Locked Discovery: Reading & writing success using JMRI with TCS Wow decoders
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Greetings, I had read on here and a few other sites that programming TCS Wow decoders with JMRI can be problematic for some users, as Decoder Pro has difficultly reading the indexed CVs of the Wow decoders.? I tried it the other night using my NCE Power Cab and USB module and - sure enough - I experienced a number of "loco unknown" error messages before giving up on the idea. Today I received 2 sets of roller bearing stands (4 per set) that I ordered from Micro-Mark.? I'm presently WOAL (w/o a layout) and only have a programming track.? So the roller bearing stands will allow stationary break-in and programming of my locomotives until I build my next layout.? Setting up the roller bearing stands was pretty straightforward and they work well as advertised. This evening I decided to try again and see if I could read & write the CVs that I had programmed/changed in my Trix Mike; this time with it positioned on the rolling bearing stands on my programming track.? I fired up Decoder Pro on my Windows tablet, clicked on the CV tab, the clicked on Read Full Sheet.? Well, lo and behold - Decoder Pro read ALL the CVs without a single error.? Same went for writing the CVS.? And, presently, I'm reading & writing my other Wow decoder (installed in a brass H20-44 switcher) with the same success. So, what is it about a rolling bearing stand that would aid Decoder Pro in reading all the CVs successfully?? Is it the larger surface area contact between the base of the roller bearing stand and the rails with the "two-point" contact of the bearings with the drivers of the locomotive?? I'm not complaining.? I'm just trying to understand why the difference. Thanks for reading my musings and for any input you might have... Tom |
开云体育Tom JMRI had problem reading WOW decoder with a date of firmware before 31/10/2016 NO problems with current decoders. Gerry On 3/08/2018 2:44 PM, Tom Stage wrote:
-- Gerry Hopkins MMR #177 FNMRA Great Northern Downunder NMRA Australasian Region Contest & AP Chairman Web Administrator |
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Gerry,
Thanks for the reply.? I read posts from folks even into 2017 who still had read/write issues with their Wow decoders.? (Maybe their firmware versions were pre-10/31/16?)? Someone on another forum suggested that the stands are providing needed resistance and that is what's helping Decoder Pro with the read/write issue.? All I know is that w/o the stand I got reading errors using Decoder Pro and with the stand I get zero errors. Tom |
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Point taken and observed, David.? I did observe a few initial "No loco detected (301)" errors reading another WowDiesel locomotive.? Once I cleaned the wheels the previous errors were corrected by individually clicking the read buttons next to the CVs.? After that I was able to write the full sheet without any errors.
The use of the roller bearing stand is still preferable though, as the locomotive moves a little or a lot along my short 27" programming track, depending on the CV read. Tom |
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Tom,
? ? ?A while back TCS told me to remove the Keep Alive pack to program succesfully.? If you dont want to do that I suggest using the PTB100 programming booster.? Also I use Page mode in reading and writing my WOW decoders. ? ? ?Install a couple of track bumpers on your programming track to keep them from leaving the track and clean that track often. Roger ? ?? |
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So, in my situation, it was most likely a case of the programming track being too dirty to make good contact for reading/writing CVs.? Given that the locomotive moves anywhere from 1/4" up to 3-4" per CV read with the TCS Wow decoders, I think I'll stick with using the rolling bearing stands in the future.? It's a lot more convenient than repeatedly repositioning the locomotive to the opposite end of my short programming track every 6 or 7 CVs.
Thanks for the input everyone!? This has been a good education. Tom |
Tom Stage
Roger Merritt