Don has been involved in Model Railroad Electronics for over 40 years. As an Electrical Engineer at IBM, Don naturally used his electronics expertise in model railroading. His first article was published in 1972 on putting sound in locomotives! Next he designed the very popular SST7 DC throttle (1975) and later the SWAC DC walk around hand held throttle (1977). He possibly designed the very first Radio Control throttle for model locomotives in 1976 (RMC cover). Observing the growing interest of personal computers, Don wrote an article in RMC about computer use in model railroading in 1978. In 1998 he published his first book on Basic Electricity and Electronics for Model Railroaders. Don got involved in the DCC Working Group and later began writing a regular series about DCC in RMC (2001-2003). His latest book The DCC Guide was just released in 2008. Don currently writes periodic DCC articles as part of the DCC Dealers Association. Don is a major contributor to the model railroading community and a great influenced in both my career and hobby. It is my honor to be his friend.
Recreation of the RMC 1976 Cover or the right.
Articles written by Don Fiehmann
Back EMF (BEMF) motor control:
http://www.amhobby.com/download/BEMF_PID_Intro_AHD.pdf
QuickStart Guide for QSI Programmer:
http://qsisolutions.com/products/techinfo/qprogrammer/q-prog-qstart.html
Lens new "Gold" series decoder:
http://tonystrains.com/technews/lenz-gold-review.htm
PowerCab Review
http://www.amhobby.com/download/df-powercab-rev-ahd.pdf
RRampMeter Application Notes:
http://www.tonystrains.com/download/df-rram-AppNotes.pdf
PSX-AR Autoreverser Application note:
http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/psxar_addon_circuits.htm
DCC comparisons:
http://www.tonystrains.com/download/dcc-snd-comp.pdf
Wabbit Manual:
http://www.dccconcepts.com/PDF_Downloads/dcsman-wabbit.pdf
Hare Manual:
http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/pdf/man-hareng.pdf
PSX Hints:
http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/pdf/psx_hints.pdf
QSI Revolution Manual for "A" version:
http://www.qsisolutions.com/pdf/q_RevoA_Manual.pdf
QSI Revolution Manual for "U" version
http://www.qsisolutions.com/pdf/q_RevoU_Manual.pdf
Below are list of articles with no links. Listed in Date Order
Calculating Scale Speed
Railroad Model Craftsman 1977 July pg. 67
Formulas and text describe how to calculate scale speed. A programmable calculator's code is shown that will make calculating the scale speed easy.
SWAC/2 Part 1
Railroad Model Craftsman 1977 August pg. 64
This article covers the design and construction of walk-around throttles. The design centers around the fact that only two or three wires are needed to connect to the layout, which means standard headphone plugs and wires can be used. Article includes the schematic, construction photos, printed circuit board layout, and parts list.
Demystifying Command Control Part 1
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 March
Demystifying Command Control Part 2
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 April
Demystifying Command Control Part 3
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 May
Demystifying Command Control Part 4
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 June
Demystifying Command Control Part 5
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 July
Demystifying Command Control Part 6
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 August
Demystifying Command Control Part 7
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 September
Demystifying Command Control Part 8
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 October
Demystifying Command Control Part 9
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 November
Demystifying Command Control Part 10
Railroad Model Craftsman 2001 December
Demystifying Command Control Part 11
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 January pg. 71
This article covers the nasty topic of finding and fixing problems with both d.c. and DCC layouts. Handy flowcharts are provided to help hunt down problems.
Demystifying Command Control Part 12
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 February pg. 78
This installment covers sound decoders and how to install them, including how to make a speaker box for a tender.
Demystifying Command Control Part 13
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 March
Demystifying Command Control Part 14
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 April
Demystifying Command Control Part 15
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 May
Demystifying Command Control Part 16
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 June
Demystifying Command Control Part 17
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 July
Demystifying Command Control Part 18
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 August pg. 57
How addressing works, broadcast address, primary address, extended addresses, consist address, addressing ideas, accessory decoders.
Demystifying Command Control Part 19
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 September pg. 74
DCC-ready connectors, new interfaces, wireless cabs.
Demystifying Command Control Part 20
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 October pg. 75
Accessory decoders.
Demystifying Command Control Part 21
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 November pg. 69
Another look at CV's and their functions. What is a CV? Anatomy of a CV. NMRA Recommended Practices. How a decoder deciphers CV's. Changing CV settings. Service mode programming. OPS mode programming. Methods of change. Different functions, same CV.
Demystifying Command Control Part 22
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002 December pg. 88
In this installment the author covers operating a layout equipped with DCC. It covers walk-around benefits, smaller local control panels, indicating turnout positions in dwarf signals, and how to deal with people who are die-hard DC buffs.
Demystifying Command Control Part 24
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003 February pg. 72
This is the last installment of this series. The article contains a glossary of DCC terminology, and a listing of DCC manufacturers, of DCC suppliers, and of DCC services.
Using Decoder Pro
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003 September pg. 73
This article does a good job reviewing how the Decoder Pro software application works. The application is free.
Model Railroad Maintenance of Way Part 1
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005 October pg. 87
This article covers using the NMRA standards gauge to check your rolling stock's wheels, verifying the correct coupler height, measuring the cars' weight, and lubricating if necessary. Coupler trip pin adjustment is discussed, and a portable test track is described.
Model Railroad Maintenance of Way Part II
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005 November pg. 79
This installment talks about how to keep roadbed and track in good shape. It covers creating removable section of scenery to access turnout machines, creating track cleaner cars using the John Allen method, creating a magnet car for pickup metal parts, and creating your own rerailer.
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