geochoice Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hi, just realised my membership expires end January so dived in and managed 10% off elink and RM package and free carriage so expect loads of questions from me. Looks a great package and looking forward to using it on my N gauge layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo2 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 good choice BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If not already done so, download the trial so you can start playing, and more importantly, start reading the manual. You can then turn the demo into the real thing when your licence arrives, you don't have to reinstall, in fact better not to as you will only have to upgrade to latest again and you may lose what you've already put in the program. And we look forward to helping by answering the questions you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ_model_trains Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 geochoice said: Hi, just realised my membership expires end January so dived in and managed 10% off elink and RM package and free carriage so expect loads of questions from me. Looks a great package and looking forward to using it on my N gauge layout. Good choice, good luck. Also very good advice from Fishy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarH Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If the PDF Guide you download with the Demo version is January 2014 and bears the words "1.56 Version" Mum's the word!!! Excellent and well informed advice from Fishy actually PJMT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Fishmanoz said: If not already done so, download the trial so you can start playing, and more importantly, start reading the manual. You can then turn the demo into the real thing when your licence arrives, you don't have to reinstall, in fact better not to as you will only have to upgrade to latest again and you may lose what you've already put in the program. And we look forward to helping by answering the questions you have. Thanks Fishy, I have got the download from the site and part drawn the layout plan I am very happy that I can just take the licence and apply it to what I have already done on the pc. I will have to use it just for playing trains initially as I will need about 10 decoders for the points and the card is already caned to death! I have browsed the manual and it looks confusing and complicated, anyway I know from previous experience all you guys here are very helpful and it is reassuring to have your support. When I defaulted to N gauge I left the forum as I had nothing of Hornby except 2 reverse loop modules which work brilliantly but with the discovery of elink and RM I believe I can have a brilliant setup. Currently struggling with my homemade mimic board defining routes so hope this will make it easier. Not relishing the prospect of wiring in all the decoders though. I was going to use Tawcroft decoders, any comments? Will try and find what version download of RM and I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 GarH said: If the PDF Guide you download with the Demo version is January 2014 and bears the words "1.56 Version" Mum's the word!!! Excellent and well informed advice from Fishy actually PJMT!! Found the manual date and says September 2013 :-( is that a problem or just too bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarH Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 geochoice said: Found the manual date and says September 2013 :-( is that a problem or just too bad? No Geochoice that's fine but read it fully - I was just having a dig about an advance release of a later version that incorrectly appeared on the website and caused a few ripples. Enjoy the product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ_model_trains Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 geochoice said: ...I will need about 10 decoders for the points and the card is already caned to death! I have browsed the manual and it looks confusing and complicated, anyway I know from previous experience all you guys here are very helpful and it is reassuring to have your support. Not relishing the prospect of wiring in all the decoders though. I was going to use Tawcroft decoders, any comments? Hi Firstly don't worry about the manual being confusing, it isn't, it is just new to you. Best read it first and take in what you can, then when you have your software and are looking at certain aspects search them in the manual and they will make sense. Then a couple of months down the line, reread the manual and doors will open you didn't realise were there. Yes there are plenty of people on the forum to help you when ever you need help. Finally the decoders, I considered Tawcroft but in the end went for Cobalt, they are probably the easiest to set up. You say you need 10 decoders, do you mean 10 points to code, or do you mean 10x the number on a decoder board. Cobalt do a card with 2, a card with 4 and a card with 8 ports on this certainly brings the prices down in total. I used 3 cards which is 3 sets of 8, although I only use 20 of the 24 ports it made sense to buy 3x 8 ports which means I have some ports free should I need them later. Taking the ADS8 or ADS-8 as it is called the card consisted of 4 pairs but is one card. You just wire the power from your DCC bus to each set of two being 4 feeds in total then wire your points to each decoder port. It is easy and so is setting them up. Search ADS8 or ADS-8 in this forum and read the threads. Also search online for the best prices you could be surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papajulietdelta Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have Seep motors. Gave up with Esu decoders. Now use Tawcraft. Brilliant. However, I do use 24v dc aux supply to all my decoders. Bought a bench PSU on EBay. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 PJ_model_trains said: Hi Firstly don't worry about the manual being confusing, it isn't, it is just new to you. Best read it first and take in what you can, then when you have your software and are looking at certain aspects search them in the manual and they will make sense. Then a couple of months down the line, reread the manual and doors will open you didn't realise were there. Yes there are plenty of people on the forum to help you when ever you need help. Finally the decoders, I considered Tawcroft but in the end went for Cobalt, they are probably the easiest to set up. You say you need 10 decoders, do you mean 10 points to code, or do you mean 10x the number on a decoder board. Cobalt do a card with 2, a card with 4 and a card with 8 ports on this certainly brings the prices down in total. I used 3 cards which is 3 sets of 8, although I only use 20 of the 24 ports it made sense to buy 3x 8 ports which means I have some ports free should I need them later. Taking the ADS8 or ADS-8 as it is called the card consisted of 4 pairs but is one card. You just wire the power from your DCC bus to each set of two being 4 feeds in total then wire your points to each decoder port. It is easy and so is setting them up. Search ADS8 or ADS-8 in this forum and read the threads. Also search online for the best prices you could be surprised. I already have Peco PL10E motors fitted and working via mimic board, 30 motors in total, I propose using Tawfield Decoders to replace the push buttons in the mimic board, from the wiring diagram I can retain the 15 volt transformer currently firing the motors and use on the Tawfields. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Fishmanoz said: If not already done so, download the trial so you can start playing, and more importantly, start reading the manual. You can then turn the demo into the real thing when your licence arrives, you don't have to reinstall, in fact better not to as you will only have to upgrade to latest again and you may lose what you've already put in the program. And we look forward to helping by answering the questions you have. Hi Fishy So when the elink and RM package arrives I just use the activation code and the bits I have been playing with on the teaser demo will still be there ok to use? Sounds good so I can continue to design the track plan with confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Geo, yes, yes and yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 geochoice said: I already have Peco PL10E motors fitted and working via mimic board, 30 motors in total, I propose using Tawfield Decoders to replace the push buttons in the mimic board, from the wiring diagram I can retain the 15 volt transformer currently firing the motors and use on the Tawfields. Just looked at the Tawcrafts decoders. No technical info seems to be there although I understand from another forum they come with a leaflet which hopefully has programming instructions. More expensive than some st over £7 per point v £5 per point for ADS8 and ESU. Make sure you buy the one suitable for your peco solenoid motors if you go for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 papajulietdelta said: I have Seep motors. Gave up with Esu decoders. Now use Tawcraft. Brilliant. However, I do use 24v dc aux supply to all my decoders. Bought a bench PSU on EBay. Good luck. a Sounds like a plan to follow. I have a 15volt supply so I can connect that to the Tawcroft Decoder as the supply and use the track link for the code signal from RM. Got a good deal for bulk order decoders from them. Also read in manual that RM shows the point direction set by the arrow on the track, shame about the points only available at right angles at present as a great part of my layout is at 45 degrees. Hopefully Hornby will do an upgrade soon and sort this out. Will try and install RM with code and connect to track at weekend, replacing my NCE Powercab and run the locos from it while I save up for point decoders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 With RM and the loco setting there is a button for sound, does this create a sound from pc even without dcc sound on loco, or does it only operate a dcc sound chip onboard that loco? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Yes, those sounds come from your PC speakers, not from locos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geochoice Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Graskie said: Yes, those sounds come from your PC speakers, not from locos. Ooh will have to play with that then, can you select sound so my Tornado doesnt growl with the sound of a diesel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Don't think you'll find too many loco sounds, just background stuff. Then I may have the hat out again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yes, things like station announcements and people eating their own hats! They do not apply to s specific loco on your layout. You need sound locos for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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