I am having headaches with my recently purchased nce usb. It is not working correctly with the computer(windows 7 on a dell). I have tried everingthing from youtube to jmri's website, but with no success. I keep on getting com port error messages. I want to run trains with a phone, but the leds on the nce usb don't even go on! Everything else works fine. The phones connect to the jmri server just fine. It is just the USB connection giving me trouble. Also, does anyone know what dummy plugs I should remove and which to keep plugged in?
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
First of all, what NCE system are you using? Second of all, do you have the correct USB interface for the NCE system you are using? Thirdly, what do you mean by dummy plugs? There should only be two sockets on the interface.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
The powercab. I should, nce usb v7. The dummy plugs are the 8 little metal pins on the board.
When I was using the USB interface I never touched those eight little pin holes. Make sure the Power Cab is plugged into the left socket of the PCP with the flat cable and the coiled cable that came with the Power Cab is plugged into the interface and the right socket of the PCP. Also, check the power supply and make sure it is connected to the back of the PCP.
As far as I know there aren't leds on the USB interface. Can you run trains with the Power Cab and without the interface?
I do not know what "plugs" you are referring to but the instruction sheet has a table listing the correct configuration for the jumpers on our board. However, I imagine that most of your problem can be solved by downloading the proper driver for the board/interface. I am not at my RR computer so I can't give you all the specifics, but it is a "UART......" driver available as a free download. I went through the same issues you listed until I stumbled onto this solution.
Old Fat Robert
There is also a link to the drivers on the NCE web site.
Yes, I have all of that.
Okay, you should be all set NCE wise. Now go to your computer device manager and click on "Ports". That will tell you which port the computer put the downloaded drive driver in. (Wow , I just had visions of my english teacher yelling about dangling participles). Be sure that the computer and the NCE are in alignment on the port. Good luck,
The set of holes with no pins is not a dummy plug, that's the programming header for the factory programming of the microcontroller. The set of 8 pins with jumpers on them are the configuration jumpers, the use of which is in the instruction sheet. If your PowerCab shows version 1.28c then all jumpers should be off (you can stick them on one pin but not bridging both for safekeeping.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I got it to work! I would add an explanation of how I did it, but my scenario was an isolated case, not likely to be helpful to anyone else, and the explanation is rather lengthy. Thanks for those of you that posted!
BNSF UP and others modelerI got it to work! I would add an explanation of how I did it, but my scenario was an isolated case, not likely to be helpful to anyone else, and the explanation is rather lengthy.
An isolated case? Maybe, maybe not. Some folks took time out to try to help you with your issue. I think it would be polite to at least let them know what you found the problem to be.
I agree with maxman. Let us hear what happened.
A while ago, I accidentally ran into the power wire that goes into the nce throttle panel, which pulled down and damaged it. That is why I believe that connection was not working. So I plugged the nce usb into the back jack for wiring up additional panels, and it worked first try.