I just recieved my new Digitrax Zepher set and I love it. But now I am trying to program my locomotives so I can MU any of them together. All the CV values are sort of confusing to me. I am not sure if i need to program them all in 128 step mode or if that is overkill. anyway if anyone knows of a website or past MRR’s with this type of info it would be helpfull.
thanks
By the way I am trying to program Athearn Genesis, RTR and old style, and I have a Kato if it makes any difference
Whether or not you can program 128 Speed Steps depends on the type of decoder that is in your locomotives – some older decoder can only be set for 14 or 28 Speed Steps. Custom Speed Tables are what you need to program, not speed steps. What you need to do is determine the manufacturer and type of decoder that is in each locomotive, and then download the applicable documentation for each from their Web sites if you don’t already have this on hand. Most decoder data sheets include custom speed tables.
I think the Athearn Genesis and Kato may already run close enough to MU them without the need for a custom speed table. Try programming those two as a consist, and run the consist without the locomotives actually coupled together and see if they run at near the same speed. If they do, then nothing else needs to be done to them. The older Athearn would definitely need a custom speed table to slow it down.
Another simple way to do it, use CV2, CV5 and CV6 if the decoder supports it. These will allow you to set the start, max and mid speeds and the speed table automatically sets itself. Be sure the decoders you’re using support Vmid, Vmax or this will not work.
You could try searching for wiring for dcc or mrwithdcc for info the latter tells how to program decoder values. A chap also gave me the following formula he uses to calculate cv2, cv5, & cv6 to get in the ball park. CV2+INT((CV5-CV2)/2)=CV6.
THEN ADJUST CV6 + or - 20 for smooth transition between CV2 & CV5.
DON’T SET CV6 LOWER THAN CV2 (DOES NOT MAKE SENSE) ( HE NEVER USES STEPS)
KEN
I am using Digitrax decoders DH136AT–for the regular athearns for what its worth. another question I have thought up is, lets say I want 28 steps do I use CV1 for step 1 and Cv2 for step 2 etc. ???
No need to do that. Nearly all decoders default to 14 or 28 speed steps. CV1 is for a short locomotive address, and CV2 is for Vstart. These two CVs have nothing to do with speed steps. CV29 is where you set whether the decoder uses its built-in default speed table or a custom speed table, and CVs 68 through 93 are custom speed table values. You need to purchase a copy of the Digitrax Mobile Decoder User Manual, becuase what you’re asking about is too complicated to explain on this forum.
You don’t actually have to purchase the Digitrax Mobile Decoder User Manual – it’s available as a free download from their website. Well worth having even if you use other decoders, because it has great explainations of all the CV values.
thanks guys, maybe someday DCC wont make me scratch my head as much