Pzb: Why Are Emergency Brakes Applying Sometimes Under 500hz Despite Being Any Speed Under 45kph?

I've long used PZB during TSW for many years and find it a highly rewarding experience overall. However, since TSW 4 at least - I'm on Xbox Series X btw - sometimes, but not always, when the 500Hz light illuminates the emergency brakes apply but I can't understand why. This is despite being under 45kph; even when travelling at say 10kph for example, the same still happens.

For example, with the newest TSW route Maintalbahn being single track it has quite a few red signals along the way. Most of these when the 500Hz illuminates there is no problem as I'm well below 45kph when approaching the signal which should be correct.

However, at Obernburg-Elsenfeld, when the signal in the northbound direction is red and the 500Hz light illuminates, the emergency brakes always apply despite being below 45kph. There's also the same issue for the northbound signal at Aschaffenburg Sud regarding the 500Hz and sometimes, but not always, when arriving at Aschaffenburg Hbf too.

Hamburg-Lubeck is another TSW route that keeps having the same problem regarding 500Hz and the emergency brakes applying despite being well within the correct speed limit, whether arriving at Hamburg Hbf, Ahrensburg or Lubeck Hbf etc.

So, is this a new game bug since TSW 4 and is anyone else experiencing the same, at least on Xbox or PS/PC?

 

Sounds a bit weird. I haven't noticed any PZB Issues at all on the new Maintalbahn (except that the emergency brakes don't function at all)
Can you give me a scenario/timetable service to further test it out?

 

Don't have Maintalbahn, but here's when a 500 Hz magnet should trigger (in O mode)

1. Exceeding 65 km/h and not reducing to <45 km/h within 153 metres
2. Exceeding 25 km/h whilst in restrictive mode (1000 Hz influence "Wechselblinken")
3. PZB Release used withing 550 metres in front of an active 500 Hz magnet. ("Unerlaubte Befreiung") This is to prevent high speed SPADing.

 

no thats just hitting you with forced braking, I don't think 500Hz has anything to do with 1000Hz. 500Hz only comes on the magnet before the red signal if I remember correctly. am not a PZB genius though

 

I think I am. Trained in Zusi, which is 100% accurate.

Restricted mode = 1000 Hz or 500 Hz (45 / 25)

Forced Braking = Emergency.

 

Emergency Brake = Notbremsung
Emergency Brake ≠ Zwangsbremsung, because Notbremsung ≠ Zwangsbremsung
Forced Braking = Zwangsbremsung, because zwingen = forcing

 

You mean 500Hz, right?

 

You're normally under 1000Hz anyway, but I've edited the post.

 

But what does a 1000Hz monitoring have to do with 45km/h unless you’re in restricted mode? The description you give afterwards

is a 500Hz magnet explanation.

 

See above, I've edited. (Normally a 1000 Hz precedes a 500 Hz, so it should be active anyway).

 

lets just agree that PZB is a very difficult topic and we can all just be lucky we don't get hit by it after acknowledging and keeping the right speed after every possible signal

 

It shouldn't have to do with being "lucky" in a sim

In the OP's case, I suspect "PZB release" usage is the issue.

 

So as far as I know the PZB works in different ways or scenarios.
(everything here noted with PZB O (Obere Zugart))

Scenario 1: Speed Reduction.
If you come across a speed Reduction lower than 100kph, a 1000Hz Magnet can be active. In that case you just need to slow down to 80 (85) kph as the Indicators is blinking.

There are some special cases like if 20kph is ahead

Scenario 2: Stop Signal ahead.
Here the 1000Hz Magnet is always active to slow you down. But I'll give you a adivse, slow down to 60kph and not only 85kph
Since there is a Stop Signal ahead, there is a chance you come across a 500Hz Magnet.
Cross it and you need to slow down from 65kph to 45kph. If the Signal changes to green, you can drive as long with 45kph until the 500Hz Indicator releases.
If you need to stop, the 500Hz PZB Restrictive Mode is active which means you now have a 25kph Limitation. (you notice it by seeing the 85 and 70 blinking)
when the Signal changes to green and the 500Hz is gone out, you have a limitation of 45kph unless you release the PZB.

that should cover everything needed here.

 

Agreed. PZB is daunting when you first learn it (at least if you only rely on TSW’s lacklustre documentation), but very straight forward when you understand the underlying reasoning and rules

cloudyskies21, a video would indeed be helpful to see if something behaves erratically.

 

You don't expect "magnets", you're following and acknowledging signals. An upcoming Red signal is indicated by a double yellow (Vr0), which in any case needs you to "prepare to stop" and go at least below 65 km/h, aiming for 40 km/h and stopping, whereas a Vr1 (green yellow) unless EbuLa or signage says otherwise, indicates a 40 km/h limit. (Though 1000 Hz only checks for 85 km/h limit)

 

I have in Total over 2000h in TrainSim Games. I know when a Red Signal is ahead, at least most of the time. However I know that you typically notice the signals on the track and not the magnets but I like to be techincal.

 

or it's a bug in-game

 

To sum it up, the OP mentions going below 10 km/h:

A) "PZB Release" used within 550 metres before
B) Game bug (edit: no, A was the issue)

 

Hi all, apologies for not replying sooner - I wanted to play a few TSW services as per the useful feedback in this thread to see if this might solve the 500Hz issue.

Thankfully, this was the exact issue and not a bug.

I very much appreciate everyone's feedback and it's why I enjoy the forums. Thanks!

 

Many thanks for taking the time to explain in detail, much appreciated.

 

Good to see it's working as it should.

DTG made a step forward here in putting the PZB script into a core module, whereas in TSC every loco had to "reinvent the wheel" and provide its own script.