Steam Pzb Bug ... Or Is It My Lack Of Understanding? [solved: It Was Me, Not The Game]

Hi all,
First of all, I am completely new to TSW and bought TSW4 three days ago. Love what I saw so far. At the same time, I do not have a lot of railway knowledge. So please bear with me if I am asking now something very stupid.

I am playing on Steam, Win11, referring to a route of the S-BAHN VORARLBERG timetable, using the standard 4024 Talent train. After using the beginners mode without any safety systems for some hours, I thought I am ready for more. Switched to the "Standard" level and wanted to start using PZB. Watched a number of videos to learn. Then selected a short route on the timetable that I used before a few times (St.Margrethen to Bregenz, 0:11 I think) and activated the PZB switch in the back.

My naive understanding is that once I cross an activated 1000Hz magnet, that yellow "1000Hz" button lights up in the HUD and I need to press the "PZB Acknowledge" ("PZB Wachsam") button (Page Down) within 4 sec to confirm that I saw the signal indicating an upcoming speed decrease (and then starting to slow down). Is that correct?

My problem is that on this route, when I go past that signal ("Vorsignal") with the yellow/green lights, the 1000Hz button does not appear. But a few seconds later the train has a forced stop, with loud beeping and the "85" and "1000Hz" flashing / blinking (now the 1000Hz finally comes up). I guess because I did not do a "PZB acknowledge". But how can I know that I have to do that if the yellow 1000Hz light does not appear when crossing the magent? Is that a bug in the game or have I not understood the PZB concept yet?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

In reality, the indicator will not light up when passing a warning signal unless you acknowledge it, or fail to acknowledge it within four seconds.

For a beginner that has difficulties in telling distant signals from main or combined signals, it's best to just acknowledge every signal.

In Germany those 1000Hz protected signals usually feature a "Ne2" sign - looking like a black cross on white background. Those must be acknowledged if the signal is showing anything other than Vr1 (Green).

If you see a Ne2 sign without a signal, you must acknowledge it as its 1000Hz magnet will be permanently active.



If a signal's mast features these white/black stripes, it acts as both main and distant signal and must be acknowledged too if no Clear aspect is shown. In the picture below, expect to stop at the following signal. (and expect a 500 Hz magnet protecting that following signal, adjust your speed to below 65 km/h in PZB "O" mode or you will get a Penalty Brake Application there.) When the 500Hz indicator appears, lower your speed to below 45 km/h within 153 metres or PZB will intervene to avoid you passing a red signal.

 

Fantastic, thank you so very much for that great explanation!!
Glad to hear that the game works as required and the bug was sitting on the chair in front of the PC
So then it's simply a matter of me getting more familiar with how PZB really works. Your posting already helped a lot, thanks again!

 

You're welcome, learning PZB can be frustrating and tough at times, but very rewarding when you manage it. It's not difficult, but looks difficult when you're new to it.

 

I might add that you have to basically acknowledge anything at least 80 km/h or slower a single Ne2 being basically the same as a Vr0 you should see the next signal as showing stop so 0 km/h. This means on a green Vr1 presignal the 1000 hz magnet can be active when there is a Zs3 with a number 8 under it. Simply remember acknowledge every presignalling 80 km/h or lower.

 

This can mean when your driving a freight train in the middle M Mode and there is a 80 km/h restriction coming up that you have do slow down to 70 km/h because thats the 1000hz speed in M Mode or even 55 km/h in the low U Mode. So be aware of that.

 

90km/h or lower. An Lf 6 showing 9 will be protected by it’s own small GPA with an active 1000Hz magnet if you’re faster than 105km/h

 

Thank you very much everyone, really appreciate all the help. With the additional information shared in the thread, my new attempt with PZB was already much more successful and slowly I get the hang of it. Well, still ran into a penalty stop when I passed an announcement sign for 60km/h. No lights, just the sign with the "6" in it, but obviously also protected by a 1000Hz magnet (for good reasons). So I learned I have to watch really all signs for any required PZB Acknowledge actions, not just the fancy green / orange light bulb ones that I previously focused on

 

In a nutshell it's not so difficult...
Signal:
-If you see a "Vorsignal" or a main one with a Vorsignal attached that shows 1 or 2 yellow lights -> Acknowledge required...

-If you see a "Vorsignal" or a main one with a Vorsignal attached with 1 yellow light and a green one with a number equal or underneath 90 -> Acknowledge.

Results after Acknowledge:
PZB modus 85 passenger train
Acknowledge -> 1000hz lamp -> braking to 85 in 20 seconds !!if you drive above "140" for example 160 it's required to start braking before the "Vorsignal" due to the longer braking curve.

 

Great, thank you very much for the picture and the explanation!

 

dunno if you can tell which indicators are lit up in the pic - so just in case - the doors are closed, thats the green one, that I understand... the other green one means that parking brake is released... but why is the "Störung" button lit up? I have set my cab properly, dunno whats the meaning of that... is it supposed to be lit up?