NCE – Why does the horn not switch off after releasing the button when using Radio?

Mark Schutzer’s replied on March 23 2006 on NCE Yahoo group.

 

Nick,

 

Unfortunately you can't fix this by changing the number of horn off packets.

 

Bill is right; the problem is due to the radio.

 

The Horn button works differently than the rest of the keys as commands are sent each time the state of the key is changed.  When you press the Horn button, two "horn key on" commands are sent to the command station, and likewise two "horn key off" commands are sent when the key is released.

 

If these packets get dropped or corrupted due to a radio path null, then the command station never sees the key change state.  Hence you can end up with the horn stuck on, or you can be holding down the horn key and the horn will not sound.

 

The horn off packets that Bill referred to has to do with the number of packets sent to the decoder from the command station.  The problem is not between the command station and the decoder, but rather the command station never sees the "horn off" command from the cab.

 

The cheap and dirty workaround is simply to press and release the horn button quickly one more time and this will send another set of horn off commands when the key is released.

 

Normally I would recommend the RB02 and the RPT1 to improve the perfomance of the radio link as this usually takes care of this problem.  But you are already running the repeater system, if you are still seeing holes in the radio coverage you may want to try and add additional repeaters to improve things.

 

How big is your layout room and how much area does each radio base station cover now?

 

I hope this helps,

 

Mark Schutzer 

 

 

--- In NCE-DCC@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Shanaman" <billy44@...> wrote:

> 

> Nick, this is a problem with the NCE radios and some other systems

also.  The horn button is an on/off momentary button which differs from the F2 horn button which is an on or off button each time you press it.

>

> The problem is the radio sometimes doesn't "see" the off code when

the button is released.  This can probably be cured by altering the number of "off" information packets (code) of the specific button that the transmitter sends to the receiver. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that.  You might call Larry or Jim at NCE to see if it can be done.

>

> Bill Shanaman

 

 

>   ----- Original Message -----

>   From: Nick Yuhasz

>   To: NCE-DCC@yahoogroups.com

>   Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 8:06 PM

>   Subject: [NCE-DCC] Horn Button (Wireless) Question / Problem

>

>

>   I have a Power House Pro Radio system purchased in July of 2005 including two, Pro Cab radio throttles.  I have an RB02 and a single RPT1. 

Command Station Firmware version December 21, 2004.

>

>   Ever since I've had the system, 30% of the time, when I hit the Horn button specifically, the horn stays on until I hit the Horn button a second time. This occurs for the locomotive I'm running and happens with every type of sound decoder-equipped engine I own (MRC, QSI,

>   and Tsunami), that is, it is not a decoder problem.  No other strange problems with either of the throttles in terms of response or interference!  They work great!

>

>   If I plug either wireless throttle into the bus, this problem does not happen ever.  I hit the Horn button and the horn stops after I left off the pressure on the button.

>

>   Is there a Cab setting or a Command Station setting that can remove the problem I described above?

>

>   Thanks in advance

>

>   Nick Yuhasz

>   Amherst, Ohio