ESU Essential Sound Unit Speed Matching With JMRI

Speed matching an ESU Essential Sound Unit is a little different since it does not support CV6 which is the mid-point of the 3 point speed curve. See figure 1. 

                                      

Figure 1 3-Point Speed Curve

This means you are forced to use the Speed Table shown in figure 2.

Figure 2 Speed Table

Using the Speed Table requires that you have CVs 2 and 5 set to the values you require before adjusting the mid points. Why this is necessary is discussed in this post in the ESU section.

This can be a time consuming task but in this case there is a way to drastically simplify setting CV6 using JMRI. Speed step 14 is the equivalent of CV6 so, adjusting it would simulate adjusting CV6. The problem becomes setting the rest of the speed steps. Technically CV6 lies between speed step 14 and 15 so you can use the one you prefer. 

As long as you have a good linear motor in your locomotive there is a shortcut here. First check the Use Table radio button at the top of the table , if necessary, click the Force Straight button to straighten out the curve. Than mark the checkboxes just above the buttons for Speed Steps 1, 14, and 28. See figure 3.

Figure 3 Speed steps checked

Now let's say we need to decrease CV6 on this locomotive to match the speed of another locomotive. Remember, you always match to the slowest locomotive. Click and hold the slider for CV14 and pull it down to the value you want which is displayed at the top of the slider. See figure 4.

Figure 4 Adjusted speed steps

Notice how the other sliders, both above and below the one you changed, follow in a linear manner. That's the shortcut! Now, write the entire sheet to your locomotive and test it. It now becomes a repeat operation until you get matched speeds. This can be done on a test track or "On The Main". Again, your call. If you compare this procedure to figure 1 you can see it's the same result.

Hopefully, you find this to be much easier and also quicker to implement.

---

If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it. 

Does this sound like you??

The author just HAS to repost this. It's from the Model Train Forum and makes him feel a lot better about his attitude. Thanks a heap to MopacPat!

I’m not exactly sure when I started being a senior citizen, but I believe it was age 55, I believe that’s when AARP starts hounding you to join. The entry age varies between businesses and places, my favorite coffee house called me a senior citizen at age 55 also but others went on up into the 60s sometimes.

But I digress from the concern. I’m 77 now and one of my operations associates is in his early 80s. We’ve talked on occasions about some point in our lives where we quit worrying about a lot of details . For example, we both used to have a coronary if we found a brake wheel had come off of a box car, but now we pretty much just don’t care and we’ll fix it when we get around to it but it’s not a national emergency to get something like that done.

I used to really be into super detailing everything. I added knickknack details to locomotives, I would upgrade a brake system on a car to be congruent with its era, which they aren’t always when you get them. I thought a lot about lighting buildings and putting street light poles around my little settlements, just a pole or two like you see around outside in the country when you drive past them at night. I bought operating switch stands with movable targets, I bought derails to add on sidings where they join a main track. I bought a static grass machine to do static grass all over my layout.

Not all of these ideas coalesced at the same time, but basically I began my present layout when I was around 60, still employed, and with a relatively high level of energy compared to now. I’m not sure when the pressure lowering began but it might’ve been within the last five or seven years. I’m 77 now and I found that I’ve basically stopped all the detail work and I’m happy with the broad stroke impressionist appearance that a 95% scenery complete layout can provide. Almost all of the layout has some kind of ground cover, but it’s not highly detailed, no static grass or super trees or anything like that and I’m pretty satisfied with it. It’s a nice background for the trains when I’m operating. And truthfully, aren’t we railroaders first and diorama builders second?

I know that Model Railroader magazine will never want to publish my layout, but I really don’t care, it gives me plenty of pleasure the way it is.

Hope you enjoyed this read.

---

If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it.  

Atlas Track Planning Software - Version 1.9.8 Released

The Atlas Track Planning Software has been Updated to Version 1.9.8

Create magnificent layouts in HO, N & O scales using Atlas track with the Atlas Track Planning Software! This software allows you to create and customize your very own layout, view it as a 3D model and then generate a shopping list to make your dream layout a reality.

New features and fixes have been listed below.

Added and improved features:

- Small bugfixes and updated language translations
- ATPS is fully tested and certified for Windows 11

Click Here to Download Atlas Track Planning Software Demo

Click Here to Purchase the Software License

In addition, for those who might be looking for a place to start in the creation of their layout, we have also made select layout files available for purchase. Once downloaded, simply open up ATPS and load the file and start creating!

Purchase Layout Files Here

The Atlas Track Planning Software has been Updated to Version 1.9.8

Create magnificent layouts in HO, N & O scales using Atlas track with the Atlas Track Planning Software! This software allows you to create and customize your very own layout, view it as a 3D model and then generate a shopping list to make your dream layout a reality.

New features and fixes have been listed below.

Added and improved features:

- Small bugfixes and updated language translations
- ATPS is fully tested and certified for Windows 11

Click Here to Download Atlas Track Planning Software Demo

Click Here to Purchase the Software License

In addition, for those who might be looking for a place to start in the creation of their layout, we have also made select layout files available for purchase. Once downloaded, simply open up ATPS and load the file and start creating!

Purchase Layout Files Here

---

If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it.  

So...the Foreign Country Will Pay the Tariff, r...i...g...h...t.

A close friend of the author's, Lee, just sent him an email.

I wanted to share that my latest Rapido pre-order…before Tariffs was $669 from Rapido for a PA and B set.  Shipping was $22.95……….TARIFF SURCHARGE $67.19.  You know who to thank for that. So be prepared if you have any model train pre-orders coming. Spread the word.

Another friend, Steve, replied to this:

Apparently Rapido didn't get the word that the foreign country was going to pay the tariff. What a joke!

Lee responded:

Just got off the line with customer support.  The lady explained that even though it was preordered last year, the tariff for Rapido to import from China this year was 20%.  They are only charging we the customer 9.6%. They have no choice.  That 9.6%  actually goes to the U. S. government so I’m wondering if since that is a tax on us, then we should be able to deduct that on our income tax. Hmmmm! Anyway that’s the story.  We were told we won’t have to pay the tariffs…

Author's reply:

I can guarantee you that there will be no line in next year's tax return that asks "Didyou pay any tariff money in 2025?".

Just sayin'...

---

If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it.  

Throttle Percentages vs. Speed Steps

This question has come up more than once on the Digitrax groups.io forum. "How do I convert the speed percentages of my Digitrax throttle to the 28 speed steps"? Soundtraxx has this defined in their reference manuals but it is a little hard to find. It is on page 60 of the current reference manual (software release 1.2).

Figure 1 Speed steps and throttle speed percentages

Column 1 lists the number of each CV in the custom speed table. Column 2 lists the speed steps, Column 3 is the throttle percentage representing that speed step and Column 4 is the default value of the corresponding CV. For example, speed step 5 is 18 on the throttle. That is controlled by CV 71 which has a default value of 45.

JMRI's Panel Pro throttle has speed steps built in. Start Panel Pro, select Tools. Select Throttles then click New Throttle. Right click on the Control Panel, click Properties then click on  Display speed steps. 

Additional Information

Entering values from 0 to 255 into CVs 67-94 will set each point of the 28-point custom speed table from 0% to 100% of the maximum throttle setting. The 28-point speed table is linear by default as defined in the above table.

---

If you have an idea for a blog post here, let me know. If I can comment on it, I will or I'll see if someone else can and post it.