LokProgrammer Software 5.2.10 Released

From the ESU Website:

User Interface: in the function mapping, the sound slot number will be shown in brackets

SignalPilot: Updated signal aspects for all lighting effects that are using "Enable function timeout" to fix a problem with turn on / off

New firmware 5.12.176 for LokPilot 5 and LokSound 5 family: 

• New output mode for servo-outputs: 
• Servo Pantograph bouncing
• Light effect Servo output 

Johnson Bar control improved

• Now Pos A is approached when requested speed > 0 and forward, Pos B when requested speed > 0 traveling backward
• When the locomotive is stationary, the center is approached 

Bugfix: SUSI mapping

Available here.

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Atlas' Scale Product Archives

For those who may not know, Atlas has a website that records all of their produced product types (Master, Trainman, etc.) and scales (O, HO, N, etc.) for research or informational purposes. The author has used this many, many times to give him some idea of what he just bought at that last estate sale or swap meet. 

It is located here. 

If you are wondering how old that car is that you just bought, and you know it's an Atlas, check it out.

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Flatcars From Accurail!!... Not Anytime Soon

The author recently emailed Accurail (original website and new website) concerning the possibility of their adding flatcars to their line of products. He received a comprehensive reply today from one of the production managers thanking him for the email and giving apologies. He stated that flatcars were the most requested item and there had been discussions about manufacturing them. 

Unfortunately their head toolmaker (one of the Accurail owners) passed away earlier this year and there is absolutely no way they could afford to hire a full time toolmaker at present.

So, there you have it. That is the reason there are no flatcars in their lineup. It will probably be a while before we see new tooling from them at all. 

It is the author's belief that the Accurail line of products, most importantly at their price point, allows the new hopeful young model railroader to enter the hobby at an affordable level. As most, if not all, of you know, at the current price of new rolling stock ($40 and up) and passenger cars (anywhere from $45 to $120 or more) it is a difficult (read as expensive) hobby the get into. 

Let's hope (with the recent closing of manufacturers, brick and mortar hobby shops, etc.) Accurail continues to produce their products and we continue to get younger modelers into the fold.

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Scale Trains Helping With Hurricane Helene Relief

Scale Trains has implemented help for Hurricane Helene Relief and is partnering with various organizations for North Eastern Tennessee and other locations help. If you wish to contribute or help, read about it here.

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From Model Train Stuff

We're Still Here For You Continuing to Serve Despite Hurricane Helene

Dear Valued Customers, We hope this message finds you safe and well. As you may know, our physical location in the Asheville, North Carolina area was recently impacted by Hurricane Helene, and the aftermath has created significant challenges for our team. Beyond the operational disruptions of power outages and flooding, many of our employees are facing incredibly difficult personal circumstances—some are without power, cell service, food, clean water, and basic necessities. Despite these overwhelming challenges, our team is doing everything they can to get back to work and continue fulfilling your orders. However, due to these extraordinary conditions, we kindly ask for your patience as shipping times for certain orders may be longer than usual. Rest assured, we are working closely with our partner warehouses outside of North Carolina to ensure that orders are processed and dispatched as quickly as possible. Even through these challenging times, our goal remains to serve your model railroading needs with the dedication and care you’ve come to expect from us. Now more than ever, your continued support is crucial. Every purchase you make helps to provide much-needed resources for our employees and their families during this tough time. Your loyalty makes a real difference, and we are deeply grateful. We are committed to delivering the quality products and service you’ve come to expect, even as we navigate these unprecedented hardships, and we'll have more updates to come in the near future. Thank you for standing by us and supporting our incredible team as they work through this crisis. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. Our customer service team is available, and they can be reached at 828-341-2295. Stay safe, and thank you for being part of our community. Warm regards, The Model Train Stuff Team

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Loksound Equipped Engine Refuses To Move But Sound Is Fine

This problem has plagued users for a long while now and is almost constantly an issue brought up on the LokSound groups.io forum. Guaranteed you'll see it brought up about every two or three days.

There are several reasons this could happen and the majority of them are easily remedied. There is a list of things that need to be checked and these are mentioned whenever the problem pops up. 

• Make sure Drive Hold is not on
• Insure the Independent Brake is not on
• Insure the Automatic (Train) Brake is not on
• To learn how to implement the Train brake read this
• Make sure CV19 is set to 0 (not in advanced consist)

If group members think of other things that need to be checked, email the author and he'll add them to this list. 

Now For The Insidious One
Recently, the author came across this problem in a couple of his locomotives and it always occurred when initially programming the decoder. It didn't matter if the engine was programmed from scratch or was a copy of a previously programmed engine with just the engine number changed. It happened in both instances and was always for a v5 decoder (that's what the author has) so, both 21 pin and micro decoders developed the problem.

Re-burning the unchanged original downloaded file from ESU (pure factory reset not a reset to previosly programmed values) would clear up the problem so what did the author change that caused this? 

Today it was decided he was going to take the time and trace the cause. One sheet at a time utilizing the Drivers Cab to test running or not after changes and then go changed setting by changed setting on the particular sheet if the problem occurred.

This took some time. Brake Settings, Driving Characteristics, the various Function Sheets, all were fine. Motor Settings, WAIT!!! the engine refused to move!!! Now change by change until the author got to Motor Overload Protection. Long story short finally, checking the Enable motor current limiter would prevent the engine from moving!  See figure 1.

 

Fig1 Motor current limiter

Think! Why? This was an older HO KATO AC4400CW purchased at a swap meet and it had the same changes made to a new one that was working. This makes perfect sense. The older motor needs more current than the new model and the protection wouldn't let it move because it was above the set limit.

Uncheck the Enable motor current limiter box, test, engine moves! Problem solved.

Don't forget this one after checking Drive Hold and all the different brakes don't fix the problem. Also remember that if after all of these checks are done and the engine still does not move, you probably have a blown drive circuit in the decoder and it requires a trip to Colorado for a fix. Remember that the ESU office has moved. It's no longer in Pennsylvania. 

I hope this helps and I know it demonstrates what lengths you sometimes have to go through to isolate problems. Good luck!

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Digitrax Closed on Thursday 9/26 Due to Hurricane Helene

From Digitrax - Sept. 25, 2024

Digitrax will be closed tomorrow (9/26/2024) as Hurricane Helene heads our way. We're putting our team's safety first with the storm coming in. We aim to reopen on Friday if it's safe. Thanks for your understanding, and we will let you know if anything changes!

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Replacing the Sound Module in a Bachmann Spectrum EM-1 Locomotive.

Need to replace a Bachmann Spectrum EM-1 sound module? Be careful!

Fig 1 Standard 21 Pin Decoders Not Compatible

The key take away here is that standard 21 pin(Soundtraxx Economi, Tsunami2, TCS 21 pin, etc.) are not compatible with the sound module that accompanied the EM-1. One option is to install a Soundtraxx TSU-2200 decoder. How to do this is explained in this video from Soundtraxx.

Another option is to install a DecoderBuddy motherboard by NixTrainz and the 21 pin decoder of your choice.

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LokSound Volume Control Options (There are several)

An excellent discussion of the different ways to control volumes of the various sounds of LokSound decoders took place recently on the groups.io LokSound forum. It started with a user wanting to know the difference between the controls on the Decoder tab and the Sound tab. See figures 1 and 2.

Fig 1 The Decoder tab

Apoorva (better know as the IndianRailModeller) gave a good explanation of the difference and even explained additional ways to control volumes.

The volume setting for a soundslot set from the Decoder tab (figure 1) is like the Master volume control for each soundslot. In the same example, let’s say your Radiator fan soundslot is not very audible. Changing the volume setting from say 60 to 128 under soundslot settings will increase its volume, and the change will be applied equally to all sounds in the soundslot.

Fig. 2 The Sound tab

The volume settings in the window in the bottom right of your second screenshot sets the volume at which each individual sound file plays at when used in any of the sound slots in the sound project. Let’s say you have a Radiator Fan sound slot that uses three sound files, a start sound, a single loop sound and an end sound. The volume of each of the three sound files (typically a 16-bit .wav file) is set in this window. Let’s say you change the volume for the loop sound file from 100 to 150 and leave the volume of the start and end sound files at 100, when you play the radiator fan soundslot, the loop will play louder relative to the start and end sounds. Further, the loop sound will also play at the higher volume setting of 150 if it were used in any other soundslot.

Continuing, Apoorva stated there is in fact a third place where one can change the volume of individual soundstates and sound containers. This is contained within the sound flow of soundstates. Open a soundslot and click on any sound state or container and the menu on the left has a volume setting that one can use to increase or decrease the volume of that particular soundstate or sound container. See figure 3.

Fig 3 Container sound control

He also mentioned that ESU uses this third method of volume control in their prime mover Dynamic Volume Control feature in the most recent versions of their diesel sound projects. They set the volume of the idle sound to a low volume (Volume setting of 50) and each subsequent notch is set to a progressively higher volume, all the way up to 128 for Notch 8. The transition soundstates between notches also step up in volume from the previous notch volume level to the next notch volume level. This gives a more realistic sound transition that many modellers like. Open up the prime mover soundslot and browse around clicking on the various sound containers/soundstates and take a look. 

Apoorva also has a YouTube channel containing videos demonstrating his custom prime mover sounds along with other topics.

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Announcement From The JMRI Community - 25 YEARS!!

The Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI®) community announces two major milestones:  the 25^th anniversary of the first use of JMRI and the 10,000^th update to the Java Model Railroad Interface software used by almost 50,000 model railroad hobbyists for managing and operating today’s digitally controlled model railroads.  With over 300 developers worldwide having contributed, the “community sourced” JMRI project began in 1999 to provide a way for model railroaders to manage the complexity of train engines fitted with digital decoders.  Today, model railroaders worldwide use the greatly expanded JMRI system for everything having to do with the development and enjoyment of modern model trains and layouts.

Bob Jacobsen, a member of the original team and still a senior developer, said “JMRI has helped bring the sophistication of modern electronics and computers to thousands of model railroads - all based on open source software.”  Not only model railroad hobbyists, but millions of people of all ages have seen JMRI in operation at holiday train displays, hobby shows, and train exhibits at multiple museums around the world.

 

“JMRI was one of the key steppingstones in the wide adoption of Digital Command Control across the model railroading community by making the process of implementation easier, visual, and common across all manufacturers,” noted Peter Ely, a founding member of the NMRA DCC Working Group.  “JMRI itself grew in complementary directions to allow the typical model railroader to do things at the system-wide railway level only dreamed about by the original working group.”

Jacobsen said that JMRI development continues to keep pace with changes in technology and that another 10,000 updates are likely over the next decade.  It is through the continued interest and contribution of time and effort of the community members that JMRI feature are expanded and technology updated.  Interest in JMRI extends over dozens of user forums and social media platforms, with over 8,000 users participating in the primary user forum on groups.io, asking questions and contributing answers and suggestions that are used to expand and improve JMRI capabilities.

 

Congratulations and thanks to all who have participated in using and improving JMRI, now and into the future.

 

About JMRI 

The Java Model Railroad Interface project was initially a modest undertaking of some dozen model railroad hobbyists who wanted to bring their computer skills to the emerging field of digitally controlled model trains.  Forming an open source software development project, their first output was called DecoderPro® and provided easy-to-use screens for managing “configuration variables” in the small computers that manufacturers and hobbyists were installing in train engines.  The effort expanded to create PanelPro^TM with features for controlling all types of electronic devices and automating train operations by monitoring sensors around the layout.

Unfortunately, the community was soon embroiled in a copyright and patent dispute that resulted (after seven years of litigation) in the landmark Jacobsen v. Katzer case that helped establish the legal basis for today’s open software movement. The Electronic Frontier Foundation cites this case as one that has allowed the internet to flourish and find its way into millions of computers in homes, offices, and businesses.

 

JMRI today provides functions including management of Digital Command Control decoders in train engines, cars, and other devices, graphic display of small and large train layouts, on-line real-time operational monitoring of sensors and other devices, automation of train operations, and management of realistic train operation scenarios.  JMRI also provided the first widespread implementation of the WiThrottle protocol.

 

New releases of JMRI are made available to users approximately monthly.  JMRI is comprised of several thousand source files available at GitHub, the free open source code repository, and is maintained and expanded by community members.  One of the milestones celebrated today is the 10,000^th developer update to the JMRI repository on GitHub, indicating the robustness and on-going development of this important open source project.

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ESU has Moved Offices!

BREAKING NEWS!!

ESU, LLC has loaded up our offices in Pennsylvania, hitched up the wagons, and pointed them west! The journey across the USA was great and we are now getting our new facility set up in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado!

Starting on Monday, August 19th ESU, LLC will re-open our US office at this address:

ESU, LLC 3625 Betty Dr., Suite A Colorado Springs, CO 80917

Rest assured that we are committed to continuing to serve all of our dealers and customers in the same high-quality manner that you’ve come to expect from ESU, LLC.

While we set up the new facility during our summer break, we continue to ask that no items be sent in. We will once again accept items at the new facility beginning on August 19th.

--

John H. Reinhardt

  PRRT&HS       #8909
  C&O HS       #11530
  NRail (NTrak) #54979044 (7566)

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LokSound v5 Radiator Fans Not Randomly Coming On At Lower Speeds

Making the Radiator Fans Work Randomly At Lower Speeds

Believe it or not, not all model railroaders run their trains around their layouts at 110 mph. The author is one of these individuals and he also had the problem of not being able to get the radiator fans to come on at the lower speeds. There is a logical reason for this but you have to dig down into the sound files to understand what is going on. Let's do that. We will be examining the S0709 Alco 16 cylinder 251C sound file. This discussion will cover the random functions and specifically the one that automatically controls the radiator fans.

The Random Functions

We'll start by looking at the Decoder Pane - Function Settings sheet. At the bottom of the sheet are the random functions.  See figure 1.

Fig 1 Random Functions Settings

The right side shows:

• The function button (F0 to F31) that should be triggered
• F11 is the radiator fans default
• If the Random function should be triggered while engine is stopped, driving or both
• If the Random function should be triggered only when the prime mover sound is On
• The minimum and maximum active time when the random function is active 
• The actual time is computed by the decoder between the defined range
• The minimum and maximum passive time between two Random Function triggers
•  This is the "pause", until the same Random function is retriggered

Set these values as you see fit.

The Radiator Fan Sound Scheme

Look at figure 2, the top line where share1 >= 28 and <= 34.

Fig 2 The radiator fan sound slot

If you have followed any of the author's other sound file discussions you'll know that share1 is a shared variable between sound slots in any particular sound file. This condition states that share1 must be between a value of 28 and 34 to turn on the fan. Admittedly there are other conditions, once you understand the first condition the others make sense. The [F = true] condition is automatically taken care of by the random function. So how is this going to help us? Read on.

The Prime Mover Sound Scheme
Now lets examine the prime mover sound slot shown in figure 3.
 

Fig. 3 Notches

The top of the prime mover scheme shows the notch changes from notch 2 to notch 8 and how the share1 value increases as you notch up. Think back to what the minimum value of share1 has to be to turn on the raditor fans, 28. Where does the value get to be at least 28? Not until notch 6. So if you are running your engine at lower notches, the fans will not come on randomly. 

What do we do now? There are a couple of ways to change things but we will concentrate on one of the easiest.

Now look back at figure 2. Let say we want the fans on when we reach notch 4. The share1 value there is 23. If we look back at figure 2 and we decrease all the values for fan turn on by 5 (28 minus 23) we get figure 4.

Fig 4. Lower speed values for turn-on

Burn the sound file to the decoder and you will have fans on at notch 4 (randomly). 

Loksound v4 decoders did not have random functions and the radiator fans are controlled exclusively by function key on/off (default F11). This also applies to v4 Select decoders.

Now you can see how to adjust things the way you want them. Just experiment until you get what you want. Most of all have fun!!

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The Different Delay Settings in ESU Decoders

There are two different delay settings in LokSound decoders:

 

1)  Setting CV124 bit 2 (bit value 4) takes effect only if speed is zero and Sound Slot 1 (prime mover) is off. It's a startup delay that prevents the user from activating prime mover sound and then moving off while the prime mover is still cranking over (because that's how a real loco behaves). It’s not a fixed time value but depends on how long the start-up sequence takes.

 

2)  Separately, there's a move off delay that takes effect every time speed is zero and prime mover is already running. It prevents the loco from moving off immediately and allows a prime mover spool-up time before the loco actually moves (because that's how a real loco behaves). By default it is set to 3 seconds.

 

Effect (1) can be enabled/disabled  via bit 2 of CV124.

 

Effect (2) is a different story:

• For LokSound V4 decoders, the setting is internal to the Sound Slot 2 schedule (see T1 below, units of 0.25 second). It requires you to have a Lokprogrammer and a copy of the original sound file  as you have to change and rewrite the entire sound project.
• For LokSound Select decoders, the user can't change it because the Sound Schedule part is laced out.
• For LokSound 5 decoders, typical projects have moved this setting to SoundCV13 (CV 167). You can change this with your Power Cab or JMRI DecoderPro. (I strongly recommend that you read and write down the original value in CV167 in case the effect is unwanted and you have to revert.

Thanks to Mark Granville of the ESU Groups.io forum for reminding the forum of the differences. This was in response to a question asked.

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Digitrax Signal Driver Cable Kits (SDCK) 10-pin Connector Source

Some model railroaders use up the 10-pin connectors in Digitrax's kit faster than they use the cable that comes with it. If you need additional connectors search on Amazon.com for:

"PC Accessories - Connectors Pro 50-Pack 2X5 10P 2.54mm Dual Rows IDC Sockets for Flat Ribbon Cable"

As of this post they are around $11.00 for a package of 50. That should last anyone for a while.

Thanks to the groups.io Digitrax forum for this information.

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LokProgrammer Software v5.2.9 Released

• Release notes state:

1. New firmware 5.10.168 for LokPilot 5 and LokSound 5 family: Improved brightness settings for lighting effect "FireBox".
   
   
2. New firmware 5.10.169 for LokPilot 5 and LokSound 5 family: New feature Auxiliary steam chuff trigger: If enabled, steam chuffs from sound slot 4 will be synchronized using these settings. The feature can be used to independently trigger auxiliary steam motors that could be turned on / off in addition to the prime mover steam chuffs.
   
   
3. New firmware 5.10.172 for LokPilot 5 and LokSound 5 family: SUSI Mapping extended by one line for F0 Reverse to allow for direction depedent control of F0. Needed for some new Märklin Steam locomotives. Addes new output mode (effect) for function outputs: Trigger smoke chuff "Edge Toggle" to be used with latest Märklin / Trix H0 locomotive's synchronized smoke units
   
   
4. SignalPilot: SNCB signals: Addition of two main signals without Shunting light

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Digitrax DT402D Throttle Encoder Part#

The Digitrax DT402D throttle is getting old and encoders are starting to fail more frequently.

Mouser Electronics and Digikey has replacement encoders. The part# is PEC12R-4220F-S0024. Put this part# in their search bar on the opening page and you'll go right to it.

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LokSound Ditchlights Alternately Flashing on Horn Sounding

"How exacty do I get the ditchlights on my locomotives to alternately flash when I press the horn function?" 

The author has heard this question a lot including from himself back when he had trouble figuring it out. The answer is it's not that difficult to set up. Once you see how it's done you won't have the problem again.

First, on the Function Outputs sheet in Lokprogrammer for your particular sound file check the Grade Crossing box for both of the ditch light AUX outputs and make a note of which AUX outputs they are. In this example they are AUX1[1] and AUX2[1]. Also, for one (and only one) of the AUX outputs set the Phase Shift setting to somewhere in the low 30's (typically 32). See fig 1.

Figure 1 Checking the Grade crossing box

Second, assign the AUX functions from the first step to the Physical outputs of an unused function. In this example case F6. See fig 2.

Figure 2 Assigning AUX functions

Finally, on the Function Mapping sheet set the F2 Logical function to Grade Crossing. See fig. 3.

Figure 3 Turning on F2's Grade Crossing

The overall affect of these changes is when the ditch lights are turned on they will remain on but steady (no flashing). When the horn is played (F2) they will flash and continue to flash for the Grade Crossing Hold Time setting which is on the Function settings sheet. See fig 4.

Figure 4 Setting Hold Time

<Author's Note>

If the ditch lights are off and F2 is pressed, the ditch lights will not come on nor will they flash.

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After 90 Years Kalmbach Publishing Calls it Quits!!

Don't panic!!! 

For those of you who haven't heard, Kalmbach Publishing has shuttered its business. However, the publications Model Railroader, Trains and a few others have been transferred to a new publisher, Firecrown Media. 

There are a couple of  YouTube videos associated with this change with discussion on what is going on. The first is an interview with Craig Fuller the owner of Firecrown here. The second is a discussion of the change with some really interesting history of Kalmbach and their relationship with Athearn in its infancy discussed here. Douglas Models of Salt Lake City and its importance to early modeling is also discussed in detail in this second link.

So if you want a short history lesson and information on what is going on with the change over check this out.

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Adding an Analog Engine (address 0) to JMRI's Roster!?!?Updated 2024-06-09

Many people have asked if it is possible to add a locomotive to their JMRI roster if it doesn't have a DCC decoder installed (analog). Believe it or not it is. 

• Once you have opened DecoderPro click on New Loco (don't Read Type From Decoder)
• Select NMRA (It's the first selection in the list) see fig 1.
• Select NMRA standard CV definitions
• Enter Roster ID
• Make sure Active Address is 0
• Save your selection

Figure 1 NMRA Standard CV Definitions

Although 90% of the various sheets in JMRI are useless for this type of locomotive, you do have access to the Roster Entry and Roster Media sheets (as long as you have enabled the Advanced Programmer as detailed in the 4th pararaph of this post). Once you have this you also have the ability to add the information detailed in the aformentioned post. Along with pictures and other information.

Thanks to Peter Ulvestad of the JMRI Groups.io Forum for poking this author concerning the process.

<Update 2004-06-09>
As of JMRI version 5.7.8 a "No decoder" entry has been added to the New Decoder selection below the NMRA selections for non-DCC locomotives. See fig 2.

Figure 2 No Decoder selection

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LokProgrammer Software v5.2.8 released for all LokSound 5, LokPilot 5, LokSound V4.0 and older Decoders 2024-04-30.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 is required. The .NET Framework will be installed automatically if the computer is connected to the internet. Runs from Windows 7 (Service Pack 1)

• New firmware 5.10.166 for LokPilot 5 and LokSound 5 family

• Light function Johnson Bar Control modified: Pos A is approached when driving forward, Pos B when travelling reverse. When locomotive is stationary, the center is approached

• Forward- and Reverse-Trim values are taken care of properly in the sound machine now

• Transmission of the Real Speed via RailCom. New RailComPlus gage 256, Byte 64: Definition of the Speedometer VMax display

<Authors note>

The last bullet point  concerns the new actual loco speed via RailCom that is displayed on the latest ESU ECOS command station. There is a YouTube video about this here.

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Atlas Track Planning Software - Version 1.9.5 Released

The Atlas Track Planning Software has been Updated to Version 1.9.5

Create magnificent layouts in HO, N & O scales using Atlas track with the Atlas Track Planning Softwar! 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:
- Improved flex tracks auto-shape & join feature
- Optimized memory management for tracks and objects

Updated track libraries:
- Atlas HO C100 - added new Mark V turnouts
- Atlas N C80 - small corrections in straights lengths

Bugfixes:
- Fixed possible incorrectly rendered road surface markings in 3D
- Various small bugfixes and improvements

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!

Download Atlas Track Planning Software Demo

Purchase the Software License

Purchase Layout Files

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LokProgrammer Software v5.2.7 Released

From the Readme file:

 - LokSound 5 family / LokPilot 5 family / LokPilot 5 Basic / Essential Sound Unit:

• new firmware version 5.9.162 / LokPilot 5 Basic - firmware version 5.1.6
• new function: Light effect - Smart firebox lets the LED flicker synchronously with the steam chuff.
• new function: Light effect - Neon light now also simulates a defective neon lamp.
• the logical function "Firebox" is no longer available.

• preset motor type Bühler generic -> CV52 = 0.

- Soundeditor:

• Sample list
• entering up to three initial characters of the file name selects the row.

New decoder:

LokSound 5 nano DCC Next18

 

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