Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

NCE USB interface problem using a Power Cab

11312 views
39 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, May 1, 2021 4:57 PM

I recall installing a newer version of JMRI a while back and in this particular case I discovered the desktop Decoder Pro icon did not "point" to the newest installed version. I simply deleted the icon and dragged the icon for the newer version from the start menu to the desktop .

I "believe" the most recent updates of JMRI ask you if you want to replace the current version. This may have resolved the issue of the icon linking to an older installed version.

Also note the multi-step progression noted for installing the 4.22 release.

"Following this multi-step order of updating via stable major releases safeguards you against possible migration issues that can arise from skipping these versions."

May not help in your case but it could help some users of JMRI.

Good Luck, Ed

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Saturday, May 1, 2021 5:25 PM

woodone can see which version of firmware he has when the Power Cab first boots up.  What it won't tell him at that point is which version - e.g. A or B.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Sunday, May 2, 2021 10:02 AM

Hi, lets see if I can shead some light to some of these questions. Tom I did not know the version of JMRI I had down loaded because I had already scrubed them off the computer. I have two Power Cab throttles, both or version 1.65 but there is no sufex letter. One is almost 10 years old but I did upgrade the chip years ago. the second PC is 3 maybe 4 years old. The JMRI VERSION IS 4.22. I think the biggest clue is the sequence in how you load things into your computer. Last time I plugged the USB interface along with the PC's. Then I loaded the driver, then JMRI 4.22 . the unknown,on=off box at the top of the decoder-pro page is a mistery to me. I can control the loco and operate all its functions with the Power Cab throttle. I think it is safe to say the track and connection to the locomotive is good. the unkown box is suppost to be green which means it on, red = off the amber(yellow) is unknown. Why it comes up amber all the time I have no clue? but once in awhile if I click on the box it turns red, if I wait abit,  some times if I click on it again it turns green. Even with the green on and the service line green I hve not been able to have decoder pro read the CV8 for the decoder. I sometime question why i am doing this, feel like an idiot, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different out come. Thanks to all which have supported  this for me.      

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, May 2, 2021 10:23 AM

woodone,

Sorry for the basic questions but I wanted to confirm the following...

  • Your PCP panel is connected to the USB module via the coily cord
  • The USB module is connected to your laptop via the USB-to-printer port adapter cable
  • There is good electrical connection between your PCP panel track connection and your track - Since you stated the you Power Cab operates your locos just fine then this is obviously a non-issue.

I've run into situations where I thought something was hooked up properly/making good connection...but it was not.

So, no insult intended by the questions above.  Just trying to rule out all possible causes to your issues.

Okay, one last question: At the bottom right of your Decoder Pro screen...what is your radio button set to?  There are three options:

  • Programming Track
  • Programming On Main
  • Edit Only

Make sure that it is set to "Programming Track".

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, May 2, 2021 10:27 AM

woodone,

I forgot to mention that I also get the yellow "Unknown" icon at the top of the Decoder Pro page but the statuses at the botton left remain green.  So I don't think that's an indictator of why Decoder Pro isn't working with your laptop.

One more query: At the upper right of your Decoder Pro page, is the "Program On" drop-down set to "NCE" and "Mode" set to "Direct"?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Sunday, May 2, 2021 2:38 PM

Thanks Tom. And I am not disturbed about your questions. I too have missed somethings real simple. Ever check an electrical problem and never thought to CHECK the FUSE? I have and more than once (LOL)

I might try one more time using the new USB interface- then switch cables- I don't want to do but one change at a time so I will know what fixed it if it happens to work. I did not know the (UNKNOWN)could be on to unknown and not effect decoder Pro.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, May 2, 2021 4:31 PM

woodone
I did not know the (UNKNOWN)could be on to unknown and not effect decoder Pro.

Yea, apparently not, as I don't have any issues reading or writing to my decoders in DecoderPro and the displayed yellow Unknown icon has been that way for a while.

And, yes - one change at a time is a tried-'n-true troubleshooting technique.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Sunday, May 2, 2021 4:58 PM

Yes, only one at-a time. Learned that building racing car motors.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 8:17 AM

Opps, I thought that I had posted I fianly got Decoder Pro up and running. The problem was a bad cable/or contact between the throttle and the PCB board. I thought that if I could operate the loco and make all functions work the cable& contacts were good. The 6 wire cable has two wires (3 & 4 ) that talk between the throttle and the USB interface. So it was very hard for me to get around to finally change the cable.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 4:19 PM

Glad to hear that's resolved for you, woodone.  Just so I'm clear though:

The defective cable was between the PCP panel and the USB module...or between the Power Cab throttle and the PCP panel?

I use the flat 6-contact cable between the Power Cab and the PCP panel and the 4-contact coily-coil between the PCP panel and the USB module.  The USB module does not need the two additional track power wires of the 6-contact cable but it's perfectly fine to use it in that configuration.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!