Editing FAQ

This FAQ should be the first place to check for answers to your questions. Many times the answer is hidden in the mists of our [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers Yahoo group archives]. Hopefully this page will help clear that mist!


==Timeout talking to command station==
This message is saying that your command station and JMRI are not communicating. Typical causes are incorrect 'com' port settings, baud rate, and other arcane H/W stuff that is discussed in, at present, various different places. If the program is starting up, but the programming options are 'greyed out' the [[JMRI Preferences setup]] page may be able to help.

===NCE Systems===
(Info taken from Bob Jacobsen's email to the mailing-list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/message/16702)

Common causes of 'Timeout talking to command station '

; Wrong cable : Make sure that cable is "straight through", not "null modem".  If you have an ohmmeter, you can confirm this by making sure that pin 2 on one end is connected to pin 2 on the other end.

; Wrong speed (mismatch from end to end): 9600 baud is the default speed for the PowerHouse Pro, however it could have been changed by mistake or sometimes it can get confused and report that it is set to 9600 even when it is not. See ''Setting / Resetting the Baud rate'' below..

; EPROM update : If you have installed the EPROM update and not followed the NCE system reset instructions completely, you should follow the instructions above about changing the speed (baud rate) . This is because the NCE system memory needed to be reloaded when the EPROM was installed; if not done just right, the speed displayed isn't the speed actually being used.  By changing it and changing it back, you ensure it's the right value. See ''Setting / Resetting the Baud rate'' below.

;Wrong com port : Sometimes COM1 is a modem, fax connection, etc. if there are others listed, try each of them in turn in the DecoderPro preferences.

FIELD_MESSAGE_sittrcola

===USB Connections on Windows PCs===
DCC Systems connected to a Windows PC via USB (e.g. SPROG II, locoBuffer II) often use Virtual COM Port or VCP drivers in order to emulate an old fashioned serial COM port. A common problem is not setting the connection preferences to reflect the virtual COM port that has been assigned to your hardware.

After installing all of the required drivers, and with the hardware connected and powered up, ascertain the COM port assignment by opening the Device Manager (Right-click "My Computer" then select Properties -> Hardware -> Device Manager. Expand the list of Ports (COM & LPT) and note the COM port assigned to your hardware. Enter this in the layout connection preference in DecoderPro, PanelPro, etc. [AC June 16, 2006]

== See Also ==
* [[Can I try the program without any layout connection? | Instructions for installation without a layout]]
* [[OsxDtrax | MacOS X with Digitrax]]
* [[MacOS X with Lenz]]
* [[ScriptMain | Information on scripting]].
* Please add others!

[[Category:FAQ]]