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Sprog 3 won't consist?

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  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 116 posts
Sprog 3 won't consist?
Posted by O'Ghoul on Monday, May 7, 2012 6:29 PM

I just got my Sprog 3 in the mail today and set it up according to the instructions. 

For testing, I was able to read back two Walthers GP9Ms that I've installed TCS T1 decoders in.  These worked fine on both DC and with Bahmann EZ Command.

I set each up with their own 4 digit address and both respond to WiThrottle with no issue.*

When I try to build a consist on WiThrottle, both engines stop responding.  They won't respond to the consist address nor their actual addresses. If I close out JMRI and start everything back up, they'll respond individually.  

*If I use the dual yard throttle, only one throttle will aquire a loco. 

 

Any help? I have locos with QSI decoders, but I wanted to test the simple (and easier to replace) T1s first.   Do the TCS decoders not support advanced consisting?

Thanks in advance. 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, May 7, 2012 6:35 PM

 The TCS decoders definitely support CV19 consisting. Don;t think anything sold today doesn't.

Now, the real question is, is it actually doing CV19 advanced consisting? Or trying to do command station consisting? The SPROG can do a lot of things but it's a pretty simplistic command station adn needs JMRI or some other compatioble program to control it. You shoudl be able to see if anythign is done by reading the decoder after building the consist. But since they respond to their individual addresses after restarting JMRI - that's a pretty good clue that i is NOT setting CV19. Which version of JMRI are you using? The SPROG3 is pretty new, an dmay have some differences fromt he SPROG 2 which has been supported in JMRI for a long time. I thought the only real difference was USB and more power, but there could be more.

                           --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 116 posts
Posted by O'Ghoul on Monday, May 7, 2012 6:46 PM

Randy,

Well, I actually didn't change anything in JMRI 2.14 regarding consists- I just gave them their 4 digit addresses and named them on the roster.  And saved of course. 

I wonder if it's WiThrottle that isn't programming CV19. 

I'll be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing with CV's; this is my first foray. 

Ive now tried setting CV19 to a number (18, in this case) in JMRI and wrote it to both Geeps.  Each one responds individually, but if I put both on the track, neither works and then WiThrottle won't aquire the address.  I haven't tried setting both locos to the same address yet, but they were able to work that way on EZ Command. 

I have not tried to build a consist in JMRI, can it do that? Still, it kind of defeats the purpose of WiThrottle. 

 

Thanks again,

Tim

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, May 7, 2012 9:58 PM

 Oh, here is your problem. You have the connection preference set to SPROG - which is the option for programming. WHen configured as a programmer, you can only run one loco at a time using one throttle. That's it - it;s meant for testing mode only.

If you change the preferences to say SPROG COmmand Station, you will be able to run more than oen loco at a time, up tot he limit, either 2.5 amps or the limit of your pwoer supply, whichever is lower.

In JMRI it is possible to make different desktop shortcuts that use differnet preference files. ALso, the preference settings for the DecoderPro icon are different from the PanelPro icon, so you coiuld simply use that, set DecoderPro to use SPROG DCC for system and SPROG for connection. Save and close that, then launch PanelPro and select SPROG DCC as the system and SPROG COmmand Station as the connection.

 Launch DecoderPro when you want to program, launch PanelPro when you want to use WiThrottle and/or JMRI throttles. See pages 18 and 37 in the manual.

                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 116 posts
Posted by O'Ghoul on Monday, May 7, 2012 10:03 PM

You're kidding; It's that simple? Lol

I won't be able to try until tomorrow however. 

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 116 posts
Posted by O'Ghoul on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 5:40 PM

Randy, that was EXACTLY it.  Thanks a ton!

Tim

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