Spangles

Using RailMaster 1.74 and a New Hornby E-Link controller I am unable to program long or short DCC addresses into locomotives fitted with non-Hornby DCC decoders. Using RailMaster to program the locomotive DCC decoders on the programming track, RailMaster reports back that the correct information has been written and confirmed, but when the locomotive is returned to the main track it fails to respond to its programmed address. I have verified that the DCC decoders have the addresses I set on the programming track afterwards and also confirmed that the E-Link only modifies CV 17 , 18 and 29 (for long address). I have found this problem with a Dapol Imperium (21-pin) decoder and a little 8-pin Gaugemaster DCC92 decoder. However, I have used the E-link to successfully code long addresses into two different Hornby locomotives with the R8249 DCC decoder. What am I missing here .........I am able (repeatedly) to reprogram the non-Hornby decoders back to address 003 and the chips work on the main track. I am also able to reset them repeatedly (using CV 8) to address 003. It seems to me that for some obscure reason the E-Link in conjunction with RailMaster 1.74 will not reprogram non-Hornby DCC decoders properly, or at least not communicate with those decoders after a new address has been set. One other issue I have with the E-Link is the response time when it is commanded by RailMaster, it takes about 1 second to implement changes in speed or function, which renders it practically useless for proper fine control of locomotives.

Thank you all for your excellent replies. However I am baffled by the bogie attachment. There is simply a plain pin or peg on top of the bogie that is straight sided and sits in the slot at the front of the loco. Do you have a photograph or drawing which makes it clearer please. I can see the slotted screw which holds the T-shaped part to the chassis , but what is designed to retain the bogie pin in the T-shaped part please ?/media/tinymce_upload/0a5ee0239d70a91a26d365d79b453955.jpg/media/tinymce_upload/92074def0e8d31eb3b2b965fd8ba30e3.jpg

Is there a tool to make it easier to insert the loco wiring plug into the tender socket on models where the tender has the DCC chip and pickups and the loco has the motor. If so what is the part number please? Also is the bogie on the R2850 Castle "Ince Castle" meant to be untethered from the loco and simply fitted by dropping the loco body over the bogie pin ? There appears to be no fixing of the bogie in the service sheet HSS 346C appropriate for this model.