Mallards Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Hi like so many of the issues posted mine is linked to dcc elink. I am an experienced dc modeller and have had no railway for some time due to minor life events like marriage children and grandchildren. I am very confident around pcs so though a dcc computer operated layout would be fantastic. Having temporally laid track, dropped my droppers to dcc bus every track and wire all my electrofrog points as per manufacturers instructions, wanted to test the track. Loaded software and no problems, after changing a few ports and basic stuff. Drew a model track on the railmaster software and loaded on all info such as points. Elink controller has a green light on it. However my problem, can not run my only dcc train. Can not load points module into system, with programming track have tried reading cvs on loco but return is failed, have tried writting to loco cvs nothing but failed or error messages, even have tried decoder default reset using cv 8 set to 8 again failed messages. How do I know if the fault is with the decoder, or the elink controller. I have tried using my voltage tester but track shows either random readout or no read outs at all. Any one point me in the right direction. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Hi mallards, some simple points. Have you wired the programme track on 2 or 3 pieces of track, not joined to layout. Having done that put your DCC loco on, and read CV. If you can read CV, it should show 0003. If it does that, you know it is ready to run. No immediate need to change CV number, if you only have one loco. Report back, and our DCC specialists will help you further, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Hi mallards, welcome to the forums. Let's start with the very basics before you get to John's suggestions above, they are good but a little down the track as it were. Have you set up the program running as administrator, assuming you are using later windows than XP? Having set it up initially, on restarting, has RM asked to update to latest version 1.55 and have you allowed it to? Have you ensured it is not being blocked by your virus software? Assuming it has updated itself, there is a whole PDF guide on your desktop about this. And last question for now - have you double-checked that the port set is the one showing for the driver in Device Manager and is it below 5? Another way to get help is to email RM Support from within the Help window of RM. They are very good and responsive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Is your loco described as DCC Ready or DCC Fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallards Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 yelrow said: Hi mallards, some simple points. Have you wired the programme track on 2 or 3 pieces of track, not joined to layout. Having done that put your DCC loco on, and read CV. If you can read CV, it should show 0003. If it does that, you know it is ready to run. No immediate need to change CV number, if you only have one loco. Report back, and our DCC specialists will help you further, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallards Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 Hi thanks for your help. I have the software running with I think no probs. I have the program. Track separate with one piece of flexitrack wired to prog terminals. I am using port 4 ax all earlier ones are in use. I updated to latest version on line when I loaded software lady week. The loco was bought last week and fitted with decoder, I saw it running. Is it possible I could have damaged it or blown it somehow. The points decoder I have is also not working. Is there any way I can check if I have a short, or the elink is damaged or the engine decoder and point decoder have blown. With dc I could check voltage and see we're the problem would be, but unless someone can point me in the right direction I don't know we're to start looking thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 I would say most unlikely you have blown decoders, more likely you have an RM communications issue. Suggest RM Support is your best option at this stage. Email as I suggested above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 One thing to try is a different high quality USB cable as others have problems with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallards Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 Hi all, whilst I was asleep last night a little voice in my head took me back to when I was a child and learning how to model and build railways. One way I used to check the electrical conductivity was to listen to the humm from the controller, and when a short was made it would make a buzzer noise, or in later models the humm would stop. Would a digital transformer make the same noise. The answer was yes and when I connected the bus it went off so my problem is a short. After working around every point and dropper I found it to be a stupid mistake I made in soldering connectors across the frogs of a y point. Silly me. My thoughts are why did rm not tell me a short was the problem. Why does the elink not have a light or something to to identify the issue. Placed my loco on the track and no problems runs like a dream. Surprised something as easy as identifying a short is not fitted as standard to the elink. Will now try and get on with the track laying proper and enjoying my modelling . Thanks to all for you help and time responding I have every confidence I will be back soon with some more questions. Many thanks sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 hi, serves you right for fitting a BUS, there is a long post on this, as many of us do not have, and regard as not necessary. On a serious note, well done, Railmaster does show a short , on the screen of the laptop, every time one occurs, and you have to tick the green arrow, to clear it, otherwise you cannot proceed. Whole idea is for a derailement, etc, so i cannot understand why it did not show up. Did you have a track plan on screen, was laptop on. We are in 2 camps here, Old hands have Elite with RM, and us newys, have elink. So several do not use a laptop. Keep asking questions, if your points work first time, i will be asking you questions, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallards Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 yelrow said: hi, serves you right for fitting a BUS, there is a long post on this, as many of us do not have, and regard as not necessary. On a serious note, well done, Railmaster does show a short , on the screen of the laptop, every time one occurs, and you have to tick the green arrow, to clear it, otherwise you cannot proceed. Whole idea is for a derailement, etc, so i cannot understand why it did not show up. Did you have a track plan on screen, was laptop on. We are in 2 camps here, Old hands have Elite with RM, and us newys, have elink. So several do not use a laptop. Keep asking questions, if your points work first time, i will be asking you questions, john Thanks john, will do. Yes had laptop on and system running but never showed as short. Maybe because as short was present as soon as system started when powered up laptop it just moved into normal screen demo type mode, either way just going to gave an hour running trains, I have fitted two decoders now so have three lococ to test my system speak soon xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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