Read out a decoder with NCE Power Cab DCC Starter Set

Yesterday I tried out my NCE Power Cab (bought years ago but never used) on a test bench with an Athearn sound loco.

How can I read out a decoder to see the CVs setting. (I looked up in the NCE manual but found no instructions on how to read out a decoder {maybe I over looked})

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I dont believe the whole decoder can be read out at once. However, you can look at any given CV’s value by pressing the prog/esc button until the screen says something like use prog track ( it will use your main if you dont have one hooked up), then hit enter. Then, select “CV” then type in the CV you want to read and hit enter, it will read out the current setting, and you can change it in the same place. Just make sure you only have one loco on the track when you do it, or it wont work as it will try to read both and will not be able to read anything. Hope this is clear enough to help!

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As mentioned, you can read/write individual CVs with your Power Cab. For conveniently viewing all the CVs and their values for a given decoder, JMRI Decoder Pro is the way to go.

Tom

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Thank you for the information I will try it and let it know the outcome.

It looked for me pretty complicated tou use the NCE, but I have a question is NCE more complicated than MRC?

No, the Power Cab is not complicated. In fact, it’s very intuitive to use. Like anything you haven’t used before, you just need to spend time with it and running trains.

When you get more familiar with what buttons do what, then try your hand reading CVs. Getting the manual for the sound decoder in your Athearn locomotive will also help you see what CVs are related to what sound/functions.

And, if you get stuck, come back here with your questions. Someone is bound to have an answer for you.

Tom

100% JMRI Decoder Pro makes it FAR FAR FAR easier to deal with decoder CV configuration.