Well let me first say that I’m not giving up on DCC. I definitely can see the advantage over DC. But, I’m not the MMR’er, my kids are. Therefore, going back to DC would be a temporary thing until I can get DCC up and running.
Next, I will try the user groups but that may take some time since summer is my busy time at work. Which is the reason I’m calling on Friday afternoon.
As for the Mom and Pop thing, I do understand. Most of my music gear is made by such shops. And they to go to conventions and such. But, they always let me (and all their customers) know when they will be back.
Now for the wierd stuff:
I have a BLI engine that for some strange reason goes forward when reverse is selected and reverse when forward is selected.
According to the manual, it is suggested that long addresses are used instead of short addresses. This is so short addresses can be used for consists. Well…I can’t enter a long address unless I code a short address. And I can only enter three digit short addresses. 0-99 no matter how I enter them will get accepted.
As for consists, I have the same short address problem and I can only call up the consist with the long address. This of course seems to confuse the system when selecting a loco over the consist.
The system seems to invent loco addresses. When I turn on the system, sometimes the loco addresses last used are ready to run and other times I have addresses I never entered.
I have thought about trying to start over. In otherwords trying to clear out all the stuff I’ve programmed. I think it says how to do it in the manual but either I forgot how to read English or it’s not written very clearly.
For all my BLI engines, I can not get the engine to shutdown. I can double press F9 but nothing happens.
Gumby, you should do a hard reset with the wand or remove the tender cover and pull the thingamajig…can’t recall the correct name…jumper they call it. That is first, and sets you off afresh.
To program in your long address, if that is what you really want to do, you must place the loco on a programming track circuit…probably. Go into Paged mode, and get ahold of your address using the method described in your system’s manual for dialing long addresses. When you exit from programming, you should do an extra step. I have found that this covers any glitches. In Ops Mode, select CV29, and dial in and enter a value of 38. Exit. Then, dial in the new address, and acquire the loco. It should do as you ask.
Your problem with ghost addresses is something that I have no experience with…must be an artifact with your system, but it may have something to do with your stack length (numbers of recallable locos in memory), and the fact that you have been pushing buttons like a madman for a few days now. Maybe both the system and the loco are like deer caught in the headlights…which way to do what? If you have a stack, you should have instructions about clearing that from memory. Another fresh start.
When shutting down the loco using F9, I have found it useful to pause for about 10 seconds in between each double press of the button. Even then, most often I find, on the third set of double presses, the loco will hiss for a minute or more until it finally goes silent. Been there, done that.
I hope that helps, and I sure hope that something works for you.
Sorry, James, but I’ve got to totally disagree with you on your first statement. I’ve found the Power Cab very intuitive to use and operate. I’m not saying that its perfect or there aren’t a few initial bugs that need to be worked out after it’s release. However, what specific kind of problems are these couple of guys you mentioned having? I guess I’m looking for you to elaborate a bit on the “heck of a time getting it up and running” phrase. Thanks. [:)]
I have to agree with Tom on this one. I have owned or now own Lenz, EasyDCC, and NCE, plus I’ve used Digitrax on several home layouts, and I’ve downloaded and read through the manuals on all these systems. I’ve also written up examples of programming consists on all the above systems and the user interface on the NCE system is generally the most user friendly of all the DCC systems.
The NCE wireless system, however, has been a real pain to get working reliably – perhaps that is what you are referring to. Recently NCE released version 2 of their wireless hardware and things are much better now.
But we’re talking the basic starter system – a direct comparison would be an NCE Powercab vs Digitrax Zephyr – neither of which is wireless.
[quote user=“Gumby4”]
Well let me first say that I’m not giving up on DCC. I definitely can see the advantage over DC. But, I’m not the MMR’er, my kids are. Therefore, going back to DC would be a temporary thing until I can get DCC up and running.
Next, I will try the user groups but that may take some time since summer is my busy time at work. Which is the reason I’m calling on Friday afternoon.
As for the Mom and Pop thing, I do understand. Most of my music gear is made by such shops. And they to go to conventions and such. But, they always let me (and all their customers) know when they will be back.
Now for the wierd stuff:
I have a BLI engine that for some strange reason goes forward when reverse is selected and reverse when forward is selected.
According to the manual, it is suggested that long addresses are used instead of short addresses. This is so short addresses can be used for consists. Well…I can’t enter a long address unless I code a short address. And I can only enter three digit short addresses. 0-99 no matter how I enter them will get accepted.
As for consists, I have the same short address problem and I can only call up the consist with the long address. This of course seems to confuse the system when selecting a loco over the consist.
The system seems to invent loco addresses. When I turn on the system, sometimes the loco addresses last used are ready to run and other times I have addresses I never entered.
I have thought about trying to start over. In otherwords trying to clear out all the stuff I’ve programmed. I think it says how to do it in the manual but either I forgot how to read English or it’s not written very clearly.
For all my BLI engines, I can not get the engine to shutdown. I can double press F9 but nothing happens.
I have a BLI Mike w/sound and am using NCE Power Pro. I can help you with the long address problem.
In my NCE Power Pro manual on page 41 is the Programming on the Main instructions. I do not know what page this is in for the Power Cab but I am sure there is a section.
On page 42 at the top it states that for locos with sound decoders you must turn off the verbal programming acknowledgement feature of the sound chip in order to program the long address. For QSI chips, set CV62 to 0. You can do this on the main by selecting 2=CV when in OPS mode programming (Programming on the Main). Then use the Programming on the Main 1=ADR option to set the long address. This allows you to set the long or short address individually.
Oddly I set my CV29 to 39 . My layout is ultimately a loop so depending upon whether the locomotive is in front or the back of the layout left to right being forward has a differnet meaning. So I settled on clockwise being forward. So that means in the front of the layout forward is
Hi. I was just doing what the Digitrax manual says to do. With their instructions, the result is my steamers going forward with a right-pointing arrow blinking on my throttle, and vice-versa.
The direction arrows are not meant to indicate which physical direction your trains move on your layout. The one pointing to the front of the loco icon means forward, the one pointing to the rear, reverse. Regardless of the way the loco is facing. FOr a steam loco or a cab unit this is pretty obvious, for a road switcher type this can vary depending onthe practices of the particular railroad you are modeling. For example I’ll use a steam loco (and NOT an SP Cab Forward!). If your layout is a loop and you are standing in front of the whole thing, and point the smokestack to the right, going FORWARD will runt he loco counter-clockwise. And coincidently the arrow will point in the actual direction of movement - until the loco gets on the back half of the loop. If youput the loco on the track with the stack facing left, in FORWARD it will circulate the loop clockwise. The arrow will point to the front of the loco icon but not match the physical direction of travel, until the loco gets on the back half of the loop. Don’t be concerned about the arorw matching the movment - if it points int he forward directiona dn the loco is moving forward, it’s going the right way. Forward is forward is forward - just like for the RC plane guys, right is right is right - even if when flying towards you, giving right rudder makes the plane physically turn left - from the plane’s point of view, it’s still turning right.
On point # 2, even though you have to enter the short address you don’t have to activate it. Then you can go forward and program the long address, and activate it without concern for confusing the consist numbering.
Sorry you’re having trouble. As with some others who’ve posted here, I’ve had have the older PowerHouse Pro system for several years, with no trouble at all. As it was my first DCC system, I can’t say whether I find it easier than others. I did call NCE once, and was quite pleased with their response. Please don’t let this sour your opinion of DCC in general or NCE in particular. But I do agree with the post that you should let their management know about it. I suspect anybody’s first system, whatever it is, takes some getting used to. There’s a fair-size “learning curve” just starting into DCC. The NCE now feels quite comfy to me, and I suspect it will to you soon, also. And to those claiming you picked the “wrong” system, that’s just their personal opinion – you’ll find at least as many who think it’s the “right” system. In reality, most are quite good, and quite reliable. Some like the features of one but hate the way another operates. One other point – who did you buy the system from? If one of the major DCC dealers, call them. I know for a fact that Tony’s provides super support for anything they sell (that’s where I’ve bought a lot of stuff), and hear similar good things about Litchfield Station and some of the others. As with NCE, they’re not major organizations, so sometimes you have to hold or let them call you back, but they absolutely will. And in some situations, they may be actually be better able to help, especially if it’s not clear whether the problem is in the NCE system or the decoder, since Hang in there!
Ok, now for some updates. I didn’t get much of a chance to work on all your suggestions do to some other family issues. But here it what happened today.
Problem 1: Now forward is forward and reverse is reverse. No idea why the change. I think it has something to do with consists but I don’t know yet. There are no arrows on the display. You get FWD and REV. I get the feeling this is not like a DC controller where direction is based on the wiring and engine position.
Problem 2: Still confused
Problem 3: I am really going to have to play with consists on the system. I don’t know if you can use the engines separately once they have been assigned to a consist. Right now I don’t have the time to mess with this so consist are off limits until we can spend an afternoon playing around with them.
Problem 4: Still getting loco numbers that I’ve never entered.
Problem 5: Somehow doing an universal reset maybe in order before I start adding new locos.
Problem 6: I need time to play with this more. I’m getting partial shutdowns but still can’t get the engines to “tuen off”
As for the CV stuff, didn’t have time today. Will try next week. On the road again tomorrow.
Yes, in DCC forward is programed when you do the initial setup on the decoder.
Problem 2: Still confused
On my layout I generally cancel a consist if not in use. This takes away the problem of the system grabing both units when you call one of the locos to use independantly.
Problem # 3,
Its better to not even try.Just cancell the consist comlettely before using the units indipendently.
problem # 4.
I have this problem to. I just dial the loco I want and its behind me the rest of the time, but yes it is a bit anoying.
Problrm #5,
Eliminate all possibilities then you can go forward and not thinl about what you may have done wrong weeks or days ago.
Problem #6,
Sorry, I don’t have any sound yet.Maybe Christmas.
There are so many CV possibilities it could drive you nuts. The best case senario is to have computor programing but powercab does not have the capability yet. You may go a bit nuts breaking them all down but key in on those that are important to you and it will reduce the meny changes everytime there is a problem.
That is exactly right. The command station sends either “fwd” or “rev” instructions to the decoder. It is the decoder in each engine that determines which way to turn the motor.
Also correct. Well, mostly. When an engine is in a consist, it only responds to speed and direction commands sent to the consist address, ignoring any sent to the individual engine address.
But it may respond to other types of commands, such as lights and sounds, sent to the individual engine address (depending on some other settings in CVs 21 and 22 that you’ll get to eventually).
The combination of these facts is how you can have a consist of, say, two diesels, one facing forward and one facing backward, and tell the consist to go forward or backwards.
It sounds to me like you need to spend some time with the manual that came with your system. Take one thing at a time, though: trying to figure out all this stuff can get very involved and confusing. The manual that came with my PowerHousePro system is very complete, well-explained, and usable, so I’d guess the one you have is similar.
But DCC gets complex, so take it in small pieces, and you’ll be fine.
Read the manual…Well I have tried but it’s written in a version of English they did not teach me in school. It starts out understandable then just words with no real meaning to each other.
I would suggest that until you master the art of programming and running a single locomotive proficiently, you should refrain from trying to do advanced features such as multiple loco consists. If you are finding the manual difficult to understand, take the advice of those here that are knowledgeable and call Tony’s to ask them for their help in resolving your issues.
Prior to this past Thursday, I had absolutely no exposure to DCC other than what I’ve read here on this forum. I went to a friend’s house and used his NCE system to program the long address into my new Tower 55 locomotives I just purchased. I glanced at the manual regarding programming on the program track, followed the screens and was able to program both locomotives with their respective road numbers. I was then able to program the two of them into a consist with no trouble. If I can do this, anybody should be able to do so.
I would strongly recommend that you program on the programming track and not the mainline. Some locomotives are just a little fussy about programming on the main.
[soapbox]
Blasting the manufacturer of a DCC system because you can’t instantly run consists, etc is a cheap shot in my opinion and could unduly influence people who have yet to decide on a DCC system to purchase. At the very least, you should alter your thread title to a more appropriate reflection of the issue you are experiencing.
Exactly - repalce the arrows in my description with the FWD and REV text. It’s the decoder that handles the actual direction control. If you’ve connected a decoder backwards usign the 8-pin plug, it will run opposite the directionr eadings. Some locos run the wrong way because the manufacturer builds them to run a certain way but road name X ran them the other way. If the decoder is plugged in backwards just flip the plug, if not you will have to read up on CV29.
23 and 023 are NOT the same address in NCE. 023 is a long address (also known as a 4 digit address - because it’s 4 hexidecimal digits long, obviously not 4 decimal digits). Again, which address is used is controlled by the value in CV29. You do not need to know how to program CV29 to set this up though, the NCE controlelr will walk you through this. If you put in 023, when it prompts for the address type you have to select long. If you put in 23, you need to select short address while going through the program steps. If you cross this up, you will not be able to address the loco on the address you think it is.
[quote]
Problem 3: I am really going to have to play with consists on the system. I don’t know if you can use the engines separately once they have been assigned to a consist. Right now I don’t have the time to mess with this so consist are off limits until we can spend an afternoon playing around with t
In my opinion if a company ( Digitrax, NCE…etc) is willing to make a highly technical product and release that product for sale to the general public and charge the exuberant prices they charge, the company should provide technical service on a daily basis seven days a week. I’m not saying 24/7, but maybe 8-5/7. Sure, they may be a mom and pop outfit, but they have a responsiblity to the customer. If it wasn’t for the customer making the purchase they would out of business. Sure, it’s nice they all went to a picnic and they get off early when it’s slow…etc…but again they have a so called written policy to furnish technical support for my $300-$700 purchase. Some folks here are sympathetic but this is a business and I’m a paying customer. Actually Ill go Digitrax. Much better product.