amdaley

No matter what I tried I couldn't get Rocrail to work with either my Nce Usb adaptor or my Power Pro System.

I have no problem connecting either of the above to JMRI so I'm just going to let Rocrail go & move on.

Regards.

Tony. 

2 hours ago, beejack said:

for Rocrail with powercab and power pro

see the link below 

https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=nce-en

I've been there.

I tried the settings in the picture but couldn't get it to work but I will try again.

Tony.

7 minutes ago, Nigelcliffe said:

If you look in the JMRI documentation for NCE, its pretty clear that the NCE-USB interface is for the PowerCab system, and is not for the PowerPro system.     

 

So, expecting reliable connection to a PowerPro via the NCE-USB isn't likely to be successful.    For the PowerPro, one needs a general purpose USB-Serial adaptor,  the various NCE support forums will indicate which chipsets within the adaptor are likely to work correctly (it seems not all are equal). 

 

If seeking automatic running, rather than just computer screen for human driving, then I think NCE is going to be difficult.  Just a human operator via computer screen is likely to be OK.   

 

 

Sorry Nigel perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

What I said was  NCE Usb adaptor or Power Pro system ?

My mistake.

I'm using the NCE Usb adaptor for my Power Cab but I have the Keyspan Serial adaptor for my Power Pro System.

Both work well with JMRI.

I want to try out Rocrail on both to see if i like it.

Regards.

Tony.

Honesty is always best Iain.

That's the end of ITrain with me so.

I have Jmri working with both my Power Cab & Power Pro system but just wanted to try both Rocrail & iTrain to see what they were like.

I am trying to get Rocrail to work with my Nce Power cab through the Nce usb adaptor but I'm having trouble with the settings in Rocrail.

I put a question on the Rocrail forum but there doesn't seem too many on there.

My NCE systems are working well & I've invested too much over the years to scrap it.

Regards.

Tony.

1 minute ago, WIMorrison said:

iTrain will 'work' with the NCE Powercab/Powerpro using the USB interface however it isn't recommended and the advice would be to purchase a more modern system.

Thanks for the reply Iain.

Why is it not recommended to run iTrain with NCE ?

Regards.

Tony.

Hi Everyone.

Is anyone on here running either Rocrail or iTrain with their NCE systems ?

I have a few questions which someone may be able to help me with.

(1) What settings do you use in Rocrail to get it to connect with your NCE Usb adaptor or Power Pro system ?

(2) Can iTrain be used with the NCE systems ?

Thank you.

Regards.

Tony.

4 hours ago, Alcanman said:

 

I think this is where the problem lies. I switched on the Power Cab this morning and it was working normally. I then started jiggling the wires coming out of the power supply unit and the red light went out.

By jiggling the wires again the red light came back on again and the Power cab worked . So there must be a loose wire which is interupting power supply.

 

Thanks for all the repies. Very helpful

 

I bought a second hand Power Cab some time ago & it had a similar problem with the cable leading into the power supply.

I used a product called Sugra Mouldable Glue to protect the cable going into the power supply.

I molded it around the cable where it enters the power supply & that has stopped the cable from breaking off.

Don't forget to take a look at the power supply.

I expect my 6 teak models to arrive in the next few days so I'll have a better idea then.

Based on the photos the Hattons version looks very red in some areas but that might just be the camera.

I've seen lots of variations of teak in my lifetime from very light to virtually nearly black in some cases.

If the colour in the photos is accurate it might be the background shade which is at fault.

You must also remember that most of us will be looking at the coaches from 3 or 4 feet away.

Perhaps they might benefit from a light coat of a dark wash ?

EDIT: 

My 6 GNR Genesis teak coaches arrived this morning.

The coaches are very nice but I feel that the teak looks a little washed out & lacks depth of colour.

When I have time I may try a dark wash to see if it gives the colour more depth & perhaps more definition around the panel lines.

The latest order brings my Genesis coach collection to an embarrassing amount 🙄

17 minutes ago, Johan DC said:

Genesis meets Chaldron

 

 

 

 

Have you tried them on a curve ?

1 hour ago, Ian Hargrave said:

The standard length. Inadvisable to use anything shorter although these are available. Makes a huge difference to both the operation and appearance. 

Are you running  the coaches on curves Ian  ?

Tony.

Thanks for that information.

Much obliged.

Regards.

Tony.

29 minutes ago, Ron Ron Ron said:

 

The sniffer bus port allows you to connect the DCC track output of almost any DCC system and use that system and its throttles, as input devices on the Z21.

You can't just use the throttles on their own, unless supported on the Z21 through the X-Bus and L-Bus ports.

 

In the case of NCE kit, you'd have to connect the track output of either the PowerCab's PCP panel, or the track output of the PH Pro or any booster being used, into the sniffer bus port..

In other words, you'd have to fire up the whole NCE system, to just use their Throttles on the Z21.

You can't just plug a PowerPro or PowerCab handset directly into the Z21.

 

 

 

Indeed, like other supported throttles, the LH101 can plug straight into the Z21, without having to use the Lenz system as an intermediary.

 

 

 

.

Thanks for that information.

It's really informative.

I'd searched everywhere for that information.

So the track output from the NCE system is simply looped through the Z21 using the sniffer bus ?

Can you control the output of an NCE system on the Z21 using the Z21 app ? 

Tony.

Hello Everyone.

This question relates to using different throttles with the Z21.
I have heard rightly or wrongly that you can use some NCE throttles with the Z21 using the sniffer bus.
Is this correct ?
What other systems / throttles can be used with the Z21 ?

Any information will be gratefully received.

Thanks.
Regards.
Tony.

1 minute ago, ChrisN said:

Hatton,s coaches are now appearing on EBay, at of course at inflated prices.

I'm surprised it took so long 🤔

I have 4 LMS coaches stuck in Royal Mail since Dec 5th.

All it said all along was "Waiting for the item" even though they already had it.

Now the tracking system doesn't even work 🙄

Wheel bearing might need a little lubrication.

The instruction manual should show you where.

Use a very light machine oil like one used for watches or sewing machines.

Use very little like a pin head of oil for each bearing.

2 hours ago, Sweetling Park said:

I am currently in the process of building my first layout (link to thread) which will be located in a spare bedroom.  The baseboards have been built in modular form and are constructed of 12mm birch plywood with PSE timber frames and supports, with backscenes around most of the layout.  At the moment the baseboards are still bare wood, but I would like to seek advice/suggestions as to whether they should be painted/sealed or not, please.  I understand that some modellers paint them using grey paint prior to track laying/adding scenics, whereas others just lay track and add scenics to the bare baseboards.  Therefore, I would be most grateful for any advice or suggestions, please.

 

I am also considering using Woodland Scenics Earth Undercoat for the scenic areas, but am unsure whether it would adhere to the grey paint or be best applied directly to the baseboards.  Therefore, I would be grateful for any advice on this as well, please.

 

Thank you in advance.

Since your layout will be in a spare bedroom its unlikely to be faced with a huge range in temperature.

Paint them with any wood primer available.

It will help with adhesive soakage when you get to laying track & doing scenery. 

Nothing fancy needed.

8 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

I've had them working OK down to something just over 2 foot radius.

 

What brand were you using ?

What is the minimum radius most 3 link couplings will take ?

Cheer.

Tony.

2 hours ago, latestarter said:

The layout is 8 x 4ft  and I'm using the Hornby Select decoder, although I think it's getting a bit worn out after 1 year's use. I'm looking for a not-very-expensive upgrade. 

I have sent you a pm Stephen.

Tony.

10 minutes ago, latestarter said:

Thanks again @amdaley (Tony). I put it on the programming track and it worked, at the original cv address. This made me think that the issue was with the track, but not the whole layout, as locos were working on other lines.

I've narrowed the problem down to one of two sets of points, which are next to each other on a straight line. I'm 90% sure that one of them is not creating a circuit, some of the time. At the moment, it's working, and I'll give them both a good clean tomorrow.

Thanks for your input.

That's good news Stephen.

Decoders will sometimes default to address 3 if subjected to a short.

What Dcc system are you using & what size is your layout ?

Tony.

7 minutes ago, latestarter said:

Hi Tony

Thanks for the reply. I do have a programming track, but I haven't tried the loco on it, yet. By 'read', do you just mean see if the address appears in the controller - or is there another test I should try?

 

The short might have reset the decoders adress to 3. Try address 3 & see if it responds.

Depending on what Dcc system you have you should be able to read the decoders address on the program track.

Put the loco on the programming track & see if you can read anything from the decoder. You could also try to reset the decoder by writing 8 to Cv8 on the program track. This should reset the decoder to its default address of 3.

Your dcc system user manual should have all the instructions you require.

The Hornby TTS decoder user manual will tell you what you can do with the decoder.

Tony.

HI Stephen.

Have you tried to read the decoder on the program track ?

Tony.