LokProgrammer v 5.2.18 Released By ESU 2026-05-01

 Version 5.2.18:

• ==============
• - Bugfix:
•   
• LokSound 5 Fx / LokSound 5 Fx DCC

   Soundeditor -> State -> Output - AUX12 was not displayed.
   Function outputs - Physical output configuration -> wheel sensor warning at wrong AUX.

• 
  
• LokSound 5 family / LokPilot 5 family / Essential Sound Unit:

     new firmware version 5.14.183

•     new CV 11: DCC Settings - Packet Timeout Time
•     Soundslots 3 and higher now have an additional flag "Drivesound" to define these as drivesounds
•     Soundslot 1 and 2 are always drivesounds

<Author's Note>

The new CV11 brings ESU more into alignment with American decoder makers (notably Soundtraxx). Soundtraxx has this same setting and has for a long time. The values are different, however, they accomplish the same thing.

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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. 

Model Railroad Sizes By Scale

These pictures were taken from a display at the Hostlers Model Railroad Museum in Ogden, Utah. Hopefully they givn some relative sizes for those that are unfamiliar with the various scales. The signs for HO, N and Z scales are all the same size so you can get an idea of model sizes. The signs for G,O and S are slightly larger but you can still get some relative size information from them by watching how the scales grow in size relative to the signs.

All of these are shown from smaller to larger. SO that you can get a starting point for the size, the Z SCALE sign is 3 inches high.

    

Pick the size you like the most and above all - have fun!

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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.

New ESU youTube Videos

ESU has picked up where Matt Herman left off. They have started a new series of videos concerning the LokProgrammer and the CabControl on a youTube channel. They look good and go into depth concerning various topics that have been constant questions on the forums.

The channel is located here.

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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.

Much Clearer Figures for This Author's Readers

Several readers of the author's articles have commented that the figures in the articles are sometimes fuzzy and hard to read. First, there is only so much room to put these figures into the actual article. Second, if you would like a larger, much clearer picture of a figure click on the figure once. You will be presented with a blown-up representation of the image that is much clearer for reading and occupies the entire window you opened it in.

I hope this helps everyone!

By the way, this feature has always been there.
 

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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.

ESU - Keeping Drive Hold And Brakes From Interfering With Each Other

This discussion is at the request of some members of the club I am a member of, the Hostlers Model Railroad Club of Ogden Utah. Several members have issues with competing brakes in addition to the Drive Hold function. This includes the Independent brake and the Automatic (Train) brake. The issues boil down to their engine not moving after applying throttle even though the engine sound revs as it should.

There's more than just the brakes that can cause this problem and that is discussed here but this discussion is limited to preventing the brakes and Drive Hold from interferring with each other.

First and foremost if Drive Hold (F9) or either the Independent or Automatic brake is applied the engine is not going to move. If you do not have the Automatic brake installed and functioning, how to do that is described here. So for purposes of this discussion we have Drive Hold on F9 (default), the Independent brake on F10 (default) and the Automatic brake on F12 (varies by wherever the user installs it, the author does not use the dimmer function so F12). The base configuration is shown in figure 1. This is on the function mapping sheet of the decoder pane.

Figure 1 Inital brake configuration

In essence this becomes a logic problem. By that I mean if any of these three functions are on we do not want to allow either of the other two to be turned on. So look at Drive Hold. If we want to turn it on then F10 and F12 cannot be on so first we click on the F9 drop down, scroll to F10, the Independent brake and select Off. This is shown in figure 2.

 

Figure 2 Disallow F10

Notice how the entry for F9 added not F10. Do the same for F12, the Train brake. and you'll have what is shown in figure 3.

Figure 3 Disallow F12

Now the Conditions column says turn on Drive Hold if F9 is pressed and both F10 and F12 are NOT pressed. This means you can't turn on Drive Hold is either brake is on.

The next step is to go F10, the Independent brake, and turn off both F9, Drive Hold, and F12, the Train Brake. Lastly, go to F12 and turn off F9 and F10. Once you're done you will have prevented either brake or Drive Hold from being engaged if any of the others are already engaged. 

The author has even seen some individuals prevent F10 and F12 from starting the prime mover but that can be disconcerting when your prime mover won't start so this is not recommended.

<Note>

ESU has acknowledged that there is a bug in the firmware of v5 decoders that will occasionally set the Independent brake, F10, with no indication of it being engaged. So if your engine will not move and you are sure that Drive Hold and the Train brake are off, press F10 once or twice and see if it moves. This has happened to friends of the author recently. ESU is actively working on a fix for this.

Have fun!
 

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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.