Select V1.2 and TTS....?

[dlaloum]

I have seen a number of postings about incompatibility between Select controllers and TTS (for versions of Select prior to 1.4)

Mine is 1.2.

I am planning (hoping) on configuring with Railmaster/ELink, and then handing over to Mr6yo, to run using the select.

Will this work? - Or do I need to send the select off for Firmware upgrade (non trivial as I believe I may have to shop it to the UK from Australia!)

 

Thanks

[Chrissaf]

Although you can connect a Select to an Elite as a walkabout. You cannot connect a Select to an eLink. So no it won't work as a combined controller.

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You would have to completely disconnect, power down and remove the RM / eLink set-up from your layout and then re-instate the Select controller in its place. Not only that, but if when using the RM / eLink combo you configured any loco or accessory decoders outside of the DCC address range supported by the Select, then the Select would not be able to control them when re-connected.

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Remember a Select has limited DCC addressing capabilities......1-59 for locos and 61-99 for accessories.......upgrading the Select firmware does not alter this limitation.

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Even if you went through the hassle of removing the RM / eLink combo and re-instating the Select in its place. This still does not address the issue of limited TTS function support. To get full compatibility with TTS functions you need the Select to have version 1.5 firmware or higher (version 1.4 also has TTS limitations). Just because you have set the TTS loco up using RM / eLink, this does not change this Select limitation as it is a firmware issue with the Select itself, that has nothing to do with how the TTS decoder is configured.

[96RAF]

Couple of problems in there  . . .

Select v1.2 will only control functions F0 to F8 inclusive so you will not be able to use the full TTS range of sounds.

Select loco address range must be within 1 to 59, so if configuring the loco in RM using eLink bear this in mind.

 

If you had an Elite you could still use RM and hang the Select on as a Walkabout controller, although the limitations above would still apply.

 

Although it is a pest, returning the Select to Hornby is the only way to get the v1.6 update done. At least them you get to use the full function range F0 to F28 inclusive and the Select will be able to change CVs, which at present revision state it cannot do.

 

It is a pity Hornby have not set up a dealer in Oz to be able to do the Select updates. It is not possible to do it yourself without specialist kit, as you cannot connect a Select to a PC as you would with the Elite.

[dlaloum]

I was afraid that was the case...

I have been hunting for a used Elite - but they appear thin on the ground (at anything approaching a reasonable price...)

Mr 6YO does have a Smartphone without SIM, and with security sofware installed.... so my solution may be to stick with RailMaster - but the simplicity of the Select allows him to set everything up himself... which is far more difficult once a PC is involved...

I'll probably give it a try, see how bad (or acceptable?) it is, and then review whether to ship the select back to Hornby or not.... currently awaiting the good/bad news from Hornby support as to how to get it upgraded and what it might cost...

If I find an economical elite, I will take that option, I'm big on making life simple - at a price.

 

Thanks

[Chrissaf]

The actual upgrade charge is £15.

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Normally for UK residents, that £15 also covers the return postage costs from Hornby. Whether the same Hornby policy is applicable for AUS I wouldn't like to say. Your sending costs to the UK would be on top of that.

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Yes the Elite would be the way to go for your particular issue. Your son can control the Elite using its knobs and buttons, whilst you have overall control from the RM PC concurrently at the same time.