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Beating a Dead Horse

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Posted by Aikidomaster on Friday, July 22, 2011 11:31 AM

My first car was a Ford Mustang. I paid for it myself with money I earned bagging groceries and cutting lawns.Big Smile

Craig North Carolina

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Posted by Aikidomaster on Friday, July 22, 2011 11:29 AM

It has been a long time since I have been back to St. Louis. Most all of my family lived there but most have passed on. Did not have any brothers or sisters. My father lives in Creve Coeur. I have one cousin who is still alive and lives in St. Louis County. I still remember going to a hobby shop on Clayton Road near East Ladue Junior High. I think it was called "Tinker Town". I bought my first brass locomotive there. It was an N&W 2-8-0 W2. This was 28-30 years ago. Which was before I fell in love with N&W and Southern Railway.Cool

Craig North Carolina

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Posted by cudaken on Friday, July 22, 2011 8:23 AM

 Craig, I have not been to the DCC section for a while now so I missed your post. I all so run Digitrax and find the manual hard to follow. 

 I only use my Digitrax for programing when I speed match. For all other CV programing I use the Digitrax PR 3 with Decoder Pro software. It makes programing a snap. PR 3 is a computer interfaces so you can use your home computer read, write and save engine CV's. 

 To date, it is the best $65.00 I have spent after going DCC.

      Cuda Ken

 

I hate Rust

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Posted by cmrproducts on Friday, July 22, 2011 6:45 AM

davidmbedard

 

 dexterdog:

 

Uhhh... what's DCC??

 

 

It is a train-control technology that only the brightest and wealthiest people on these forums can use....

David B

YES and it is a great way to spend a lot of time reading and answering these questions

INSTEAD of working on your layout!

At times - it seems that I read complaints that some posters are not getting much done to their layouts -

YET

they have thousands of responses credited to their name!

WHY - not go work on YOUR LAYOUT?

BOB H - Clarion, PA (with only 1000 responses since 2001)!

 

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Posted by galaxy on Friday, July 22, 2011 6:17 AM

Hi Aikido,

I TRY to answer each post I respond to as important to the OP and with moderate temperance in my written tone.

I won't bring up the "beating a dead horse thing" that has pervaded page 2 here.I do hope you have gotten past those threads to read mine here.

I DID respond to your post. The TITLE is what did you in. I did a "search our community" and came up with several hundred psots with "what is the best DCC system". Perhaps  A better title would have been "I am having trouble with DCC porgramming..."

With a question about DCC systems, you will get as many answers as their are systems availble.Each user has their favorite and love the one they use. It's like asking "which is the best car to buy?" with over 200 models in the USA {I think it is} everyone will favor the one they bought as "best".

I always encourage new poster or joiners to post any question, no question is too dumb...that said, I know a lot of newcomers get scared off by such responses. You have been around here a while, and should have seen how some posts take on a hostile tone towards a "beaten subject" like "which coupler is best", or "which loco is best", or "what track is best"., or "how do I ballast my track".

Often answers can be found in t he "search our community" search tool at the right side margin. If not, then feel to psot a question...but so it gets the proper response select a title worthy of your real question.

SOrry if you felt "dissed", I am sure many of them who responded with words instead of images of "dead horse beating" meant well in their respinses.

Smile

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by HaroldA on Friday, July 22, 2011 5:51 AM
Darth Santa Fe

"Beating a dead horse" huh? - http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-02-24/

Some topics have been beaten to death. But sometimes, it's easier to ask again than to use the search function.

Amen to that. I have tried to use the search feature and to wade through the hundreds of posts isn't as easy to suffer the pummeling I get by asking certain questions. For the OP, I am very happy with my Digitrax system - wouldn't trade it for anything. And on their website there is a tab called Tech Support Depot which is very good source of information. There is information about programming so it may help you out.

There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Friday, July 22, 2011 5:27 AM

Maybe some see weekends as perfect opportunities for setting off stinker threads..MischiefLaugh

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Thursday, July 21, 2011 11:19 PM

"Beating a dead horse" huh? - http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-02-24/

Some topics have been beaten to death. But sometimes, it's easier to ask again than to use the search function.

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by dexterdog on Thursday, July 21, 2011 10:49 PM

davidmbedard

 dexterdog:

Uhhh... what's DCC??

 

It is a train-control technology that only the brightest and wealthiest people on these forums can use....

David B

Guess that leaves me out. I'm not too bright even though my Mom used to call me Sonny. And I don't have two nickels to rub together, so worrying about Dee-See-See won't be a problem then.

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Posted by river_eagle on Thursday, July 21, 2011 9:51 PM

Let us know if you need some Ott's, Maull's, Vess, or Gus's pretzels, sent to you.

I-64 will always be Hwy Fardy  to me!

When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, July 21, 2011 9:21 PM

Craig,There has been many DCC questions asked and answered on these forums a quick search would have saved you  the "dead horsey" thing.

For deeper questions Google can become your best friend since they are thousands of possible answers..YouTube can help with installing a decoder-some step by step,adjusting sound etc.

Also know and understand some questions get asked 2-3  times per month and that can be one reason the horse thing comes up.

In years past trolls would ask "Which DCC system is better?" and start one large riot.Thankfully I believe we have advanced beyond that stage.

And some times certain subjects should be shut down before a full fledged riot breaks out.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by dexterdog on Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:28 PM

Uhhh... what's DCC??

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:27 PM

davidmbedard

Sometimes we need to grow thicker skin.

http://floppingaces.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/beating-a-dead-horse.gif

David B

fiiinnnffft...

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by Santa Fe all the way! on Thursday, July 21, 2011 7:38 PM

Ladue? was your first car a BMW or Mercedes? Just joking. Banishment from Ted Drews?NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Come on CMW, make a '41-'46 Chevy school bus!
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Posted by Aikidomaster on Thursday, July 21, 2011 6:29 PM

I went to Ladue High School. Went to undergraduate school in Dallas, Texas at Southern Methodist University.

Craig North Carolina

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Posted by river_eagle on Thursday, July 21, 2011 6:10 PM

simon1966

 Aikidomaster:

Simon1966,

Thanks. I am going to try and program a locomotive in the next 2-3 weeks. I will start a new posting and as problems arise, I will ask questions and follow the thread. By the way, I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. Graduated high school there, went to medical school and did my residency in St. Louis at Washington University.

 

Me on the other hand started life on the other side of the world and settled in the STL area after marrying a lab director from St Louis University Hospital.  I am in the medical field now and count Wash U, BJC and Children's amongst my good customers.  Good place to have graduated from.

Simon, you gave yourself away as an immigrant to StL when you failed to ask "THE QUESTION" Wink

to a native of StL ":where'd you go to high school?"

Failure by one native to ask another when talking for the first time can result in ones Imos privileges being suspended.  Repeat offenses lead to a revoked toasted ravioli license, and up to a Ted Drew's banishment as a maximum penalty.  Fortunately as an immigrant you are exempt.

 

When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
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Posted by mobilman44 on Thursday, July 21, 2011 6:06 PM

Hi!

Well, by now you realize your title on the original post got all those "horse beaters" out in full force.  Don't feel bad, for we all had to find out sooner or later that the title line (in the correct forum) will get you the most relevant and useful responses.

But for the record, Digitrax is by far the best DCC system out there!

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by eaglescout on Thursday, July 21, 2011 5:39 PM

I have also learned, after being prompted by several posters, using the search feature on the right side of the main screen yields a lot of pre-information before starting a new thread.  I have found useful answers to my questions from 3-5 years old in the archives.  Since I don't run DCC I can't help at all with your problem but it may have been answered already without having to read every post ever made.

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, July 21, 2011 5:15 PM

I always push button X instead of button Y...nothing new here...  

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:50 PM

selector

There's a lot to be said for DC operations sometimes. Smile, Wink & Grin

There you go again, Crandell, beating another dead horse.   Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by selector on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:44 PM

Some of us have trouble with manuals, some have trouble distancing ourselves from the natural tendency to know why we have to push button X before button Y.  I think this is at the root of why some folks admit, often angrily or with some embarrassment, that they are confounded by Digitrax and its manuals, instructions, or user-interface.

It's a fact, and not any the easier for those who have experienced that anxiety or frustration, a fact I have come to accept.  I can't, however, say that I am familiar with that feeling because it all seemed to work okay for me.  Oh, trust me, there were some expasperating moments in the first two weeks when decoders wouldn't wake up for me, and I truly did have all sorts of other gut-wrenching feelings where I thought I had destroyed......something......  I did have to call each of Soundtraxx once and Digitrax once.  That was five years ago, and I haven't had to even think about a call to them since then.  If you persist, try repetitions, including repowering, re-reading the manual for missed key words or phrases, something will click and you get the blessed pressure-realeasing sigh as your decoders begin to make noise.

There's a lot to be said for DC operations sometimes. Smile, Wink & Grin

Crandell

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Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:13 PM

Aikidomaster

Simon1966,

Thanks. I am going to try and program a locomotive in the next 2-3 weeks. I will start a new posting and as problems arise, I will ask questions and follow the thread. By the way, I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. Graduated high school there, went to medical school and did my residency in St. Louis at Washington University.

Me on the other hand started life on the other side of the world and settled in the STL area after marrying a lab director from St Louis University Hospital.  I am in the medical field now and count Wash U, BJC and Children's amongst my good customers.  Good place to have graduated from.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:12 PM

Craig,

I have to agree with the others that the title did you in.

I went back and reviewed my reply to your post and it was something like, "Oh no, not again".

You then went on to wonder if there is a more user friendly system than Digitrax, so I answered with NCE, my user friendly system of choice.

But the gist of your initial post was to ask about better DCC systems than Digitrax, not specific problems that you were experiencing with your system. 

It seems to me that most of the replies, including mine, tried to respond to your question which was extremely general.

Rich

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Posted by TMarsh on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:09 PM

(ahem) I take it from your resume of sorts, and comparing it to your screen name, you don't have many complaints about your bill? Laugh

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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Posted by Aikidomaster on Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:04 PM

Simon1966,

Thanks. I am going to try and program a locomotive in the next 2-3 weeks. I will start a new posting and as problems arise, I will ask questions and follow the thread. By the way, I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. Graduated high school there, went to medical school and did my residency in St. Louis at Washington University.

Craig North Carolina

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Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:56 PM

Well Craig, I am 2 months from joining you in the 50's and I love my Digitrax and would not trade it for anything.   I am not convinced that your issues are actually a Digitrax problem that would be resolved simply with a change of DCC system.  Hence the barrage of follow up questions from me and others.  I suspect that once we get all the pieces of the puzzle some clear direction can be provided and that you will move on to other challenges.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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Posted by Aikidomaster on Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:49 PM

Thank you for the suggestion about using a different title for the posting. I think the title came more from frustration with my lack of progress with the Digitrax system than anything else. Being in my 50's, I want a system that works for me and gets my layout going. I don't want to be "too old" to get trains running and having operating sessions. If needs be, I would be willing to change to another product (of DCC) if it was more user friendly (for me). So, again, I appreciate Help not criticism or boring other people.Big Smile

Craig North Carolina

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Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:45 PM

Craig, it is very simple, a thread entitled  "Which DCC system is the best?"  will get groans of derision.  It is asked all the time.   A thread entitled  "I am having problems programming my DCC locomotives"  would have received lots of help with no derisory comments.  

The fact that the thread title did not really apply to the questions or issues that you have, did not help, And the fact that we still don't really have enough information to assist with the first of the problems, let alone the other two mentioned in the original post, does not help either.

 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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Posted by maxman on Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:43 PM

As I see it, the issue was the title of your post, "which DCC system is best".  That particular subject has been about beaten to death.

A much better title might have been something like "having trouble programming with my DCC system".

 

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