Nice video. its great to see close ups in focus. Well explained and nice camera work. Thanks Larry, I look forward to more of your youtube presentations.
When I had my NCE PowerCab, I purchased one of these and it gave me the opportunity to add more realism to my layout. Using JMRI, I was able to program locomotives much easier with DecoderPro and using Signal Logic with Turnout Controls and Block Detection with Panel Pro give the need for a dispatcher, as long as you have all the needed electronics. I have since exchanged my PowerCab for the ProCab which has one of these already built in within the serial port. Main key whether your using the USB interface or the ProCab serial port is to make sure the correct COM port on the computer is selected and that information is located in the Device Manager within Windows.
I wrote to you the other day that I have a TCS Wowsound diesel decoder inside a C420 and I needed help to mute it on startup and a Powercab that I want to connect to PC and starting using jmri so I can better program the decoders... and you upload the fist part of a series of videos about this last part! So a perfect timing for me! Thank you very much Larry. Your channel is one of the best I found on RUclips. Greetings from Italy!
Thank ya Mr. Larry for putting out this Video and others why I like watching your Videos you dont need to Holler your clear and very understanding at what you do with the Hobby and teaching others and me I'm hooked everytime the Video starts so thanks again & I'll be ready for the Next one🤓 Stay safe & i Hope your having a Great Summer Allen D. Home of the D.M.R.R model Railroad 🚂🚂🚂
Thank you Larry for this series of videos , this is the system I have and looking forward to using it with JMRI and my iPhone. Please consider doing more videos including JMRI and using smart phones ( with NCE) to run your trains, hoping to try and get my kid and his friends into it. Thank you so much.
Larry, great video, very informative. This was very easy to follow and get setup. Looking forward to the Digitrax one like this. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
Hello, myself being new to the hobby some of the things pertaining to dcc and dcc programming get really confusing. I have watched a lot of your videos and I’m still watching more. Sometimes I have to watch a video twice just so I can get comfortable with what I’m about to do. But that’s just me not the video. Over the past year I have grown in knowledge and that just makes me enjoy the hobby more. Now I’m jumping into JMRI so we will see how that goes. Anyhow love the videos the knowledge behind them is awesome so keep them coming. Thanks, Bobby Wright
I’ve been playing with this stuff over 25 years and still run across some baffling technobabble. One problem is the folks who develop this stuff and /or write the manuals just have a hard time translating it into language every day modelers can understand.
New subscriber Watching this series and am grateful for the effort put into these videos. I though am having difficulty finding information for connecting up the USB interface to my system that has an updated SB3A and a RRampmaster. Surely I am not the only one with this setup. Wondering if you could help.
I’ll have to look into this. What is a RRampmaster, or do you mean RRampmeter, abd if so how is it hooked up? Have you tried the USB interface and had problems? If so what kinds of problems?
@@TheDCCGuy Sorry about that. It is the DCC Specialties RRampmeter that I have hooked up in the line from the Smart Booster to the track. It reads 13.9 Volts. I have tried the USB and it doesn't work. It doesn't light up and JMRI Decoder Pro does not see it.
Ken-here is a post I made with some info that might help you. I doubt the RRampmeter is the problem. It most likely is the way it is set up, either the board itself or your computer settings: I finally got an email back from Jim Scorse, the owner and developer of NCE products, concerning this question of the correct settings. What he said was that the jumper and other settings described in the instrucitons are for older versions of the usb interface. He now recommends that for their current production usb interfaces ALL JUMPERS should be set to OFF. So if you have a relatively new interface then use the all off jumper settings and set the driver and DecoderPro baud rate to 9600 if it is not already .
I remember my old drill instructor telling me real men dont need instructions, sadly I had too reply with "Well my new army watch has instructions in fine print and in 9 different languages and I have no idea what 80% of the buttons do", he tells me "Ok yea READ the instructions".
Thank you Larry. I use it on my workbench program track. I have the nce sb5 system for the layout. Could I set the layout with another usb interface to use there. I know I’ll only be able to program in the main. But when speed matching it would be easier to not have to go back and forth to the bench. I’m looking forward to part 2.
The instructions suggest you can use multiple USB interfaces if I read it correctly. I assume you would end up with 2 different com ports for the two different USB devices but I have no idea how they would interact with DecoderPro.
Hi Larry I am currently in the process of installing my NCE USB interface I have downloaded the drivers from NCE But I do not know how to set the jumpers My NCE power cab is a version 1.28C And the instruction manual that came with the interface does not show how to set jumper number 1 Also the instruction manual showes 2 power cabs at 1.28c software version Is this something you can help with or will I need to reach out to NCE? Thanks
This is from Jim Scorse, owner of NCE on the interface, as for the rest you need to contact NCE tech support: Our recommendation is all jumpers off and 9600 bps in all circumstances. The other options are for obsolete software versions of products from a minimum 8-10 years ago. Virtually all those products have received software version updates JMRI (which is probably 99% of the applications) knows how to deal with the all jumpers off recommendation. At this point talking about older versions just confuses the issue.
Hi Larry, Great video! Sorry for the newbie dumb question, but I see you connecting the USB interface using the front panel plug, but would it work equally as well using the rear ones too? Only reason I ask is for neatness to to tuck it behind the facia plate? Thanks a lot and best wishes, Gavin
There is one expansion socket on the rear of the Power Cab Panel and it might work with the usb interface, but the instructions are quite specific about using the right hand socket on the front. I think I’d ask Ed Wilson at NCE first just in case.
@@TheDCCGuy Thanks a lot Larry, really appreciate the response! I'll give their tech support a quick message now to double check. It's far from a game changer though as I still would love to use the USB Interface, but its going on a small portable modular layout so it would be great to have it mounted in the benchwork alongside the AutoSW and the other accessory decoders. All the best! G
As long as you’re asking them ask if it would work to connect it to a second expansion panel on the back. Those have sockets that can be used for throttles. There is a figure in the manual suggesting the usb can be plugged into an expansion panel.
@@TheDCCGuy Hi Larry, hope you're well. Just a quick note to say I followed your suggestion and got helpful note in from Ed at NCE today. He said that you can use both the front right-hand RJ12 jack OR the rear ones on the PCP panel as effectively they are the same. Thanks again for your help! All the best, G
Just to add another quick thank you Larry for all your kind help! I received my new DCC control kit in the mail today including a PowerCab and some lovely parts from DCC concepts here in the UK. After a lot of research I decided to use a couple of their Alpha Panels along with an Alpha Meter instead of the regular NCE PCP panel and I'm really happy with the results so far. Your tutorial helped me fly through the USB interface install and setup on my MacBook Pro and now I've got everything running sweetly on my workbench! Thanks again and best wishes, G
Good question. There are Max OSX drivers as well as Linux, and Android. However I have only tried out the Windows ones since they are most popular. Since I also have a Mac I will eventually try that too but not anytime soon, too much else on my plate right now. If you give it a go let me know how it works for you. However if the Mac is your only option then I would ask NCE tech support whether the usb device works with a Mac before buying one.
I asked Ed Wilson that question last week and he said it can be but unless there is some feature you do not have in the current version that you want from the most recent version there really is no reason to do it, especially now. They are backed up at least a month currently so you’d be without it for a month or two.
@@TheDCCGuy I mean, I don't have a seperate test track that i can hook the system to. What I was planning on doing was insulating one of my open stall tracks from the roundhouse, and using that as a program track to use the jmri on (decoder pro). If that makes sense
Your USB board may be a different version than mine. I was going by the table in their instruction sheet as I showed in the video. All I can say is I set mine up per the table and it works.
Hi DCC Guy. I like to have your support to help me to choose the right control the sginle and turnout in DCC ho layout. Can I use DCC DS 64 Q.S.D. Thank you
Yes, but depending on how complicated you want to make it they also have a couple of other signal boards. Take a look at the Digitrax website and search for “signals” and that should get you a lot of information on their system.
Depends on the version.With the most recent version I think you want them all off and 9600 baud. Take a look at pt 2 and the comments there. We discussed the question of settings quite a bit there.
I know this doesn’t have anything to do with this video, And I’m not a stupid person by any means. The hardest thing to me is speed matching a dang locomotive. Don’t know what it is but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! LOL!
Some combinations of decoders can be a challenge. In some cases I have had to resort to using customized 28 step speed tables. Your best bet is to use the same type decoder in locos you plan to speed match.
Nice video. its great to see close ups in focus. Well explained and nice camera work. Thanks Larry, I look forward to more of your youtube presentations.
When I had my NCE PowerCab, I purchased one of these and it gave me the opportunity to add more realism to my layout. Using JMRI, I was able to program locomotives much easier with DecoderPro and using Signal Logic with Turnout Controls and Block Detection with Panel Pro give the need for a dispatcher, as long as you have all the needed electronics. I have since exchanged my PowerCab for the ProCab which has one of these already built in within the serial port. Main key whether your using the USB interface or the ProCab serial port is to make sure the correct COM port on the computer is selected and that information is located in the Device Manager within Windows.
I wrote to you the other day that I have a TCS Wowsound diesel decoder inside a C420 and I needed help to mute it on startup and a Powercab that I want to connect to PC and starting using jmri so I can better program the decoders... and you upload the fist part of a series of videos about this last part! So a perfect timing for me! Thank you very much Larry. Your channel is one of the best I found on RUclips. Greetings from Italy!
Glad to hear it’s working for you.
Thank ya Mr. Larry for putting out this Video and others why I like watching your Videos you dont need to Holler your clear and very understanding at what you do with the Hobby and teaching others and me I'm hooked everytime the Video starts so thanks again & I'll be ready for the Next one🤓
Stay safe & i Hope your having a Great Summer Allen D. Home of the D.M.R.R model Railroad 🚂🚂🚂
I appreciate that
Thank you Larry for this series of videos , this is the system I have and looking forward to using it with JMRI and my iPhone. Please consider doing more videos including JMRI and using smart phones ( with NCE) to run your trains, hoping to try and get my kid and his friends into it. Thank you so much.
It’s already on my to-do list of videos, just hang in there until I get to it.
Awesome thank you . Really been enjoying your channel, always looking forward to the next video’s! Also your corner in MR.
Always straight forward and easy to understand..Looking forward to part 2. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Larry, I'm starting my layout next year and I'm thinking DCC was difficult to set up but when I saw this video. I find it less challenging.
Larry, great video, very informative. This was very easy to follow and get setup. Looking forward to the Digitrax one like this. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken
I have all Digitrax versions since the PR1 up through the PR4 and will definitely be doing a video soon on its use.
Hi DCC guy, thanks for posting, it was very informative. And you explain things very well. Thanks, Richard.
Glad it was helpful!
Hello, myself being new to the hobby some of the things pertaining to dcc and dcc programming get really confusing. I have watched a lot of your videos and I’m still watching more. Sometimes I have to watch a video twice just so I can get comfortable with what I’m about to do. But that’s just me not the video. Over the past year I have grown in knowledge and that just makes me enjoy the hobby more. Now I’m jumping into JMRI so we will see how that goes. Anyhow love the videos the knowledge behind them is awesome so keep them coming. Thanks, Bobby Wright
I’ve been playing with this stuff over 25 years and still run across some baffling technobabble. One problem is the folks who develop this stuff and /or write the manuals just have a hard time translating it into language every day modelers can understand.
Thanks Larry.
Good deal Simple! Thanks!
Great video and also you have awesome channel
Thank you so much!
I am using the WifiTrax interface from Australia, works fantastic, just what I need for my layout , also using the WiThrottle from Apple
I have heard from several viewers using this interface and it sounds like a great option for NCE users.
Larry yes it is , I live in Canada, NCE wireless not available in Canada but UWT-50 from TCS coming soon
thank you so very much
New subscriber
Watching this series and am grateful for the effort put into these videos. I though am having difficulty finding
information for connecting up the USB interface to my system that has an updated SB3A and a RRampmaster. Surely I am not the only one with this setup. Wondering if you could help.
I’ll have to look into this. What is a RRampmaster, or do you mean RRampmeter, abd if so how is it hooked up? Have you tried the USB interface and had problems? If so what kinds of problems?
@@TheDCCGuy
Sorry about that. It is the DCC Specialties RRampmeter that I have hooked up in the line from the Smart Booster to the track. It reads 13.9 Volts. I have tried the USB and it doesn't work. It doesn't light up and JMRI Decoder Pro does not see it.
Ken-here is a post I made with some info that might help you. I doubt the RRampmeter is the problem. It most likely is the way it is set up, either the board itself or your computer settings:
I finally got an email back from Jim Scorse, the owner and developer of NCE products, concerning this question of the correct settings. What he said was that the jumper and other settings described in the instrucitons are for older versions of the usb interface. He now recommends that for their current production usb interfaces ALL JUMPERS should be set to OFF. So if you have a relatively new interface then use the all off jumper settings and set the driver and DecoderPro baud rate to 9600 if it is not already .
I remember my old drill instructor telling me real men dont need instructions, sadly I had too reply with "Well my new army watch has instructions in fine print and in 9 different languages and I have no idea what 80% of the buttons do", he tells me "Ok yea READ the instructions".
Thank you Larry. I use it on my workbench program track. I have the nce sb5 system for the layout. Could I set the layout with another usb interface to use there. I know I’ll only be able to program in the main. But when speed matching it would be easier to not have to go back and forth to the bench. I’m looking forward to part 2.
The instructions suggest you can use multiple USB interfaces if I read it correctly. I assume you would end up with 2 different com ports for the two different USB devices but I have no idea how they would interact with DecoderPro.
The DCC Guy ok thanks Larry
Hi Larry
I am currently in the process of installing my NCE USB interface
I have downloaded the drivers from NCE
But I do not know how to set the jumpers
My NCE power cab is a version 1.28C
And the instruction manual that came with the interface does not show how to set jumper number 1
Also the instruction manual showes 2 power cabs at 1.28c software version
Is this something you can help with or will I need to reach out to NCE?
Thanks
This is from Jim Scorse, owner of NCE on the interface, as for the rest you need to contact NCE tech support:
Our recommendation is all jumpers off and 9600 bps
in all circumstances.
The other options are for obsolete software versions
of products from a minimum 8-10 years ago. Virtually
all those products have received software version updates
JMRI (which is probably 99% of the applications) knows
how to deal with the all jumpers off recommendation.
At this point talking about older versions just confuses
the issue.
Lost the jumper pins for the NCE Interface so I'm using some bare wire to connect the appropriate pins. Any problems with that?
I see no problems as long as you get the connection right and an protect connections from shorts.
Hi Larry, Great video! Sorry for the newbie dumb question, but I see you connecting the USB interface using the front panel plug, but would it work equally as well using the rear ones too? Only reason I ask is for neatness to to tuck it behind the facia plate? Thanks a lot and best wishes, Gavin
There is one expansion socket on the rear of the Power Cab Panel and it might work with the usb interface, but the instructions are quite specific about using the right hand socket on the front. I think I’d ask Ed Wilson at NCE first just in case.
@@TheDCCGuy Thanks a lot Larry, really appreciate the response! I'll give their tech support a quick message now to double check. It's far from a game changer though as I still would love to use the USB Interface, but its going on a small portable modular layout so it would be great to have it mounted in the benchwork alongside the AutoSW and the other accessory decoders. All the best! G
As long as you’re asking them ask if it would work to connect it to a second expansion panel on the back. Those have sockets that can be used for throttles. There is a figure in the manual suggesting the usb can be plugged into an expansion panel.
@@TheDCCGuy Hi Larry, hope you're well. Just a quick note to say I followed your suggestion and got helpful note in from Ed at NCE today. He said that you can use both the front right-hand RJ12 jack OR the rear ones on the PCP panel as effectively they are the same. Thanks again for your help! All the best, G
Just to add another quick thank you Larry for all your kind help! I received my new DCC control kit in the mail today including a PowerCab and some lovely parts from DCC concepts here in the UK. After a lot of research I decided to use a couple of their Alpha Panels along with an Alpha Meter instead of the regular NCE PCP panel and I'm really happy with the results so far. Your tutorial helped me fly through the USB interface install and setup on my MacBook Pro and now I've got everything running sweetly on my workbench! Thanks again and best wishes, G
Great video, how hard is it to use a MAC with this system. I know I need to purchase a USB-c. Any thing else I need to be aware of?
Good question. There are Max OSX drivers as well as Linux, and Android. However I have only tried out the Windows ones since they are most popular. Since I also have a Mac I will eventually try that too but not anytime soon, too much else on my plate right now. If you give it a go let me know how it works for you. However if the Mac is your only option then I would ask NCE tech support whether the usb device works with a Mac before buying one.
Also got a mac and waiting for the video, will try myself though and let you know. NCE says there are MAC drivers also.
I bought a New NCE power cab it has a 1.6 version can this be updated?
I asked Ed Wilson that question last week and he said it can be but unless there is some feature you do not have in the current version that you want from the most recent version there really is no reason to do it, especially now. They are backed up at least a month currently so you’d be without it for a month or two.
I have nce nce powerhouse PH1 will the interface u were just talking about will it work with this unit ??
Doesn’t that unit have a serial port built in? I have seen that NCE is now selling a serial to usb interface cable.
Is there a way to do this using a program track on your layout? Like with the auto switch
I am not sure what you are asking. If you mean does the DecoderPro computer connection work with the usb connection to program decoders then yes.
@@TheDCCGuy I mean, I don't have a seperate test track that i can hook the system to. What I was planning on doing was insulating one of my open stall tracks from the roundhouse, and using that as a program track to use the jmri on (decoder pro). If that makes sense
According to NCE - ALL Jumpers are supposed to be OFF - This is what I was told from the tech in an e-mail from him.
Your USB board may be a different version than mine. I was going by the table in their instruction sheet as I showed in the video. All I can say is I set mine up per the table and it works.
Right! I thought of this after I sent you the screen shot of the email... sorry about that!!
Hi DCC Guy.
I like to have your support to help me to choose the right control the sginle and turnout in DCC ho layout. Can I use DCC DS 64 Q.S.D. Thank you
Yes, but depending on how complicated you want to make it they also have a couple of other signal boards. Take a look at the Digitrax website and search for “signals” and that should get you a lot of information on their system.
@@TheDCCGuy thank you for your support.
what is the jumper on off sequence for nce?
Depends on the version.With the most recent version I think you want them all off and 9600 baud. Take a look at pt 2 and the comments there. We discussed the question of settings quite a bit there.
Stephen
I know this doesn’t have anything to do with this video, And I’m not a stupid person by any means. The hardest thing to me is speed matching a dang locomotive. Don’t know what it is but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! LOL!
Some combinations of decoders can be a challenge. In some cases I have had to resort to using customized 28 step speed tables. Your best bet is to use the same type decoder in locos you plan to speed match.
Are you using JRMI?