Lenz LIUSB

Discussion in 'DCC Control' started by Colin_W, Feb 18, 2017.

  1. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Is anyone other than Kieth and I using Lenz kit? I have been trying to use the LI USB pc interface with Windoze 10 but ran into all sorts of problems like ' No can't see that ', ' Well sometimes I can see it and sometimes I can't', 'So you are trying to load the chip drivers direct, you can do it then I'll update and dump them'. The new one seems to be ' I have dumped them and if you try to reload them I will stop and restart your PC', ' You put them in a "Non Paged Area"'. Well I didn't YOU! did.After some Web digging it seems that Lenz never updated the drivers after Ver 3.6 for the LVZ100 Command station came along and then went to an 'ethernet' interface. I'm sure the LI ran ok when I had win 7 as I used to use JMRI to program my engines (having the dreaded LH90 hand set, another nightmare).Keith has the LH100 hand sets which I have heard from several sources are great.
    I'm now in the process of digging out an old laptop and resurrecting Win 7 on it.
    This way madness lies. :headbanger:
    Now I feel better, apologies for the rant ;)
     
  2. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    I've heard an extra eye of bat or leg of newt works for some people Colin ... worth a try mate

    Ian vt
     
  3. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    We have Lenz at the club and can't get it to work with a PC link so we looked into it and isn't supported on the LH 100 set as it's way to old 20years plus been sent back to Lenz for update years ago but even the up date version we have is too old and doesn't support.

    So we are going to change to NCE very soon as the Lenz dosnt have enough functionality any more with modern sound decoders etc you cant unlock half of the options with the Lenz system.

    Best of luck let us know if you find a soloution with out resulting to Ian's witch craft:avatar:
     
  4. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I haven't tried using the Lenz L1usb yet, and on balance, taking into account your experiences Colin, I don't think I'll bother! Madness??? well, some of the things I've done in my time would qualify for that! Would the Ethernet version be a better bet Colin?.....not that I'd fare any better with one rather than the usb version.
    Not sure what you're referring to by unlocking the functions Chris, but on the V3.6 version, you do have switching for 30 functions, rather than 10 on earlier versions, is that what you mean?
    Keith.
     
  5. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Thanks Ian, I think the Newts leg worked.
    I have it working now. It appears there are no 64 bit drivers, which as Chris stated shows it's age and the interface software is out of the ark visually. I did however find a set of drivers for 64 bit systems here http://railway.zone/post/Lenz-LI-USB-64-bit-drivers-for-Windows-8 and they have worked on Win 7 64bit. I suspect the standard Lenz drivers would work on a 32 bit operating system. I did try these 64 bit drivers on Windoze 10 but ran into security problems which at the time I didn't want to go there. And indeed still don't. JMRI now works fine with Decoder Pro. I think I will now head down the DCC++ route but at least I can now program my decoders. Lenz is definitely for relegation. Out of interest Chris my club now run Gaugemaster on our layouts with wireless hand sets.
    Col
     
  6. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Hi Keith, depends on what operating system you have on your pc. If you have an old lappy you can stick win7 32 bit on it will run ok ( I think :lol: ) and the loading should be straight forward or use the 64 bit drivers I picked up, a bit more tricksy but do-able. It will give you access to JMRI and that is a good start, I'm just a bit cheesed off with it right now as I can't use my good laptop for it. I think when we spoke before about this I had found a way to load the FTDI chip drivers directly and it worked for a week or so then there was an update and it wouldn't allow me to reload them when I tried this morning. I did see a Win 10 security work around but if I remember rightly it involved messing with Registry Keys etc. Not a good idea really. Oh Well onward and backward. Does it never end. Time for a cup of Tea and a lie down now. :giggle:

    Col
     
  7. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    A quick update on this peeps. I managed to install the drivers from here: http://railway.zone/post/Lenz-LI-USB-64-bit-drivers-for-Windows-8 File
    Using this method from here Option 1 : https://www.maketecheasier.com/install-unsigned-drivers-windows10/ Read it very carefully !!
    I now have my "Lenz LI USB" interface working on Windows 10.
    It's all a bit late now though as I'm playing with a Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Linux).

    It seemed straight forward enough but take care and do read the instructions very closely. I also seem to remember the drivers have to be installed twice.

    Col
     
  8. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I haven't done anything more on this for some months now as I'm not into banging my head against a brick wall Colin, but thanks for the update, and I'll look at this again when I'm in the right frame of mind to attempt it.:thumbup:

    Keith.
     
  9. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    You could try running a Virtual machine and load the 32bit version of win7, then install the 32bit drivers on the virtual machine.

    Shame to see good hardware go obsolete due to a PC "upgrade"

    Paul
     
  10. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Only just caught this thread.
    I'm a (happy) Lenz user on Win10 64bit. I do have the latest LI USB/Ethernet interface but only using the USB connection not the Ethernet. I've had my Lenz setup since 2003 it's been (factory) updated to the latest firmware. I feel I've had my monies worth many times over, it's been rock solid and reliable and outlasted the 4/5? computers it's been connected to over that period. The only thing that's 'bitten' me was at the point serial ports were no longer fitted to new computers - so my original LIUSB no longer had anywhere to plug into. No worries me thinks - get a USB-Serial converter cord and we're away. But no, as I later discovered there are good USB-Serial converters and bad ones. I now know it's easy to tell which is which - the price. If it's made by Belkin or such and costs around GBP50 it'll work as it should - Windoze will handle it's drivers and updates with aplomb, but if it's on eBay for GBP2 it's a nasty cheap Chinese pirate chip - it'll come with drivers that'll just work, but unless you can protect those drivers from updates (which is a pain, and not what you want to do) - it'll fail in days. At which point I said f'this and simply bought a new LIUSBETHERNET plugged it into the 15 year old LZV100 and away we went. It was later I learnt why, went back and established that the old interface would have worked with a decent converter thingy, so now it's on the shelf as a spare.
    Lenz and sound decoders - ummmm what ? I have half a dozen Zimo sound decoders bought over the last two years or so that I've not found a single function or feature I couldn't access or control. Now - that may be what method of 'control' we're talking about. I use JMRI for software and virtually all my interaction with decoder programming, the layout and whats running on it is through software rather than a LH100/LH90 handset so maybe there are handset limitations there I'm not aware of.

    So, yeah this has been a fairly predicable 'no it's not' reply from a 'happy' Lenz user on Win10/64- but there is one - me, and I'd be happy to help if I can.

    PS. This might make you laugh, I'll even defend the LH90. I have a LH100 and a LH90. Yes of course I reach for the LH100 first, but LH90 has two things it's great for. Visitors to the layout, especially young ones. Put the LH90 in their hand - this switch is forward or back - turn the dial for speed, they get it instantly at any age. The LH100 has NONE of that intuitive functionality. And shunting - I still like the dial for shunting - don't have to look down.
     
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  11. RFS

    RFS Full Member

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    A little while ago Lenz themselves put updated drivers on their website for Windows 10 and the LI-USB. See here -

    https://www.lenz-elektronik.de/download.php

    You need to skip down a few pages to find it.

    The drivers supplied here are not the latest for Windows 10, and neither are the ones from Bahnfan.net although they both run fine. The problem with them is that they are unsigned, and next time Windows 10 does one of its twice-yearly full updates, they are removed. The way to prevent this is to get Windows to update now to the latest signed drivers. To do this you need to go to control panel -> device driver, select the USB entry for the device, and then "update driver". The driver is supplied by the manufacturer of the serial-USB converter that Lenz use in this product, and not by Lenz themselves. Windows knows about the driver and will install it for you.
     
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  12. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Thanks for the update Robert I'll check it out when I get back next week.

    Col
     
  13. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Hi Splitpin, apologies mate, I'm away from home just now and have been using my phone ( small screen lots of scrolling etc ) and missed your post. I don't believe there is or has been a problem with the LI-USB Ethernet unit, the problem was with the LI-USB Usb serial interface ( after the demise of the RS232 9 pin serial ports). It seemed that Lenz went to Ethernet when the 64bit systems came in and just dumped the USB system. On a windows 7/32 bit system there is no problem but if I want to use my unit on a windows 10 machine I can't. I can use JMRI to run the system on 32 bits but not 64. The Railwayzone post is a work around only but the drivers do work, so why couldn't Lenz update them. It sounds like Robert may have an answer and I'll check it out when I get back and give it a try(fingers crossed it looks like he may be right).
    The LH90 is good for operating an engine but when you have to press 'shift' Then '0' until you get to 'Sch' Tick to accept use 2 or 3 to scroll to the correct address and 1 or 4 to change the point. Too many digits for me, better using JMRI. Total agree with the not having to look down to shunt though :thumbup:.

    Regards
    Col
     
  14. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Hi Keith, did you catch Splitpins post. Sounds like he's been running his Lenz with the Ethernet system trouble free for a long time, maybe time to bite the bullet and go for it....although Robert may have found some official drivers for the LI-USB that I assume update the FTDI chip so may try them first. The really sad/great thing is I have just got a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ and it's a sweetie and DCC++ beckons yet again. I have to say the Lenz runs the arduino nano/pro-mini DCC_servo decoder (Ref: Dark Side) perfectly with the LH90.
    Now I'm finally getting some time in the shed can't decide which way to go.

    Regards Mate

    Col
     
  15. RFS

    RFS Full Member

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    Lenz have not abandoned the USB interface. The LI-USB (23150) works fine with Windows 10 (32 or 64 bit) with the correct FTDI drivers. It's replaced by the LAN-USB (23151) which has both LAN and USB interfaces. The intention here was for the PC to connect via the USB interface, and the LAN to connect to a wireless router of your choice, which then allows you to use a smart phone (with suitable app) to act as a wireless throttle to the Lenz system.

    I have the 23151 but have no need for wireless throttles, so I use the LAN interface connected directly to the PC instead which avoids all need for USB converters. However the USB interface works fine: it's not the FTDI one any more, but one for which the drivers are integrated with W10 already, so you just plug it in and it works.

    The forthcoming replacement for the LZV100, the LZV200, which is supposedly now available towards the end of the year, has an integrated USB interface which will be a much better solution.
     
  16. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    LOL Colin totally agree - I left out the part where I set the address before handing it to the young visitor ……
     
  17. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Hi Robert, Thanks for the further update. I did, in the dim and distant past, go to the FTDI site to try and find updated drivers but seem to remember being confronted with a list of downloadable files none of which seemed to work except for one but it was not a straightforward update and it was shut down on the next windows 10 update and never worked again. I just popped into the FTDI site and there they are listed.
    Really appreciate your input on this.

    Col
    PS.
    Just found my post from Feb 2017. I did get the FTDI drivers to work -
    I don't remember the Drivers being marked as "signed for Windows 10" maybe I missed something and I think I would have tried the driver update in the devices settings.
    I think I just got despondent and caved in.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2018
  18. RFS

    RFS Full Member

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  19. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Thanks Robert, the problem is keeping them there after an update. I found a similar method to the one in your link and it has worked...but for how long? is the question. The registry key system was in the earlier days of windows 10 (Feb 2017) and may have been a Red Herring now I look back. Tomorrow I should be home and will try your earlier suggestion of downloading the Drivers from Lenz and updating the FTDI drivers. At the time I was trying to set this up I could find no trace of win10 drivers on the Lenz site and as I said I did get the FTDI drivers to work but again a windows update dumped them and would not allow me to reload them. It was really odd. If it works then that will be great, but as I said I now have a Raspberry Pi which has direct wireless capability and I do like tinkering :hammer:.

    Thanks again and I'll update you on my progress when I get chance to try it.

    Col
     
  20. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Back in the shed at last, and I downloaded the Lenz drivers for windows 10 from the Lenz website. Sadly windows would not allow them to be loaded as there was no #.
    There is a small pdf in the zip file and when you open it there is a rudimentary text file giving instructions on how to bypass the driver security. I found it easier to use the link
    that Robert gave earlier. https://www.howtogeek.com/167723/ho...8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/
    The drivers then load and work but will they stay loaded.
    So my outcome is I'm going to use my Lenz system but with the Raspberry Pi (linux), and JMRI. Turnouts will be powered by servos driven by arduino Pro-Mini boards. I'll also look into the
    arduino S88 board and the way the wind is blowing.

    Wish me luck, I think I'll need it :facepalm:
     

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