Take two: I was almost done with this entry, when apparently I hit the wrong "mouse" button on my laptop... and goodbye it went. Sigh. It's been a long day.... a fun one, but a long one nonetheless. Also, I popped a Nyquil a little over a half hour ago, so I expect to be unconcious before long.

Last night I ended by mentioning I was off to an Advanced DCC Sound programming class. Conducted by "Loco Lee" Wheelbarger, the class covered two pieces of software - the Quantum programmer, and the QuantumCVManager. While the Quantum programmer requires a piece of interface hardware and is used to change the actual sound files on the computer, the QuantumCVManager works with NCE equipment and will presumably be ported over to other bi-directional communicating DCC systems.

Unfortunately, it appears that those of us with one-way DCC will have to continue using JMRI. Which is really a shame, since while JMRI/Decoder Pro is a terrific program that works with a variety of DCC decoders from a variety of manufacturers, the QuantumCVManager controls enough functions on the QSI  decoder bowl your head will start to spin. Did you know that you can change the rate at which a headlamp or other light on a locomotive will come up, how bright it will be, and how slowly it drops? Indeed you can - and that's just one of the literally hundreds of little tweaks you can apply to QSI soundcards with it. Really impressive stuff - even if I don't own an NCE - I know. someone who does!

Today was dedicated to Leslie Eaton's Nano-Animation Electronics Workshop, where I learned how to solder much better than I ever have before - and I'm getting some of the 63-37 Eutectic solder in .020" size (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder#Lead_solder). Made what appeared to be difficult solder joints easy

I made up two circuit boards from the parts and instructions provided - the first was a 12v/5v DC regulated power supply w/rectifier. The rectifier means that no mater if I feed it DC or AC power between 12v and 16v, it will come out nice clean DC power.

After making the first board, you have a choice of which board to make next - out of the several kits demonstrated, including a strobe light, street lights, and a device that used randomness and three colored LED's to simulate fire, I picked a Crossing Gate & Bell. While I don't think I knew it at the time, this was the most complicated kit offered - thanks to the need to solder in three-wire transistors in a very limited amout of space.

I also shot some video off the "historic Milwaukee" modules, presented by RMC and depicting Wilwaukee of the 1950s or 60s from the Menomonee River to 34th Street.

Okay, gotta go now - the Nyquil is kicking in and you wouldn't believe some of the weird things I type when I'm falling asleep. Tomorrow - photos of some of the contest room and the 75 Years of Model Railroad Manufacturing History.

 Okay, previewing this post looks very weird - lets see what happens when I post it. Ah - it  thought I wanted to post only plain text. To bed!