Post any questions arising from "First Steps with RR&Co"

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

So, I'm not making much progress.  I'll try putting some text in.  When I hit the OK button, I can only see text in two of the squares.  I tried right click dragging, left click dragging Ctrl dragging.  No luck.  I finally froze the computer.

I think I'll go and watch Inspector Rex until someone saves me . . .   :thud

Text insertion is not one of TC's finer points………………and requires patience :roll:


Make sure you are in edit mode  ie no spanner

Left click on the the first square to select it

Right click and drag to expose all the letters

I have done the same thing Max……………….too many clicks in unexpected directions and Mr Gates and Mr Freiwald in combination get extremely chilly…..freezing in fact

 

 

The turnout should physically move when you press test (even in edit mode)…………the whole idea is that match the movement on the screen with the actual. If they dont match you adjust the computor + and - ……no need to do any re wiring……its really cool

Geoff is correct…………….have you tested that the computor will physically move a point in operational mode

                                       do the addresses in the computor (on the connection tab) match the addresses in the LS 150

   Notice I use the plural………….each of the two motors has to have a unique address……………and they should each be connected independently into the LS 150       

HTH…………let us know how you get on

 

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

Make sure you are in edit mode  ie no spanner

Left click on the the first square to select it

Right click and drag to expose all the letters

 

I reckon that's what I have been doing.  I'll try it again.

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

The turnout should physically move when you press test (even in edit mode)…………the whole idea is that match the movement on the screen with the actual. If they dont match you adjust the computor + and - ……no need to do any re wiring……its really cool

Geoff is correct…………….have you tested that the computor will physically move a point in operational mode

                                       do the addresses in the computor (on the connection tab) match the addresses in the LS 150

   Notice I use the plural………….each of the two motors has to have a unique address……………and they should each be connected independently into the LS 150       

HTH…………let us know how you get on

 

According to the connection box, they have the same addresses as those in the LS 150.  The Edit button is always highlighted, so I don't appear to be able to go into ops mode at all.  The turnout icons change both in the box and on the plan, but nothing happens with the turnout motors.

I know the motors are working via the LS 150 as they will operate both with the LH 100 and with the Zug software (so the L1 USB is working as well).  The TC software is not connected to the Lenz system.

[user=422]Geoff R[/user] wrote:

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

Now I have all the turnouts configured and named.  I put in 2 seconds just to be sure.  I'm not understanding the text about testing them.  When I click on them, the Ops icon appears and the symbols change, but I don't hear the satisfying zzzzzzzzzzz from the Tortoises.  The Edit icon is still hilighted.  Yes, I have the layout turned on . . . :lol:

The LS 150 is working as I can change the turnouts both with the LH 100 and using Zug on the computer, but nothing happens when I change them in TC.  I told you I was thick!  :oops:

Max, have you tried clicking on the points in the Switchboard window when in operational mode, not edit mode? When I do that, the route for the point direction changes on the schematic in the window AND the point in question moves due to the command sent to the accessory decoder.

(Stupid question, but I suppose that you have set the accessory decoder addresses in the point properties in TC?)

Isn't what I have described above, setting the accessory decoder (LS 150) addresses in the point properties in TC?  Perhaps not.  It's not a stupid question, Geoff; I just have no idea what else to do.

According to the connection box, they have the same addresses as those in the LS 150.  The Edit button is always highlighted, so I don't appear to be able to go into ops mode at all.  The turnout icons change both in the box and on the plan, but nothing happens with the turnout motors.

I know the motors are working via the LS 150 as they will operate both with the LH 100 and with the Zug software (so the L1 USB is working as well).  The TC software is not connected to the Lenz system.

If you click on this icon you should be able to Toggle between [Operate] and [Edit]………….if you are in operate mode the icon at the end of the mouse arrow looks like the icon in the menu…………its covered in the tutorial in more detail

I am not sure exactly how you are running your system but there has to be some way that TC is connected to your DCC system……..in my case it is through a Lenz USB ………….you can see it on the turnout shot I sent you……what connection are you showing on your turnout connection window?

There is a section in the Tutorial dealing with connection…………….

 Select [Railroad] in the main TC menu then

 Select [Set up Digital System]

What do you see?

 

 

 

I'm using the L1 USB, the same as you.  I can see it in the connection box window.

I don't think I've done Set Up Digital System.  I'll have a look for it.

I'll let you know, John.  Thanks.

BTW, do you think the LEDs will be helpfull?  I'm on my own here, so I need to set things up to cope.

Cheers

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

I'm using the L1 USB, the same as you.  I can see it in the connection box window.

I don't think I've done Set Up Digital System.  I'll have a look for it.

I'll let you know, John.  Thanks.

BTW, do you think the LEDs will be helpfull?  I'm on my own here, so I need to set things up to cope.

Cheers

Establish which Com Port your USB is connected to

I suspect that in "Set up Digital System you may see " Lenz USB off line" select [Change] then  select [Select Port] scroll down and choose the Com Port

As a test set up a train window (assuming you have an engine set up)……if you are connected the direction arrows will show green and yellow and you will be able to operate the loco………….I always do this because it is easy to get the sequence wrong if you are bouncing between Lenz DCC control and RR& Co Control 


I thnk the LEDs are a great idea…….I didnt intend to put you off with my "Two Person Job" its just a bit finicky as you play with all the combinations

 

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote: 

 Select [Railroad] in the main TC menu then

 Select [Set up Digital System]

What do you see?

 

 

 

I see Connected Digital Systems "Lenz Digital Plus/ LI 100(F)  COM 1 when I try to add it, I get a box which says the Port is Offline.  When I proceed I get a box which says it cannot connect to the digital system.  Ensure that it is turned on, which it is because I can drive the Zug software.

This is why I can't operate the turnouts.  I need to find out now, how to connect TC to the Lenz.  :???:

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

Establish which Com Port your USB is connected to

 

I tried COM 1.  There are about 250 of them.  I'm wondering if the USB/TC doesn't like being connected through a powered Hub.  Rr&Co suggest a hub as a good idea to save the connector pins on the stick.

Maybe I should try plugging the USB LI straight into the laptop?  I can only try it.  Otherwise it should be COM 1.

I see Connected Digital Systems "Lenz Digital Plus/ LI 100(F)  COM 1 when I try to add it, I get a box which says the Port is Offline.  When I proceed I get a box which says it cannot connect to the digital system.  Ensure that it is turned on, which it is because I can drive the Zug software.

This is why I can't operate the turnouts.  I need to find out now, how to connect TC to the Lenz.  :???:

OK progress

Select Set up Digital Systems

Then scroll down until you get Lenz Digital Plus/USB

You are connected to the wrong Lenz interface

 

But then you need to get the correct com port

In Windows select Control Panel

                               Device Manager

                               Hardware

                               Scroll down to LPT/Com Ports

                                Open it up and you should see the comm port Lenz USB is connected to

That should work

  

 

 

 

Hi Max, just trying to think through where your problem may lie, I am not sure how your Zug software drives the layout. How is it interfaced to your controller? If it is via an USB interface, then you would see its COM address using the steps John has laid out above. If it was connected to your computer before the L1/USB, then I would very much doubt that the L1/USB would have been assigned COM1. Much more likely to be 3 or 4 or even higher depending on what else is on the USB.

 

Thanks, Guys.  I'm currently re-installing my L1.  When I moved it, it got the sh****ts and went on strike.  I have just about got it back on board.

The Zug uses the L1, so it should be the same port.  I'll try Johns tactic and report back.

My desktop (which I'm on now) also had a keniption today.  I've had to put a new battery in the tower.  I bought a powered hub for hit while I was at it.  What with Skype, 1Tb ext drive, printer, video cam, still cam, wireless keyboard et al., it's all a bit Heath Robinson under the desk.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as I have an aspirin, a cup of tea and a good lie down, as Granny used to say.   :pedal

Hopefully, Max, you will have now found the right COM port for the L1/USB, but I have just thought of something else that might cause problems.

I think you said that you are using an old computer and that it is connected to a hub. I don't know whether you know, but as I understand it, the Windows (including XP) registry, remembers every device that is ever plugged into the USB and assigns each to a unique COM port. That means that even if you plug in a device that you last connected a year ago, Windows will still assign the same COM port to it.

Sounds good and sensible, but there is a snag.

Although there are lots and lots of COM port numbers shown (128 in Windows XP, I think), the actual code (unmodified) can only handle 16 assignments!!! My knowledge may be out of date, but may still apply to an older machine. I wonder if you have already had 16 different devices connected to this computer in the past, and that it is unable to assign a COM port to the L1/USB??

I found the Device Manager, John.  On this computer it's right click My Computer, Properties, etc., etc.  Anyhooo, it says the L1 is connected to COM 4, so I entered COM 4 in the Set Up Digital Systems box and hit OK.

This is the error message I got:-  "Cannot connect to the digital system.  Please ensure that the system is connected and turned on.  Retry."

Now I KNOW that the L1 is connected as I can open the Lenz Server.  Besides which the red and green LEDs are alight on the L1 - and the yellow LED flickers when I run a loco with Zug.

I'm off to burn myself some dinner whilst youse Gurus ponder . . .

Well, I've even gone as far as uninstalling TC and downloading a new one.  I'm still getting the message that TC can't connect to the digital system.  I still can't put text on to my schematic.

Is it time to post my problems on the RR&Co forum?

:doublethumb   Success :exclam     I went to the forum and read some of the posts relating to connectivity vs Lenz.

I went back to my computer.  I Uninstalled all of TC - including the empty folder in the C drive Program Files.

I removed the RR&Co stick from the USB hub and restarted my computer.  Went to www.friewald.com and downloaded a complete new Gold version.  I used Run instead of Save.  At the completion of the installation, the software opened TC.

I was asked for a code or to insert the stick.  I inserted the stick and closed the box without hitting Continue and the demo schematic opened.  I connected TC to COM 4 and opened a blank schematic.  I put a turnout on the page and gave it a number, went into Ops and clicked the turnout icon.  Then came the sound of the Tortoise springing into life.

Clearly my previous playing with the old schematic during the free trial time just wasn't compatible.  I was avoiding having to make another track plan - that was the problem.  I reckon the other critical thing to do is not insert the stick until the software asks for it.

Anyway, thanks to all for your efforts.  Now I have to draw my track plan again.  Not to worry.  It's worth it to get past this bottleneck!

:Happy

Phew!  Even got the text in for the names of the features.  It's a bit of a worry that it still stops me every 15 minutes and I have to save and re-launch the schematic.  Maybe it will stop doing that after a while.

Glad you have got it working, Max. I wonder, however, if it is actually still in demo mode? I didn't think it was supposed to stop every 15mins when the stick was seen to be present. As you know, I have not purchased the stick yet. If I keep the computer connected to the controller, it does the same, stops every 15minutes. However, if I disconnect from the controller - either within TC software or by turning off or disconnecting the controller, TC keeps running. I find this useful for working on schematics and the like.

[user=422]Geoff R[/user] wrote:

Glad you have got it working, Max. I wonder, however, if it is actually still in demo mode? I didn't think it was supposed to stop every 15mins when the stick was seen to be present. As you know, I have not purchased the stick yet. If I keep the computer connected to the controller, it does the same, stops every 15minutes. However, if I disconnect from the controller - either within TC software or by turning off or disconnecting the controller, TC keeps running. I find this useful for working on schematics and the like.

Likewise Max :doublethumb

 

However it shouldnt be stopping every 15 minutes…………..it must think it is in Demo Mode still

Try cleanly closing down all the programmes and then the computor itself……………..dont disconnect the LI USB or the dongle

Reboot the computor

Start up TC

Your layout should automatically appear without the dialog box asking for a code showing at all

All will be well shortly :cheers