You don't need to know about DCC to have great sound in your locomotive and control it with your smart phone. The free BlueRail Trains app (available now in iOS) is very easy to use (with little to no instruction. ![]() Your train will appear on the screen (whenever the train is receiving power). You can connect, and be taken to a train control screen that lets you run the train. There is a panel on the right that lets you trigger 28 functions that your train can do (sounds, lights, behaviors). If you are interested in "customizing" your train (changing the sounds, volume levels, lighting fx etc), there is list of CVs that can be adjusted. Modern decoders have hundreds of options and features you can adjust by changing the CV numbers. 90% of users will be happy with the default decoder settings. If you want to learn more about editing CVs, we will put a CV TUTORIAL HERE. WIRING DIAGRAMS What you should know is that the BlueRailDCC board puts out DCC signals to run a DCC train or decoder. The board has 2 wires that put out the DCC signal. If these 2 wires are sending power to a DCC train or a DCC decoder, it will run. ![]() The DCC decoder has colored wires that are connected to the motor and headlights (as seen below). Wire colors may vary. ![]() IF YOUR LOCO HAS A DECODER... If your loco has a decoder in it, you will use the DCC output of the BlueRailDCC board to power the decoder. IF YOUR LOCO HAS NO DECODER... If your loco has no decoder in it, you will wire the light, motor, and speaker wires from the decoder to your loco (using the diagram that came with your decoder), then use the DCC output of the BlueRailDCC board to power the decoder. IF YOUR LOCO CAN BE CONTROLLED BY DCC... Some locos can be controlled by DCC and have the DCC decoder circuitry built into the circuit board in the loco. This includes:
![]() Or you may power the board with a battery (as below): ![]() |
If onboard sound is not important to you, you may use the BlueRailDCC board by itself to control your loco's speed, direction, and lights (front/rear) without the need for a DCC decoder. In addition to the two DCC outputs, the board has a few extra connection points. By adding a jumper across two of these points, the board can be put into "basic mode" to run your train directly. ![]() Once in basic mode, the "DCC Out" connections can be wired directly to your motor. 3 other connection points (labeled LF, LR and 3v) supply power to your Light-Front and Light-Rear (as shown). Here is a diagram of the connection points for "basic mode" on the small scale board: ![]() The free BlueRail Trains app (available now in iOS) is very easy to use (with little to no instruction. ![]() Your train will appear on the screen (whenever the train is receiving power). You can connect, and be taken to a train control screen that lets you run the train, and control speed, direction, and lights. (note, the bell and horn buttons on the interface will not trigger sounds in the board when running in "basic mode". The Settings screen (accessed from the "cog" in the lower right of the train control screen) allows you to change your loco's name and other details. There is also a "CV Settings" page that let's you control basic details of your loco (ie acceleration and deceleration rates). ![]() If you hear any "buzz" sound coming out of your motor, you can adjust CV9 to a PWM frequency that runs silently. Valid CV9 values are 0-15 (lowest to highest frequency). Default value is 5. Because different motors have different characteristics the best frequency for a specific motor can only be determined by trying different frequencies. If you want to learn more about editing CVs, we will put a CV TUTORIAL HERE. |
If your board contains an integrated antenna, best range will be achieved if you position the Rigado module so it is not immediately adjacent to metal (see diagram)![]() If your board has a u.fl external antenna, then position the antenna as high as you can in the loco. ORIENTATION - If possible orient your board within the loco so the components on your board are facing upward (vs orienting the board sideways). This will allow the connection signal to be evenly distributed on all sides of the train. |
Install your DCC decoder in your loco according to your manufacturers instructions, except for the 2 wires that supply (DCC) power to the decoder. Please reference the diagram below for wiring the BlueRailDCC board to your decoder. ![]() 2 power leads may be connected to the "POWER" input using any polarity (red and black in diagram). 2 wires may be connected to the "DCC OUT" using any polarity (blue and yellow in diagram) which will be used to power your decoder. Do not allow the bare metal prongs on the (underside of the board) or the components on the board to contact any metal surface. Remember to position the Rigado module so it is not adjacent to any metal in your loco. Double-sided tape may be used for mounting purposes. If your loco has a metal chassis, avoid putting the metal chassis directly under the board. If convenient, add a layer of insulating material (plastic, styrene, balsa wood, foam etc) between the chassis and the board (to improve radio reception, and prevent possible electrical shorts). If you plan to use AC track power using a Lionel power pack that outputs "CHOPPED SINE WAVE" power, please refer to the following document: ![]() With your board mounted and wired to your decoder, turn on your power supply (or connect your battery). A green LED should illuminate on the board indicating it has powered up. Your DCC decoder may produce startup sounds. At this stage you are ready to launch the BlueRail Trains app and connect to your train. Please proceed to the section below "USING THE BLUERAIL APP". Do not exceed 18 volts of power to the 5 amp board to prevent damage. |
A BlueRailDCC board may be operated in "Basic Mode" which will allow the board to control a loco's speed, direction, and lights (Front/Rear) without the need for a DCC decoder. To put a board in Basic Mode, a jumper must be added between two connection points on the board (as shown in green on the diagram below):![]() The large board contains 2 black narrow "headers" (~8mm high) with seven connection points on each header, suitable for inserting the tip of a solid wire. To put the board in Basic Mode, use a wire to connect the Ground(Gnd) to the Decoder Mode(R) ![]() When the board is in Basic Mode, the "DCC OUT" can be connected directly to the loco motor. Once connected, if you find the loco runs in the opposite direction as expected (forward/reverse) then swap the wires (white/yellow in the diagram) as needed. Located between the GND and the R (jumper) is a 3.3 volts (+) connection (labeled "3v" in diagram). Run a wire from this point to the positive(+) side of each of your loco lights (Front/Rear). This output is 20 mA. If your lights are LEDs, a 100 ohm resistor may be added (if your bulbs cannot handle 20 mA). The negative(-) side of each of your lights should be connected to LF (Light Front) and LR (Light Rear). BOARD MOUNTING TIPSWhen mounting the board in your loco, do not allow the bare metal prongs on the (underside of the board) or the components on the board to contact any metal surface.Remember to position the antenna as high as you can in the loco. Double-sided tape may be used for mounting purposes. If your loco has a metal chassis, avoid putting the metal chassis directly under the board. If convenient, add a layer of insulating material (plastic, styrene, balsa wood, foam etc) between the chassis and the board (to improve radio reception, and prevent possible electrical shorts). If you plan to use AC track power using a Lionel power pack that outputs "CHOPPED SINE WAVE" power, please refer to the following document: ![]() With your board mounted and wired to your decoder, turn on your power supply (or connect your battery). A green LED should illuminate on the board indicating it has powered up. At this stage you are ready to launch the BlueRail Trains app and connect to your train. Please proceed to the section below "USING THE BLUERAIL APP". Do not exceed 18 volts of power to the 5 amp board to prevent damage. |
Install your DCC decoder in your loco according to your manufacturers instructions, except for the 2 wires that supply (DCC) power to the decoder. Please reference the diagram below for wiring the BlueRailDCC board to your decoder. ![]() 2 power leads may be connected to the "POWER" input using any polarity (red and black wires in diagram). 2 wires may be connected to the "DCC OUT" using any polarity (yellow and white wires in diagram) which will be used to power your decoder. If your loco has very little space and you need to shorten the length of the board, the 4 wire connector can be removed at one end (left side in diagram below). ![]() Alternate power in and DCC out connections are provided which you may use instead (soldering required). You may also break the left end of the board off at the perforations indicated in the diagram (if desired) to reduce the board length to 1.5". When mounting the board in your loco, do not allow the bare metal prongs on the (underside of the board) or the components on the board to contact any metal surface. Remember to position the Rigado module so it is not adjacent to any metal in your loco. Double-sided tape may be used for mounting purposes. If your loco has a metal chassis, avoid putting the metal chassis directly under the board. If convenient, add a layer of insulating material (plastic, styrene, balsa wood, foam etc) between the chassis and the board (to improve radio reception, and prevent possible electrical shorts). With your board mounted and wired to your decoder, turn on your power supply (or connect your battery). A green LED should illuminate on the board indicating it has powered up. Your DCC decoder may produce startup sounds. At this stage you are ready to launch the BlueRail Trains app and connect to your train. Please proceed to the section below "USING THE BLUERAIL APP". Do not exceed 16 volts of power to the 2 amp board to prevent damage. |
A BlueRailDCC board may be operated in "Basic Mode" which will allow the board to control a loco's speed, direction, and lights (Front/Rear) without the need for a DCC decoder. To put a board in Basic Mode, a jumper must be added between two connection points on the board (as shown in green on the diagram below):![]() To put the board in Basic Mode, use a wire to connect the Ground(G) to the Decoder Mode(D) (Green in diagram below). ![]() When the board is in Basic Mode, the "DCC OUT" (yellow and white wires in diagram) can be connected directly to the loco motor. Once connected, if you find the loco runs in the opposite direction as expected (forward/reverse) then swap the wires (white/yellow in the diagram) as needed. Located between the GND and the D (jumper) is 3.3 volts (+)connection point (labeled "3" in diagram). Run a wire from this point to the positive(+) side of each of your loco lights (Front/Rear). This output is 20 mA. If your lights are LEDs, a 100 ohm resistor may be added (if your bulbs cannot handle 20 mA). The negative(-) side of each of your lights should be connected to L (Light Front) and L (Light Rear). BOARD MOUNTING TIPSWhen mounting the board in your loco, do not allow the bare metal prongs on the (underside of the board) or the components on the board to contact any metal surface.Remember to position the antenna as high as you can in the loco. Double-sided tape may be used for mounting purposes. If your loco has a metal chassis, avoid putting the metal chassis directly under the board. If convenient, add a layer of insulating material (plastic, styrene, balsa wood, foam etc) between the chassis and the board (to improve radio reception, and prevent possible electrical shorts). With your board mounted and wired to your decoder, turn on your power supply (or connect your battery). A green LED should illuminate on the board indicating it has powered up. At this stage you are ready to launch the BlueRail Trains app and connect to your train. Please proceed to the section below "USING THE BLUERAIL APP". Do not exceed 16 volts of power to the 2 amp board to prevent damage. |
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![]() The app automatically detects any BlueRail boards that are powered up and in range, and allows you to connect and run your trains. The app will run on the iPhone5, but iPhone6 and newer seem to have better performance. The iPad, iPad-mini and iPhonePlus series are well-suited for editing CVs. Here are some minimum devices we recommend:
No Wi‑Fi connection is required to connect‑to and run trains. If firmware updates are offered, Wi‑Fi will be necessary to get the latest firmware. With your BlueRailDCC board installed and receiving power (green LED is ON)... ![]() ... you are ready to connect to your board for the first time. |
When you launch the BlueRail app (with your board powered and in range), it should appear on the home screen of the app![]() Click the "Connect" button to connect. The button will change to "Connecting", and once connected the button will say "Disconnect". The first time you connect to a board, touch the name "BlueRail TamVy" and you will be taken to the "Settings Screen" where you are given an option to name your board (Loco Nickname) and "choose your decoder type", as well as a few other options. ![]() Please select one of the decoder type options from the list:
Once you have made a choice, click the banner at the top of the screen, and you will be taken to the train control screen. |
The Train Control screen has basic controls for controlling your train.![]() There is also a "Home" button and a "Settings" button (described later). On the upper-right side of the screen is a button that brings out the "Function Panel" (not available in Basic Mode). This is described in the next section. |
The function panel allows you to trigger 28 functions supported by your decoder.![]() ![]() This panel may be "swiped" further out to reveal controls that allow you to rename each button, and assign each button as "toggle" or "press/release". Directly beneath the function panel is a silver cog button that takes you to the "Settings screen" for your locomotive. |
The Settings screen has basic settings for your train:![]()
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The "CV Settings" let's you read/write the CVs in your decoder.![]() Directly below the "Read All CVs" button is a single line that allows you to read or write the value of any specific CV. ![]() For CVs 1-256 the page can be set to either "0" or "1". Directly below the "single line CV read/write" is a sub-section containing "CVs 1-256". You must open this subsection when using "Read All CVs" so the app can read the data in that subsection. Some decoders use more that CVs 1-256. If you have selected a Tsunami decoder type, additional subsections will appear in this area (Page1, Page2, Page3). If you are using a Tsunami, TCS or ESU decoder type and your decoder has the factory settings, we have attempted to pre-enter all of the default factory CV values into the app subsections, so a "Read All CVs" may not be necessary. All CV reads are performed in service mode using "Direct CV Mode". Your decoder will go into service mode (no sound, no train control) whenever you perform a "read". All CV writes are performed in "Ops mode". You may operate your loco when performing CV writes. "Direct CV Mode" and "Ops Mode" methods should be supported by most decoders made after 2002. |
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The BlueRail app has excellent consisting and speed-matching built right into the app which will allow you to easily consist and speed match trains without the need for making DCC adjustments. When running multiple trains, trains may be "linked" to a consist using a pulldown button (chain-link icon) located below and to the left of the green throttle knob (see below - boxed in yellow).![]() To assign two locos to consist "A", click the link button for each loco and select "A". ![]() When two or more locos are selected, a speed-matching button ("SM") will appear at the bottom of the Multi-Train screen. This button gives you access to the speed-matching utility which will allow you to speed match the consisted locos at 3 speeds (Low, Med, High). ![]() The video tutorial below explains how to use the speed matching utility. Speed Matching is compatible with BlueRailDCC, Bachman E-Z App and older BlueRail boards. |
Below are fixes to consider if you cannot connect with your board: In order to connect to your board, the board must be receiving power. This is indicated by a green LED light on the board. Check the to see that the green LED light on your board is illuminated to verify it is receiving power. The board can only connect to one smart device at a time. Make sure that your board is not connected to the BlueRail Trains app running on another smart device that is within range of the board (or paired with another smart device). Sometimes it becomes necessary to clean up your smart device's ability to make wireless connections. Here are a couple of common ways to refresh your iOS connections:
Wi-Fi repeaters have been known to create wireless interference that makes it difficult for wireless devices to connect. If you have a Wi-Fi repeater and are experiencing connection problems, please turn off your Wi-Fi repeater and see if the problem goes away. The particular Wi-Fi repeaters we have seen cause issues (through testing) were manufactured before 2012. |
Below are fixes to consider if you can connect to your board, but cannot run your train: The BlueRailDCC board has a red LED that blinks whenever the board receives a command from the app. Please verify that the red LED blinks whenever you try to control the train from within the app. This will help you understand if the board is receiving DCC commands from the app. Make sure that the app is correctly identifying your board as a BlueRailDCC board. The app determines what type of board you have when it connects (ie BlueRailDCC, Blue Horse, or EZ App) and uses that determination to show the proper interface elements and send commands. On certain older iOS devices, it is possible your smart device is misidentifying your board, and may think your board is an EZ App loco. Here are some clues that your smart device may be having this issue:
Verify that your decoder is receiving power (most modern decoders have an LED indicating they are receiving power). If you suspect your decoder is not receiving power, check the connection the the "DCC OUT" on the BlueRailDCC board. Please consult the INSTALLATION section of the userguide and verify your wiring is correct, and check all connections. |
Some large scale TCS decoders we tested could not handle greater than 16 volts. If you are running TCS decoders on a track voltage higher than 16 volts (using a BlueRailDCC board) your train may not run. Please lower the track voltage to 16 volts. |
To make your loco "autoconnect", go into the settings and adjust the "autoconnect" toggle. You may need to toggle it once to get it working. If your device has trouble automatically reconnecting (after a disconnect or when you first launch the app) try turning bluetooth on and off in your device settings, or try restarting your device. |
![]() Here is a list of the CVs that can be edited in Basic Mode. CV9 allows you to adjust the PWM values which can improve performance and help eliminate buzz. BASIC MODE CV TABLE
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Both of the BlueRailDCC boards have adjustments to tune motor performance in BASIC mode. The primary adjustment is the Pulse Width Modulation frequency controlled by CV9. The adjustment range is 0-15 from lowest to highest frequency. The default setting is 5. Most motors run fine at this value and there is no need to change it.
If the motor whines or runs rough at certain speeds, try different CV9 values and pick the one at which the motor runs best. In general the lower frequencies provide better low speed control, but may become noisy and rough running at higher speeds. Higher frequencies in general create very smooth and quiet operation, but provide less precise low speed control and require a higher throttle setting to start the loco moving. To compensate for the higher throttle setting set CV2 (Vstart) to higher value. Default value is 10. Also increase the value in CV65 (Kick start). Default is 25. Very old HO scale locos with open frame motors may require special consideration with a 2 amp board. These motors generate voltage spikes in certain situations. If these voltage spikes become too large or too frequent the board will shut off the motor output to protect itself. To indicate this over voltage situation the board flashes the red LED on the board and alternately flashes the head and rear light for five seconds. After five seconds the board will again attempt to run the motor. Increasing the PWM frequency will generally correct this situation. Note that the CV9 values are not linear. Values 5 and 12 are special cases due to backward compatibility requirements. Here is a table of the possible CV9 values:
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If you have hardware related questions about your BlueRailDCC board (including install questions, wiring etc) please post them in our BlueRailDCC Groups.io forum in the topic called "Hardware Tech Support Questions". HERE is a link to that site. You can find this thread at the top of the "messages" section. |
If you have software or app related questions about your BlueRailDCC board please post them in our BlueRailDCC Groups.io forum in the topic called "Software(app) Tech Support Questions". HERE is a link to that site. You can find this thread at the top of the "messages" section. |