased switch on, but I guess the Z21 would cope in the same way. I run the track off the Elite and accessories off the eLink so achieve the ability to change points having shorted the track. Your input is very helpful - thanks. I have to get this all thought through before I take action as I am 150 miles from the nearest model shop and don't have the opportunity to try before I buy!

I think this is all pushing me in the direction of the Z21 plus iTrain. The Z21 only has a 3amp output as opposed to the Elite 4 amp but I guess that will be enough. My DCC Concepts Alpha Meter shows about 1amp at rest and 1.6 with a number of trains running. However, I will need a booster to run the accessory bus. Due to the 62 DCC Concepts points decoder outputs, I have to divide the accessory bus into 3 districts and switch them in one by one or else the eLink (with 4 amp power pack) trips out. I am wondering if the Roco booster at 3amp will be enough or is there a more powerful booster that will work with the Z21?

It seems you are not alone. To save me a load of research, can you tell me if it is possible to connect the Z21 to my computer, have the "clickable" track plan on the computer screens and the throttles on phones, iPads or Roco handsets? Thanks

It usually results in the status widow turning yellow and staying like that until I close and restart the programme....or sometimes it clears itself after 10 minutes or so. If the problem is the Elite/eLink "skipping" commands, would the same happen with commands from JMRI? I must admit that my first look at the Z21 is favourable and I could probably realise a chunk of the cash for it from the sale of my 2 Elites and the eLink.

Thanks Nigel. I have a spare/back up Elite that I could use instead of the eLink by way of a booster. I will investigate your suggestions. I am not at all au fait with JMRI so will do some homework.

I have only ever used Hornby control systems in DCC and when I read comments in this forum about Hornby gear they are very often negative. I am at the point of considering other systems but am not sure what my options are so I will set out what I have, what I need to run my layout and the bits I like (and don't want to lose) to see if anyone has any suggestions that will meet my criteria. So, what I currently have is:- Hornby Railmaster Pro A Hornby Elite running the trains A Hornby eLink (with 4amp power pack) running the accessories bus. A dedicated Dell PC with wireless mouse and keyboard 4 computer screens placed around the layout. 4 main line loops each of about 80 feet. a 60ft branch line 62 pair of points run by DCC Concepts ADSX decoders about 40 locos on the layout at any time about half of which are sound fitted and have stay alives. A Heljan turntable operated via Railmaster. I have Wifi in the loft but it is not strong and living in deepest rural France the internet speed is a tad slow! What I need is:- The ability to run the layout from anywhere in the room. The room is 30ft long with the layout divided into sections that are not visible from the others. Hence the multiple screens and wireless mouse (I scoot about on a wheeled office chair!) A track mimic diagram that is clickable and can be scrolled. The track plan is too big to fit on one page and I don't like the idea of changing pages. The ability to have multiple throttles open at the same time. At the moment I can have 10 (including my iPad and iPhone). The ability to set routes with one mouse click. To set and run programmes including background sounds. At least 4 amps track power and 4 amps accessory power, although more would be good. What I don't need is the one problem I have with the current set up which is that occasionally Railmaster loses connection with the Elite and eLink causing me to have no control over what is going on which can be a bit scary when you have 6 or 7 trains under way! Sorry the post is a bit long but I would be pleased to know if anyone can suggest a system which improves on what I have but retains the features I like. I don't mind throwing beer tokens at the problem! Cheers John

This one seems to imply that it can be fitted between the decoder and the lights.... is that right? https://www.layouts4u.net/coach-lighting-tail-lights/dcc-kits-and-tail-lights/anti-flicker-dimmer

Yes some TTS chips pause before the loco moves as it allows for some sounds to play before the loco moves off. As RAF96 says, it could be a speaker (wire come adrift?) but a re-set would be a good place to start. I have a Merchant Navy with TTS which plays up in as much as it works fine and then loses the sound until you re-set it (Zimo decoder on the way!).

Could be all sorts of things causing this. However, basic things first, which function key are you using to turn the sound on and which controller are you using?

Thanks Nigel. The snag is the decoders I have spare (and hence using as function only) are Digitrax DN136 (I think) and are tiny. Whereas I have soldered stay alives to larger decoders (e.g. Zimo), my eyesight and soldering skills would not be up to fitting them to a Digitrax and hence me seeking an alternative solution to the flicker problem. Actually I have just come across this :- https://www.layouts4u.net/coach-lighting-tail-lights/dcc-kits-and-tail-lights/anti-flicker-dimmer I wonder if it would do the job. Anyone used one?

I have searched through the threads on this but can’t seem to find the answer I seek. I have fitted LED strips the the coaches, fitted pickups, a function decoder and all works well. However, I want to fit an anti flicker device and am not sure how to do this and if it is possible, where in the circuit to place it. I am happy to make a device if told what components I need. Any suggestion? Cheers

Thanks. I will go and have a play.

Just been and checked. CV8 is indeed 101, CV5 is 255 and CV 6 is 001.

I am sure CV8 just said "Bachmann" but I will have another look.

Thank you. Will have another look but I seem to remember when I read the decoder that CVs 5&6 were "not available".

I have bought one of these "DCC ON Board" (fitted with a Bachmann decoder) locos from eBay and am generally very pleased with it. It runs smoothly with no high spots on the gearing. I had to run it in as it was one of these locos that someone bought but clearly didn't use much. The only slight issue I have with it is the acceleration curve. I have set CV3 to 30 but it still accretes on a sharp curve. By this I mean it starts off very slowly but then speeds up very quickly to cruise speed. Altering CV3 makes the time it takes to get to cruise speed longer but it is the slow bit that gets longer and it still accelerates too quickly. I don't know if it affects anything but CV2 was set to 10 and I altered it to 2. Does anyone have any suggestions for CV settings that may improve things or do I just bin the Bachmann decoder and fit a Zimo?

I am a tad mystified by the Elite bashing that goes on on this forum. I have an Elite running the locos and an eLink running the accessory bus (both4 amp supply) and the whole thing is run by Railmaster Pro. My layout has about 40 locos and 60 sets of points and has been working swimmingly ever since I set it up. My railway loft is 30ft long so I have 4 computer screens set up at various points, a wireless mouse so I can run the railway from anywhere in the room plus throttles on my iPhone and iPad. I take the point that some prefer a hand held throttle that has buttons to press but that aside my own experience with Hornby stuff has been fine. The advice about visiting a model shop is good, however where I live the nearest model shop where I could try stuff is about 200 miles away (deepest rural France!) so I looked at what was needed for my layout, plumped for Hornby and have not looked back.

That makes sense. Thanks Nigel.

Thanks for that - an interesting read. I still wonder why a TTS decoder should masquerade as a Dynatrol.

I have just fitted a TTS decoder to my Hornby Merchant Navy and it works well. Just one odd occurrence though - when I read the CVs in Railmaster, CV 8 came up with "PSI Dynatrol". What on earth is that? I re-read CV8 and it came up with Hornby Hobbies which was what I was expecting the first time. Nothing wrong here but I am just curious.

I have only just read this thread. Amazing! I was brought up in Exeter in the steam era and spent most Saturdays train spotting at ESD and Central so I love this layout. My own layout mimics the trains seen at ESD in the 60s but no way could I have done the track plan, Thank you and keep posting! PS I sold my Triumph Rocket 3 to fund excessive railway spending!

I guess you don't really need an accessory bus for the points or a booster due to the power requirements of your layout. However, the benefit of a separately powered accessory bus is that if you trip the power on the track for some reason (derailment etc.) you can still change the points. I have a separately powered accessory bus but then, I have over 60 sets of points all powered by DCC Concepts ADSX decoders so I need the extra 4 amps of the bus on start up!

I hadn't thought if that.... I will give it a try. Thanks.