YouChoos PC Throttle - Tweak and Drive

YouChoos PC Throttle - Tweak and Drive

Downloads

Software for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7/8/10/11)

GCA 1.35 November 10th 2025 YCPCTThrottle_1.35.exe (Installer ~120Mb)

Version History - Enhancements and Bug Fixes

GCA 1.35 10th November 2025

Enhancement: Added support for MF850

GCA 1.34 23rd January 2025

Fix: Could not run motor for a decoder with DCC address #1 on SPROG

Enhancement: Added support for MN140, MS591 and MS481

GCA 1.33/1.32 19th April 2024

Fix: Fix to LocoNet interface, CV read/write not working - tested with Digitrax DCS52

GCA 1.31 4th March 2024

Enhancement: Added support for MS540 Next28/E24 sound decoder and MN140 Next28/E24 non-sound decoder

GCA 1.30 March 2024

Fix: Support # Hashtag characters in the Additional Notes field for a loco entry

GCA 1.29 20th October 2023

Enhancement: Support for more Zimo decoder types, including MN150, MN160, MS491 and MS581

GCA 1.28 18th August 2023

Enhancement: Final implementation for support of Zimo MXULF-A including throttle control up to FKey28

GCA 1.27 11th August 2023

Enhancement: Beta implementation for support of Zimo MXULF-A

GCA 1.26 4th August 2023

Enhancement: Beta implementation of LocoNet USB protocol - tested using DR5000 with YAMORC YD9401 upgrade

Enhancement: LocoNet USB support of POM (Programming On Main track) for CV writes

GCA 1.25 21st July 2023

Enhancement: Support for MN decoders with updated Decoder Definitions available to import

GCA 1.24 11th July 2023

Enhancement: Support for higher FA function outputs in Advanced Mapping

Enhancement: Minor changes to support other MS features

Fix: Misc bug fixes

GCA 1.23 29th June 2022

Fix: Manually choose 'Zimo' for decoder type, gave "don't know how to read model for this manufacturer" - now sets CV#8 in cfg to manId to avoid this issue

Fix: Detect Zimo decoder type - CV#250=10 should be MS560 not MS955

Update: Added more loco images

Fix: Volume adjust dropdowns now auto matches to the closest predefined db value - non-standard values in the CV would display as "no change" otherwise

Enhancement: A general 'notes' field for free-format entry of extra info has been added to the main Details tab

Enhancement: A new button to DUPLICATE a loco defintion as a starting point for a new roster entry (at top of Roster list)

Fix: Fixed an issue with Decoder definitions that contain # character e.g. in CV Descriptions - truncated as treated like a comment

Enhancement: Support CV#835 total number of QUICKSEL sets, including auto fkey deduction for MS

Enhancement: Provide a checkbox for CV#393.6 (64) quadruple chuff time gap specified in CV#267 for MS

Enhancement: Added UI to support SOLO driving configuration (CV#347 and related settings)

GCA 1.22 16th May 2022

Improvement to reliability of sending higher fkey commands on Z21/DR5000 (F21 and higher requests were often lost)

GCA 1.21 10th December 2021

Enhancement: Increased size of Import Dialog

GCA 1.20 13th October 2021

Enhancement: Initial support for MS sound decoder range - also requires Decoder Types update

GCA 1.19 31st December 2020

Enhancement: Added a new style of throttle with fkeys in a vertical list

Fix: Fixed crash in Motor tab for non-Zimo decoders

GCA 1.18 25th November 2020

Enhancement: Added CV#112.5 motor control frequency 40khz checkbox to Motor tab

Enhancement: Support for lighting effects 88, 92, 96 (slow fade in/out, flourescent lamp, brake sparks)

Fix: Changing a license key (e.g. from evaluation to permanent) works properly in Options/Settings dialog now

Enhancement: Default file extension suggested when exporting CVs is now .csv

Fix: Crashed on opening Motor tab for non-Zimo decoders

Tech: Removed Layout tab from view - reduce clutter

GCA 1.14 to 1.17 10th August 2020

Enhancement: Improved COM port communications for SPROG

Fix: Set loco entry as dirty when reading CVs from a decoder, otherwise SAVE button is not enabled without making other changes

GCA 1.13 8th June 2020

Enhancement: CV#394.6 checkbox on Motor tab added - Prohibit acceleration while Active Brake key is on

GCA 1.12 5th June 2020

Enhancement: Added support for Zimo Unilateral Lighting (CV#107-110) in Decoder Definitions and on Zimo AUX tab in configuration

Technical: Information on timeout for Lenz USB interface

GCA 1.11 20th April 2020

Enhancement: Added FO4 syncro-smoke fan options on AUX panel.

GCA 1.10 6th March 2020

Fix: Could not set F0Fwd/F0Rev as selections for Swiss Mapping outputs.

GCA 1.09 4th February 2020

Fix: Z21 Connect issued incorrect errors that it wasn't connected, but in fact was.

Enhancement: Moved RESET and EASYMAP buttons higher up on Details tab, otherwise often off the bottom on small screens.

Enhancement: Included sample collection of Decoder Images in new folder 'DecoderImages'.

GCA 1.08 23rd January 2020

Fix: Switching between Zimo and non-Zimo decoder types in a definition did not hide/show the Zimo EasyMap button correctly on the Details tab.

Fix: Changing Mapping Style drop-down in Mapping tab did not mark the definition as dirty, so it could not be saved until another change was made.

Fix: Zimo EasyMap crashed on Apply for non-sound Zimo decoders.

Fix: On first execution, before previous position/size of the window can be stored, no longer explicitly default to almost the full size of the display. Instead leave the system to determine the initial window position and size.

GCA 1.07 15th January 2020

Fix: Fixed a memory leak in UPD-based comms (Z21 and DR5000 in Z21 mode) - while connected, continually leaks until eventual crash.

GCA 1.06 13th January 2020

Fix: Fixed a memory leak in image handled/resizing that would eventually cause a crash - particularly with long roster lists.

GCA 1.05 10th January 2020

Enhancement: Extra shortcut created to start Tweak and Drive in DEBUG MODE - for problem tracking and logging.

Enhancement: Added support in DC running for CV#840 and CV#841 - F13-F28 in analog mode (from v39.0 firmware).

Enhancement: French translation complete, including User Help file.

GCA 1.04 6th January 2020

Enhancement: FKey tab now provides an auto-calculate button to work out fkey assignments based on CVs and project definitions.

Enhancement: Redesigned Import window and implemented Internet-based Library to download standard definitions from.

Fix: Zimo EasyMap gets sound effects on F20-F28 misaligned.

Enhancement: Allows Sound Files list to be manually edited - to help with projects imported from just CV read backs and other sources

Fix: References to 'EMF' changes to 'BackEMF'

Fix: Smoke gen options captions too long to fit smaller screens, so shortened text

Enhancement: CV list is now multi-selection so you can select a group of CVs and perform a READ or WRITE operation on just those selected

Fix: CV#62 range changes to 0-9 in accordance with Zimo documentation

Enhancement: Several of the tab panels now scroll left-right if the screen is not wide enough to fit all controls.

Enhancement: CV#64 Ditch Light definition is now split into key (bits 4-7) and time (bits 0-3)

Enhancement: If a more detailed Description is available in the Decoder Definition for a CV, this is not viewable from the CV List in a new column with an 'I' Information icon.

Fix: CV#116 Uncoupler value increased permitted range to 199

Enhancement: Detect the language/locale running in and use any matching translation files for screen prompts, as well as translated decoder definition files if available. Thanks for Frederic Holbrook for the French translation.

GCA 1.03 23rd October 2019

Fix: Fixed further crash when opening throttle in certain sizes

GCA 1.02 22nd October 2019

Fix: SPROG cannot control DCC addresses above 8192

GCA 1.01 21st October 2019

Fix: Fixed crash when opening throttle with some roster definitions

GCA 1.0 17th October 2019

Enhancement: Support Windows 10 Scaling for high-density displays, such as Surface Pro - should adjust automatically (may need to reset font scale option in Settings back to 100%).

Enhancement: Included a picture of a YouChoos certificate to aid locating unique decoder numbers for Import facility.

BETA 0.99 27th September 2019

Fix: Update required to support change of website to SSL (HTTPS instead of HTTP) - may have to download the new version directly, rather than through the Tweak and Drive software's update facility (just this once).

BETA 0.98 21st September 2019

Fix: New option to scale fonts - to counter-act odd Windows scaling options, particularly on Windows devices

BETA 0.97 20th September 2019

Fix: Fixed issue with XpressNet USB/COM CV Write - it could fail and hang the communications

Enhancement: Speed of multiple CV operations on XpressNet USB/COM improved

Fix: Cleaner disconnect from XpressNet USB/COM on application close

BETA 0.96 18th September 2019

Fix: Retry logic on failed CV read/write - useful when processing large numbers of CVs in one operation

Fix: Detect if ECOS is older than 4.1 application version and error if it is - programming track not available until 4.1

Fix: No longer read the same CV multiple times on some config tabs for separate bits - efficiency

BETA 0.95 11th September 2019

Fix: Reading a CV flags the CV config/original/load value as UNKNOWN when it should stay unchanged

BETA 0.94 10th September 2019

Fix: Launch of HELP in browser would fail on many PCs

Fix: ECOS read/write CVs and other comms with ECOS were broken in 0.93

BETA 0.93 7th September 2019

Fix: Handle larger messages from ECOS - caused issues when retrieving roster data.

BETA 0.92 6th August 2019

Enhancement: Improved error message when SPROG connection fails.

Enhancement: Throttles now overlay the loco image with the message 'TRACK POWER OFF' in red if the track power/connection is not established.

Fix: Read/Write of CVs on the full CV list tab now correctly updates the 'last known value' column.

Fix: When Read of multiple CVs is initiated through the footer buttons, and the operation fails after some CVs, the successfully read ones are now updated on the display.

BETA 0.91 4th July 2019

Fix: Export button on Roster not enabled/disabled correctly.

Fix: Changing Filter drop-down on CVs list left buttons/fields on the list in odd places.

Enhancement: Changed Throttle icon to include the word 'Throttle' instead of 'Drive'.

Fix: Reading of long address on Details tab usually gives only the short address even though CVs are read correctly.

Enhancement: Option (in Settings) to restore track power state to prior state following any programming actions (default is YES).

BETA 0.90 21st June 2019

Fix: Add and Remove Loco from Roster makes detail within Roster jump around.

Fix: Tabs for Loco definition are immediately recreated when decoder manufacturer or decoder type is changed.

Fix: Reads/Writes of CVs may not be done if the CV has never been accessed before on that Loco definition.

BETA 0.89 19th June 2019

Enhancement: Implemented support for ESU ECOS

BETA 0.88 17th June 2019

Enhancement: Cam styles added to Zimo Engine Sounds - Steam

BETA 0.87 2nd June 2019

Enhancement: Added Servos 1-4 to the Zimo Easy-Map window

BETA 0.86 26th April 2019

Enhancement: Improved scrolling to selected loco in roster - on start up and on NEW loco

BETA 0.85 18th April 2019

Enhancement: improved import through download (from YouChoos website)

Fix: further fixes to roster panel size and scrolling

Enhancement: improved error reporting/messages for SPROG and Z21/DR5000 communications

Enhancement: UI appears earlier on startup so you can see something is happening

BETA 0.84 17th April 2019

Enhancement: better reporting of comms messages

Enhancement: Initial support for indexed CVs to support ESU V4 etc.

Enhancement: ESU V4 decoder definition file added

Fix: Minimum width of Roster panel enforced better

Enhancement: Export all CVs to CSV file from CVs page

Enhancement: Read/Write batch CVs stops on first failure

BETA 0.82 13th April 2019

Fix: Option to remember Throttle position not remembered after restart

Enhancement: Added dedicated button for Exit Application

Enhancement: Startup parameter allows YC Loco Number to be specified for auto-select

Enhancement: Additional Zimo decoder types supported

Fix: Failed to identify and store decoder address, manufacturer etc. on detection of new decoder

BETA 0.81 12th April 2019

Enhancement: Added option to remember each throttle position (default, as before), or automatically place based on currently visible throttles.

Enhancement: Throttles are vertically resizeable - not remembered

BETA 0.8 9th April 2019

In Progress: Incomplete work on Gaugemaster/MRC interface - works, but not reliably yet

Enhancement: License key request by email

Enhancement: Mechanism to import YC loco definitions from online source

Enhancement: Main bar has caption text for big buttons

Enhancement: Improved fkey text display for big throttle

Enhancement: Include duplicate 'f1...28' text on right side of loco definition fkey panel

Enhancement: Prompt to power off track when closing the application

Enhancement: Prompt to choose DCC system on start-up if not already selected

BETA 0.6 5th November 2018

Enhancement: Change mouse cursor to busy while power/connect operations are executing

In Progress: Added support for Gaugemaster/MRC Prodigy

BETA 0.5 4th November 2018

Enhancement: Confirmation to save loco/roster changes on close of application

Enhancement: Added CV definitions for Hornby standard and TTS decoders

Enhancement: Product rename to 'Tweak and Drive'

Enhancement: Added support for PIKO Smart controller (ECOS)

Enhancement: Added support for Z21

Enhancement: Added support for Digikeijs DR5000 in Z21 mode

Enhancement: Added support for Lenz LI-USB XpressNet 3.6

Enhancement: Added support for Lenz LI-Ethernet and other compatible XpressNet 3.6 TCP Socket systems

BETA 0.4 21st October 2018

Enhancement: License dialog enhanced to show COMPUTERNAME

BETA 0.3 21st October 2018

Initial Version