I have digitrax and nce decoders and am using a powercab on my n-scale layout.
The nce was the only decoder to come with instructions on how to program the mars effect, although they were somewhat vague.
The digitrax offers the ability but I do not see instructions there.
Sure would be nice to get them to work. I did not see the instructions online. Maybe I am missing it.
A thread on how to do this sure would be nice. I am sure many would benefit.
Thanks in advance to those who have the time and ability.
Have you looked on Digitrax’s site for the decoder manual? It is located in the “Manuals and Instructions” selection and then there is a section for pdf manuals. Setting up FX3 effects will be in there somewhere. The function (light) you want to use will dictate the CV. I don’t remember the CV ranges off the top of my head, but I they have a two digit setting. The first determines how the effect behaves related to direction of the locomotive, the second is the effect, itself (Mars, rotary beacon, etc.)
OK, one of the less useless pieces of information I have on this here laptop is the Digitrax decoder manual. If you are trying to set the forward headlight effect, it is CV49, the read headlight effect, it is CV50, function 1 (green wire) is CV51.
Set the first digit of the CV as follows:
Forward direction, 0
Reverse direction, 1
Non directional, 2
There are more, but that will probably do.
Then the second digit sets the Mars effect, which is 2.
So, if you want to set the forward headlight to be a Mars light and on when the loco is moving forward, CV49 gets set to 02. If you wanted it on all the time, the value is 22. The rear headlight as a Mars when the loco is going in reverse would be CV50 to value 12. Nondirectional would be 22.
The link to the manual is http://www.digitrax.com/pdfdocs.php then select the Decoder Manual under the Mobile Decoder section.