With all the new developments using JMRI/Decoder Pro you can run your layout using a WIFI or your cell phone and Panel Pro, JMRI version. You can't use Bachmann EZ Command nor Bachmann Dynamis, they are not supported since neither has the interface available.

Watch and learn from simple basic Decoder Pro and CV's. Scroll down there are 4 segments each about 15 minutes.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/mrht_decoderpro

Also here is a link to all JMRI applications and supported DCC Command Stations

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/apps/index.shtml

Likes been said there is so much that's been developed and since I first started using Decoder Pro/JMRI. I even forgot the basics or how to describe them step by step.

This yahoo group to me is the most helpful..
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/

Quote from: Yardmaster on May 18, 2013, 08:28:34 PM
It is impossible for us to police how you guys treat each other. Everyone needs to show respect and civility toward each other.

Yardmaster I know you're an administrator but I would never use any profanity or turn anybody in either. I have seen over the months some of the trouble makers are no longer here. They came I think from the site that closed down. I have never been disrespectful, you can read any of my posts from years ago to see that. Even when things were going on, none of my posts were ever removed. I would usually wind saying something of the effect of "I'm sorry you feel that way", or "there is no sense in replying any further to this thread". I never put anybody down or have ever shown any hostility. I also have a mutual friend who I met here on this site who lives in town and is a police officer and he hasn't been back either to this site, who used to help with a lot of people too, he too got jumped on over the Bachmann EZ Command attacks sometime after I left. Except for a few, I never had a problem.

Quote from: Yardmaster on May 18, 2013, 04:45:33 PM
Most of the negative comments that appear when EZ command is discussed come from lack of understanding concerning the ultimate purpose of the product. EZ Command was designed with beginners in mind. It is a quick, easy and AFFORDABLE way to get started in DCC. It was designed to make learning DCC theory easy. You can not change CV values or do 4 digit addressing but it is far less intimidating than a 400 dollar plus system with a huge operators instruction booklet and a myriad of confusing buttons on the control station.
I think the key point is to compare the price to a full blown system. According to the post above an EZ Command can cost less that a single DCC equipped locomotive. I have much better luck teaching a novice to run DCC with an EZ Command than I do with the higher end systems.

Quote from: Jerrys HO on May 18, 2013, 06:26:42 PM
Rover I second everything you just wrote. I too left this site but took it further and deleted my account because of the negativity and decided to reopen it for the benefit of others and myself.
Yardy did you ever check in to what I asked could be done?

Jerry

From these 2 posts, and Jerry, I wonder how many others felt and did the same thing. Well you guys have made me realize the value of helping others who need help with EZ Command. I too after reading your responses refuse to let others put me down for using a product that is to my liking and never had any problems with.

It won't happen again!

I left this site (posting) due to the negativity that I received from the MRR Guru's on this, the Bachmann Site for distain comments I received for using the Bachmann EZ Command DCC System. Imagine that on a Bachmann Product Site.  I had and still have no intention of starting flame wars over Bachmann Products. I have received much help in other area's of this wonderful hobby of model rail roading on this site and still lurk on occasion, but to defend Bachmann EZ Command and its possible expansion we all know is very limited. But most of us don't have the available room for a thousand mile scale model layout or care for the need of more expensive complicated systems.

I use the Bachmann EZ Command, if I ever upgraded to another system I could sell what I have invested and probably get nearly all my money back. But I won't since I have no need for advanced system's with my 11'x17' layout with a 2 rail line subway under, so I litterly have 2 layouts stacked. 8 years I've been using my Bachmann EZ Command along with the Bachmann 5 amp booster. A simple Google Search one can find the Bachmann booster at a reasonable cost under $200.00.  I program my CV's and sound with my PR3/JMRI (cost $74.00) program track, I have no desire to able to put in 900 loco's in any throttle and I'm quite happy with what I have at the present time 52 DCC loco's about half have sound, I have converted 24 DC loco's to DCC, hard wired and some with sound, yes a lot of work especially speaker placement. 

Bachmann sells loco's with sound that are extremely affordable for the few that are available at this time. I've paid more just for a sound decoder from other manufacturers than Bachmann sells for a complete locomotive with the sound already installed. Most of the sounds after all are default in startup and shutdown and of course depending on the decoder even while running such as the wheel riding against the inside of the rail squeal, steam sounds and chuffs, it has nothing to do with the throttle since it is default in the decoder, and we all know EZ Command allows these sounds.

I am curious as to how many model railroaders actually use all the function buttons when operating one train or 3-6 trains for a session. QSI, I believe, has the most functions for sound and or lights, 24 at the present time.

Most throttles have 10 function buttons and some have 27, correct me if I'm wrong, my throttle has 10, I still use Bachmann EZ Command after 8 years. I mostly use the default buttons such as:

1-bell

2-horn/whistle

3-loco addressing (single addressing)

4-ditch lights (remapped, not defalult)

8-mute

9-dim light

10- light/lights on/off

I don't use all the function buttons for all the sounds/functions available on a decoder. Though I know how limited I am with my throttle. Even when I program using PR3/JMRI their throttles too only have 10 function buttons. I assume that using other throttles, Dynamis, Digitrax, NCE, for example would have something on the screen such as touch for the remaining functions. I really can't remember all the function's on my decoders whether it's Bachmann, QSI, Soundtraxx, Tsunami, or Digitrax.

I only use the function's for what sound options I can use and quite frankly only use the bell, horn/whistle, and lighting functions.

The only other function button I use is #4 for my ditch/mars lights, I remapped so I could remember what function button to use.

Do any users really use more than the bell, horn/whistle and the light function buttons when operating or am I really alone. I do run 3-4 trains with 2 loco consist's on my 11'x17' layout but can run up to 6. It seems that running even 2-3 trains and trying to apply all the different functions is almost impossible. Heck I can't really remember what loco is on what address, let alone the functions for it.

Bachmann DCC systems are a bargain and again easy to set up, and in just a few minutes you can be up and running  and operate in DCC with no hassles's. There are other systems that have a much more complete program and function capabilities but for much more $$$. But I'm not interested in spending several hundred dollars more so I can hear a rooster crow or listen to steam safety blowoff. No on the contrary I even enjoy function 8 MUTE! No sound at all, just the whining of the electric motor and the metal wheels on the track. And I appreciate Bachmann making this hobby with DCC simple, and EZ to use for the price of it.

I also admit that adjusting the motion cv's most definitely been a challenge in the beginning but it's rewards are outstanding in running, especially in consists of 2 or more locomotives.

I have also completed some function remapping and configured decoders as an example, ditch lights that flash when the horn sounds with PR3/JMRI using decoders that allow you to do so and operating them from my Bachmann EZ Command. It keeps me quite busy with completing my scenery and maintaining what's completed.

Anything to do with CV's is after all, a bit more advanced and I still find the reset button a life saver when "playing" with CV's. I have 45 turnouts on my layout and the price to install the decoders to allow me to operate from any throttle is cost prohibitive, pushing a button on my panel is not a problem, I do have a lighted map on the wall with led's showing me which direction a switch is thrown, the slow motion Tortise Machines were quite enough. I have installed 4 Bachmann EZ Command Auto Reverse Loop Modules that have worked flawlessly for 4 years.


Bachmann Easy Command system for $59.85.

http://www.thefavoritespot.com/p-3982-bachmann-ho-scale-train-ez-command-control-system.aspx

A link to see for yourself of how to assemble and use the Bachmann EZ Command and how to lash up consists, 2 or more loco's in one train.

http://www.google.com/search?q=bachmann+ez+command+youtube&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_enUS385

2 excursions planned Labor Day weekend at Cass West Virginia with this "bad boy".

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Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is the place for railroad enthusiasts or for taking a first train ride, especially over the Labor Day weekend.

With standard daily trips to Whittaker Station and Bald Knob, the park also has two evening train events planned, plus a new Heisler No. 6 Special Excursion for two trips only over Labor Day weekend.

Special excursions to Old Spruce and to the Spruce Town site are scheduled to be featured that weekend. Heisler No. 6 will be the featured locomotive on the 10 a.m. departures on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Each excursion is limited to 100 passengers and requires advance reservations.

Well here goes, for me I did use track joiners, I personally won't put track down without them,  except I also allowed for expansion joints  and just butted my joints with a piece of card stock as a gauge for the joint seperation and carefully aligned it. I secured my track with nails and homasote as my roadbed, not the preferred method of caulk that some use, some do some don't.  What some do, so I've read, is they apply caulking compound evenly spread sort of the thickness of heavy paint. They use these T shaped pins, my exwife had them for her wig when she put it on a dummy head. some use weights like full paint cans or anything with weight suitable to hold the track in place until the compound dries. But keep in mind you must use feed wires to the buss line to feed power to your track. I find it easier to use the rail joiners to keep it in line, but I still feed each section of track with feeders to the Buss. Jim

Sasha, I do remember the older joiners were heavier and bulkier and I'm talking way back in the 50's-70's era before 3ft flex track became popular. Not many use brass track these days and sectional track is gone by the way of the dinosaur, not many modelers use 9" sectional piece track. Cork road bed and track nails is also becoming extinct, shucks code 100 track is losing in popularity for most modelers these days and most modelers these days use cheap caulking compound to secure their 3' sections of code 83 or code 70 track to styrofoam for HO gage. Some do use the newer track joiners but also solder their joints and still others use the joiners and don't solder their joints I personally soldered my feed wires to every piece of 3' flex track and used joiners and I didn't solder many of my joints.  I did leave joints open with no joiners for expansion every 12- 16 ft or so.

Now I know that everybody has their own thing when it comes to laying track. About as many variations and suggestions and what works for some and doesn't for others.  The only other reason for track joiners is if you take your track up and down and not a permanent layout, yea you probably would go through a lot of joiners and problems. Stuff wears out when you put up and take down! I think that's why Bachmann produces EZ track, it's more rugged for those that don't have a permanent layout. But I have some EZ track on my permanent layout for my subway. Fortunate enough to have purchased 3' sections of it too!

I guess you guys picked up on the OP's original question. I didn't pick up on it till I read the part (traction tires). Definitely N gauge! Jim

Steep grades, approaching 4% may be acceptable for a roundy-go-roundy 4 x 8 foot railway but are really not acceptable for a scale model railroad and they are too steep to be realistic.  The now closed N&W ex Southern Railway Saluda Grade excepted.


Hey it's my pike, I created it and it is a little more than a 4x8 it's small at 11x17 with a subway under it. Lots of mountains and tunnel's with overpass's and anybody that's seen it hasn't complained one iota. If they did "I'd show them the door and wish them a good day". What's even worse to some model railraoders probably is that I still use the Bachmann EZ Command, have been for 7 years but program with Digitrax PR3/JMRI. I'm quite satisfied with it including my spaghetti bowl of trains criss crossing over and under bridges that have the 4% grades on one of the peninsulas  and the same as the subway ramp from the top to the subway! Got to put a couple pics of this bad-boy layout on this site. Idea was taking from an old Atlas layout magazine from the 60's and in fact was supposed to be modeled in the Colorado Rockies. Wish all you folks have as much fun as I do creating and enjoying your own pikes! Jim

Well I went a little off course with my post and not posting main lines, just saying that's all! The Cass Pic is here in West Virginia google search will cofirm that and it is still in operation like I said. I've been there a number of times and considering voluteering to help restore some of the Shays and Climax's, just haven't found the time. All lines here in West Virginia, including main lines, have some very steep inclines! I have no argument with anybody especially those who have never seen or traveled the trains here in west Virginia! Jim

I do believe we are talking about steam engine era, the pics I have posted are probably 100 years old. I do have one that is the steepest incline ever in the US. In fact it was in Pittsburgh Pa. Monongahela Line and it only dis banned in 1961 used for both freight and passenger. I'm just saying about how steep some grades were during the time. Of course engineering, research and development over the past 100 years have greatly improved most everything that we see today! And no railroad would ever go over a mountain such as they did years ago but remember it was the steam era. The 2-8-8-2 articulated loco's was built for such work in mountainous regions known to negotiate tight curves and hauling power. Used here in West Virginia where they replaced the 2-8-2's. They didn't have to MU 2 of these to haul, one 2-8-8-2 replaced the consist. As you can see in the pic both freight and passenger cars ascending. Now that would be something to model for the time era.

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o619/Rangerover1944/MonIncline1905.jpg[/img]]
Monoline 1905

Didn't mean to start a flame war! Go ahead criticize me! Just stating the facts with pics! Jim

This scenic train is still in operation today Cass Railroad Historical Society, West Virginia. Jim
[url][/url]

I have had no difficulty with pulling power of my 4-8-2's either with some grades that are more than 3% hauling 10 cars. I'll post pics later of my grades, no where near the prototypical that I have shown, maybe 4%, and also I have more "terrible grade prototypical pics from here in the mountains of West Virginia". I know nothing about N scale and assumed the OP was referring to HO scale! Still don't know, since no confirmation. I'm also aware that as 2-8-8-2 said in his post that most rail roads had no grade problems. Except in mountain area's, that's why some brilliant engineers came up with "switchback" to achieve the impossible impassable mountains. Jim

A 2-degree grade is actually 3.49% (100% times the rise in inches divided by run)--which is more than most railroads ever had on a mainline.

Excuse me!

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o619/Rangerover1944/ascending_jacobs_ladder.jpg[/img]]
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o619/Rangerover1944/incline.jpg[/img]][/url

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You know that's why they have factory reset, for guys like us who are afraid of doing something wrong programming cv's. 7 years ago I wouldn't even think of doing cv stuff, now it's simple! Go for it you won't do any permanent damage to the decoder, factory reset is the friend you turn to! Jim