With RailMaster already open and running we can now get to grips with its settings and change the defaults to those which are optimal and will set general configurations until users wish to change later if required. Click the large cog to the upper left of the RailMaster window.

Initial System Settings Screen showing defaults

System Settings

The image shows all default settings that are presented by clicking the large cog to the top left of the screen.

It is only the top left quarter of the dialogue window we need concern ourselves about at this stage. Changes can be implemented later if needed as experience of usage is enhanced. The next screenshot shows the settings required to achieve communication to the eLink unit.

We will now set the Com Port to match that of the port shown in Device Manager.

Choosing the correct port for communication
with the eLink DCC unit

IMP: Choosing Correct Port

By clicking the small arrow to the right of the DCC COntroller Port setting you will see a list of ports you can use for RailMaster.

Com1 is generally unusable as it is will almost certainly be predefined by default in Windows. In the image you can see Com3 listed as my own connection points to it as that which is matched in Device Manager. If Device Manager shows something like Com 2 or Com 4 then click on that port here to match.
ESSENTIAL: Make sure the Baud Rate = 115,200, Data Bits = 8, Parity = None and Stop Bits = 1. This is optimal and should never require changing.

Click the green tick to set the port to your matching port in Device Manager. RailMaster will set that port and you should see the greyed out icon light itself up as green to show communication is now complete. The following image shows this.

RailMaster is now able to communicate
with the eLink DCC unit

Full Communication

Once you click the port you have chosen to match that in Device Manager you will see the greyed icon for comunication light up in green.

This will enable RailMaster and the eLink unit to communicate on a permanent level until you change ports set via the software or incorrectly plug the USB cable from the eLink unit into a port that is different to the one used to set everything up.

Therefore you should ALWAYS use the same USB socket when using RailMaster with your eLink unit.

Now that communication is set we can move on to activation.

This is an area where lots of members seem to have problems connecting to the Hornby servers to activate RailMaster. While that may be the case (and those issues are best solved on a one to one basis on the forum generally) it is usually down to the eLink unit not being set up properly through the Firewall. Go back and check if necessary all settings in order to get to this stage once more. Let us assume all is well and you have a connection to the outside world and Internet.

Click the large blue thumbs up icon to the upper right of the RailMaster window and a new dialogue will open as per the image link below.

Setting personal details and your RailMaster Activation number

IMP: RailMaster Activation

This dialogue window is important not just for the activation key you need to have RailMaster running to its full capacity.

The details you enter here should recorded for future use in case a fault occurs and you need to re-enter these details.

If you need to contact the support team any detail here which does not match your key may end up with an initial rejection of support until you get this right.

Once you have entered your details and key simply click the green tick to enable RailMaster to contact the Hornby servers and register the software. Once this is done the blue thumbs up icon will disappear from the RailMaster interface.

The final parts of setting everything up follows:

The following image shows three dialogue windows together. It is possible to do this yourself though I have done this simply to show everything in one go here that remains to be done.

Checking the final settings and activation

IMP: Settings Editor

Click the large blue question mark icon to open a new dialogue window. This will show the proof that RailMaster is activated by showing the activation key in full. The key shown here is obviously not going to work so do not try it! It merely shows where it would be if you need to write it down.

The version of RailMaster is also highlighted here. Click on the small cog to the lower left and a new dialogue window opens with the warning shown about changing the RailMaster.ini file for RailMaster. Click the green tick and this dialogue window disappears to be replaced by the contents of the RailMaster.ini file. Check the following two lines are in place by scrolling through the file. If they are simply close the dialogue windows. If not type these in on a new line at the end of file:
Alternative Comms=1
Check Controller=1
Click the green tick to save the file and now close all dialogue windows.

Adjusting these settings can prove vital in most configurations.
Please note that different Windows versions
may require slightly different settins.

IMP: Advanced Comms Settings

If you have communications issues with RailMaster and Windows (AND ONLY IF) then you should check the RailMaster.ini file and add the lines of code below to that file if they are not already included.

The file can be found in the following directory or folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\RailMaster (this is the usual default). The file type will show up as an INI file.

To edit the file from within RailMaster (best way to do it): click the question mark and then the small cog in the newly opened dialogue window. Make the changes listed below ONLY for your own controller, if necessary, and click the tick to save and close. Close also the information window.

For the eLink unit only:
Alternative comms=1 and Check controller=1. These two lines may, or may not, already be included within this file. If so simply close.

For the Elite unit and Windows versions up to Windows 7 only:
Alternative comms=0 and Check controller=0.

For the Elite unit and Windows versions 8 and above only:
Alternative comms=1 and Check controller=0.

Once all that is done and you have saved the settings you are good to go on to connect your eLink unit to your track and start running trains.

N.B. If at any time you pull out the USB cable from the computer and plug it back into a different port and then restart RailMaster you will see the following:

Restarting RailMaster after removing the USB cable from the computer
and plugging it back into the wrong USB port gives the screenshot above
(Device Manager is shown for convenience)

IMP: Lost Communication

You will notice that two different ports are shown here.

Device Manager is showing a connection to COM port 4 which would be correct with this screenshot and RailMaster is looking at COM port 3 which would be wrong.

Correction is very easy. Simply unplug the USB cable from the computer and plug into a different USB socket that corresponds to COM port 4 and click on the green tick. If the socket is correct then the Controller A icon will be green and will show as Active when hovered over. If not use a different USB socket until this occurs.