I am going to start a new post on this. I am intrigued by the suggestions about using Decoder Pro and an interface to speed match locos.
I see by a quick read of the manuals online that Decoder Pro is a quite powerful or complex bit of electronics. I have no experience with it.
Is it worth it to get the interface and install Decoder Pro to help speed match locos…if that is all I want it for? Or would it be using a hammer to kill a bug? That is, putting too much on my plate to learn for just this purpose?
I have no experience speed matching locos, but will soon be at the point of trying to make eight to ten consists of almost two dozen locos (I have collected too many duplicates and AB or ABA sets one might say…six H16-44s…four Stewart/Kato F series etc. etc.).
I have no reservations about using the computer and making the connections. That was part of my occupation as a high school teacher. However, the learning curve looks daunting for the software…or is it just my grey matter disappearing?
So, to the root of the matter: How long would it take me to learn to use Decoder Pro to speed match locos?
I don’t have it YET, because my system won’t interface to it. [:(]
However, when that changes, I will get it immediately. Joe Fugate’s video on DCC demonstrates speed matching, and it really looks like a snap! And it would be much harder, and time consuing to do otherwise. Decoder Pro also gives you the ability to save your configurations, or even copy them, so you can duplicate setups, and reprogram lost settings. To me it looks worth it.
Get it! I am saving for the PowerCab interface already. I would have bought it already but track comes first [(-D]. I wish I had the cash to buy it now.[banghead]
Once you have Decoder pro and the interface set up and correctly working with your DCC system the use of the application is trivial. The graphical user interface for the speed curves is very intuitive.
IMO one of the very best features is the ability to save your settings for a particular loco/decoder combination. Imagine that you have put several hours into getting your locos speed matched perfectly and you have fine tuned the lighting effects and maybe all the sound effects to your satisfaction. Then one day your decoder gets scrambled and needs to be reset to factory defaults. With Decoder Pro you would then just re-download the settings file for that loco and it is back to how you want it. This alone is a great feature and well worth the cost of the software! (Free)
You will find speed matching two locos using DecoderPro to be super easy! And to top it off, the program is free!
DecoderPro lets you open an window for each loco, so I like to arrange them side by side – and then use ops mode programming (Programming on the Main, or POM) to program the speed settings.
I put the two locos on a stretch of track with a long siding, and put one loco on the main and the other on the siding. Then I match the speeds at 1/4 throttle and 3/4 throttle, both forward and reverse. Often when I check 1/2 throttle and full throttle, they are “close enough”.
With the two locos speed settings in side-by-side windows on my PC screen, speed matching doesn’t get any easier! [swg]
In my opinion, if you are comfortable with using a PC for non-railroading tasks, you should consider a computer interface and DecoderPro an essential part of your DCC system. Any DCC system that does not have computer interface capability is not a serious DCC system, IMO.
DecoderPro brings so much power and ease to decoder programming, it’s like night and day. Programming a new loco decoder with the same settings I used in another loco takes less than 60 seconds with DecoderPro. Try that with your DCC system that has no computer interface!
According the the JMRI Decoder Pro web site, the program will also work with the Digitrax PR2. The PR2 is a stand-alone programming interface. It will NOT connect to your DCC system, but rather to a separate programming track.
I know that the PR2 is a relatively new device, and its primary job may be downloading sound files into Digitrax programmable decoders, but does anyone have any first-hand experience with using this, now that it’s been on the market?
… don’t forget to DONATE to the JMRI cause. It is a great tool that someone is fighting a long drawn out battle to keep availlable " FREE " to all who appreciate and use it, if only for DecoderPro.
Decoder Pro is worth it! As you have already made your decision, you must agree.
I added Decoder Pro and a LocoBuffer-USB to my Zephyr about 16-months ago. One of the best moves I have ever made in model railroading. Beyond the fact that you can store your settings for future use, the programming interface is relatively easy to learn.
After hooking things up and installing the program, I was off and running in just a couple of hours. If I can do it, anyone can!
If the interface you are talking about is the cable from your computer to the dcc system I suggest you check E-bay. I bought mine there and it was 1.99 for the cable and 5.99 for shipping, at radio phone the cost was over 40 dollars. I use NCE if anyone is wondering.
That depends upon your DCC system. With Digitrax and Loconet, I have mine about 50’ away (length of cable). I used Cat5 cable and crimped my own wnds. I’ll let one of the NCE owners comment on how NCE does it.
Are they worth it? Decoder Pro is free (unless you donate to help the JMRI defense fund) and the interfaces are usually cheap.
And for that price you can create a database of your locos with all of their CV settings on your computer, program your throttle response curves from your PC and, I believe you can script operations though I haven’t investigated this aspect.
The NCE system uses a standard serial data cable, which can go up to 50 feet. If your computer has a USB port, you can run USB with an powered extender up to 150 feet, then put the USB to serial adapter on the other end and go another 50 feet with the serial cable – giving you a total of 200 feet.
Or you can put a laptop near your command system connected with a serial cable, and then remote desktop in to the laptop from the other side of the planet through a secure VPN connection over the internet, if you really want to get ridiculous.
The point is, once you move to programming your decoders on a PC, it’s literally possible to program decoders on your layout from anywhere you want in or outside your layout room – we have the technology!
Last night I tweaked the sound settings on a Tsunami equipped locomotive in operations mode. Just ran it around the loop an changed settings to get the sound the way I liked it.
You sit in front of the computer, adjust settings, and then write them. You can adjust the throttle to see the effect on the whistle, or the chuff when you change speed.
Sure beats having to look in the manual to find the CV, and then spend the time and effort to change them manually.
I use an MRC Prodigy Advance control system, I heard a while back that MRC was going to introduce an interface with this control system to enable the use of the Decoder Pro software. Is this a false rumor or does anyone have any factual information on it?
I use the LokSound and now, the QSI Revolution (sound decoder on order) interface and CV manager software, this is great stuff, Decoder Pro would round out the package.
I talked to MRC last week and they said that their computer interface is under development and testing but gave no indication as to when it will be available. They will definitely have one but we don’t know when.
I’m using MRC wireless and really miss Decoder Pro. I’ve used it in the past with other systems and it’s hard to be without it. I still use it but have to manually transfer results by programming them into the CVs one at a time. The main problem is speed matching. It is extremely tedious and time consuming with certain decoders. I’m having a terrible time matching an Atlas supplied decoder (no V5 or V6) with a Digitrax. With Decoder Pro it would be much easier.
The thing I’m wondering about is what type of interface MRC will end up with. Their website says it’s wireless but they have never indicated if it will be compatible with Decoder Pro or whether they are developing their own program. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see but I sure hope it comes soon.