Hornby E link + Railmaster Combination - Loco Programming?

[paul_bowes]

Hi all,

I received thr Hornby E link + Railmaster combo for chirstmas and looks really great. I have it up and running on a windows 7 laptop. 

 

The software is good and is recognising the e link after much difficulties sorting the device driver software but it is now working as far as I can tell. 

 

The loco I have first tried with the controller is a DCC ready loco with I have fitted a decoder into. The basic circuit works after testing it I am just wondering how I get it working with the Hornby E link. 

 

The E link was connected to the track through a DCC peice if track with a connector in (the one with the dot clamp things!). 

 

As I am new to DCC and I dont understand the programing of the locomotive on the software. All I have is a loco with a DCC chip in with a e link controller connected to railmaster. 

 

I have been very disappointed so far as It was a christmas present so really want it to work so nay help is much apreciated. 

 

If I can provide any more information please let me know. 

 

JAMES 

[trainlover23]

Read the manuals that is what they are there for

[Zues]

Not wishing to offend the op, but please read the manuals that can with it, 1/2 and hour reading is better than 1 hour of fretting why it won't work.

[Yelrow]

Hi paul, not easy starting off, a bit of tolerance needed.. You should not need to do much programming. Does your loco run on the track, you have made. The 2 wires marked track, from elink go into A and B on power rail; Once your circuit is live, then the loco should run, without any programming, as the decoder should be 0003. If nothing happens, you will need to make up a programming track, with 2 rails joined together, and wires from other side of elink, connected to this track. Then put loco on this  track. . You will then have to read CV, which if you cant follow in manual, come back, and we will help you through it.           normally, a new loco with DCC fitted runs out of the box. If your loco runs, you should be able to find it on list in RM, but give us some more details, first.  If i had had to read manual, when i started, my trains, would never have run. Fortunately, we have some patient guys on the forum john

[RDS]

Hi James

First of all, please do not be put off from asking questions by the very negative response you received from trainlover!  Most of the forum members are sympathetic to even the most basic questions from new forum members.

Can I assume first of all, that you have got RailMaster running on your PC.  Assuming you have:

There is an icon 2nd from the left at the top, with a representation of a Loco.  

Hovering over this icon, it says, 'Set up Locomotives'

Click on this icon and after a few seconds a window will appear.  Against the heading 'Locomotive DCC ID, there is a drop down box.  Pick the id of your loco from this list (It will be 0003 for a new Loco)

You can give the Loco a name in the box below it.

Then add shunt speed and cruise speed from the drop down boxes.  (You can amend these figures later if you wish but I suggest you start off with something like 10mph for Shunt and 50mph for cruise)

Click on the tick at the bottom right hand corner and then close the window down with the cross in the top right hand corner.

After this, your loco should appear on the right hand side of the main RailMaster window.

You should then be able to click on either shunt, or cruise to get your loco moving and STOP to stop it.  You will also be able to slide the control to accelerate your loco to a speed you choose.

Let us know if this works.  If not we will try again for you.

I also would suggest that you do have a look through the manual but this should get you up and running.  All settings you make can be amended later and it is recommended that you change the Loco id from it's default of 0003 because that id is always used for new Loco's and they need to be unique to be able to run more than one loco on your layout.

Hope this helps.  Please let us know.

[Fishmanoz]

RDS's is good basic advice.  In setting up your loco, you could find your actual loco in the list in RM by typing in its R number.  If you do that,ctheyll shunt and cruise speeds will already be there for you.

 

Note that with either of these methods of getting going quickly, you don't need to know anything about CVs or their reading or writing, as suggested by yelrow.  That's a more advanced topic to learn later.  Your next topic to learn is how to change the loco ID from the default 0003, and you should start by reading that section of the manual, noting it still doesn't require reading or writing CVs.

[paul_bowes]

Hi James

First of all, please do not be put off from asking questions by the very negative response you received from trainlover!  Most of the forum members are sympathetic to even the most basic questions from new forum members.

Can I assume first of all, that you have got RailMaster running on your PC.  Assuming you have:

There is an icon 2nd from the left at the top, with a representation of a Loco.  

Hovering over this icon, it says, 'Set up Locomotives'

Click on this icon and after a few seconds a window will appear.  Against the heading 'Locomotive DCC ID, there is a drop down box.  Pick the id of your loco from this list (It will be 0003 for a new Loco)

You can give the Loco a name in the box below it.

Then add shunt speed and cruise speed from the drop down boxes.  (You can amend these figures later if you wish but I suggest you start off with something like 10mph for Shunt and 50mph for cruise)

Click on the tick at the bottom right hand corner and then close the window down with the cross in the top right hand corner.

After this, your loco should appear on the right hand side of the main RailMaster window.

You should then be able to click on either shunt, or cruise to get your loco moving and STOP to stop it.  You will also be able to slide the control to accelerate your loco to a speed you choose.

Let us know if this works.  If not we will try again for you.

I also would suggest that you do have a look through the manual but this should get you up and running.  All settings you make can be amended later and it is recommended that you change the Loco id from it's default of 0003 because that id is always used for new Loco's and they need to be unique to be able to run more than one loco on your layout.

Hope this helps.  Please let us know.

Hi RDS, 

 

thank you you very much for the advice, it will defiantly come useful when I finally come to setting up locos. Unfortunately I have discovered another problem,  it seems there is a problem with the device driver software. i keep getting a 'code 10' error from windows and I have now tried both letting windows install it's own driver and using the Hornby one. neither work when oon railmaster, I get the message, along the lines of, ' cannot connect to e link com4.....' 

 

I have had had a look in the manuals but everything they say does and I have tried hasn't worked. 

 

Thanks ks for the help,

james 

[PJ_model_trains]

Hi James

 

Sometimes things seem very complex, a lot to learn, a lot to take in. A bit like starting a new job maybe, something you have not done before, and that is the key. You are learning something new but, having said that, you will be amazed have easy it all is, one step at a time, one bite at a time and you will have no trouble at all.

 

The RM Guide, a pdf file, is set out in sections so again read the parts you need to know about. One would argue you should read it all then come back to the relevant parts, sadly us men, most of us, are not like that. We think we know and get stuck in then refer to the manual when we get stuck!

 

Which ever method is best for you, reading all, or reading part, please at least read them first. If you get stuck after that come on here, we will help you there are some fantastic guys on here, a wealth if knowledge between them. Note, some guys have specialist knowledge, they may only read certain forums so be sure any forum help requests are in the right forum, general, dcc or RailMaster, this way your questions will be answered faster.

 

Get your set up working with just one train first, if you only have ine changing loco cv is not an issue, if you have more than one, no problem, once one is working you can soon change loco addresses for each of the train you have. 

 

The Hornby system is fantastic James, and advancing all the time. You are going to enjoy every minute of this fantastic hobby.

 

PJ

[96RAF]

If you can - report the problem in via RMs built in reporting system and ask HRMS to remotely help you set things up. They will make contact and take over your pc via your Internet connection and hopefully fix your problem.

[Yelrow]

HI, thats not unusual, as there is a connection sequence. So, unplug everything, turn off computer. connect usb lead to both. Turn on elink, wait. When fully on, only then, turn on computer, wait, let computer do its own thing, until all lights stop flashing. At that point, click on RM, first click should show antivirus, click again, should now go through. If it does not, disconnect elink, wait , then try again.  ignore com 4 message. If this all fails, repeat process from first line of my post. Let us know result. john

[PJ_model_trains]

James

 

I am sure RDS will reply shortly but, as I have just left a message I will reply here.

 

If you have done everything requested in the manual, open RM click one of the icons at the top for support, send your help request to HRMS (Hornby RailMaster Support) through RM software. I am not at home so don't have the software in front of me to confirm which icon to press.

 

You will get a reply from them but, it is the weekend after Christmas so please be patient

 

PJ

[paul_bowes]

Thank you all for your help, 

 

I have read through the sections of the manual I need many times and tried the process many times. 

 

I am going to wait untill Monday now and call HORNBY Customer Care and see if they can help. 

 

Thanks to all again, the help is much appreciated. 

 

James 

[PJ_model_trains]

Thank you all for your help, 

 

I have read through the sections of the manual I need many times and tried the process many times. 

 

I am going to wait untill Monday now and call HORNBY Customer Care and see if they can help. 

 

Thanks to all again, the help is much appreciated. 

 

James 

 

James

 

Please do as many have just suggested. Send help request through the link in RM.

 

The reason we say this is that it gives HRMS information from your computer, which helps them say what to do to fix the problem

 

PJ

[PJ_model_trains]

James

 

Following on from the above.

 

The information sent to HRMS through RM is only relating to your computer connected to RM, no personal data to be concerned about.

 

Also they may ask to access your computer remotely. Again this is safe, they agree a time with you sat in front of your computer and check and fix any conflicts found, our computers have so much software and anti virus stuff it is no wonder some have conflicts. HRMS are excellent, they may not need to access your computer but if they do be assured it is safe.

 

PJ

[PJ_model_trains]

Thank you all for your help, 

 

I have read through the sections of the manual I need many times and tried the process many times. 

 

I am going to wait untill Monday now and call HORNBY Customer Care and see if they can help. 

 

Thanks to all again, the help is much appreciated. 

 

James 

 

James

 

Please do as many have just suggested.....

 

>>>Send help request through the link in RailMaster.<<<

 

The reason we say this is that it gives HRMS information from your computer, which helps them say what to do to fix the problem

 

Sorry you received this twice, I pressed edit then save and it has added both here.

 

PJ

[RDS]

Hi James

I don't have e-link (I use the Elite controller) so I cannot offer help on the drivers for e-link.  I notice in your first post though, that you said your e-link was connecting to your PC after some problems with the drivers.  What has happened since?

Hornby RailMaster support had indicated before Christmas that they were working over the holiday period so I can imagine that someone from that team may have seen this thread.

I seem to remember that some people before have had some difficulties initially setting the drivers but as John (yelrow) has stated above there is a particular sequence to be followed.  I know you have said that you have read the instructions but it is essential to read an instruction and then complete that one on your system before moving to the next instruction.

[Yelrow]

Before you go to hornby support, try as i suggested. I had similar problems, and know this works. Even after support have helped, you will still need this sequence. john

[Fishmanoz]

As other have said, go to the Help window of RM and email RM Support from there. They are very responsive 24/7. There is little point taking to HCC about RM problems at any time. 

[paul_bowes]

Thank you all for your help, 

 

I have read through the sections of the manual I need many times and tried the process many times. 

 

I am going to wait untill Monday now and call HORNBY Customer Care and see if they can help. 

 

Thanks to all again, the help is much appreciated. 

 

James 

 

James

 

Please do as many have just suggested. Send help request through the link in RM.

 

The reason we say this is that it gives HRMS information from your computer, which helps them say what to do to fix the problem

 

PJ

Yes, I will go through RM, that seems the best way. 

 

Thanks again, 

 

James 

[paul_bowes]

As other have said, go to the Help window of RM and email RM Support from there. They are very responsive 24/7. There is little point taking to HCC about RM problems at any time. 

Ok, thanks for the reassurance. I will take a look as soon as I can and contact the, through there. 

James 

[PJ_model_trains]

As other have said, go to the Help window of RM and email RM Support from there. They are very responsive 24/7. There is little point taking to HCC about RM problems at any time. 

Ok, thanks for the reassurance. I will take a look as soon as I can and contact the, through there. 

James 

 

Do as soon as you can James to be logged in the queue

Holiday period and weekend they may have a number of requests.

They are very good and will contact you by email as soon as they can.

PJ