Bobbynomad

@BM All tracks and wheels cleaned regularly, Loco's serviced at regular intervals and what I did to this particular Loco (A Hornby Class 50) was to replace the silly "wire through a hole and held on with a plastic sleeve" connections. (Who thought that would last the lifetime of a loco?) and soldered the wires directly onto the PCB and wheel pick ups as it should have been in the first place. The loco has run perfectly since I did that, until I fitted the HM DCC 7000. After trying everything that was suggested with nothing working I phoned Hornby Tech line and because the decoder reset code I was emailed didn't work, a very helpfull chap gave me a "special" one off reset code (sorry, can't make it public), and hey presto, everything works. So why not just put one extra line in the quick start instruction that reads:- If the reset code we emailed you doesn't work, try Reset123. Oops, I've let the cat out the bag! I will continue to buy 7000's as I do think they are good - no, great value and I have a load of Loco's to convert. I just hope I don't have the same problems. I'm sure I won't. Thanks to everybody for the suggestions

@96RAF Accepted, but it is just a suggestion in the suggestion box !

How about making the app available from the Hornby website to download to your LAPTOP? Most laptops have bluetooth and then it can be controlled from your laptop, (with a mouse if you don't have a touch screen). Google Play don't allow you to dowload it to a laptop at the moment so why not do it yourself?

Hi LT&SR_NSE. No the skt isn't faulty or part faulty, they came out of the factory with the skt round the wrong way. Pin 8 is actually pin 1(orange) and the writing on the pcb which points to pin 1 is actually pointing to pin 8. As mentioned in above post, the loco is running fine with the old decoder in albeit round the wrong way as you would think but is actually round the right way - if that makes sense - All wheels regularly cleaned but thanks for the thought

So, after deleting app & decoder from phone, reloading everything it wants me to reset decoder - so, in goes the reset code - accepts it but the only way to get out of that page is to "dismiss" and scan again - asked for the reset number - put it in again and again and again. So yes Peachy, you and I have wasted our money. I popped the old decoder back in and the loco works fine. It goes back and forward and the direction lights comes on in the correct direction. What more can you ask for from a Hornby Loco? The DCC7000? It's going back to Hornby for a refund. Wish me luck

Thanks for the info 96RAF. I don't mean to upset the natives but as Peachy says, it is so frustrating watching the wheel of death going round and round. you mention "force deleting all decoders from the app on every device" One decoder, in one loco and trying to load it onto Andriod App. on one smartphone which is only 11 months old. It worked for a few minutes and then lost contact then it's on/off from then on. The Loco is sitting on one piece of R601 double straight with good quality wires soldered to the middle of the rails, which are cleaned to within an inch of their life, with a multimeter clipped onto the ends of the rails showing a constant 14.7 volts coming from the DCC controller. This is on the workbench not on the layout so controller to rail 8 inches, smartphone to router 2 feet, smartphone to loco 3 inches. (All in old money!) Can't find a whole series of how to guides and read through the troubleshooters on the Hornby site and nothing covers what I (and Peachy) are going through. I'll delete the decoder from the app - not sure how to force delete, and then delete the app (again) from the phone and the start all over again but at the moment neither the DCC controller nor the app are seeing the decoder. All I want to do is get the correct sound files onto the decoder and then run the Loco on the layout controlled by the DCC controller. I'm not interested in running around the layout with a smartphone in my hand. Thanks for your words of wisdom. It may be so easy for you who was involved in the pre launch testing etc but it doesn't make sense to someone who expects it to work straight out the box as it should. No doubt I'll be back on this thread or my original one after I have tried to reload everything and I'll try to NOT upset any more natives. Did Peachy ever get his up and running? No mention of it.

Peachy, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have ALL the same problems. Connection -no connection. Not finding the "host device"! Why not call it "The Hornby Decoder"? That's what it's looking for. Oh yes, that would look bad if they said "looking for Hornby Decoder" wouldn't it? Have you had any luck yet?I'm just about to throw my "host device" in the bucket. You'll find my rants and answers to:- under - Never know an app to be so difficult to set up. Wishing you the best of luck. Regards, Bob

Now it won't even work on any DCC controller even after resetting it back to #3. no one should have to waste this amount of time & effort to get a decoder and an app to work. How many of you out there have got the Andriod app to work first time. WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOAD. All you tube vids would appear to be apple.

Thanks Paul (not a Henry). I've read both those - don't cover any of the problems I've got. Loco moves - then stops. Loco moves an inch - loco looses connection with smart phone. Sound - no sound. loaded profile 5 times. I still think it's another pig in a poke. RAF96 asked me if I could name another Hornby pig in a poke I've bought and then closed the thread before I could answer him. Well this Class 50 I'm trying to get running with the hm7000 is one other. After going through several 8 pin decoders when I bought it, I read somewhere that they had come out of the factory in China with the 8 pin skt wired in reverse - turned the next decoder round - it worked as normal. There's a P.I.a P. if ever I saw one. They should have been recalled as soon as they found out!!!! NOW to the hm7000 - fitted it to the Class 50 (in reverse) and before the Andriod app was available (no mention on the box when you buy it that it's not yet available and even inside and to the contrary, in section 4). it actually shows Apple store AND Google play for the app, it ran perfectly albeit with a steam sound profile. Now the Android app is available this is where my troubles start, some of the listed at the top of this reply. Now on my 6th download of the profile it comes up with the message:- Error installing sound pack - ota_prepare- start. prepareOTAMode; error. The lid on the bucket is up and I hope my aim is still good.

Thanks for the info Steve. Before I had read it, I had switched everything off and gone for a cup of coffee to calm myself down. Switched everything back on and it would appear that it had "paired" with the 7000 and then "linked" with it. It's now coming to the end of the SPIROM update so fingers crossed. I found it very confusing. some of the screens mentioned in the installation instructions never appeared on my phone i.e "accept ALL permissions". That, along with others never came up. I thing an Idiots guide to:- is needed for those of us who don't have advanced software knowledge. lol! Down to the last few seconds of the update. Oh Oh, - Sound profile missing !!!!!. It's going to be a long night.

It says it "pairing"

So, at last HM DCC HM7000 for Andriod. Here's what I find,- Download the HM | DCC application using the QR code shown on the instructions, or search for “HM DCC” in your app store. Once the download is complete, open the HM | DCC app on your device. OK, done that Accept ALL permissions* ???? That doesn't come up in the app to ensure your application works correctly with your hardware. These can be altered within your device settings at any time. *Android users must ensure that Location Services, Bluetooth® access and Nearby device scanning (device dependent) are granted. Done all that ! It's found the HM7000-5FC4 - tap it - it says pairing but then come up with - Can't communicate with HM7000-5FC4.... it's 6 inches away!!! Power to the track from DCC controller - sound still going (allbeit factory fitted steam - quite funny from a diesel running round a track) HM | DCC will not connect to HM Devices without these permissions granted. Depending on your Android device, certain permissions may not be available for accepting on HM | DCC app launch; if this is the case, you will need to go into your Android device settings and grant these permissions for the HM | DCC app Done all that! Still can't communicate Anybody else had this problem

I've scanned the barcode on the box AND the instruction manual with my phone but it only takes you to the Hornby website NOT to the Google App Store. Now I read there is NO app for android phones!! How do I get the sound files onto my decoder without the app or have I just bought another pig in a poke from Hornby?