PJ_model_trains
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Posts posted by PJ_model_trains
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It has been mentioned before but I include it here again with more details.
Signals positioned as seen by the engine driver
/media/tinymce_upload/d288faeae53ae04d5089aaf984399be4.jpg
This example shows two examples, the one on the left show the signal for the turn out but is very confusing. The one on the right shows the signal as seen by the engine driver approaching the turn out and is very clear which way it is for and which way it is indicating
/media/tinymce_upload/aefcbb3a4c74149a8cbd15ba461a3256.jpg
The images above show an horizontal section of track as seen on our layout plan, the left is how we would put a signal now, the right shows clearly the signal as the engine driver would see it and clearly indicates to the engine driver (and us the users) the direction of travel.
As signals are at present, when several or more points are in an area, the way they are indicating is not the way they should be indicating. The signals would need to cover 8 options N, E, W, S and NE, NW, SE & SW.
The above assumes signals and feathers click together (and work) which we are hoping for in the latest update, hopefully, 'coming soon.'
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Wouldn't it be nice to say April or May 2019 and be right!
There could be an influx of dates added after 7 January 2019.
If Hornby's reply is positive enough, we will have to wait a little longer to find out.
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@HRMS
Desireabe features for future RailMaster Software, we have added items on here for several years and have not seen a lot of them added in the software.
I cannot help but wonder if HRMS still has a list. Maybe you could enlighten us we would be so grateful.
We add items with best intentions, many are brilliant, others are asked for again and again, yet we don't even get feed back to say we cannot do this or that because, or we will implement this or that.
Happy Christmas HRMS, can we finish this year with a little word from yourself and let us know what will be added to the software in 2019, especially items listed by guys on here wh have taken time to list them for you.
Give us a carrot (not for the reindeer) tell us of the things, that we have suggested, that will be added during 2019. Please.
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Hornby Elite
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25 yards of Peco Streamline SL-100 flexi track ~ Hatton's
Looking forward to starting the new layout early next year.
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Are you still using 2 signals where you have a signal with feather, one for the signal and a 2 aspect for the feather. Although it works it makes the layout screen very cluttered don't you think.
Yes I am PJ, although, as you know, I do most of my running using programs, so the look of the layout diagram isn't so important for me. However, didn't HRMS say that they were working on making the feather a seperate, snap-on, configurable icon ? Or was that wishful thinking on my part ?
Ray
Hi Ray
Yes they did say that, a year ago. They said they had decided to make them separate as there were to many issues having the signal and feather as one element. It would work like a 2 aspect signal, on/off switch, which we know work they confirmed that also.
Except for the odd update and making sure people can log in to use RM, little else has happened.
Signals are so near being complete, yet seem so far away, almost forgotten about I can't help but think.
It would be nicce to get an update on here from HRMS don't you think.
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I wonder what the chances are of another Railmaster update before Christmas 😆
On a positive note Ray there are two chances.
If there is it will no doubt include 'minor fixes'. Not completion of unfinished tasks.
You will have more for your trains when you get to Christmas day Ray.
Are you still using 2 signals where you have a signal with feather, one for the signal and a 2 aspect for the feather. Although it works it makes the layout screen very cluttered don't you think.
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@HRMS
Please, please finish the signals, and include the feathers and theatre signals controlled like a two aspect signal with the simple on/off, red/green coding that you know works for the 2 aspect signals.
Thank you in advance
It would be great to see unfinished items and issues complete before new items are added, as much as we like new items. 😀
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I too would prefer a traditional Windows Desktop appearance (Windows 7 that is, not Windows 10) and less toy like. But I think the problem is that HRMS are trying to make the application GUI work for touchscreen and small tablet users too. As they say, you can't please all of the people all of the time........
I understand that Chrissaf, but there must be a way for the software to work on a PC one way and an Android or Apple hand held another way. IFTTT.
Take a Laptop or PC as an example, they could have two modes, the one that is now, chunky and bulky, which may be suitable as you say for touch screen also, but also a more Windows like approach also. So the user has the option in setup, beginners or touch screen mode, or advanced and more Windows like. Beginners and Advanced used here just to define chunky or Windows like, it could also be viewed as larger and small work items for those who have eyesight issues. I am looking at the icons in the message of the forum no one says they are to small, they may say not enough emoticons, but people accept the smaller icons, once you have clicked them you know what they are.
There is also the percentage screen view, this may work with both PC/laptop and mobiles/tablets, if there is an issue with mobiles/tablets just add it in to the more Windows like choice available only on PC/Laptops.
RM is excellent software, but it has so many restrictions that make it frustrating.
There is also the feather indicators on signals issue, we are still waiting for these in RM. They started to add the options then ran into issues. But they finally agreed last year the feathers would work individually to the siganl. Excellent decision, that meant the on off of the feather was no different to a two aspect signal going from red to green and back again, no other difference except the icon in the track plan. But one year down the line nothing has happened, and we have no idea when they will be implemented. That makes it more frustrating.
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2 more Peco electro frog double slip points Wife says these are to be my Christmas present from her. Probably the one I know about LOL
Another TP- wi-fi extender AC1740 RE450, they are brilliant. This one takes the wi-fi signal to the area just before my proposed layout room, an ethernet cable then links the extender to the PC in the layout room that way the signal strength remains excellent.
Can't wait to start building my next new layout in the new year. ;o)
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Another interesting thread.
The software is good, but when compared to RM I feel, RM has been designed to take programming away and let the user click button, which should suit a wider audience.
It is a shame RM is almost at a standstill point, there are many small items that could be done to improve the software, I have added some, mentioned in the past, in the suggested improvements for RM thread.
A couple of things that is very noticable with Rocrail, is that they do not have large clumsy icons and boxes, they also have the percentage screen view which a user can very easily make their layout fit the screen at the best size to suit them. Changes to these items would be a small job for the programmers but would make a big difference for the RM user.
I am with Ray, stopping with RM for now, but watching the options.
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@HRMS
I totally agree Ashbourne, it has been raised many times in the past but sadly it appears to have been left probably as those working on the software were working on more complex items at the time..
The loco boxes are far to big and take uo to much screen
The loco boxes could have smaller icons in them but could also have the ability to shrink them when not in use showing thr Loco name, and expand them ( to a smaller version than those now) when in use. This would allow more locos to be visible.
The track layout plan only allows 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% and 150%. as requested before this would be better for the user is we could alter the % to best fit the layout on screen. At present I have 50% showing for my proposed layout, with blank spaces either side, above and below. If I set at 75% I lose 25% of the length and height of the layout. At 50% point buttons and signals are to small, at 75% they are quite large. If we could alter the % ourselves I would be able to set at 60-62% approx, the layout would be easier to see.
I can supply screen grabs if it helps.
Again the isons at the top of the page are far to big, it is like going back to the early days of Microd=sfot and graphics programs, they soon realised the user gets to know the icons quickly, so they made them small, again it would increase the working layout area.
These things are much needed, has the software has developed points require extra track between them, double slips taking up around 5 sections for each.
Hopefully HRMS will look at improving these items and bring the software, visual and workable areas, making them more acceptable, more workable and more up to dated. Compared to most improvement requests, these should be relatively easy to do.
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Fishy the flashback was just to remind folk how old this project is and what the prices of the various declared bits were at that time. Goodness knows what the prices will be now.
PJ seems to have an insight behind the scenes so maybe he can trickle the odd snippet through to the forum - NDA allowing of course If he is so bound.
Rob
No insight Rob, but thanks for the invite. ;o)
I am just noting a few things visible to all.
Financial difficulties in the world, they hit Hornby, they previously hit Bachmann.
The uncertainties in the world market caused by Brexit
Further uncertainies caused my none democratic people who didn't accept the vote, and is still on running.
Further uncertainies by government and opposition, financial institutions, etc
It is no wonder Hornby didn't lauch LD at the time, or even now.
So my new date had to be outside the expected Brexit date of the end of March 2019, but there may be an extension of time, but there may be another general election, there may be... other issues, to many to list.
Remaining on topic, it is understandable why Hornby have not launched LD for RM, it is understandable we have not heard from them, because they do not know themselves. It is understandable the prices will be higher, we only have to compare with the TT sensor signal system, time has probably done Hornby a favour, if the market and their financial status levels sufficiently, that will just leave one question, how many will pay what ever the new price will be.
Allow me to add another date if I may Rob, keeping the post within the topic, my additional suggestion is...
30 November 2023, my 75th birthday if I am here to see it. ;o)
But then I would hope that I am still able to understand and install it, that is if by then I can afford it. Time goes on for us all.
PJ
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On a positive note I will start may suggested date with A.D.
My next suggestion would definately be after Brexit, (I could say more but won't).
So providing Brexit is March 2019, (LOL) my suggested date would be 10th December 2021
Now I am looking for the 'rolling on the floor laughing' - Emoticon
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Good points BB.
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I'm in the same camp with Yelrow. Unless soldering gives you a great deal of joy, it's not really necessary with DC, at least. For a while, I've fooled about with Lionel O27, in AC, and there is a marked voltage drop as the locomotive travels away from the power source, even in after a few yards.
Not sure what the formula would be for DCC, considering that uses an AC sub-current, but I would imagine DCC would necessitate a bus for smooth function.
That's the benefit of having a DCC Bus with sufficient droppers, you have a uniformly distributed power supply, the other I always think is if you do have a power drop due to a fish plate or similar, if power cannot get one way it is supplied from the another dropper.
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To add a DCC Bus to a layout needs careful thought and each person will decide what they think is best for them. If you have a reasonable size layout or a resonable amount of track with the layout it is worth serious thought. Again if you are to run more than one loco at a time it is worth considering.
The aim of the DCC Bus is to provide an evenly distrubed power supply to all areas of the track, if you have a weak fitting fish plate if can effect power to the next piece of track, with a DCC bus with droppers on every or every other piece of track you won't have issues.
One last thought, think and decide what is best for you from the start, it takes a little time in the early stages, it can be a big job later when you have got all your track etc laid.
I will be starting my 3rd layout in the new year, it will have a DCC Bus, the last two smaller layouts also had a DCC Bus, I wouldn't have a DCC layout without the DCC Bus. As mentioned above we cannot see what the DCC Bus is doing, but if an issue arises because a Bus wasn't fit you will certainly know, that is when the work begins, it is certainly easier to do it when you start the layout.
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I would think it is more like due to cut backs in the company due to financial issues, this included cutting back on 3rd party company software development, I think there is a much smaller team keeping things ticking over, but just my thoughts. Software advancements have been slow, bugs not getting fixed and running on and on. Frustrating for all I think.
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Loco Detection... ROFL
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Gosh hosh, are you still waiting for LD?
No wonder you are biting bones 😆
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Would it be possible to record log file entry times accurate to hundredths of a second i.e. hh:mm:ss.cc?
Ray
Summary
More accurate times in log file
Excellent suggestion Ray
It can be frustrating comparing programmed commands with log file data when the log file rounds seconds to the nearest full number.
Another suggestion if I may, although the above one is the most important, is to have the columns that are missing from the program file included in the log file, particularly the Notes column which I found helpful with so many commands and so many port numbers listed.
Summary: add missing columns from program file to LOG file, Notes is very useful
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Another suggestion is regarding the ROUTE box top right of the schematic layout screen.
The box is large, the text in it large, surely it doesn't need to be so big.
The more routes included in the list the worse it gets as the box toggles down over the layout plan.
Summary: make ROUTES box and text smaller in top corner of Layout screen
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Another suggestion is regarding the ROUTE box top right of the schematic layout screen.
The box is large, the text in it large, surely it doesn't need to be so big.
The more routes included in the list the worse it gets as the box toggles down over the layout plan.
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Excellent suggestion Ray
It can be frustrating comparing programmed commands with log file data when the log file rounds seconds to the nearest full number.
Another suggestion if I may, although the above one is the most important, is to have the columns that are missing from the program file included in the log file, particularly the Notes column which I found helpful with so many commands and so many port numbers listed.
Changing PC's
in Hornby RailMaster & TrackMaster
Posted
If you want to backup data that you have created within RailMaster, the files to copy are as follows:-
Resource.mdb This contains all of the locos you set up
Groups.dat This contains details of loco
groups you set up
*.pln These are track plan files
*.prg These are RailMaster program files for automation
You should never copy the entire RailMaster folder onto another PC or the latter installation will not work. RailMaster must be installed
properly from the CD or downloaded setup file. Only then can you copy the above files into the new RailMaster folder.
The program folder which contains all of the above files (assuming you did not alter any of the default setup properties) is C:Program
Files (x86)RailMaster. On Windows XP and earlier, it is just C:Program FilesRailMaster.
The next major update of RailMaster will contain a backup routine to automate this. In the mean time you can either copy the files manually, or if you know your
way around batch files you could create a small batch file to copy the required files onto another medium e.g.:-
Copy "c:program files (x86)railmasterresource.mdb" e:
Copy "c:program files (x86)railmastergroups.dat" e:
Copy "c:program
files (x86)railmaster*.pln" e:
Copy "c:program files (x86)railmaster*.prg" e:
The above batch file assumes your backup medium (e.g. USB memory stick) is located on drive e: although you can change this in the batch file if it a different
drive letter. Batch files can be edited in the Windows Notepad text editor and saved with the file name something.bat. You can then create a shortcut to the file and run it from a single icon.
Thanks for the bat file for RailMaster important
files.
Please confirm the same for TrackMaster are they just the .tp files?
Copy "c:program files (x86)trackmaster*.tp" e:",2013-10-21 13:00:17,2013-10-21 13:00:17,067781,5665,1491058,NULL,Judging by the size of the toggles n those miniature toggle switches