Problem with Raildriver throttle and reverser
- Thread starter ExpertNewbie
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ExpertNewbie
New member
Ah damn, looks like it's still missing a dependency. I don't know if this will do it, but try dropping these DLLs into the same folder as the exe:
https://anonfiles.com/file/24fdae178144bb329db28f82dfd1b86b
The app needs 2 dependencies aside from .NET 3.5: Telerik RadControls for Winforms (for the charts), and the PI Engineering DLL to communicate with the Raildriver. Telerik has a redistributable, but I thought it was over the top to ask someone to download and install it just to get my app running, so I followed their guide on how to combine the DLLs into the exe. Apparently that didn't work, or I forgot to include one of the DLLs.
https://anonfiles.com/file/24fdae178144bb329db28f82dfd1b86b
The app needs 2 dependencies aside from .NET 3.5: Telerik RadControls for Winforms (for the charts), and the PI Engineering DLL to communicate with the Raildriver. Telerik has a redistributable, but I thought it was over the top to ask someone to download and install it just to get my app running, so I followed their guide on how to combine the DLLs into the exe. Apparently that didn't work, or I forgot to include one of the DLLs.
Well ... I grabbed the app ... didn't have to use a credit card or anything ... no sure about that.
I'd be happy to test ... BUT ... when I try to run it, it crashes ... I definitely have .NET 3.5 ... I am running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro ... not sure what the deal is ... I even download the PI SDK (since I would guess I would need the PIEHidDotNet.dll from it) and ran the .NET sample and it works without any problems. The download is just the .exe ... any 3rd Party .dlls that I might be missing? (you mentioned telerik).
--- Jeff
I'd be happy to test ... BUT ... when I try to run it, it crashes ... I definitely have .NET 3.5 ... I am running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro ... not sure what the deal is ... I even download the PI SDK (since I would guess I would need the PIEHidDotNet.dll from it) and ran the .NET sample and it works without any problems. The download is just the .exe ... any 3rd Party .dlls that I might be missing? (you mentioned telerik).
--- Jeff
That's better
For me, the points on the graph move up or down with very slight changes from 0-100% ... when I stop ... the graph becomes a straight horizontal line ... when I move either direction (from any position) ... the point on the graph moves appropriately. It is starting to look like you have a problem.
For me, the points on the graph move up or down with very slight changes from 0-100% ... when I stop ... the graph becomes a straight horizontal line ... when I move either direction (from any position) ... the point on the graph moves appropriately. It is starting to look like you have a problem.
Oh and my reverser does have a little 'play' at neutral ... I can move it back and forth in the middle almost as if it's a little loose and get different readings without it 'catching' and starting larger changes ... I haven't had any issues with it being that way though ... although I can't say if it's normal ... so the values being at different levels depending on whether you come from reverse or forward is similar on mine ... looks like the values (the # right after the data=0 column) in the listbox vary from 119 to 127 ... when I just move within that 'play' area ... although it shouldn't be a huge difference I'd guess.
ExpertNewbie
New member
Thank you jkfrench, that pretty much confirms that my unit is defective. In my case, wiggling the reverser when it's on the neutral notch doesn't update the values at all, and Trainz 12 always thinks I'm still in forward when I move it from forward to neutral.
I really appreciate you doing the test. Thanks again!
I really appreciate you doing the test. Thanks again!
My installation might be a little weird because I have the interface software for MSTS, railsim, railworks, and two different Trainz versions (2004 and 2009) installed. That last download with the DLLs does work, but it instantly goes spastic and the callbacks keep coming. For that reason I didn't even try a screenshot, but here's a video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrT7NyXfTI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrT7NyXfTI
ExpertNewbie
New member
I think I see why. The video is a little blurry, but it looks like the numbers for the throttle are jumping back and forth between 138 and 140 when you're not touching it. That shouldn't be a problem; you would need a larger change than that for the game to recognize a change in throttle. If anything, your Raildriver looks like it's -too- sensitive, which is the complete opposite of mine... 
2995Valliant
Well-known member
I have recently bought a Raildriver and have exactly the issues you describe with the throttle - moving the lever forward and nothing, nothing then all action happens at once in the last few millimetres of travel. The reverser is fine with diesels, but suffers the same problems as the throttle when used with steam, and gets completely confused if moved too quickly. This is on a quick Win & machine.
I've just downloaded the app and will try it when I am next near my Trainz pc, and had perhaps better stop putting of contacting PI..
Anthony
I've just downloaded the app and will try it when I am next near my Trainz pc, and had perhaps better stop putting of contacting PI..
Anthony
The reverser in the steam engines behaves differently in adjusting the cutoff than it does in the diesels. The throttle should not work the way you are describing. Does it calibrate OK, because it doesn't seem like it would if it is acting as you describe?
2995Valliant
Well-known member
Yes, I understand that the reverser behaves differently with steam, hence my being specific about the problem I have. The unit calibrates fine - and stays in calibration. However, notch 1 (or the start of opening the regulator on steam) doesn't occur until over half the travel of the lever has been used. Likewise when shutting off, it is very close to the central position before there is a response.
Regards,
Anthony
Regards,
Anthony
Just to make sure we are clear on this, when the throttle is straight up, which is where the notch is for the dynamic brake in diesel mode ( or the throttles mid position) , to it's full forward position towards the front of the RD, I get the throttle in the steam engines I use going from 1 to 8 in a linear manner. The cutoff in steam, isn't linear, in fact after moving the forward reverse, the cutoff can be seen to move slowly, which makes sense, otherwise it would be much to sensitive. Sometimes adjusting the cutoff on a steam engine from say 15% to 25% , makes a big difference in the engines performance. Before I gave up totally on the RD, I would try a different locomotive, if you haven't done that already, to make sure it isn't a locomotive spec problem. This one is my favorite and is available on the DLS <kuid2:243294:1299:2>
If all that checks out, then maybe there is something wrong with your RD.
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I could figure it out exactly, but my crystal ball is on the fritz again......
Mine is too. It was in better shape yesterday.
This is definitely an A/D issue. Way back when I worked with modems and DSP circuits, the bad caps were the majority of the problem. That's why I said that.
2995Valliant
Well-known member
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your help. I write steam enginespecs so I'm well aware of what affects what, why and how. The specs in question(and cab animation which also affects available cut-off settings) are fine as everything works as it should using the keyboard. I am not daft enough to try to use a dynamic brake on a steam loco either
I'm certainly not going to give up on it and it's perfectly usable as it is; like the OP I was just curious as to whether this huge dead zone is a feature of the Raildriver or a faulty unit and will contact PI Engineering for further support on what is generally an excellent product.
Regards,
Anthony
Thanks for your help. I write steam enginespecs so I'm well aware of what affects what, why and how. The specs in question(and cab animation which also affects available cut-off settings) are fine as everything works as it should using the keyboard. I am not daft enough to try to use a dynamic brake on a steam loco either
I'm certainly not going to give up on it and it's perfectly usable as it is; like the OP I was just curious as to whether this huge dead zone is a feature of the Raildriver or a faulty unit and will contact PI Engineering for further support on what is generally an excellent product.
Regards,
Anthony
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your help. I write steam enginespecs so I'm well aware of what affects what, why and how. The specs in question(and cab animation which also affects available cut-off settings) are fine as everything works as it should using the keyboard. I am not daft enough to try to use a dynamic brake on a steam loco either
I'm certainly not going to give up on it and it's perfectly usable as it is; like the OP I was just curious as to whether this huge dead zone is a feature of the Raildriver or a faulty unit and will contact PI Engineering for further support on what is generally an excellent product.
Regards,
Anthony
With a loaded coal train going down a steep grade, some times I wish my steamers had a dynamic brake...
Mine is too. It was in better shape yesterday.
This is definitely an A/D issue. Way back when I worked with modems and DSP circuits, the bad caps were the majority of the problem. That's why I said that.
I trained tech support techs for a major electronics company for a few years, and one of my favorite lines when the customer kept insisting that the tech support tech pinpoint the exact problem, was to tell the TS person to tell the client on the phone to hold the circuitry he was working on up to the phone so he could take a look at it.........
That's funny. I miss those days.
I used to repair video terminals, disk drive controllers, removable hard drive controllers, and many other boards including modems. This was the best time of my life. It's too bad that the parts became smaller and the possibility of repairing the boards has become far from remote.
John