Model Railroading 101 How to Speed Match DCC Locomotives JMRI SPROG WiThrottle MR101

[@aqualungs77]

This was a HUGE help! I had 3 locos to consist with my Zephyr Express. Over the last 2 days I spent hours of frustration trying to get 3 to speedmatch correctly. No problem with 2.. I literally burned out a little. Smoke came out of my ears.. 4-5 times got lost, and used CV8 just start over. I almost passed up this video when you started talking about JRMI, I wanted to learn more as I've been in the hobby almost a year. I then decided this was the best way after the video. Even better the new Zephyr Express supports HDMI our of the box so I didn't need the interface. Long story short I had all 3 consisted in an hour. What a cool program! Thanks! PS seriously almost spent 70$ on Accutrack II..

[@tsgmultimedia]

Excellent - this is the kind of comment that makes all the work worthwhile! Share it with your friends if you think they could also benefit!

[@GowertonParkway]

You have literally no idea how happy you have made me with this video . I’ve been struggling with consists for so long , and this has resolved my problems. Thank you so much for sharing this !

[@dieseldude6976]

John, thanks. This is a great example of one feature that DCC brings to the hobby. Good job. Sincerely, Kennedy

[@dr_bnc]

No-nonsense speed matching! Awesome video John!

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

John, I really appreciate this video because speed matching has always been challenging for me to do, and I want to be able to run my diesels in multiple-unit consists. I use JMRI for speed matching, but from your video, I can see a big advantage in using WiThrottle and not touching it during speed matching. I can also see a big advantage in speed matching on a circle of track instead of on the layout as I have been trying to do. Your video has inspired me to try to speed match my diesels using your methods. Thanks so much for this video. ...Roy

[@tsgmultimedia]

I'm glad I could help, Roy. I will eventually go back to your ballasting Kato Unitrack video some day if I ever get around to building a module or layout for myself. :D

[@markiewodi3371]

Awesome video, I really appreciate that you made it simple and understandable..... And ya did it! You gave us the “key”, being that you showed how to simply do it, giving us the opportunity to turn that key and get more in depth, if we so desire. I’ll stick to your simple way..... only cause I wanna “play trains”. Loved it keep em coming!!

[@tsgmultimedia]

There is something to be said for getting things operable so you can have fun running the trains instead of nit-picking the crap out of it so you spend more time fiddling than you do running, right?

[@deandanielson8074]

Hi John: I'm glad you said "introduction" as I am just learning JMRI and will need a few extra "watchings" to get it. Thanks - Dean

[@tomcarr1050]

Great explanation John...I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but couldn't figure it out. You made it seem very simple to do... Thank You for showing us how to do it Tom

[@tsgmultimedia]

I'm glad it was helpful! If you know anyone else who might benefit from this, please share it with them as well!

[@teadyconnolly9590]

Thanks John excellent Video very well explained this is a very nice way you have shown and done here this is very nice setup and thank you John and the Team for excellent Videos

[@Airmax1]

Thank you John, really made sense as to how work with JMRI on speed matching. Looking forward to further information on JMRI.

[@sparky107107]

that is a easy way to speed match for sure. now i have to find me a computer connection for nce. even with all the steps you had to take, still the easiest way to do it.. thanks John.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Great Video as usual John, Thank you

[@keithw6026]

Hi John - great instructive video and probably the quickest way to achieve speed matching. My system is NCE Power Cab with HO stock so the process is virtually identical. All my locos have back EMF which makes the speed matching requirement essential. Also, I use a circle of 18 inch radius curves just the same. Many thanks for the video.

[@tsgmultimedia]

Thanks, Keith! I appreciate the compliments, and agree with you. I have not seen a simpler or easier way to do it yet. If I ever do, I'll share it on the channel.

[@keithw6026]

Hi John - I believe the trick here is the fixed throttle position whilst CV5 & 6 are being adjusted. I've never thought of that before.

[@chazco]

Thanks John. This works quite well Chuck

[@just4funTrains]

Thanks !!Great Video I can`t wait to see the next video with the advanced speed table

[@jimsmoter4510]

Great info . Thanks

[@patricknoveski6409]

This is awesome

[@SGTGhost]

Great video John.

[@outbackwack368]

Guys, first & foremost you put on an excellent channel and I salute you for the tremendous amount of information, education and humor you provide! That said, one thing I cannot stand is that damn BELL in the beginning of every video. I have to mute the first 10 seconds of EVERY one. A train whistle would be much more subdued and apropos. If I have the volume up my cats RUN! Just my opinion of course... Again: Thanks for sharing!

[@tsgmultimedia]

Sorry outback that's supposed to be a school bell. We had those where I lived when I was a kid!

[@q80aziz]

Taking into consideration the fact that the DCS 52 has got its own built in interface . Does that mean decoder pro can be used together with the command station to speed match 2 locos on a circle of track without - obviously - the need for the sprog ? Thanks

[@frisco-mustangsub1314]

John this is a great video tutorial. What size KATO circular track are you using? Will it work with six axle locomotives? I am an N Scaler. Thanks!! Happy Monday!

[@tsgmultimedia]

Sadly, that was Bachmann track, and I think it was 12" radius. It just barely was able to handle 3 axle locos and when I say just barely that means I would use something bigger just to be safe.

[@frisco-mustangsub1314]

Thanks for the quick response John. I am going to use KATO 282-45 track. It comes out to about 23" diameter. Keep up the good work! Happy Wednesday!🙂

[@KimKeyboardKimFokken]

So I can consist locomotives without coupling up? My GE is on outer main with train on it and I want GE to have that be same speed as the EMD's are but will not actually be running that in consist with the EMD's. I just got JMRI Decoder Pro 4.18 installed on Windows 10 laptop. I do have Withrottle on my iphone. I have wifi device for my digitrax DCS 52 which is the LNW1. I need to navigate the panes on my jmri cause they seem to be scrunched together. I need to spread things out a bit cause when I have my roster done, the roster list so compacted together that I can't see the things on that list. These are just common adjustments with Windows programs. I have a lot to learn with JMRI as I am a beginner on it.

[@jasonjanise]

Where does one find the SPROG to connect to your computer?

[@frisco-mustangsub1314]

Happy Saturday John. I have set up a layout like you have using a Sprog. How do you connect the Withrottle to the Sprog or is there another way of making that work?

[@tsgmultimedia]

The SPROG II is the connection from the computer to the track. WiThrottle is part of JMRI.

[@basictrains6238]

wow we have come along way from the simple DC power pack

[@tsgmultimedia]

Big time! This is another way that DCC is superior to straight DC. The only way to speed match in DC is to change out motors until you get two that are close to the same. With DCC you just tell the decoder what to do and it does it. What a huge advantage when you want to operate multiple units together.

[@dacuzzz]

hi John.... great way to speed match locos... do you need to have the sprog??? does that take the place of the Digitrax PR3???.. thanks for sharing... vinny

[@tsgmultimedia]

You need some kind of track to computer interface. I don't know the specific model numbers for each brand. I used a Sprog USB interface because it was inexpensive.

[@12345pz]

love your channel hey guys whats better for out door track brass or aluminum track for garden rail road nobody has talked about it thanks

[@tsgmultimedia]

Ideally, you'd be running battery power so the material the track is made out of wouldn't matter. :)

[@steamy1225]

Great tutorial. I've used the speed table before but not like you did. constantly moving the loco from layout to programing track and back. Big pain. So what programing mode did you use and did you connect your smart phone via usb cable to computer ? I can not find WiThrottle in the google play store to download. And how can i speed match like this if both locomotives are on the same address? Like 35 for example.

[@tsgmultimedia]

I think most of your questions were covered in the video except for the programming mode. This was recorded like almost 4 years ago, so I can't say I remember clearly, but I think it was in "program on the main" mode. WiThrottle is for iPhones. If you use Android, you want something called "Engine Driver" and I think it can be found in the Google store.

[@steamy1225]

@@tsgmultimedia Yes it was 4 years ago. I just now seen it. And yes i have android phone, Samsung and i did see engine driver in the Google store. Thank you. I will check it out. Now, was you iPhone plugged into the computer or not while using the WiThrottle? Sorry I'm kinda new to jmri .

[@tsgmultimedia]

@@steamy1225 The phone is using wifi and is not plugged into a computer. The "wi" in WiThrottle stands for WiFi.

[@steamy1225]

@@tsgmultimedia Ahh. Thank you very much.

[@TheBlindRailfan]

Hi Joh, Thanks again for the video. I have a question. You used a phone running Withrottle in the demo. I'm using engine driver and a Windows machine. I know from my experiences using my phone to run a digittrax layout, you have to have a wifi interface for the phone to control the engines. I'm a little confused on how you are controlling the engines on the circle of track with out something similar. Am I missing a step? Thanks.

[@tsgmultimedia]

Hi Chris, the SPROG device connecting the track and the computer is providing the interface. Two wires on one side going to the tracks and a USB plug on the other going to the computer. JMRI is running on the computer which has wifi enabled on it, so the signal from the phone reaches the computer over the wifi, processes through JMRI, then to the SPROG, and back on to the track to control the trains.

[@TheBlindRailfan]

Ah, OK. Got it. Thank you. You're doing good work. Keep it up.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Okay, now I need another laptop! Oh, and a work bench!

[@357Xlongrunner]

Hi, great video. Can you explain in a little more detail the "programming on the fly" . Can that only be done with the Sprog or can it be used with NCE Power Cab? Look forward to your reply.

[@tsgmultimedia]

Thanks William. Sorry I don't know about NCE for sure but I will say that I would be very surprised if you can't do the same thing I demonstrated on this video with any major DCC system.

[@NicoDaycon]

Didn't catch if it was mentioned in the video, but would Digitrax's Accutrack Speedometer help?

[@tsgmultimedia]

Not so much because the speed of each locomotive simply needs to be relatively the same as the other one.

[@marklathrop8562]

Problem consisting as the “add” on loco does not want to take, sits there, lights horn everything works but zero movement . Tried others and same result . Please help John and thank you .

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Awesome information, thanks for this video. When you did this did you program the engine on the main while you were programing the CV?

[@tsgmultimedia]

Yes that's how it works. On-the-fly changes to CVs written in JMRI instantly changed the speed of the loco I was trying to adjust. It works really well!

[@book1957]

Thank you John. This method is a lot easier than using my Zephyr . Need to get decoder pro.

[@AlohaMilton]

Caveat that I am very new to this particular hobby, but I think your method is fine, closely matched the slower will by pushed or pulled slightly but will also contribute and both will be pulling the cars together without any accordion type behavior and derailing. To do an exact match run them against piezoelectric pressure sensor (cheap, used as contact sensor in many hobbies), record voltage change in pad, get ratio difference between the two locomotives and apply to voltage adjustment... I think, never done it, but might try. Can any electrical engineers confirm that this approach would give on very close to exact match in traction output? Would differences in trucks and wheels matter?

[@MiguelBRScalemodelsDioramas]

Here a new Sub

[@mijnbetsy]

Hallo John, Im Errnie from holland, and I have a EMD DD40 with two moters, to make it a DCC, must i put in two decoders or one?

[@tsgmultimedia]

HI Ernie, I'm sure you can run your model with one decoder. As a matter of fact, I'd be surprised if using two decoders would even work because it would have to be consisted with itself when you run it. I'd try running the orange and gray wires to both motors out of the decoder. There should be no other consideration other than that to worry about. You could also check with the manufacturer and see what they recommend.

[@mijnbetsy]

@@tsgmultimedia Thank you John, for your information, I have Lokpoilot 4.0 decoder, and it is rated at 1.1A, the locomotive is a atheren from around1960 i think, and when it runns it uses 1.2 A, it's at the high end, but i'm going to try it, hope i don't blow up the decoder. keep up the good work,

[@mariomader8850]

Sprog is one of numerous interfaces-it works with all systems and JMRI. NOW for my Question: Why did you not speed match the "Start" for each before doing the mid and high speed sets?

[@tsgmultimedia]

Good point! They were acting the same out of the box in that respect, so I left them alone. The mid and high were very different though.

[@owenkellen8928]

Please do an episode on signaling I am sort of confused about it

[@tsgmultimedia]

EP: do you mean setting up block detection and representing that on signals on a layout, or something else?

[@q80aziz]

JMRI is truly capable as well as practical but there is always some locomotives that can not be matched . I have 2 Steam G scale engines both by Piko ( German class 80 ) and reading CV 8 on both locos results in the value 123 ( Massoth decoders ) cv2 cv5 and cv6 did not have any effect and the same applies to the speed table . One loco is faster than the other ( my interface is the Digitrax PR4 ) . Any tips would be greatly appreciated Thank you

[@firefighterTGray]

Would anyone know why on the WiThrottle app when trying to consist, it only will move 1 locomotive?

[@marklathrop8562]

Same problem with me Firefighter…

[@modeltrainchannel3151]

On my railroad I have some issues. I have two DCC units that I want to run together. They are both genesis engines but run at complete different speeds. I’ve struggled with speed matching for years.

[@alpteknbaser7773]

👏🙏

[@chrisdaniell2990]

Your method didn't work for me. When I write changes to the sheet, it turns off track power and so I can't see 'real-time' changes made to the decoder.

[@tsgmultimedia]

I think they might have changed the on-the-fly writing. I need to speed match more equipment so I'm going to have to try this again soon!

[@chrisdaniell2990]

@@tsgmultimedia thanks for the quick reply! Can't wait to watch more of your videos, thanks again.

[@AlohaMilton]

Curved Kato track crossing! want!!!

[@avlisk]

I guess we are supposed to know what a SPROG is or just have one laying around? It's a new one on me.

[@troysimpson9550]

You can also use an Arduino DCC++ controller which you can make for under $50. or if you use Digitrax or NCE use the adapter they have to let you be able to talk to your computer threw the USB. Personal I found the DCC++ system works well for me and there seems to be a way make a speed sensors sent the speeds to JMRI. Although I have gone that far yet.

[@troysimpson9550]

Also there is also way to hook the Sprog up to a Rasberry PI and have that be a very compact JRMI controll system that merges computer JRMI and DCC++ control all into a litlle small system you can place on your layout.

[@RealFoundryIron]

how about one on baseboards

[@tsgmultimedia]

Baseboards?

[@RealFoundryIron]

yes because a model railroad requires a base to stand on.

[@RealFoundryIron]

and there are a lot of ways to make baseboards

[@tsgmultimedia]

@@RealFoundryIron Are you referring to benchwork?

[@RealFoundryIron]

yes that's just what I call them

[@SRRC245]

Where can you get a sprog?

[@tsgmultimedia]

I think they have their own website and I am 100% sure that if you search online you will easily find it!

[@David39151]

What happened to dan

[@tsgmultimedia]

No kidding! Wait, is that a question or a comment?

[@David39151]

@@tsgmultimedia a question I've been seeing John but not dan

[@tsgmultimedia]

David LuBrant What do you suppose happened?

[@wendellcamp6233]

John what is the radii of your kato track Thanks Wendell

[@tsgmultimedia]

That's Bachmann track with a 12 inch radius. If anyone has some Kato Unitrack track they wanna donate to the cause, send it over! :)

[@ichabod0391]

Will this process work with just a regular throttle by NCE instead of a Wi-Throttle or Cell phone?

[@tsgmultimedia]

I answered this question in the video :)

[@jcsmith725]

Do you have a link for the Sprog?

[@tsgmultimedia]

I sure don't but I bet 10 bucks you can find it using Google!

[@ckain5501]

Sprog is just a poor mans command station

[@billchown1714]

Rude, and ridiculous