I've been pretty confident in my DP setups but I poked my nose in on one of the units at the back of the train and noticed it wasn't generating any power. I'd double checked the breaker box to see that DP was turned on, and I turned on the comm button on the radio set... Set my loco as lead as normal but when I took a look at the exterior view of the trailing set at the back of the train it didn't look like there was any exhaust. Sometimes you can switch views and exhaust comes back... this time it didn't. So I stuck my nose in the window and saw this. Is there a way to be able to tell in the lead engine cab that the DP is hooked up or do we need to cheat it to be certain? Are there reliable steps (flipping the breaker off and on and turning the radio comm off and on worked in my case) to help ensure you're broadcasting properly to the robots? Thanks as always.
Yup. I ALWAYS hit bank comm first. Depending on the situation, timetable, scenario and loco it may or may not work otherwise once you start doing other things. Always hit that button before anything else. (Before someone comments, yes AFTER the cold start anyway because there's no power to the radio when the locomotive isn't running) ;-)
Definitely excited now since I guess I’d just been getting lucky. Now my setups will be more reliable. that said is there any way to ensure the drones are in play without going to a 3rd person view?
To answer your question - No, you cannot use the drone cameras without going to 3rd person. That's a technical limitation with the game. Your character lacks a 3D model when you're playing in 1st person. ( That's also the reason why it's not visible when you switch to photomode while in 1st person )
If you’re on PC or a console with keyboard you can just press alt & - or alt & + to switch between all cabs within the train one goes from front to back the other from back to front.
Use the flying camera to peek in the window. Put the (front cab ie "your") reverser in neutral and then run the throttle up and down; if the DP engine readouts respond, you're good.
Well yeah... I mean that's what I said I did. It's literally the photo? I'm looking for a way to get the indication in the lead cab since if it's just you and the conductor in there how do you know the ones in the back aren't deadweight? I mean if it isn't modeled then that's okay- it wouldn't surprise me. Everything in this sim is half assed... but if there's a way to tell on a gauge or readout somewhere then I'd stick with that. I'm also curious how it happens in real life if anyone here has that experience.
That's definitely easier than the way I've been doing it... still curious if there's a way to tell in the lead engine cab though. Whether in game or in real life.
In real life there's a whole fencing display/console for DP. DTG hasn't modeled realistic DP operation (yet)
How DTG have done it is by using what they call Banking Comm to simulate having an engineer in the remote loco(s) copying what you do in your cab (as if you are talking to them on the radio telling them what to do). You add power, the imaginary engineer in the leading loco of the rear set adds the same power. It’s as rudimentary as that, there is no actual distributed power simulated (breakers in the locos for DP don’t do anything either, it’s all done via Banking Comm). There’s no indication in your cab that it’s working.
