Dcc issue

Discussion in 'DCC Control' started by Andy_Sollis, Aug 11, 2019.

  1. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    as posted previously, we have moved on to a Gaugemaster unit with the WiFi... but- we have been having issues.

    The unit has a track output and a programming output. The programming is not connected to anything...

    Whilst running in the way few weeks two different locos have simply stopped dead in their tracks (excuse pun!) and refused to response to their primary loco address. On checking, both had defaulted to loco 3.

    One then continued as 3, the other a Bachmann class 47 with a 21 pin decoder decided to change back to its 4 digit number, then back to 3, then back again...
    The other loco is a Hornby 9f fitted with a Lens decoder. Both have run for a number of years on two other controllers on another layout with no issue...

    Dad emailed Gaugemaster to query with them, and as expected, it couldn’t possibly be their unit fault. So... what’s people’s thoughts here? The 47 is plug and play decoder, the 9F is hard wired.

    They asked if I had set up a secondary address on the decoder, maybe a consist address, but as I use decoder pro and never used consists, I’m not sure that applies?
     
  2. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Sounds like the WiFi is dropping out and sending the decoders into there default s??
     
  3. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Hi Andy
    After they 'changed' did you use Decoder Pro to check what (if anything) had changed in the decoder maybe, ie the primary address, or the cv for which address to use, or had it suffered a reset to factory defaults or nothing had changed in the decoder.
    You mentioned one is a Lenz decoder, what is the other ?
    When they 'stopped dead' - was anything else running at the time ? … did everything stop dead or just the one loco ?
    Curious indeed … something sent a 'stop command' that was recognized, whereas 'usually' the loco will just keep going if it's not getting commands it recognizes.
     
  4. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Sorry, forgot to say we were working on the handset not the WiFi (WiThrottle) at the time.
     
  5. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Splitpin,
    The other decoder is a Bachmann 21 pin.

    Other items were running at the time yes. They were unaffected.

    Not had the chance to stick them on Decoder pro as yet as the two are not at the same house. (Infact I don’t think the 9f is stored anymore as I think the files were lost with an old computer failure)

    I’ll stick it on and check..

    It’s the first time this had happened to me with DCC in 18 years. (Other that the odd loco starting off on its own on the ZTC unit)
     
  6. Sol

    Sol Full Member

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    Sometimes I find with Bachmann decoders, a short circuit on the track even briefly, will reset to address 3.
     
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  7. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Hi Andy, I was trying to rule out the decoders - but that others kept running - theory not proven either way.
    It's kind of implying that somehow the Gaugemaster unit managed some phantom programming on the main - but WTF that's not possible especially with addresses - is it ?
     
  8. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    hmmm not experienced that, but the Lenz too ? they are usually pretty bulletproof. However you may be on to something there Sol, I wonder if anyone else has experienced the same.
     
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  9. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Ok. So I’ve spend the last hour sorting stuff... here are the CV’s for the 9F which has a Lenz 103x Decoder.

    Cv/stored Value/Decoder value
    1 34 34
    2 0 22
    3 0 0
    4 0 8
    7 0 45
    8 99 99
    17 0 0
    18 0 0
    19 0 0
    23 255 159
    24 255 162
    29 19 18
    50 0 1
    51 0 1
    52 64 64
    53 0 0
    54 1 1
    56 15 30
    67 0 0
    68 9 6
    69 18 7
    70 28 51
    71 37 9
    72 47 11
    73 56 13
    74 66 99
    75 75 18
    76 85 95
    77 94 124
    78 103 29
    79 113 34
    80 122 142
    81 132 48
    82 141 1
    83 151 65
    84 160 1
    85 170 3
    86 179 106
    87 188 124
    88 198 0
    89 207 158
    90 217 167
    91 226 175
    92 226 175
    93 245 0
    94 255 179
    105 0 255
    106 0 255

    Does any of this make sense?

    Anyway, I’ve overwritten it with the original data (and lowered the speed curve as top speed was a bit too fast for a spaceship!) and it’s run ok on the ZTC at my house. It did stop once or twice, but I think despite the 14 wheel pick up it’s still missed something, otherwise performed ok.

    I’ll try and grab the 47 sometime and check that.

    Andy
     
  10. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    That was my thought... but I don’t believe it is.
     
  11. Mr Porter

    Mr Porter Failure is always an option. Full Member

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    I've had 2 Bachmann decoders reset to 03 on me as well.

    :headbanger:

    Jim
     
  12. SRman

    SRman Full Member

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    I had a Bachmann decoder do this when installed in a class 150 unit. It repeatedly reset to address 3. A different decoder in the unit was fine, while the Bachmann decoder fitted into a different locomotive also worked perfectly well.

    In short, you can get odd combinations of decoder and circuit board that just don't play nicely together.
     
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  13. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Hi Andy, is this your home layout or a club? The only reason I ask is because if there is more than one Gaugemaster system running on wireless you may get interference. I believe
    that all Gaugemaster systems use the same channel for wireless where as other systems (NCE are I think selectable and Digitrack auto searches for a free channel) can be changed. At our club we use only one system but have multiple amplifiers to get round this and if we do use two systems one has to be wired. This problem cropped up for us a few years ago at a show and we had to revert to wired connections. I am going to the club tonight and will ask if anyone remembers the incident and if indeed it did mimic your problem.
    Col
     
  14. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Checked with the Guys at the club about this and it looks like a Red Herring. Sorry! The engines were stopping, starting and speeding up etc but not reverting to addr 03. On the weirder side of life one of our engines did stop this evening and revert to 03. We couldn't find a reason, straight track, no shorts, running slow. The only reason we checked the address was because we had been chatting about this thread. :eek:
    Col
     
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  15. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Home layout. And it was on the wired handset at the time, not on the WiFi (although that was plugged in)

    I’m still puzzling over it. I’ve brought the 47 home with me today with the intention to stick it on decoder pro and read what’s there tomorrow when I get up off the night shift.

    Only issue I’ve found with the WiFi is the setting i must have on my phone as the WiThrottle shuts off when I try and use it to take a photo :p

    I’ll report back on the 47 tomorrow.
     
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  16. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Sorry Andy, are you using the Gaugemaster wifi dongle and hand sets or using the Phone with JMRI and Engine Driver?
    I may be getting hold of the wrong end of the stick here. Not unusual for me :facepalm:. If you're using Decoder Pro, etc you won't be using
    the Gaugemaster wireless system at all . I'll just climb back into my box.:redface:
    The reset to 03 does suggest an electrical shock to the decoder of some kind (short or as I have heard of in the past running the old Relco track cleaners etc ) but not the fact that it returned to it's original address. Was the engine crossing any points at the time?
    I think Sol and SRman are on the right track.
    Col
     
  17. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Col,

    Sorry for the confusion. The Gaugemaster prodigy and the WiFi single control the layout where the locos glitched on straight track.

    I’m bringing them home to check the programming on decoder pro, reading what’s on the decoders and then resting them back to what it should be.

    Does that make more sense?

    Andy
     
  18. Colin_W

    Colin_W Full Member

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    Yes mate I thought I had it the wrong way round. This makes it interesting because it happened at the club with a Deltic on Tuesday evening. We have never had the problem before, started, stopped and reverted to 03. Straight track, no shorts. Very odd.
    One of our guys is going to reset it and I'll see him Thursday (tomorrow) evening and see if he noticed anything unusual.

    Col
     
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  19. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Well I’ve done the 47 this aft.
    It was set as CV3 with nothing in the extended address which should have read 1764.

    All appears ok again on my layout with decoder pro and the ZTC..

    See what happens back at Dads with the Gaugemaster.
     

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