[Gary]

I have now learnt how to read a decoder address. You place the loco whose address you wish to read on the programming track and select Direct Mode, followed by address. You then scroll through the options of write or in this case read. Push the knob and the address then appears after the decoder has been scanned by the console. The address displayed can be 4 digits. If the address cannot be read due to the decoder not having the functionality XXX appears.

There are 4 programming systems supported by the Elite with Operate mode supported in addition to the 3 listed in the review. Hornby recommend Direct Mode when using the latest generation of decoders including those produced by Hornby.

If a decoder does not suport RailCom the RailCom setting should be turned to off. Hornby state that to have it turned on can effect decoder programming in decoders without Railcom functionality.

The Elite can support a PC as a controller utilising the XpressNet protocol plus suitable software via the USB interface. No doubt this will be explored at some future date.

In the event of a short or an overload Hornby claim that power is immediately cut off to the track when the error message appears. When pressing the red button I have put my ear to a loco and what little buzz there is totally dissapears when the red button is pushed. It returns when the button is pushed again after 5 seconds. I have deliberately shorted the track when turning the red button off and nothing happens and no error message appears. Everything returns to normal as before when the red button is pressed again.

One thing to get used to is having to turn the knob several times to move the power indicator gauge from stop to full steam ahead. You initially think one turn will do it to discover the loco is just crawling along!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

QUOTE can you be sure that the Elite is adding 1 to CV values when reading them

When the Bachmann sound decoder is reset to its default settings then you get CV readings that appear to be 1 above the default settings in the instruction leaflet. To be fair I only have the Bachmann sound decoder that permits CV's to be read but I think it is unlikely to be that.

Addresses are probably stacked and you are able to list up to the 254 locomotives as favourites. You can store 254 as the limit. The manual states that if power is available you can run or have on standby on the layout up to 64 locomotives. Hornby claim this figure of 64 is well in excess of what would be expected on any model railway layout!

QUOTE how many characters can you have. is it 8 only or 8 per each of the 2 rows

A maximum of 8 LARGE characters on the one line is permitted. The top line is used for the clock and controller knob number and menu information.

I have put a small bulb attatched to crocodile clips across the track and can confirm the bulb is lifeless when the red button is pressed.

Power on:-

Power cut when pushing red button. A bit fuzzy but camera would not autofocus in the dark:-

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Something picked up upon in the Hornby Forum that I had not spotted is that the control knobs on the Elite automatically detect if you are turning them quickly or slowly!

If you go from stop to full speed quickly it takes 2 full turns of the knob. If you adjust the speed slowly it can take up to 12 full turns of the knob to go from stop to full speed.

You can have precise control when it is required when shunting or you can go from stop to full speed quickly if this is required. If you turn the knob slowly then one complete turn will only indicate as one segment of adjustment on the screen. Quickly and one turn is six segments. There are 12 segment indicators total. This is absolutely excellent when very fine control is required and I have been getting my locos to crawl very very slowly right up next to each other and this fine control definitely helps with something like this. Yet I hadn't noticed it until it was pointed out suggesting Hornby have got the feel of this spot on!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Hornby should have called the latest firmware update V1.11 to avoid confusion. There was an "unofficial" version discovered by accident of V1.1 and very quickly withdrawn and it just so happened that I downloaded the "unoffical" version. The public version of V1.1 corrects the CV reading bug reported in the review. That is not to say of course that there won't be other software driver bugs found. It is good to have confirmation though that as they are picked up they can be reported to Hornby and updated Elite software issued as required.

Happy modelling
Gary