Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 01:20 PM, Jay Lennox wrote:
One limitation you should be aware of when using an LNWI - each one supports up to 4 connections, and if one throttle disconnects, the only way to get that connection available again is to power off and on the LNWI.? Otherwise they are very stable.
As I would only use one device I assume that means one connection.
Is the issue one of the LNWI running at capacity or will it do that regardless of how many devices are used?
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
I use the LNWI hooked via LocoNet for WiThrottle. ? I also bought an S88 / WiThrottle module from a guy in Poland. ?I don’t remember if I’ve ever used it.?
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On Mar 6, 2025, at 8:59?AM, karst.drenth via groups.io <karst.drenth@...> wrote:
? For a DR5000, that is correct. For a to YD7001 upgrade (YD9401) it’s incorrect. The YD7001 talks native WiThrottle.
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Re: 4018 won't enter programming mode
The Programming-Button issue indicate a failed PIC. You might try to swap the Fets however ;)
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Re: 4018 won't enter programming mode
Hi Karst,
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Thanks for the concise reply. :-)
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It will be in the waste bin just after I strip out the FET's - I have another 4018 that has a dead output. Someone once said to me that if the smoke doesn't come out you're not trying hard enough......
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Thanks,
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Pete S.
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
Jay,
Wow, sounds like you're dealing with quite the difficult crowd. Do these people have jobs? Jobs where they have to log into various computer systems? In terms of boot up time, I haven't timed it, but my Windows 10 PC has to be close to a minute, if not less, and it's a sub-$300 refurb from Amazon. Macs are really fast, but they are way overkill cost wise for running a JMRI server.
I think you've gotten really close on the RPi and YD7001+router. The RPi sounds like it's maxing out on the built-in Wi-Fi, which is terrible. I think it can handle a lot more clients with an Ethernet connection to the router. Handling the Wi-Fi connections in software is a huge drain on the RPi's computing power, whereas routers can handle that in hardware, and are designed for the task.
You can have multiple JMRI servers on the same LAN on different IPs, like one on the YD7001, and one on an RPi, albeit with a little bit more confusing interface on the UWTs, as they don't lay out the IP address right in front of you like WiThrottle and Engine Driver do. Interesting, the F2 thing must be a bug in the YD7001's WiThrottle server, I've never seen that in WiThrottle.
What issues have you had with WiThrottle server? The only wonkiness I've had are with the ProtoThrottle bridge, which is usually pretty good but occasionally requires restarting something to get it to connect. Right now I'm using a TCS CS-105 with LCC over Wi-Fi, so WiThrottle server bridges the ProtoThrottle bridge with the CS-105.
Alex
-- Alexander Wood Hartford-New Haven, CT Modeling the modern era freelanced G&W Connecticut Northern in HO TCS CS-105 - JMRI - ProtoThrottle - TCS UWT-100, UWT-50p, LT-50
Alexander
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Nice to hear from you again.? Yes, I personally agree that having 6 LNWIs is probably not the correct solution, if I was the only one involved in making the decision.? I have a large number of other club members who want a solution that consistently lets them run trains 1 minute after turning on the power to the layout.
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The view point of other members is as soon as we involve a computer they are reliant on it always 'coming up' cleanly.? Unfortunately, given the number of members who come on operations nights, this means a PC, probably running Windows.? We have had 14 members actively running trains on an operations night, and we have 2 new members to add to this load.
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I have tested a Raspberry PI 3B+ running JMRI and it tops out at about 6 or 7 connected throttles.? I have also tried out the YD7001 native WiFi / WiThrottle support and we got to about 8 or 9 active throttles, before this configuration 'maxed out'.? I set up a router and turned off the native WiFi support in the YD7001 and we got to about 12 active throttles.? I disconnected the LNWIs for these three tests.
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We are setup this way right now:
- 6 LNWIs connected via the LocoNet T port on the YD7001. Each members throttle assigned to a specific LNWI.? There are a few members who have 2 throttles, so they take up two slots on the 6 LNWIs.? Assigning throttles to LNWIs does not make efficient use of them, but this does provide very predictable and consistent connections so you can run trains within a minute of power on.? I acknowledge that is someone does not come on an operations night we are wasting an LNWI slot.
- There is a router connected to our club LAN, which gives WiFi access to the YD7001 without going through the LNWIs.? I personally use this, as does one other member.? If we have guests from other clubs show up, we connect them via the router/LAN.? There is one minor annoyance with going through this method - F2 is latching, which means that the loco horn continues to sound until you press F2 again.?
Members come to run trains, not debug problems.? Reliability and quick power on a keys to happy club members.
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Jay Lennox
York Railway Modellers - Toronto
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PS. I run JMRI on a Windows PC connected to my train room Lan/WiFi at home to allow my 2 TCS throttles and one cell phone to be used on my layout.? My granddaughters find that this setup works great because I am always there to trouble shoot any problems, and we do have glitches.
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
Alexander
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Nice to hear from you again.? Yes, I personally agree that having 6 LNWIs is probably not the correct solution, if I was the only one involved in making the decision.? I have a large number of other club members who want a solution that consistently lets them run trains 1 minute after turning on the power to the layout.
?
The view point of other members is as soon as we involve a computer they are reliant on it always 'coming up' cleanly.? Unfortunately, given the number of members who come on operations nights, this means a PC, probably running Windows.? We have had 14 members actively running trains on an operations night, and we have 2 new members to add to this load.
?
I have tested a Raspberry PI 3B+ running JMRI and it tops out at about 6 or 7 connected throttles.? I have also tried out the YD7001 native WiFi / WiThrottle support and we got to about 8 or 9 active throttles, before this configuration 'maxed out'.? I set up a router and turned off the native WiFi support in the YD7001 and we got to about 12 active throttles.? I disconnected the LNWIs for these three tests.
?
We are setup this way right now:
- 6 LNWIs connected via the LocoNet T port on the YD7001. Each members throttle assigned to a specific LNWI.? There are a few members who have 2 throttles, so they take up two slots on the 6 LNWIs.? Assigning throttles to LNWIs does not make efficient use of them, but this does provide very predictable and consistent connections so you can run trains within a minute of power on.? I acknowledge that is someone does not come on an operations night we are wasting an LNWI slot.
- There is a router connected to our club LAN, which gives WiFi access to the YD7001 without going through the LNWIs.? I personally use this, as does one other member.? If we have guests from other clubs show up, we connect them via the router/LAN.? There is one minor annoyance with going through this method - F2 is latching, which means that the loco horn continues to sound until you press F2 again.?
Members come to run trains, not debug problems.? Reliability and quick power on a keys to happy club members.
?
Jay Lennox
York Railway Modellers - Toronto
?
PS. I run JMRI on a Windows PC connected to my train room Lan/WiFi at home to allow my 2 TCS throttles and one cell phone to be used on my layout.? My granddaughters find that this setup works great because I am always there to trouble shoot any problems, and we do have glitches.
?
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
Jay,
SIX LNWI's? They're pretty terrible to begin with, but once you need more than four connections, it makes a LOT more sense to just run JMRI on a Raspberry Pi or a PC.
Alex
-- Alexander Wood Hartford-New Haven, CT Modeling the modern era freelanced G&W Connecticut Northern in HO TCS CS-105 - JMRI - ProtoThrottle - TCS UWT-100, UWT-50p, LT-50
Nags
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Yes, you can use the DigiTrax LNWI module to connect a throttle supporting WiThrottle protocol to a DR5000.? The LNWI connects to the DR5000 via the LocoNet T socket.? The LNWI converts WiThrottle protocol to LocoNet for transmission to the DR5000.
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At the York Railway Modellers club here in Toronto, we have connected several different throttle types to the DR5000 using this method - TCS100s, TCS50s, iPhones running the WiThrottle app, and Android phones running the Engine Driver app.?
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One limitation you should be aware of when using an LNWI - each one supports up to 4 connections, and if one throttle disconnects, the only way to get that connection available again is to power off and on the LNWI.? Otherwise they are very stable.
?
I am not trying to sell you on upgrading your DR5000 to a YD7001 using the YD9401 module, but this does allow you to get direct WiThrottle protocol support, plus other protocols simultaneously.? The other advantage is that if a throttle using WiThrottle protocol disconnects from the YD7001, the connection is immediately available for another throttle to use.
?
Full disclosure.? At York Railway Modellers, I converted our two DR5000s to YD7001s about 20 months ago.? They are very stable - we are still using our six LNWIs with them, and we are using the built in WiThrottle support to add additional connected throttle capacity. I worked with Karst over several months to request and test software enhancements.? He is very supportive of the customers using his products.
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Jay Lennox
York Railway Modellers - Toronto
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Re: 4018 won't enter programming mode
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 01:20 PM, Jay Lennox wrote:
I am not trying to sell you on upgrading your DR5000 to a YD7001 using the YD9401 module, but this does allow you to get direct WiThrottle protocol support, plus other protocols simultaneously.
Thanks for the info regarding the LNWI.? The DR5000 does the job and given it will be limited to one wifi app (Engine Driver) for personal use it should do. Down the track I might get a wifi controller but they're pretty x-ie down-under.
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
Nags
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Yes, you can use the DigiTrax LNWI module to connect a throttle supporting WiThrottle protocol to a DR5000.? The LNWI connects to the DR5000 via the LocoNet T socket.? The LNWI converts WiThrottle protocol to LocoNet for transmission to the DR5000.
?
At the York Railway Modellers club here in Toronto, we have connected several different throttle types to the DR5000 using this method - TCS100s, TCS50s, iPhones running the WiThrottle app, and Android phones running the Engine Driver app.?
?
One limitation you should be aware of when using an LNWI - each one supports up to 4 connections, and if one throttle disconnects, the only way to get that connection available again is to power off and on the LNWI.? Otherwise they are very stable.
?
I am not trying to sell you on upgrading your DR5000 to a YD7001 using the YD9401 module, but this does allow you to get direct WiThrottle protocol support, plus other protocols simultaneously.? The other advantage is that if a throttle using WiThrottle protocol disconnects from the YD7001, the connection is immediately available for another throttle to use.
?
Full disclosure.? At York Railway Modellers, I converted our two DR5000s to YD7001s about 20 months ago.? They are very stable - we are still using our six LNWIs with them, and we are using the built in WiThrottle support to add additional connected throttle capacity. I worked with Karst over several months to request and test software enhancements.? He is very supportive of the customers using his products.
?
Jay Lennox
York Railway Modellers - Toronto
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 02:59 AM, karst.drenth wrote:
For a DR5000, that is correct. For a to YD7001 upgrade (YD9401) it’s incorrect. The YD7001 talks native WiThrottle.
It's a bog standard DR5000. OK, it doesn't support the WiThrottle protocol 'as is'.
I have a DigiTrax LNWI module - I'll believe that should connect via the DR5000's LocoNet.
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4018 won't enter programming mode
Hi Guys,
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I have several DR4018's run from a YD7001. I cannot get one of the 4018's to stay in programming mode. I can push the button and the red light comes on, but when I release the button the light goes out. If I can't get the light to stay on I assume I can't reset the unit or program it. I have a 200 ohm resistor between C and 1 as per instructions!
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Is now a brick to be consigned to the waste bin, or is there a way to reset it? I just don't like throwing out something that could be recovered.
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Thanks
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Pete S.
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
For a DR5000, that is correct. For a to YD7001 upgrade (YD9401) it’s incorrect. The YD7001 talks native WiThrottle.
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Re: DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
I have the upgraded DR5000 with the YD9401 Upgrade Module, and it works fine on my Android phone with Engine Driver. On my 009 layout and it also controls MTB motorised point motors via Yamorc YD 8116 with no problems.
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I should also state the upgrade took some doing,? but with out the help from other members on here and else where I would have given up on it but it now works great.?
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DR5000 - throttle apps compatible with its WiFi
I know the Z21 app works (and I've used it) but I'm not clear about other apps.
From digging around it seems apps such as WiThrottle or Engine Driver need to go through JMRI or something like a LNWI module connected via the DR5000's LocoNet.
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Is this correct?
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Re: Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters
I suggest that the setting you want to change is the GPON/GPOFF to stop it forwarding short circuit events over LocoNet. I am not sure whether no highlight means it isn’t sent or it is sent, best to try both ?, though I think that it should be OFF i.e. not highlighted in green. ? You also want to enable Auto Retry after Short/Overload. ? Iain Morrison 07767 456746 ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Oldngrey via groups.io
Sent: 04 March 2025 11:18
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters? You need to change the options within the booster and tell it not to forward the short to the command station. You can change the actions in the track power options. ? I would also feed the turnouts directly from the YD7001 as an accessory bus and would not feed any track from the YD7001, only feeding track from a YD7403 which would ensure you can always operate the accessories, even when there is a short of the track.
Thanks for responding Iain, Did you mean the Button Action menu? It defaults to "Power On/Off Global", so could you mean "Power On/Off Local"? (I can't test that for a few days unfortunately) The only other option that looks promising is the Track Output menu where it has some Short Circuit options but none look specific to a global reaction to a short. I take your point on the turnout control YD8116s being fed from the Track Output of the YD7001 as an accessory bus. I did consider that and will probably do it now. Thanks.? In that case would you still have separate power supplies for each YD8116 or loop the power input pins to the signal input as is shown in the quick start guide? It would save a little money and let the YD8116 rectify some of the track power to power the module.
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Re: Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters
You need to change the options within the booster and tell it not to forward the short to the command station. You can change the actions in the track power options.
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I would also feed the turnouts directly from the YD7001 as an accessory bus and would not feed any track from the YD7001, only feeding track from a YD7403 which would ensure you can always operate the accessories, even when there is a short of the track.
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Thanks for responding Iain,
Did you mean the Button Action menu? It defaults to "Power On/Off Global", so could you mean "Power On/Off Local"? (I can't test that for a few days unfortunately)
The only other option that looks promising is the Track Output menu where it has some Short Circuit options but none look specific to a global reaction to a short.
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I take your point on the turnout control YD8116s being fed from the Track Output of the YD7001 as an accessory bus. I did consider that and will probably do it now. Thanks.? In that case would you still have separate power supplies for each YD8116 or loop the power input pins to the signal input as is shown in the quick start guide? It would save a little money and let the YD8116 rectify some of the track power to power the module.
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Re: Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters
You need to change the options within the booster and tell it not to forward the short to the command station. You can change the actions in the track power options. ? I would also feed the turnouts directly from the YD7001 as an accessory bus and would not feed any track from the YD7001, only feeding track from a YD7403 which would ensure you can always operate the accessories, even when there is a short of the track. ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Oldngrey via groups.io
Sent: 04 March 2025 07:17
To: [email protected]
Subject: Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters? My apologies if this has already been answered. I have several YD7403 boosters connected via Loconet B to my YD7001 Command Station. They work fine but I would prefer a short circuit somewhere on a track to only shut off the booster with the fault. As it is now, all boosters shut off and all tracks are powered off. I also use YD8116s to operate my switch machines. They receive their commands from the track, and so when the boosters have shut down the tracks I also lose the ability to change any turnouts until I clear the short. So the question is: is there a config somewhere that will allow the layout to power up with all boosters active BUT NOT shut off all boosters when there is a short.
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Short Circuits on Layout with several YD7403 Boosters
My apologies if this has already been answered.
I have several YD7403 boosters connected via Loconet B to my YD7001 Command Station.
They work fine but I would prefer a short circuit somewhere on a track to only shut off the booster with the fault. As it is now, all boosters shut off and all tracks are powered off.
I also use YD8116s to operate my switch machines. They receive their commands from the track, and so when the boosters have shut down the tracks I also lose the ability to change any turnouts until I clear the short.
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So the question is: is there a config somewhere that will allow the layout to power up with all boosters active BUT NOT shut off all boosters when there is a short.
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karst.drenth
Oldngrey