diff --git a/DCC.cpp b/DCC.cpp
index 7051d35..97564be 100644
--- a/DCC.cpp
+++ b/DCC.cpp
@@ -157,7 +157,9 @@ void DCC::writeCVBitMain(int cab, int cv, byte bNum, bool bValue)  {
   DCCWaveform::mainTrack.schedulePacket(b, nB, 4);
 }
 
-
+void DCC::setProgTrackSyncMain(bool on) {
+  DCCWaveform::progTrackSyncMain=on;
+}
 
 const ackOp PROGMEM WRITE_BIT0_PROG[] = {
      BASELINE,
@@ -347,10 +349,12 @@ bool DCC::issueReminder(int reg) {
        case 4: // remind function group 4 F13-F20
           if (flags & FN_GROUP_4) 
               setFunctionInternal(loco,222, ((functions>>13)& 0xFF)); 
+          flags&= ~FN_GROUP_4;  // dont send them again
           break;  
        case 5: // remind function group 5 F21-F28
           if (flags & FN_GROUP_5)
               setFunctionInternal(loco,223, ((functions>>21)& 0xFF)); 
+          flags&= ~FN_GROUP_5;  // dont send them again
           break; 
       }
       loopStatus++;
@@ -390,7 +394,7 @@ int DCC::lookupSpeedTable(int locoId) {
   }
   if (reg==firstEmpty){
         speedTable[reg].loco = locoId;
-        speedTable[reg].speedCode=0;
+        speedTable[reg].speedCode=128;  // default direction forward
         speedTable[reg].groupFlags=0;
         speedTable[reg].functions=0;
   }
@@ -452,9 +456,10 @@ void DCC::ackManagerLoop() {
       case W1:    // write 1 bit 
             {
               if (resets<RESET_MIN) return; // try later
+              if (debugMode) DIAG(F("\nW%d cv=%d bit=%d"),opcode==W1, ackManagerCv,ackManagerBitNum); 
               byte instruction = WRITE_BIT | (opcode==W1 ? BIT_ON : BIT_OFF) | ackManagerBitNum;
               byte message[] = {cv1(BIT_MANIPULATE, ackManagerCv), cv2(ackManagerCv), instruction };
-              DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), 6);
+              DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), PROG_REPEATS);
               DCCWaveform::progTrack.setAckPending(debugMode); 
          }
             break; 
@@ -462,8 +467,9 @@ void DCC::ackManagerLoop() {
       case WB:   // write byte 
             {
               if (resets<RESET_MIN) return; // try later 
+              if (debugMode) DIAG(F("\nWB cv=%d value=%d"),ackManagerCv,ackManagerByte);
               byte message[] = {cv1(WRITE_BYTE, ackManagerCv), cv2(ackManagerCv), ackManagerByte};
-              DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), 6);
+              DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), PROG_REPEATS);
               DCCWaveform::progTrack.setAckPending(debugMode); 
             }
             break;
@@ -471,9 +477,9 @@ void DCC::ackManagerLoop() {
       case   VB:     // Issue validate Byte packet
         {
           if (resets<RESET_MIN) return; // try later 
-          if (debugMode) DIAG(F("\nVB %d %d"),ackManagerCv,ackManagerByte);
+          if (debugMode) DIAG(F("\nVB cv=%d value=%d"),ackManagerCv,ackManagerByte);
           byte message[] = { cv1(VERIFY_BYTE, ackManagerCv), cv2(ackManagerCv), ackManagerByte};
-          DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), 5);
+          DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), PROG_REPEATS);
           DCCWaveform::progTrack.setAckPending(debugMode); 
         }
         break;
@@ -485,7 +491,7 @@ void DCC::ackManagerLoop() {
           if (debugMode) DIAG(F("\nV%d cv=%d bit=%d"),opcode==V1, ackManagerCv,ackManagerBitNum); 
           byte instruction = VERIFY_BIT | (opcode==V0?BIT_OFF:BIT_ON) | ackManagerBitNum;
           byte message[] = {cv1(BIT_MANIPULATE, ackManagerCv), cv2(ackManagerCv), instruction };
-          DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), 5);
+          DCCWaveform::progTrack.schedulePacket(message, sizeof(message), PROG_REPEATS);
           DCCWaveform::progTrack.setAckPending(debugMode); 
         }
         break;
diff --git a/DCC.h b/DCC.h
index 9089a5f..4111263 100644
--- a/DCC.h
+++ b/DCC.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class DCC {
   static void setAccessory(int aAdd, byte aNum, bool activate) ;
   static bool writeTextPacket( byte *b, int nBytes);
   static void setDebug(bool on);
+  static void setProgTrackSyncMain(bool on); // when true, prog track becomes driveable 
   
   // ACKable progtrack calls  bitresults callback 0,0 or -1, cv returns value or -1 
   static void  readCV(int cv, ACK_CALLBACK callback);
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ private:
   static ACK_CALLBACK  ackManagerCallback;
   static void ackManagerSetup(int cv, byte bitNumOrbyteValue, ackOp const program[], ACK_CALLBACK callback);
   static void ackManagerLoop();
+  static const int PROG_REPEATS=8;   // repeats of programming commands (some decoders need at least 8 to be reliable) 
 
   
 
diff --git a/DCCEXParser.cpp b/DCCEXParser.cpp
index f0991c9..ce75cdd 100644
--- a/DCCEXParser.cpp
+++ b/DCCEXParser.cpp
@@ -131,10 +131,9 @@ void DCCEXParser::parse(Print & stream, const byte *com, bool banAsync) {
     DIAG(F("\nPARSING:%s\n"),com);
     asyncBanned=banAsync;
     (void) EEPROM; // tell compiler not to warn thi is unused
-    int p[MAX_PARAMS];  
+    int p[MAX_PARAMS]; 
+    while (com[0]=='<' || com[0]==' ') com++; // strip off any number of < or spaces
     byte params=splitValues(p, com); 
-
-    if (com[0]=='<') com++;
     byte opcode=com[0];
      
     if (filterCallback)  filterCallback(stream,opcode,params,p);
diff --git a/DCCWaveform.cpp b/DCCWaveform.cpp
index f0045ee..e6ee023 100644
--- a/DCCWaveform.cpp
+++ b/DCCWaveform.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ DCCWaveform  DCCWaveform::progTrack(PREAMBLE_BITS_PROG, false, (int)(PROG_MAX_MI
 
 const int ACK_MIN_PULSE_RAW=65 / PROG_SENSE_FACTOR;
 
-
+bool DCCWaveform::progTrackSyncMain=false; 
 
 void DCCWaveform::begin() {
   Hardware::init();
@@ -99,8 +99,11 @@ void DCCWaveform::setPowerMode(POWERMODE mode) {
 
 
 void DCCWaveform::checkPowerOverload() {
+  
   if (millis() - lastSampleTaken  < sampleDelay) return;
   lastSampleTaken = millis();
+  int tripValue= rawCurrentTripValue;
+  if (!isMainTrack && (ackPending || progTrackSyncMain))   tripValue=ACK_CURRENT_TRIP;
   
   switch (powerMode) {
     case POWERMODE::OFF:
@@ -109,11 +112,11 @@ void DCCWaveform::checkPowerOverload() {
     case POWERMODE::ON:
       // Check current
       lastCurrent = Hardware::getCurrentRaw(isMainTrack);
-      if (lastCurrent <= rawCurrentTripValue)  sampleDelay = POWER_SAMPLE_ON_WAIT;
+      if (lastCurrent <= tripValue)  sampleDelay = POWER_SAMPLE_ON_WAIT;
       else {
         setPowerMode(POWERMODE::OVERLOAD);
         unsigned int mA=Hardware::getCurrentMilliamps(isMainTrack,lastCurrent);
-        unsigned int maxmA=Hardware::getCurrentMilliamps(isMainTrack,rawCurrentTripValue);
+        unsigned int maxmA=Hardware::getCurrentMilliamps(isMainTrack,tripValue);
         DIAG(F("\n*** %S TRACK POWER OVERLOAD current=%d max=%d ***\n"), isMainTrack ? F("MAIN") : F("PROG"), mA, maxmA);
         sampleDelay = POWER_SAMPLE_OVERLOAD_WAIT;
       }
@@ -139,19 +142,19 @@ bool DCCWaveform::interrupt1() {
   // otherwise can cause hangs in main loop waiting for the pendingBuffer.
   switch (state) {
     case 0:  // start of bit transmission
-      Hardware::setSignal(isMainTrack, HIGH);
+      setSignal(HIGH);
       state = 1;
       return true; // must call interrupt2 to set currentBit
 
     case 1:  // 58us after case 0
       if (currentBit) {
-        Hardware::setSignal(isMainTrack, LOW);
+        setSignal(LOW);
         state = 0;
       }
       else state = 2;
       break;
     case 2:  // 116us after case 0
-      Hardware::setSignal(isMainTrack, LOW);
+      setSignal(LOW);
       state = 3;
       break;
     case 3:  // finished sending zero bit
@@ -167,7 +170,17 @@ bool DCCWaveform::interrupt1() {
 
 }
 
-
+void DCCWaveform::setSignal(bool high) {
+  if (progTrackSyncMain) {
+    if (!isMainTrack) return; // ignore PROG track waveform while in sync
+    // set both tracks to same signal
+    Hardware::setSignal(true, high);
+    Hardware::setSignal(false, high);
+    return;     
+  }
+  Hardware::setSignal(isMainTrack,high);
+}
+      
 void DCCWaveform::interrupt2() {
   // set currentBit to be the next bit to be sent.
 
diff --git a/DCCWaveform.h b/DCCWaveform.h
index 537a05b..3fc8015 100644
--- a/DCCWaveform.h
+++ b/DCCWaveform.h
@@ -62,13 +62,15 @@ class DCCWaveform {
     void setAckBaseline(bool debug);  //prog track only
     void setAckPending(bool debug);  //prog track only
     byte getAck(bool debug);               //prog track only 0=NACK, 1=ACK 2=keep waiting
-    
+    static bool progTrackSyncMain;  // true when prog track is a siding switched to main
+     
   private:
 
     static void interruptHandler();
     bool interrupt1();
     void interrupt2();
     void checkAck();
+    void setSignal(bool high);
     
     bool isMainTrack;
     
@@ -94,7 +96,8 @@ class DCCWaveform {
     unsigned long lastSampleTaken;
     unsigned int sampleDelay;
     int rawCurrentTripValue;
-
+    static const int ACK_CURRENT_TRIP=1000; // During ACK processing limit can be higher
+    
     // ACK management (Prog track only)  
     bool ackPending;    
     bool ackDetected;   
diff --git a/WiThrottle.cpp b/WiThrottle.cpp
index 7af7373..9aad625 100644
--- a/WiThrottle.cpp
+++ b/WiThrottle.cpp
@@ -51,27 +51,22 @@
 
 WiThrottle * WiThrottle::firstThrottle=NULL;
 
-WiThrottle* WiThrottle::getThrottle(Print & stream, int wifiClient) {
+WiThrottle* WiThrottle::getThrottle( int wifiClient) {
   for (WiThrottle* wt=firstThrottle; wt!=NULL ; wt=wt->nextThrottle)  
      if (wt->clientid==wifiClient) return wt;
-  return new WiThrottle(stream, wifiClient);
+  return new WiThrottle( wifiClient);
 }
 
  // One instance of WiTHrottle per connected client, so we know what the locos are 
  
-WiThrottle::WiThrottle(Print & stream, int wificlientid) {
+WiThrottle::WiThrottle( int wificlientid) {
    DIAG(F("\nCreating new WiThrottle for client %d\n"),wificlientid); 
    nextThrottle=firstThrottle;
    firstThrottle= this;
    clientid=wificlientid;
-   for (int loco=0;loco<MAX_MY_LOCO; loco++) myLocos[loco].throttle='\0';
-  StringFormatter::send(stream,F("VN2.0\nHTDCC++EX\nRL0\nPPA%x\nPTT]\\[Turnouts}|{Turnout]\\[Closed}|{2]\\[Thrown}|{4\\PTL"), DCCWaveform::mainTrack.getPowerMode()==POWERMODE::ON);
-
-   for(Turnout *tt=Turnout::firstTurnout;tt!=NULL;tt=tt->nextTurnout){
-        StringFormatter::send(stream,F("]\\[LT&d}|{%d}|{%d"), tt->data.id, tt->data.id, (bool)(tt->data.tStatus & STATUS_ACTIVE));
-      }
-  StringFormatter::send(stream,F("\n*10\n"));
-  heartBeatEnable=false; // until client turns it on
+    heartBeatEnable=false; // until client turns it on
+    firstCall=true;
+    for (int loco=0;loco<MAX_MY_LOCO; loco++) myLocos[loco].throttle='\0';
 }
 
 WiThrottle::~WiThrottle() {
@@ -87,10 +82,33 @@ WiThrottle::~WiThrottle() {
   }
 }
 
-void WiThrottle::parse(Print & stream, byte * cmd) {
+void WiThrottle::parse(Print & stream, byte * cmdx) {
+  
+  // we have to take a copy of the cmd buffer as the reply will get built into the cmdx  
+  byte local[50];
+  for (byte i=0;i<sizeof(local);i++) {
+    local[i]=cmdx[i];
+    if (!cmdx[i]) break;
+  }
+  local[49]='\0'; // prevent runaway parser
+  
+  byte * cmd=local;
+  
   heartBeat=millis();
   DIAG(F("\nWiThrottle(%d) [%e]"),clientid, cmd);
-  
+   
+   if (firstCall) {
+     firstCall=false;
+     StringFormatter::send(stream,F("VN2.0\nHTDCC++EX\nRL0\nPPA%x\nPTT]\\[Turnouts}|{Turnout]\\[Closed}|{2]\\[Thrown}|{4\\PTL"), 
+                DCCWaveform::mainTrack.getPowerMode()==POWERMODE::ON);
+
+    for(Turnout *tt=Turnout::firstTurnout;tt!=NULL;tt=tt->nextTurnout){
+        StringFormatter::send(stream,F("]\\[LT&d}|{%d}|{%d"), tt->data.id, tt->data.id, (bool)(tt->data.tStatus & STATUS_ACTIVE));
+    }
+    StringFormatter::send(stream,F("\n*10\n"));
+   }
+
+   while (cmd[0]) {
    switch (cmd[0]) {
        case '*':  // heartbeat control
             if (cmd[1]=='+') heartBeatEnable=true;
@@ -119,6 +137,10 @@ void WiThrottle::parse(Print & stream, byte * cmd) {
             DIAG(F("\nWiThrottle Quit"));
             delete this; 
             break;           
+   }
+   // skip over cmd until 0 or past \r or \n
+   while(*cmd !='\0' && *cmd != '\r' && *cmd !='\n') cmd++;
+   if (*cmd!='\0') cmd++; // skip \r or \n  
    }           
 }
 int WiThrottle::getInt(byte * cmd) {
@@ -196,12 +218,12 @@ void WiThrottle::locoAction(Print & stream, byte* aval, char throttleChar, int c
             case 'q':
                 if (aval[1]=='V') {   //qV
                   LOOPLOCOS(throttleChar, cab) {              
-                    StringFormatter::send(stream,F("M%cAL%d<;>V%d"), throttleChar, myLocos[loco].cab, DCC::getThrottleSpeed(myLocos[loco].cab));
+                    StringFormatter::send(stream,F("M%cAL%d<;>V%d\n"), throttleChar, myLocos[loco].cab, DCC::getThrottleSpeed(myLocos[loco].cab));
                   }              
                 }
                 else if (aval[1]=='R') { // qR
                   LOOPLOCOS(throttleChar, cab) {              
-                    StringFormatter::send(stream,F("M%cAL%d<;>R%d"), throttleChar, myLocos[loco].cab, DCC::getThrottleDirection(myLocos[loco].cab));
+                    StringFormatter::send(stream,F("M%cAL%d<;>R%d\n"), throttleChar, myLocos[loco].cab, DCC::getThrottleDirection(myLocos[loco].cab));
                   }             
                 }     
             break;    
diff --git a/WiThrottle.h b/WiThrottle.h
index 94cf3c0..d0c3f4b 100644
--- a/WiThrottle.h
+++ b/WiThrottle.h
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ class WiThrottle {
   public:  
     static void loop();
     void parse(Print & stream, byte * cmd);
-    static WiThrottle* getThrottle(Print & stream, int wifiClient); 
+    static WiThrottle* getThrottle( int wifiClient); 
 
   private: 
-    WiThrottle(Print & stream, int wifiClientId);
+    WiThrottle( int wifiClientId);
     ~WiThrottle();
    
       static const int MAX_MY_LOCO=10;
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class WiThrottle {
        
       MYLOCO myLocos[MAX_MY_LOCO];   
       bool heartBeatEnable;
+      bool firstCall;
       unsigned long heartBeat;
       
      void multithrottle(Print & stream, byte * cmd);
diff --git a/WifiInterface.cpp b/WifiInterface.cpp
index 6cbefaf..1a1196c 100644
--- a/WifiInterface.cpp
+++ b/WifiInterface.cpp
@@ -172,12 +172,12 @@ void WifiInterface::loop(Stream & wifiStream) {
     }
     else if (buffer[0]=='<')  parser.parse(streamer,buffer, true);    // tell JMRI parser that callbacks are diallowed because we dont want to handle the async 
  
-    else WiThrottle::getThrottle(streamer, connectionId)->parse(streamer, buffer);
+    else WiThrottle::getThrottle(connectionId)->parse(streamer, buffer);
 
        
     if (streamer.available()) { // there is a reply to send 
         streamer.write('\0');
-        DIAG(F("WiFiInterface Responding client (%d) l(%d) %e\n"),connectionId,streamer.available()-1,buffer);
+        DIAG(F("\nWiFiInterface reply c(%d) l(%d) [%e]\n"),connectionId,streamer.available()-1,buffer);
         
         StringFormatter::send(wifiStream,F("AT+CIPSEND=%d,%d\r\n"),connectionId,streamer.available()-1);
         if (checkForOK(wifiStream,1000,PROMPT_SEARCH,true))  wifiStream.print((char *) buffer);