Getting Started

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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 00:12 #106716
BigFour
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Any suggestions for a first download. My only exposure is to some demos you tube boards.
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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 00:26 #106717
postal
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BigFour in post 106716 said:
Any suggestions for a first download. My only exposure is to some demos you tube boards.
Suggest you look at this page of the Wiki.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 00:50 #106718
TUT
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Royston is usually recommended as one's first sim, but personally I think it doesn't really show off very much of what SimSig can do, and personally I actually find it a little slow for my taste. Of course, different strokes for different folks and the developer has done a fine job with it, completing part of King's Cross PSB that had to be left off the King's Cross sim for historical technical reasons. It's a fine piece of work, but for me, I found myself getting a little bored. It's also not actually that typical, with the operation at Sherriff's being a little unusual and tricky and some confusing aspects of the display.

I think there are some great options in the beginner area, Leamington Spa always being a bit of a favourite of mine. Alternatively, I think an option that's often overlooked is an ARS sim. The ARS gives you the power to operate as much or as little as you like, almost. You could try and operate an entire massive sim the size of Victoria South Eastern, or give yourself as little as one junction or a few platforms, it's entirely up to you.

Having said that, ARS does often require a bit of supervision, which means you can need to be monitoring many different places on a large sim, without it always being very predictable when your help will be needed, so I guess that's why people can be wary of recommending ARS sims to beginners. Also if you put failures and delays on, an ARS sim can get out of hand quickly, and ARS sims on normal mode seem to get lots of faults at a time. But I started on an ARS sim and generally found it worked very well for me, being able to more-or-less pick and choose what I operated. But, if you are hoping for a score of 98-100% you may find ARS makes some very poor decisions and causes nice little delays for you while you're not looking.

Last edited: 13/03/2018 at 00:54 by TUT
Reason: None given

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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 09:30 #106727
DriverCurran
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Hi Big Four

Firstly welcome to the fold :)

Once you have got to grips with Royston (if you decide to start with that as your initial 'training' sim) then I can heartily recommend Oxted and Lancing.

Oxted will allow you to start the learning process of making regulating decisions, both over the one main junction and over the sections of single line leading to Uckfield. Then once you feel you want to practice your level crossing action then Lancing is the place to go. Four controlled crossings with a fairly regular train service to keep you occupied.

Paul

You have to get a red before you can get any other colour
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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 09:35 #106728
postal
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DriverCurran in post 106727 said:
Hi Big Four

Firstly welcome to the fold :)

Once you have got to grips with Royston (if you decide to start with that as your initial 'training' sim) then I can heartily recommend Oxted and Lancing.

Oxted will allow you to start the learning process of making regulating decisions, both over the one main junction and over the sections of single line leading to Uckfield. Then once you feel you want to practice your level crossing action then Lancing is the place to go. Four controlled crossings with a fairly regular train service to keep you occupied.

Paul
In public life the author of something like that would have to declare an interest!

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 11:38 #106729
clive
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TUT in post 106718 said:
Royston is usually recommended as one's first sim, but personally I think it doesn't really show off very much of what SimSig can do, and personally I actually find it a little slow for my taste.
I agree Royston isn't the most exciting sim in the world, but it's generally viewed as a good way to learn the basics if you're new to SimSig or to signalling in general.

TUT in post 106718 said:

Of course, different strokes for different folks and the developer has done a fine job with it, completing part of King's Cross PSB that had to be left off the King's Cross sim for historical technical reasons. It's a fine piece of work,
Thank you.

TUT in post 106718 said:

It's also not actually that typical, with the operation at Sherriff's being a little unusual and tricky and some confusing aspects of the display.
It shouldn't be tricky, though I accept that phoning the shunter like this isn't common in sims. Putting in a ground frame - the other option - didn't feel right.

What do you mean by "confusing aspects of the display"?

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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 12:09 #106730
VInce
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Royston I found very slow...

Huddersfield was the best to start on and worked for me...

Vince

I walk around inside the questions of my day, I navigate the inner reaches of my disarray, I pass the altars where fools and thieves hold sway, I wait for night to come and lift this dread away : Jackson Browne - The Night Inside Me
Last edited: 13/03/2018 at 12:09 by VInce
Reason: None given

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Getting Started 13/03/2018 at 12:14 #106731
TUT
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clive in post 106729 said:
What do you mean by "confusing aspects of the display"?
To quote the manual:

Quote:
The signal arrangement at the north end means that the overlaps and routes aren't always obvious, and you will need to watch the signal "stems" to see what routes are and aren't set.
There's also the three choices of screen layout (two stripes, King's Cross or Cambridge) and the choice of stacked signals, which are a bit novel.

This wasn't intended as a criticism of Royston, merely a personal opinion on whether it was the ideal first sim. Lots of people like a quieter sim, and lots of people like to add delays and disruption which of course will make things harder and more interesting. And there's always the option to speed things up. But if I were showing SimSig to a friend, I think I'd start with something a little bit more exciting to really show off what it can do.

Hehe, for me personally, I couldn't for the life of me get Sherriff's working - it's one of the trickiest things on SimSig for me, but then maybe I'm just weird

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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 00:32 #106742
BigFour
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Thank you for your input. Wow had many responses, some very lengthy, not sure how I can properly thank everyone. Is it bad form to just say thank you to some? Also my replies will be quite delayed for anyone in Great Britain as I am in the central US. By the way,if that is your picture I think I saw you in a You Tube video.
Thanks,
BigFour

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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 00:35 #106743
BigFour
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Thank you for your detailed advice. I am sure I will be referring to it from time to time.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 00:37 #106744
BigFour
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Thank you again for your quick post last night. The link you suggested had lots of interesting information.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 00:40 #106745
BigFour
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Thank you for another suggestion for a starter download.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 00:51 #106746
postal
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Unless you quote the post to which you are replying it is difficult to know to whom you are directing your comments in each of your last few postings!

In any event, you can just click on the Thank You button under each posting rather than writing individual messages unless you think that is a bit dismissive. Personally I am just as pleased to get a thank you as to get a full scale reply.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 02:02 #106747
Ar88
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postal in post 106746 said:
Unless you quote the post to which you are replying it is difficult to know to whom you are directing your comments in each of your last few postings!

In any event, you can just click on the Thank You button under each posting rather than writing individual messages unless you think that is a bit dismissive. Personally I am just as pleased to get a thank you as to get a full scale reply.
Or to make it easier to work out who your reply is for - quote the message by hitting the "Quote" button for said-message.

The Welsh contingent. Aron, or Ar to mates. Also known as 88E or ThatManCalledAr.
Last edited: 14/03/2018 at 02:02 by Ar88
Reason: Spelling

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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 09:48 #106753
Danny252
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Mind, I imagine his choice was based on the rather unusual "Reply" feature of this forum. It does seem logical that if I click "Reply" under postal's comment that the forum would somehow indicate that I opted to reply to his comment, but that's not at all how it works!
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 10:41 #106757
BarryM
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Danny252 in post 106753 said:
Mind, I imagine his choice was based on the rather unusual "Reply" feature of this forum. It does seem logical that if I click "Reply" under postal's comment that the forum would somehow indicate that I opted to reply to his comment, but that's not at all how it works!
Danny,
To reply to an individuals message you need to press "Quote". I know Reply is rather misleading!

Barry

Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Last edited: 14/03/2018 at 10:44 by BarryM
Reason: .

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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 17:33 #106773
bugsy
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I get the feeling that some newcomers are beginning to play sims without reading either the Wiki or the relevant User Manual first.
The answer to a number of questions that have been asked could probably have been found in one or other of the two manuals mentioned above. I was probably guilty of asking several questions myself, which could have been answered by doing a bit more reading. Lessons learnt!

There is a ‘Get Started’ button on the Home page of the website. Would it not be possible to edit the ‘Getting Started’ article to include a recommendation to read the said documents? As most of us know, as well as being very interesting, they contain a wealth of information.

Just a thought.

Bugsy

Everything that you make will be useful - providing it's made of chocolate.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 17:47 #106774
postal
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bugsy in post 106773 said:
There is a ‘Get Started’ button on the Home page of the website. Would it not be possible to edit the ‘Getting Started’ article to include a recommendation to read the said documents? As most of us know, as well as being very interesting, they contain a wealth of information.

Just a thought.

Bugsy
Nothing to stop anyone here editing the Wiki rather than expecting someone else to do the actual work a good idea entails.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 17:58 #106775
bugsy
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postal in post 106774 said:
bugsy in post 106773 said:
There is a ‘Get Started’ button on the Home page of the website. Would it not be possible to edit the ‘Getting Started’ article to include a recommendation to read the said documents? As most of us know, as well as being very interesting, they contain a wealth of information.

Just a thought.

Bugsy
Nothing to stop anyone here editing the Wiki rather than expecting someone else to do the actual work a good idea entails.
Postal. I know that I could edit the Wiki and I'm quite prepared to do just that. However, that's not what I am suggesting.
If I had seen an 'edit' button on the 'Getting Started' page of the website, I would have edited that myself, but I didn't, hence the suggestion.

Everything that you make will be useful - providing it's made of chocolate.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 18:16 #106777
GeoffM
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postal in post 106774 said:
bugsy in post 106773 said:
There is a ‘Get Started’ button on the Home page of the website. Would it not be possible to edit the ‘Getting Started’ article to include a recommendation to read the said documents? As most of us know, as well as being very interesting, they contain a wealth of information.

Just a thought.

Bugsy
Nothing to stop anyone here editing the Wiki rather than expecting someone else to do the actual work a good idea entails.
The Getting Started bit is not in the Wiki. But I do need to tidy the former up and finish it.

SimSig Boss
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 19:00 #106778
Ar88
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Danny252 in post 106753 said:
Mind, I imagine his choice was based on the rather unusual "Reply" feature of this forum. It does seem logical that if I click "Reply" under postal's comment that the forum would somehow indicate that I opted to reply to his comment, but that's not at all how it works!
This caught me out when I first joined too, so I see your point!

The Welsh contingent. Aron, or Ar to mates. Also known as 88E or ThatManCalledAr.
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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 19:12 #106779
Dick
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Ar88 in post 106778 said:
Danny252 in post 106753 said:
Mind, I imagine his choice was based on the rather unusual "Reply" feature of this forum. It does seem logical that if I click "Reply" under postal's comment that the forum would somehow indicate that I opted to reply to his comment, but that's not at all how it works!
This caught me out when I first joined too, so I see your point!
Its pretty much how all forums work, at least all the ones I subscribe to.

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Getting Started 14/03/2018 at 23:47 #106786
Muzer
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Dick in post 106779 said:
Ar88 in post 106778 said:
Danny252 in post 106753 said:
Mind, I imagine his choice was based on the rather unusual "Reply" feature of this forum. It does seem logical that if I click "Reply" under postal's comment that the forum would somehow indicate that I opted to reply to his comment, but that's not at all how it works!
This caught me out when I first joined too, so I see your point!
Its pretty much how all forums work, at least all the ones I subscribe to.
Most forums I've seen have a general reply button at the bottom of the thread to add a general reply, with only "quote" buttons on each post.

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Getting Started 16/03/2018 at 03:32 #106811
BigFour
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bugsy in post 106773 said:
I get the feeling that some newcomers are beginning to play sims without reading either the Wiki or the relevant User Manual first.
The answer to a number of questions that have been asked could probably have been found in one or other of the two manuals mentioned above. I was probably guilty of asking several questions myself, which could have been answered by doing a bit more reading. Lessons learnt!

There is a ‘Get Started’ button on the Home page of the website. Would it not be possible to edit the ‘Getting Started’ article to include a recommendation to read the said documents? As most of us know, as well as being very interesting, they contain a wealth of information.

Just a thought.

Bugsy

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Getting Started 16/03/2018 at 03:42 #106812
BigFour
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Thank you Bugsby. I did actually download a sim and try it without any reading up on the subject. That went very poorly. Went back to the Wiki link and to a multipart you tube tutorial. Will do more review this weekend and give the sim another try.

The forum format is not something I have used before and and what seemed intuitive was not.

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