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

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

You seem to have given the contact indicators (maybe by default) the same address in each block…………I dont think that is a good idea. I am surprised you havent had problems…………….I would amend the contact indicator properties to give each one a unique address………….typically I give the contact indicator the number of the block it is associated with

I have just right clicked/Properties on the Blocks and the Contact Indicators.  I couldn't find a box named "Address," but there was one caled "Name."  If this is the Address box, then the Contact Indicators and the Blocks have different addresses.

For example:-  The name of Block 12 is called "Block 12."  The Contact Indicator in that Block is called "Western Track."

I've set up Stop and Brake markers in the end blocks.  I made a new schedule.  I hit Start.  The loco refuses to move.  I'm going to watch TV while I cool down.

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

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

You seem to have given the contact indicators (maybe by default) the same address in each block…………I dont think that is a good idea. I am surprised you havent had problems…………….I would amend the contact indicator properties to give each one a unique address………….typically I give the contact indicator the number of the block it is associated with

I have just right clicked/Properties on the Blocks and the Contact Indicators.  I couldn't find a box named "Address," but there was one caled "Name."  If this is the Address box, then the Contact Indicators and the Blocks have different addresses.

For example:-  The name of Block 12 is called "Block 12."  The Contact Indicator in that Block is called "Western Track."

Max i would of thought DR R was refering to the digital address rather than the name in general, i.e. the digital address number assigned to a contact indicator (CI). That error message is telling me that somewhere there is a CI called Block 12 and one called "western track" and they both have been assigned the same detector input on your LB101's not physically though just in the TC setup.

Fire your file over and i will have a poke around.

Now as to the problem with the schedules not running into blocks with stop/brake markers, you say you made some new scheds, try one of your old ones Max it should run into the block and respect the brake stop markers, if it is only your new scheds that don't work i suggest it is rules violation.

 

[user=450]wogga[/user] wrote:

 Max i would of thought DR R was refering to the digital address rather than the name in general, i.e. the digital address number assigned to a contact indicator (CI). That error message is telling me that somewhere there is a CI called Block 12 and one called "western track" and they both have been assigned the same detector input on your LB101's not physically though just in the TC setup.

:oops::oops: Sorry Max……………..Pete's explanation is much clearer……..I have to learn to be much more precise………..it is the digital address where there should be no conflict………..my apologies

Good luck with the schedule…………you will soon have it sorted………….this happens all the time with me…………I just take a deep breath check for obvious errors and then click on the message icon on the switchboard toolbar……I think you can get it from Dr Railroad but I just use Dr Railroad for structural errors and find its quicker to use the message icon to track operational errors

 

I should be more preceise as well, John.

Where do I find the digital address?

Morning Max, somewhere on your switchboard diagram you have placed the CI symbol, just put your mouse cursor over it and a window will open giving details about it and its digital address i.e. what input you set it to on you occupation decoders.




You would of assigned the digital address when you drew your layout and used the CI properties box which you get too when you double click on the CI in edit mode




It seems to me Max your blocks have a single physical CI but some how they are duplicated under different names.

Pete

Hi Pete.

I'm working on sending you the file.  I'll have a look at what you put in the last post.  Thanks.

I won't worry about screen shots . . .    The Contact Indicator has the address 66 (the LR 101) and 3 - the port number on the LR 101 that the LB 101 is wired to.

I'm still looking for the address for the block.  It will be the same as the CI because it is connected to the same LB 101.

Before I put in the CIs, the blocks used to work fine without them.  I only put the CIs in because the tutorial said I had to.  They don't seem to have made any difference to the way the blocks detect the locos.

:???:

Right i think i am with you there Max, the reason you need to assign the CI to a block is so TC knows the train has entered the block when that CI is triggered and it will then allow the train to react to the brake and stop markers. Try removing one of your original CI's and use only the one you assigned to the block, you should then see the error message for that particular block has now gone in DrR

I just went back and re-clicked the blocks in the Scedule with the Pick icon.  Nothing changed except that it worked.  :shock:  Go figure that.  :twisted:

The Brake/Stop markers didn't, so more work to do there.  I see you have just posted by my email.  I'll have a look and see what you said.  Cheers.

You should have my Track Plan by now, Pete.  JAAMOI (just as a matter of interest), have a look at the brake/stop markers in Blocks 3 and 11.  Can you see why they don't work?

Right max i think i have snagged it if you double click on block 1 for example and go to block editor, if you look carefully at the left end of the block you will see a small blue outlined block, that is another block in the block sharing the same CI as the main block. Click on the small block and delete it using the red cross to the right.

Blocks 2 and 3 are ok but the remainder all have the same problem delete the little extra bloks so all your blocks just look like this with the shortcut CI symbol in the middle.


You will notice some of the phantom blocks sharing the same CI hence your error messages.

Once you have done the clean up have go with putting the brake and stop markers in and all should be fine.

 

Righr.  Thanks, Pete.  I'll have a go at that.  Can you see any problems with my brake/stop markers?

Just ran the sim on your layout and there are still duplicated blocks  in blocks 2 & 3 but can't see them they are underneath, this is going to be difficult to explain how to get rid of them.

If you click on the block you will find that you can drag the blue edge to the right you will see it is still pink to the left this is the phamptom block underneath.


Select the phamton block and it will look like this without the shortcut CI delete it Max




Then you should end up with this stretch the good block out and you are done no more error messages

 




Max i had exactly the same problem when i started it was only because i went to the get together did i get my head round blocks via a demonstration so you ain't losing the plot, the manual is diabolical re setting up blocks


 

My brake/stop markers had gone from Block 3.  I must have forgotten to save them.  :oops:  That all works well now, thank you.  I just have to cut down the stopping distance a bit and reduce the speed of the loco - and add a bit of momentum - and . . . .

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

Righr.  Thanks, Pete.  I'll have a go at that.  Can you see any problems with my brake/stop markers?

No max they looked fine i think you will find in block 3 when you delete your phampton blocks your stop.brake will go with them.

i think poor old TC was just getting confused. just pop them back in and they should work

Oh one more tip, i set my brake/stop markers to work on the tail of the train since i was working to get them to couple or uncouple so the ass of the train was key

Yep.  That will be good, Pete.  The extra blocks were created when I was trying to put in my markers.  For some reason instead of clicking on the block to switch on the arrowheads, I was clicking on the Create Contact Indicator icon.  Doh! :oops:   Sometimes I think I have FITH Syndrome.  :???:

I have reduced the block speed to 60 km/h and that looks better.  I reduced the stopping distance as well; which has taken the pressure off the buffer stops!  I'm firing up the Lokprogrammer to add a bit of momentum (accel. time), which should help with the aesthetics as well.

I have another question.  Is it possible to have more than one Switchbard with Schedules in it?  It would look a bit tidier than having all the Schedules in the one folder.

Yes Max i think they are unlimited, go to window at the top of the main screen and select new dispatcher window it will be a duplicate of the first but ther must be a way of renaming it and editing it separately. i dunno Max we will work on that

That was a pleasing answer, Pete.  :thumbs