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Locked Empire Builder User Report
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Jim Buckley
I know Bob has done testing with an Empire Builder but I'mAfter a couple of months of using the DB-150 (Empire Builder) and DecoderPro/LocoBuffer combination, I can report that it works great! I mostly don't miss the read capability -- I've adapted to seeing the results by running the locos. (Still have the PR-1 hooked up on a separate com port if reading becomes necessary). Very important! You must switch the output of the DB-150 away from the rest of the layout and onto a separate section of track which will serve as the programming track. I use a patch panel with banana plugs and jacks. Because the DB-150 has no "programming track" outputs like big brother DCS-100, you will use the DB-150's track power outputs for programming, so if it is in any way connected to the main layout, all locos on that layout will get reprogrammed with the same data. Ugh -- not good. Also, if you have more than one booster on the layout, you must use the one that is the command station for programming. A DB-150 set as a slave booster will not output the programming info. Couple of notes: From the DecoderPro opening screen, you will click on the upper "Use Programming Track..." button. All Read buttons on the DecoderPro are properly grayed out after selecting Empire Builder in the preferences. While programming, when you hit a Write button, the track power turns off and immediately programming begins accompanied by beeping from the DB-150 and the usual loco jumping -- all indicative of proper communication between computer, DB-150 and decoder. After each write is finished, the track power (annoyingly) remains off, so you must turn it back on with your throttle to test run the loco. Perhaps Bob could address this in the software by having track power turn back on automatically after each write. This is only an issue with the DB-150, not the DCS-100, however. Hopefully, I can answer any other questions anyone may have about my experiences with the Empire Builder and DecoderPro. Aloha, Jim Dinkey Creek & Lone Pine RR Honolulu |
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Wendell Camp
Jim I have my decoder pro on my home pc so I have to take my db150 and my test track to computer so I am not on layout the track outputs are to test track Also When I open decoder pro I have yet to see any reference to any buttons marked use programming
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track. Is it possible that there is something I am missing or something missing from my program copy Thanks Wendell ----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Buckley Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2002 3:37 PM To: jmriusers@... Subject: [jmriusers] Empire Builder User Report I know Bob has done testing with an Empire Builder but I'mAfter a couple of months of using the DB-150 (Empire Builder) and DecoderPro/LocoBuffer combination, I can report that it works great! I mostly don't miss the read capability -- I've adapted to seeing the results by running the locos. (Still have the PR-1 hooked up on a separate com port if reading becomes necessary). Very important! You must switch the output of the DB-150 away from the rest of the layout and onto a separate section of track which will serve as the programming track. I use a patch panel with banana plugs and jacks. Because the DB-150 has no "programming track" outputs like big brother DCS-100, you will use the DB-150's track power outputs for programming, so if it is in any way connected to the main layout, all locos on that layout will get reprogrammed with the same data. Ugh -- not good. Also, if you have more than one booster on the layout, you must use the one that is the command station for programming. A DB-150 set as a slave booster will not output the programming info. Couple of notes: From the DecoderPro opening screen, you will click on the upper "Use Programming Track..." button. All Read buttons on the DecoderPro are properly grayed out after selecting Empire Builder in the preferences. While programming, when you hit a Write button, the track power turns off and immediately programming begins accompanied by beeping from the DB-150 and the usual loco jumping -- all indicative of proper communication between computer, DB-150 and decoder. After each write is finished, the track power (annoyingly) remains off, so you must turn it back on with your throttle to test run the loco. Perhaps Bob could address this in the software by having track power turn back on automatically after each write. This is only an issue with the DB-150, not the DCS-100, however. Hopefully, I can answer any other questions anyone may have about my experiences with the Empire Builder and DecoderPro. Aloha, Jim Dinkey Creek & Lone Pine RR Honolulu To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: jmriusers-unsubscribe@... Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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Jim Buckley
Also When I open decoder pro IWendell... Sounds like you don't have the latest version of DecoderPro. Go to: Scroll about half way down and download the file JMRI.1.1.exe. Install as usual and away you go! Aloha, Jim |
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Wendell Camp
Jim I did the down load and installed still no joy decoder pro starts up showing 1.0.6 don't if this right ,still get error time out talking to command station, still didn't see where to choose pro gram track Wendell
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----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Buckley Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 3:26 AM To: jmriusers@... Subject: RE: [jmriusers] Empire Builder User Report Also When I open decoder pro IWendell... Sounds like you don't have the latest version of DecoderPro. Go to: Scroll about half way down and download the file JMRI.1.1.exe. Install as usual and away you go! Aloha, Jim To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: jmriusers-unsubscribe@... Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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Bob Blackwell
Jim,
I'm also a DB150 user and concur with your very detailed explanation of DecoderPro's operation. Turning Track Power back on at the end of a programming cycle is a great idea BTW. You've now got me wondering if Bob J could do this? Bob --- In jmriusers@y..., "Jim Buckley" <jim@j...> wrote: great! II know Bob has done testing with an Empire Builder but I'mAfter a couple of months of using the DB-150 (Empire Builder) and mostly don't miss the read capability -- I've adapted to seeingthe results by running the locos. (Still have the PR-1 hooked up on a separatecom port if reading becomes necessary).from the rest of the layout and onto a separate section of track which willserve as the programming track. I use a patch panel with banana plugs andjacks. Because the DB-150 has no "programming track" outputs like big brother DCS-100, you will use the DB-150's track power outputs for programming, so ifit is in any way connected to the main layout, all locos on that layoutwill get reprogrammed with the same data. Ugh -- not good. Also, if youhave more than one booster on the layout, you must use the one that is thecommand station for programming. A DB-150 set as a slave booster will notoutput the programming info.click on the upper "Use Programming Track..." button. All Read buttons on thein the preferences.turns off and immediately programming begins accompanied by beeping from theDB-150 and the usual loco jumping -- all indicative of propercommunication between computer, DB-150 and decoder. After each write is finished, thetrack power (annoyingly) remains off, so you must turn it back on with yourthrottle to test run the loco. Perhaps Bob could address this in the softwareby having track power turn back on automatically after each write. This isonly an issue with the DB-150, not the DCS-100, however.my experiences with the Empire Builder and DecoderPro. |
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Wendell Camp
jon I don't like being a pain but Ijust down load 1.1 I finaly see the test track or program on main my preferences seam to be set right but when I hit the write button I still get timeout taliking to command station writing cv29 closer but not there wendell
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----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Miller Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 12:25 PM To: jmriusers@... Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Empire Builder User Report installed still no joy decoder pro starts up showing 1.0.6<Wendell, This is a very old version, DecoderPro is now at version 1.1. The version on your machine,1.0.6 is four versions down! To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: jmriusers-unsubscribe@... Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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Jon Miller
Wendell,
Ok you are making progress. I forgot what is your computer interface, a LocoBuffer or MS100? Lets try a few things similar to what we are testing with Bill Rogers. Under "Debug" bring up the "LocoNet Monitor". Do you see activity, turn the throttle of a selected engine up and down and see what shows up on the "LocoNet Monitor" window. Does the line "Programming track is available" ever come up? Make sure the cable from the LocoBuffer or MS100 is good. Jon Miller AT&SF For me time has stopped in 1941 Digitrax DCC owner, Chief/Zephyr systems NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS |
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Wendell Camp
Jon I have a loco buffer and I do see Programming track is available on loco monitor Wendell
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----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Miller Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 2:24 PM To: jmriusers@... Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Empire Builder User Report Wendell, Ok you are making progress. I forgot what is your computer interface, a LocoBuffer or MS100? Lets try a few things similar to what we are testing with Bill Rogers. Under "Debug" bring up the "LocoNet Monitor". Do you see activity, turn the throttle of a selected engine up and down and see what shows up on the "LocoNet Monitor" window. Does the line "Programming track is available" ever come up? Make sure the cable from the LocoBuffer or MS100 is good. Jon Miller AT&SF For me time has stopped in 1941 Digitrax DCC owner, Chief/Zephyr systems NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: jmriusers-unsubscribe@... Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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Jon Miller
Wendell,
I'm not sure what DecoderPro is supposed to read with this but try taking the engine off the track and then programming. It should read something like "engine not on track". There were some comments on the Digitrax about DB150 behavior if you don't shut track power off before programming. The following is quoted from the Digitrax list. "What I have found is that if the track power is on during programming, the DB-150 will beep and then shut off the track power when you hit the enter key (DT-400) to complete a programming sequence sic Now, I simply shut off the track power before programming any locos on the track." Jon Miller AT&SF For me time has stopped in 1941 Digitrax DCC owner, Chief/Zephyr systems NMRA Life member #2623 Member SFRH&MS |
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At 10:31 AM -1000 11/2/02, Jim Buckley wrote:
While programming, when you hit a Write button, the track power turns offI hadn't heard about this. Could you check something for me? Run the "JmriDemo" application, and write some CVs using the "Simple Programmer" from the "Tools" menu. That should leave the power on your main track off after that's complete. Then, open a "Power Control" from the "Tools" menu, and click the "On" button. If that does what you want, then I can make it happen automagically. Bob -- -------------- Bob Jacobsen (Bob_Jacobsen@..., 510-486-7355, fax 510-495-2957) |
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Jim Buckley
I hadn't heard about this.It does! Automagically would be great. Thanks, Bob. Aloha, Jim |
Bob Jacobsen
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