I came home today to program the locomotive address on an Athearn Genesis SD70Ace NS Heritage Unit #1068. I wanted to change the address from “03” to "1068."I did it like I thought I remembered from last time I changed an address, but in the middle of it I must have done something wrong. “1068” popped up after I thought I had programmed it. Now, the engine will start up when placed on the layout, but it won’t respond to “03” or “1068.” I have no clue of what I should do. It’s almost like the address got lost. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Nate
I’m not even sure what address to reset, as far as what address the engine is under. Would there be any way to reset it without knowing the address that it is under?
On the program track, it does not matter what address it is, the reset will apply. It will be address 3 after the reset.
It may be that CV29 never got set properly. Before resetting, you could try setting CV29 to 38 and then see if it runs on 1068, or set CV29 to 6 and see if it runs on 3. If neither works, just reset it and try again.
You can do a reset by setting the DCC system to address 00 and then setting CV 8 to 8. Just make sure that no other locos are on the track or they will all be reset. Did you check CV 29 after you did your programming? It may need to be set to accept the 4 digit address.
Edit: It looks like Randy has this covered as usual [:)]
Thank You so much for your help. By resetting on the program track, it is back to address 3. Now, I’ll try to do it right this time. I appreciate the help. I guess that it is true that you learn something new everyday, seeing how I didn’t know that it didn’t matter what the address was, just that it could be reset under any address. You guys sure were a big help to me.
Now that you have your decoder rest to factory original, set CV29 to 38, then set CV17 to 196 and CV18 to 44. Your engine should then respond to address 1068.
If you don’t want your engine to respond to DC, set CV29 to 34 instead.
Where did you get that from ? If you are in program mode, it doesn’t make any difference which you set first … at least that’s been my experience - and I do DCC installs for a living. CV29 is always the first thing I set followed by address, then lighting configurations.
Seriously, what has happened to you that you make that statement ?
Some times with a Soundtraxx you have to set a short address first IE 10. Then change that to a 4 digit address IE 1068. Ive had todo this to several of mine. Joe
When setting CV 17 and CV 18, some systems just let you key in the desired long address, and CV 17 and CV 18 will be programmed automatically as a result.
What I am trying to say is that you don’t necessarily have to physically add values to CV17 and CV18.
Wow. I honestly did not know setting a long address could be so contrary a subject, or so convoluted for some system users. I used to wonder if everybody else’s system was as clunky as my Digitrax Super Empire Builder when programming in a long address, but I have come to appreciate all the system does for me. As Randy and other users know, the Digitrax DT4XX series of throttles promp the user to change CV29 automatically via a displayed “Y” or “N”. Naturally, knowing I must enable that long address, I press the Y button, at which the locomotive shudders a second time, and then the track power gets shut off. Also an important step. I must reactivate track power with a button push, and the locomotive stays silent. It won’t respond to Add “03”. When I enter the long address and press the encoder/speed knob, and with BLI Paragons enter the first speed step, they come alive.
I always set the long address in programming mode, a broadcast mode, but on a separate track. Then, I switch to Ops if I have not done the prompt Y/N input, and enter CV29. I enter a value of “34”, exit, and the locomotive is ready to be commanded with its long address.
FOr those ‘stubborn’ decoders, Ops mode often works where the program track does now (DB150 is a little differnet, it’s full power when in ‘program track’ mode just like ops mode, which is why a DB150 can program anything, without ever needing a boosters)
Very few if any decoders allow changing the long address when it’s already set to a long address, it’s usually a two step process, first set a short address, then call up the loco by that short address, then change CV17, 18, and 29 to set a new long address. Or if you want to cvhange the short address in ops mode - on many you cannot just write to CV1, you have to first anable a long address, call up the loco on the long address, then program CV1 and 29 to set the new short address.
Usually all that’s wrong if you set the address using the system’s built in methods, and then you cannot access it on either the new address you think you set it to, nor by the old short address, or default 3, is that CV29 didn’t get set. It could be either CV17 or 18 as well. That’s why I suggested just setting CV29 to a value that would use the long address, and see if it works - if not, CV17 or CV18 is still messed up, so try CV29 with a value to use the short address, and it should respond on address 3 again. If that also fails, then reset the decoder.
Mark, you need to more CLEAR when you are debunking. Which “program” mode are you talking about? Page? Ops? It DOES matter the order you program depending on the “programming” mode you are in.
What has happened to me? Personally? Seriously? Are you serious? You cant be talking to me, are you? Seriously? Oh my…? Im scared… Please dont hurt me with your words, I dont know if I can continue on… Personal attacks will get you nothing but a lack of respect…sorry.
Ok, you set CV29 first and it gives it a random number … you are going straight to CV17 and CV18 after setting CV29 and setting the proper numbers anyway aren’t you ? I can see if you just set CV29 and then try to read the address, but there would be no point in doing that anyway.
Guess maybe if I could replicate this so-called problem, I might see what you are talking about. I still prefer to set CV17 and CV18 manually instead of having my system figure them out based on the four digit address I enter.
Well, say you have a fresh out of the box decoder, so it’s set to address 3. If you select address 3, it runs, and you cna use POM. If you set CV29, it’s SUPPOSED to make the long address active - and thus deactivates the short address. That may not happen on all decoders, but once CV29 is set to something like 34 or 38, it’s not supposed to respond to the short address any more, so it should no longer accept packets addressed to address 3.
On the program track, none of this matters, since the programming packets are not addressed, it should never matter what order you do things.
There are systems that do not have dedicated program tracks, thus some think that all programming is “programming ont he main”, and there are other systems that give you the option to make the actual track output the 'program track", like using Blast Mode on a Digitraz Zephyr system. That’s not Ops Mode programming, that’s sending broadcast program packets to the main track outputs - ANY loco sitting on the track would be programmed. True Ops Mode programming is directed to one and only one address, so you can edit a running loco without changing any others on the tracks. This is why I find it odd that a decoder having CV29 changed first would still continue to respond to packets addressed to the now inactive address.