The locomotive I'm trying to program is a Bachmann F7 with a 2 function bachmann decoder already installed. I've been having a heck of a time. I'm nearly %100 sure my connections and modifications and soldering on the motor-shield is solid ( i go to school for electrical engineering after all lol ) but i'm having a heck of a time figuring out the software end of things both with JMRI and the DCC BaseStation controller software from user Gregg. With Gregg's controller software, it recognizes the interface and track power turns on and I understand how to change the sketch to assign a cab to match my locomotives address but, the problem is perhaps I don't know my locomotive's address or can't give it an address? On the JMRI end of the table, i've made sure that it's connecting to my uno on com 3 and it is seemingly recognizing it. Again, the issue seems to be more about confusion on the decoder end of things as when I click the "Read type from decoder" when I'm creating a new Loco it highlights the "Massoth Elektronik" folder of decoders and not the Bachmann decoders. I've tried creating profiles with the Massoth decoders and with all the Bachmann decoders in it's library and nothing seems to work. Track power is on. I've tried having it set to "programming track" and "programming on main" and nothing works and I can't get this new Bachmann to play nice with the other stuff or to play or move at all! Thanks for any help or ideas!!!!
I should maybe add that the computer I'm using is Win 10 and that yes I am also giving the motor-shield 15 volts DC but I'll just tinker with it and try to trouble-shoot cause I do realize it could still be a couple of things here so who knows. Could be a totally bad loco or decoder install cause like I said, loco is brand new and I can't get it to work at all and the decoder my system reads on it doesn't make much sense. If all else fails I'll just return it to amazon and get a Kato Loco instead perhaps this time.
Hi, I don't use JMRI myself, ( I built a small WiFi throttle), but if I need to (re)program any of my loco's I use Gregg's Processing3 controller S/W (running on my Win10 laptop) Run the controller, and with the track power turned on, press 'p' and you should get the programming panel appear (see attached screen shot). With your loco placed on the 'programming track' press the green Engine Addresses 'read' button. The loco should give a few kicks, and the address it's decoder is set to should appear in the long and short fields as appropriate. If that works, you should be able to operate the loco on the main track, using that address. Edit: I should add that if you don't get any address fields filled, It may not be the loco at fault, you may have a problem with your DCC++ system E.G. the current sense circuitry or software settings may need tweaking.... Jim
