JMRI challenge for old people - help!

Have you ever been to a Model Railroad event and noticed how many old people are there? Proud to say I am one of them!

That being said I am struggling with my JMRI setup.

I have a HO layout - Digitrax DCS100 base unit, wireless hand held control (Digitrax DT602) is my system.

I have purchased a brand new Laptop to run JMRI and other dedicated items just for my layout. I have interfaced the layout with a Digitrax PR4. I have a stand alone program track which I have previously been using and I have a track booster wired in.

I have installed all the JMRI software and viewed several tutorials on setting the system up and for the life of me I cannot get a locomotive to program. I have tried several that I know are already progammed and after I run them through the JMRI the travel function is gone.

One locomotive in particular, I have had for years, is an Atlas GP-7 with a Soundtraxx decoder. When I go through the process and I put the loco on the main and turn on power all I have is bell and horn. The unit number is programmed but it will not crank up and move and there are no lights.

I am sure there is something simple I am missing - any thoughts?

 

Sounds familiar.

 

are you programing on main line or program track.. if your programming on program track maybe try to program on main instead or visa versa ect...
im not much help ...

 

I thought about that - I am going to give it a try but, I don't think it is supposed to work that way but, I'll let you know - thanks

 

I second this!



I would suggest this. When you open up JMRI look for the track power button. It should be Green if it is connected to the layout. If there is no interaction between your booster and the software(JMRI) It will be yellow. As it is looking for somewhere to send power.
If you can operate the power (toggle it between green and red) You have a solid connection. I have backstop leds so I know when I got power through my computer to the rails.

Usually when adding new locos to "your railroad" in JMRI. You can only do it on the program track. Go through JMRI with everything connected and add loco (of course with loco on program track). Then you will see an area that says "read decoder type" Soundtraxx should pop up right away as it a common decoder.
After you have saved the loco then you can use JMRI to run and/or program. Hope this helps feel free to ask. There is not much info on JMRI unless you want to spend hours reading. Hope to hear some results cheers !

 

Hey Sams-

I am interfacing from my Digitrax DCS100 through a new Digitrax PR4 wich connects to my laptop. I had loaded the latest JMRI 5.0 using the JAVA 11.0 16.1 and had no problem with JMRI loading. The problem I setup to enter data for an existing locomotive with a decoder installed and this would be my first roster unit. I went through all the steps ( I thought) but, when I was finished I put the loco on the main line turned on the power and all it would do is blow the horn and ring the bell. Somehow the JMRI changed the settings and I cannot figure out how to get everything back.

Like I say - I am missing something simple.

 

Gotcha! Ok so thats good you got it in power mode. Great! With my experience with JMRI using a MAC computer. I sometimes have to open and close the throttle window a few times in order for it to work. Its a weird glitch. I feel it is more related to MAC though.
This sounds redundant but Id erase the loco and add it again. I've had to do the same. JMRI can be a butt sometimes. Hope it works!

Another note. After you add it to your roster again. Close JMRI and try your regular throttle with the address to see if it moves. If it does open up JMRI again and try.

 

This whole thing has been very frustrating and if I am allowed to vent a little here goes - warning this will be long:

This all started by me purchasing two Broadway Limited SD9 Diesels - these were Blue Line series which at the time of purchase I had very little knowledge. I had not purchased any new motive power in several years.

As everyone knows, but not me, these locos only come with a sound decoder and another decoder must be installed to make it run. I purchased a recommended Digitrax decoder as my operating system is a Digitrax DCS100 Super Chief with wireless control. As I was making posts to help with my installs I kept reading comments about JMRI - what is this thing? Well after a little research it seemed like a great tool and also carry me to another level of the operations of my humble layout. I actually purchased an inexpensive laptop to dedicate to my railroad and a Digitrax PR4 to interface with.

Getting the JMRI installed was a bit of an exercise with downloading the proper JAVA and installing the latest version of JMRI but, I finally got everything up and running.

My first entry was an existing Atlas GP-7 with a Soundtrax decoder with sound. This was an existing operating locomotive. I placed it on my programming track and went through the procedures in JMRI and saved it all. I then placed it on the main and turned on the power. The engine came on, the horn and bell worked, but it would not move. I went back and went through the setup again double checking all entries and "writes", etc. Same thing. Then I tried programming on the main - still would not move.


Next I took another existing locomotive, am Atlas GP40 with a Soundtrax decoder, went through the setup and saved everything. When I put it on the main and turned on power it ran great - no problem.

Next I went back to the GP-7 and placed back on the program track and programed using the old method going through my Digitrax DCS100. When I entered the locomotive number to program it I got the dreaded "NOACK" message and the loco will not program.

So, in my mind something in JMRI has changed a CV or something and I am at a loss to correct it. I guess maybe I should reset the unit and start from scratch and try to program again -

In the middle of all of this I tried to program my BLI SD-9 - the JMRI will not read the new Digitrax decoder. I want to get the other locomotive working before I try to tackle the BLI SD-9

Any ideas or comments would be appreciated.

 

AW maybe this is the problem . is it possible your trying to program that sound decoder instead of the other decoder ?
It also could just ba a bad decoder as you stated your able to program another loco but this one will not, so its quite possible you have a bad decoder.

 

Man. Sorry to hear you are still having issues. I would def check out what @sidney is saying when relating to programming the other decoder. I would try and disconnect the sound decoder and program the digitrax one. Since your other setup is working with the GP40 the system is functioning.
Try isolating the decoder you want to program and see if that works. I would also perform cv8 reset or a physical reset if the decoder has a button. just so you know your off on the right foot. I've had to spend a lot of time "learning" myself and it wont harm it so don't feel bad or anything ahha.


I am researching your issue a bit also. I came across this on a forum which might be worth trying. It theoretically makes sense. Since you have two decoders. One is with sound which is working correctly and probably you are programming. Since it doesn't have leads to the motor. The motor isn't getting any data. It might be sending it lol But not one is home.
The other might be locked. I don't really see digitrax decoders get locked but who knows its simple enough to try.
Same applies to your digitrax decoder

"""""At my suggestion, Frank was able to determine that the decoder was locked as per NMRA S9.2.1.

The key was that CV15 could be read and written, but no other CVs. This was a clear indication that the decoder had been accidentally locked somehow.

Decoder Locking occurs when there is a non-zero value in CV16 (and also, in the case of ESU decoders, decoder locking is enabled by setting CV124 bit 1).

By a tedious process of trial and error:
- Start by writing 0 to CV15, check if you can now read CV16.
- If not, write 1 to CV15, check if you can now read CV16.
- If not, write 2 to CV15, check if you can now read CV16.
- If not, write 3 to CV15, check if you can now read CV16.
- ...
- ...

Frank was able to find the lock key in CV16 was 85. With the same value in both CVs 15 & 16 the decoder was then readable/writable.

Suggestion then is to set CV16 to 0 (disables decoder locking). Also to clear CV124 bit 1 (also disables locking, even if CV16 is non-zero) - Advanced pane

""""""""


Not to confuse you but this is also a good read.

https://www.jmri.org/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/dualdecoder/DualDecoderSelectFrame.shtml

 

A quick look about the error message says this.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,4185253
But seeing as you programmed other locos...... not quite it. Let see if anyone else chimes in here.

Also How many locos did you have on any connecting powered track when you got that message ?

 

Sometimes when this electrical stuff gets confusing it is best to do something else and wait a couple of days.


So here is what I did - I put the locomotive on the programming track and entered CV8-8 and it reset everything. I placed it back on the main and selected #3 and she worked fine going backward and forward and the sound was good.

Now I went back to the program track and read all pages. I then made the basic changes I wanted with adding the 4 digit road number and entered all of the information to store as a roster addition. I wrote all changes and went back to the main and turned on the power and hooray - she's working fine.


Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions - now to do morewith JMRI.

 

fantastic glad you got her working....

 

Sams-

OK I put the Blue Lin loco on the program track and had the JMRI read all the CV's. When I went to change CV15 it is not there or CV124. I suspect it is not reading the Digitrax Decoder I installed to run the locomotive. How would you disable the BLI decoder so that I could read the Digitrax decoder?

Stumped in Georgia

 

Nice! Good to hear something is working for you. I have gone through a similar trial and error with JMRI and I wish there was more how to videos out there.

Oh so this is the unit you are having trouble with. It is a BLI? I thought it was an Atlas ? Anyways... I found a video you might want to cheeck out.




This will have your answer for sure. Digitrax I'm not sure has a lock so you might need to unplug the BLI sound decoder. I'd watch this video all the way first before though. Not sure if the decoder wires have a plug or soldered. If you can figure it out without cutting wires thats the way to go!
This is why I hate BLI The way they make these things are brainless... but they can get the paint right lol. aye! Never again for me.

 

I am very sorry to read your history on using JMRI. I can't imagine anything more confusing than attempting to program a Blue Line loco as your first experience with JMRI.

The video from Tom's Trains and Things may be a great help. However - I watched Tom's video and also found several forum posts elsewhere that had a running list of what to do with a Blue Line combination, but it wasn't enough.

I happen to be using a DCC-EX Arduino with Wifi for my programming and test track, but have a Zephyr for running the locomotives. Over time as a beginner, I had successfully programmed a couple of dozen factory-equipped, DCC locos with JMRI and had not a single issue. Then I purchased the BLI Blue Line Southern 4501 and all sorts of weird stuff kept happening when I tried to program it.

Sadly, the only truly reliable way I found to make the programming work was to program them separately. I plugged the Digitrax decoder into an old 9-pin, DCC-ready loco and programmed it. I then programmed the BLI Blue Line sound decoder separately. After that, I plugged in the Digitrax decoder on the BLI Blue Line sound decoder and it ran properly under DCC power.

P.S. I'm a fellow modeler in Georgia, but I'm mostly into IC, having grown up around West Tennessee. I rode 4501 from Memphis to Corinth, MS back in the late 70's. After moving to Atlanta, I was able to see the Royal Hudson, T&P 2-10-4, and 611 all up close (I missed the N&W Mallett), but could never get tickets for any of them.

 

Hey there-

I am jealous of all the live Locomotives you have seen. I have been around the 611 several times and filmed it running just outside of Salem, VA a few years back. My wife and I have riden with the 630 and 610 out of Chattanooga at TVRR. Last year we were camping near Strasburg, PA and I went to tour the PRR Museum for the second time in 5 years. Sitting at the engine shop at the Strasburg RR was the N & W 611 - pleasant surprise!

Quick story - my wife and I rode our Harley to Chattanooga to get married in 1994. She had never seen or ridden in a steam powered train so we went out to the museum and rode behind the 610 at that time. I was allowed to climb in the cab and check things out and I was asking the history of the locomotive. The engineer said it came from Ft Eustis, VA where it was used by the Army to train engineers. Cold chills came all over me - I was stationed there in 1966 going to Aircraft Engine School and I spent a lot of time at the railyard looking at the steam engines and other equipment. I have a photo of me sitting in the cab of the 610 at Ft Eustis in 1966 - really weird.

My biggest thrill was 2 years ago while traveling and camping in Connecticut my wife surprised me with a training session at the Connecticut Valley Railroad for a run at the throttle. I attended a short training session and got to run their full size 2-8-2 Consolidation for about 2 1/2 hours. I am still grinning today - what a thrill.

I live in Covington, GA and have a basement layout - it's my second last layout (smile). I mainly model GA RR and West Point, and anything that ran through Georgia during the 50-70's (before graffiti got so bad)

All told I have a couple dozen locomotives pretty much all DCC and a Digitrax system. My layout is a simple one main line with all turnout manual because I can reach them all. I enjoy running the trains but, I guess structures and scenery is my passion.

The reason JMRI interested me was I wanted to get better organized and start running some one-person operating sessions. I may put these two Blue Line locos aside for now and work on all the others which seem to program through JMRI a lot easier.

I have a couple display modules for many of my locomotives and rolling stock in a cabinet in my office. One of the Blue Line SD9's currently resides there for now.

Take care

 

Wow! That looks super nice!