Help with newly acquired Massoth DiMax please. I have just bought a 2nd hand DiMax to replace my LGB MTS2 but am not finding it easy to work.

[TimGDB]

Help with newly acquired Massoth DiMax please. I have just bought a 2nd hand DiMax from GRS to replace my LGB MTS2 to both rekindle my interest and try and involve my 10 year old grandson this school vacation as promised to him, but that will only appeal if fully functional on sound and point changing. However, I am not finding it easy to operate and to automatically communicate with my previous LGB codes as promised thus would appreciate some online ‘FaceTime’ or,if within driving distance, in person advice with expenses etc paid for the latter.Ironically,the increased ampage is clearly not getting into the track because I got more response from my ageing and I think damp affected MTS so I must be making some basic errors and would very much appreciate some help!

 

[Software Tools]

Perhaps you could tell us more about the "LGB codes" that you are seeking to interoperate with?

 

[dunnyrail]

Help with newly acquired Massoth DiMax please. I have just bought a 2nd hand DiMax from GRS to replace my LGB MTS2 to both rekindle my interest and try and involve my 10 year old grandson this school vacation as promised to him, but that will only appeal if fully functional on sound and point changing. However, I am not finding it easy to operate and to automatically communicate with my previous LGB codes as promised thus would appreciate some online ‘FaceTime’ or,if within driving distance, in person advice with expenses etc paid for the latter.Ironically,the increased ampage is clearly not getting into the track because I got more response from my ageing and I think damp affected MTS so I must be making some basic errors and would very much appreciate some help!

Perhaps some basics. Do you have a short section if track that you could use to test out the new system? If so couple up some and test each locomotive, the MTS numbers for the locomotives will be the same.

As for points not sure, I think these will need to be reprogrammed so hand ooeration for a little while.

Getting to grips with the handset, a few notes to help below:-

Using the navi a bit tricky at first till you get used to it. Main point to remember is that the bottom line on the screen is variable with selection of that option by pressing M1/2 or 3 below to select the option.


So to get to CV updates.

Press M3 (Menu)

-next screen gives lots of options, press M1 (down arrow) to Decoder Progr

Press M2 (ok) to accept that

-next screen more options arrow at left on Loco Address

Press M1 (down arrow) to go to next screen

-next screen gives option CV Read + Prog

Peversely to get to CV-Nr.: you oress M2 (ok)

Press the CV number you want to read by using the Number Pad

Press OK will drop the cursor down to Value to input….HOWEVER TO READ IT PRESS M1 CV>


Get used to reading CV’s this way first then follow the steps till the last one, input the value you wish to change to then press ok and loco should twitch plus CV will be updated.

Read it again to confirm you update has been accepted, keep a notebook for your locomitives to note CV changes, perhaps a use for that old Filofax with a new page for each locomotive!

Good luck and remember just reading the CV’s can’t get you into any trouble,

 

[Bullstsat]

Perhaps you could tell us more about the "LGB codes" that you are seeking to interoperate with?

Hi,
With the MTS 2, I had 15 loco codes with those under 10 having to be entered as 01.02, etc. which was often fiddly to achieve on the navigator, and i also have 3 sound modules - 2 European steam 65000 and one European diesel 65002 - which I note are still in the LGB 2026 catalogue. As I recall, these had to be paired to the MTS loco number you wanted to connect the sound module to, but I cannot remember how to do that. In purchasing my Massoth Di Max I was told that my existing LGB MTScodes would automatically be recognised and that has worked with some locos but no luck with anything else. I was able to effectively programme with my MTS but am finding ot very hard to follow the instructions on the Di Max.

 

[Bullstsat]

Perhaps some basics. Do you have a short section if track that you could use to test out the new system? If so couple up some and test each locomotive, the MTS numbers for the locomotives will be the same.

As for points not sure, I think these will need to be reprogrammed so hand ooeration for a little while.

Getting to grips with the handset, a few notes to help below:-

Using the navi a bit tricky at first till you get used to it. Main point to remember is that the bottom line on the screen is variable with selection of that option by pressing M1/2 or 3 below to select the option.


So to get to CV updates.

Press M3 (Menu)

-next screen gives lots of options, press M1 (down arrow) to Decoder Progr

Press M2 (ok) to accept that

-next screen more options arrow at left on Loco Address

Press M1 (down arrow) to go to next screen

-next screen gives option CV Read + Prog

Peversely to get to CV-Nr.: you oress M2 (ok)

Press the CV number you want to read by using the Number Pad

Press OK will drop the cursor down to Value to input….HOWEVER TO READ IT PRESS M1 CV>


Get used to reading CV’s this way first then follow the steps till the last one, input the value you wish to change to then press ok and loco should twitch plus CV will be updated.

Read it again to confirm you update has been accepted, keep a notebook for your locomitives to note CV changes, perhaps a use for that old Filofax with a new page for each locomotive!

Good luck and remember just reading the CV’s can’t get you into any trouble,

Thanks Dunnyrail,
I have printed your advice notes and will have a bash tomorrow after i rteurn my garndon whom i having to entertain withut the trains today! Can you recommend and Youtube or similar videos on how to get started and develop appropriate skills such as programming? My Google search focused on a young German man speaking excellent English, but he had an entirely different system for opertaing points, with a huge 'signal box' with actual levers and wires evrywhere which was very different to my MTS with point modules to control up to 4 points.

 

[dunnyrail]

Thanks Dunnyrail,
I have printed your advice notes and will have a bash tomorrow after i rteurn my garndon whom i having to entertain withut the trains today! Can you recommend and Youtube or similar videos on how to get started and develop appropriate skills such as programming? My Google search focused on a young German man speaking excellent English, but he had an entirely different system for opertaing points, with a huge 'signal box' with actual levers and wires evrywhere which was very different to my MTS with point modules to control up to 4 points.

Oh welcome, sorry cannot recommend a YT vod as I just carefully went through tha manual learning things bit by bit. Get one thing sorted and into your head before moving onto the next trying to encompass all in one go. Gently gently catchy minkey.

As for the LGB sound modules, they should have all been programmed separately before adding to the loco, if this was done you should have no issues.

I use pneumatic control for my points thus the Eway of doing it is out of my knowledge. But I do know that things need to be programmed in lots of 4 that each point module uses, beyond that other than knowing that if it wea setup then the same details should apply with Massoth. Though you may need to enter it all again…

Any help outside of me in the Forum?

 

[Software Tools]

In purchasing my Massoth Di Max I was told that my existing LGB MTScodes would automatically be recognised

Anything I had set up with MTS worked with the Massoth/Piko DCC kit in my direct experience.

There is a learning curve with any change from one DCC equipment provider to another, but with some persistence it become "normal" again.

 

[Software Tools]

This may be helpful.....

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54066c48e4b07e03b0f1414a/t/5d49fc94ba997c000195765e/1565129879746/Massoth+DiMax+Navigator+Reference+Guide.pdf

 

[AlanL]

Ironically,the increased ampage is clearly not getting into the track

Do you mean that nothing works?
Did you try a separate section of track as suggested by dunnyrail?
Are you connecting the Central station correctly?
What amperage shows on the central station home screen?
To check CV's as dunnyrail suggested but forgot to explain, you need to set up a programming track which is a short section of track connected to the programming output on the central station.

 

[PhilP]

Or is the increased amperage getting into the track, but bad joints / connections, mean it is not getting to the loco's?

There are too many variables we don't know, really.

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

Do you mean that nothing works?
Did you try a separate section of track as suggested by dunnyrail?
Are you connecting the Central station correctly?
What amperage shows on the central station home screen?
To check CV's as dunnyrail suggested but forgot to explain, you need to set up a programming track which is a short section of track connected to the programming output on the central station.

Yes I did not want to go much further straight away other than just getting things to work. Baby steps!

 

[AlanL]

Yes I did not want to go much further straight away other than just getting things to work. Baby steps!

Yes but we need to know which direction for the baby steps

 

[dunnyrail]

Yes but we need to know which direction for the baby steps

Well just to get the train running a good start.

 

[Gerard]

Hi Tim,

Looks not as an easy job. What you need is a step by step guide that walks you through the woods!
I can recommend to use CHATGTP or alike to do this.
I had very good results from the answers CHATGTP gave to my questions.
By doing a question-answer session you get a lot of insight in how things works, while CHATGTP is searching al the websites for real good answers.
See the first answer of CHATGTP below

 

[TimGDB]

Thanks for that Gerard, I've looked at the link you sent and I will certainly try it. I did note that in the link you sent it mentioned poor performance could be down to track condition and my outside track has been down circa 20 years and though i did an extensive maintenance this year including using a recommended track cleaning fluid bought from what seemed a mainly agricultural supplier specialising in electric fences in East Anglia to soak some track and many rail poiners/ fishplates there were still sudden spurts of power. I note the Massoth has figures on voltage being transmitted but not sure what is good/bad with these. Perhaps you can advise on the optimum method for testing the actual power going, or rather not going, to troublesome areas of track? I have, somewhere, I think, got a yellow-coloured 'track meter' for my 00 layout but will that be suitable for the increased power for LGB et sim, please?

 

[Zerogee]

Sorry Tim, having come late to this thread and just read through it, I'm not sure I clearly understand what the problem is... did things work OK under your old MTS2, but are now not working since you set up your new Dimax system? Or were you already having trouble with getting track power through with the old MTS, and now the Dimax is having the same problems?

The Loco Addresses (which I assume is what is meant by "codes") for each particular model will still be the same, whatever DCC control system you are using.

Apologies again if I'm stiill going over old ground, just trying to get a clear view of the problem...?

Jon.