gooie21 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 This software looks very promising and makes controlling a model railway very fun, and to an extent true to how controlling a real railway would be today. I do question though, If its possible to do this via a computer or a laptop, wouldnt it be possible to digitise everything, and have the Entire railway run from a computer without the need for the elite controller as a piece of hardware? Having all the software on a computer with, for example, a USB plugin which then requires connecting to the railway itself, eliminating the need to have the Elite controller and allowing the user to completely control the railway from their laptop or PC. I may be thinking too software based, but would anyone have recommendations as to how to power the railway? It wouldnt be possible through a laptop, but certainly through a tower PC with a good enough power supply in it. All hypothetical, but is this possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Gooie?!?, To run the locos you need to have some sort of device that generates the appropriate dcc control signals and supplies power to the track. In dcc-speak this is known as a "command station". To actually control the loco speed you need a "Throttle". The elite actually combines the finctions of "command station" and 2 x "throttle". You are not, however, obliged to use the elite throttles. YOu can have a slave (select) throttle or a computer throttle. I run my trains from teh elite sometimes. More usualyy I have software running on the pc that controls everything automatically. the command station is still needed to translate the computer ideas into dcc-speak. Does this make sesne?? Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 The Elite is relatively novel in having a computer interface built in. Most systems require the user to purchase an additional, separate PC interface. Your idea of controlling the layout completely from the PC and having a USB plugin is largely possible with the SPROGII ( http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ ) which is basically a decoder programmer (a very good programmer) which also has the abilty to drive a model railway from the PC screen. although it has a very limited power handling capacity. The output from the SPROG can be connnected to a DCC booster to increase it's power capacity to allow it to control a full size layout but if you do this, it's going to be just as costly as using an Elite.--------------------------------------------------------------------Rog :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Hi everyone, Thanks for telling me what you think about it. I still don't thhink I'll be getting it unless I win this months competition. The Eleit is too exspensive for me-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightstar Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Hi, I have seen it listed as low as £45.00. Try a google sesrch for Hornby Railmaster! bocaj said: Hi everyone, Thanks for telling me what you think about it. I still don't thhink I'll be getting it unless I win this months competition. The Eleit is too exspensive for me ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 When it comes to getting the elite, you just have too look around. I don't know if I'm allowed to say where, but I got my Elite, a pack of point clips, a load of loco decoders and a couple of accessory decoders for little over the normal elite price. All new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Brightstar said: Hi, I have seen it listed as low as £45.00. Try a google sesrch for Hornby Railmaster!<div class="previousPost">bocaj said: Hi everyone, Thanks for telling me what you think about it. I still don't thhink I'll be getting it unless I win this months competition. The Eleit is too exspensive for me ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game </div>I think you have read the post wrong, I said te Hornby Eliet is too exspensive, not the Railmaster but my Birthday is coming up so maybe I could see if I get any money and use that as a booster for getting the eliet. Jacob-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornbyjohn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Morning all, I am thinking of upgrading from my Select; the Elite/Railmaster package could be the next step, I am wondering how my layout could be put on screen, I have no idea of the part numbers of the individual bits of track, will the system cope with me "dragging" track onto the screen and eventually hoping the bits will join upHornbyjohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 If I understand it correctly, there is a track design facility built in to Railmaster.<br I'd like to give it a try before I commit myself to buying, <br--------------------------------------------------------------------Rog :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornbyjohn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Hi Rog, My first reading of the railmaster was that the code number for each bit of track was needed and I have finished fixing down the track and am playing with ballast, but a second and third reading makes me think that the track design will be more forgiving and cope with me!Hornbyjohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Hi everyone, I might be able to just afford the Eliet as I have found one for £170 so I might be able to get it. But I only would be able to use the Railmaster temporairly as I would have to use my sisters laptop as the USB cable would not stretch right across my bedroom. But At least I would Have It!!!!!!!-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Hi Jacob, Why not ask for a longer USB cable for your birthday, or dare I say, a laptop! WTD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Count yourself lucky Jacob - my computer is in my bedroom and my layout is in my grandfather's garage... 10 miles away... which I only see a few times a year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 walkingthedog said: Hi Jacob, Why not ask for a longer USB cable for your birthday, or dare I say, a laptop! WTD-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 bocaj said:<div class="previousPost">walkingthedog said: Hi Jacob, Why not ask for a longer USB cable for your birthday, or dare I say, a laptop! WTD ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game</div>Hi WTD, Maybe I could get a longer USB cable, I did not know you could get longer ones! I'll have to see if I get any money for my birthday and how mutch that is before I decide If I'm getting it or not-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junglehouse Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hi everyone, I've placed my order for RailMaster today as I've been waiting for this to come out for a long time. I tried running Railco (I think) by linking the Elite to my laptop but it never worked. I've only got a small layout - three loops and a siding but I found it difficult controlling three trains with just the Elite (put it down to my age!!) and with three children I no longer have to worry about them fighting over who is going to control the trains. In answer to Bocaj comment I do find it fairly fiddly switching between three trains and for some reason when I change from one knob to the other, sometimes the train being controlled switches from 1 to 2 - I have Thomas on 1 and Percy on the other. I'm controlling Thomas, then change knobs so I can control Percy and 2 becomes Thomas (so Percy is lost). I'm hoping that all these things will be solved by using the laptop. Also, I don't see it become less of the feel of controlling a train because the only think controlled is just a knob to control the speed so it will just be a "virtual" knob rather than a physical one. But I'll report back once I've had a chance to set it out. Regards, Tim bocaj said: Hi bulleidboy, I don't know mutch about the Elite controller but It looks quite complacated so maybe it would be easyer controling it via the computer. Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geon Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Very excited. Waiting to install my new Railmaster software. Do you know if I can install it on several computers? It says on the package that you need to register via the internet so I can't intially install it on my layout shed system as that is not internet connected. I have a small indoors layout and I would like to have it on a laptop as well. Now the killer - I've also ordered an iPad2 - when will it work on that? Finally, would love to connect in a traindriver console (for simulator). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geon Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 PS Frizinghall Model Railways have it in stock to get today if you are near Bradford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 No, according to the online manual you can't have it installed on several computers at once.-----------------------------Get off the line Bobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daroston Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Hornbyjohn said: Morning all, I am thinking of upgrading from my Select; the Elite/Railmaster package could be the next step, I am wondering how my layout could be put on screen, I have no idea of the part numbers of the individual bits of track, will the system cope with me "dragging" track onto the screen and eventually hoping the bits will join up Hornbyjohn Got my railmaster this week. The design section gives track sections which are not related to individual track sections as you would by them, so you don't need to know the part numbers. I do have a problem whith saving my point settings in the design section as the default setting. Does anyone know if the saved setting is determined by the placing of the signal lights, i.e. the position of the red v. green? daroston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasb Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 hii have just started to program my track plan and have hit a problem it appears that there is no way you can insert a point diagonally so cannot complete it there doesnt seen to be any help and information to set up only supplied very dissapointed if anybody knows how to get these problems sorted i would be very greatfull thomasb bocaj said: Hi everyone, Just wondering what you think of Railmaster. I don't actually like it as I think computer controll takes the felling that you are actually controlling a train away from model railways. So I will not be getting it! Please tell me your thoughts, Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMSTim Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I got my RailMaster yesterday and it took me just a few minutes to set up my track plan and locos. thomasb, the track designer works on the principle of a signal box mimic diagram so it's not supposed to be to scale and you don't need diagonal points. All of the points included allow you to do any configuration you like, so it's not a problem. It's a bit like the London Underground map, all horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, which also means you can put any track radius you like on there. You're not limited to 1st to 4th radius and it doesn't use Hornby track. Much easier than messing about with scale layout plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaj Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 Hi evereyone, thatnks for telling me what you think. Jacob-----------------------------------------------------------------Bechio has done it again for leeds, right into the top corner, Leeds have won the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooks Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Railmaster is excellent. Took me a little while to install it but the problem was with Visual Basic not Railmaster. Once that was sorted everything went well and very easily. I've got my track done and have points, locos and sound all up and running. The only problem I keep having is that, as I need my laptop elsewhere and have to disengage from the Elite, every time I reconnect it takes me a little while getting it to run properly. Something to do with com ports I think. Any way I, as Mr May would say, am absolutely chuffed with this programme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAN44 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 just got mine and will not load on laptop keeps coimg up with a fault stating MSINET.OCX file missing or incorrectly registered very frustrating on VISTA and followed all the instructions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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