Has anyone ever installed a DSX decoder into a Dummy loco? I have a Athearn SD 40 set. The engine already has a NCE decoder installed.
Will JMRI Decoder pro work with a NCE PROCAB??? I know the USB cable is not avaiable yet… And JMRI web site doesn’t mention supporting it yet. Will it?
As long as you have a source of power pickups (many dummy locos use the same trucks as the same powered model, so the pickup surfaces are there, just need to solder wires to the proper spots), a dummy is a GREAT place to put a sound decoder - because you can use a much larger speaker and get better sound.
One of my many projects is a DSD100LC into a Stewart F7 B dummy. Stewart is one of those that uses identical trucks - the only thing missing on the B unit are the gears, although the axles have their gears on them. I solderd some wires to the pickup points, same place the wires are soldered in the powered unit, and I have my power source.
–Randy
I agree with Randy completely. In fact, most of the locos on my HO Siskiyou Line with sound have it installed in dummy units.
And yes, when the NCE Procab releases its USB computer interface you should be able to use DecoderPro with it. DecoderPro is all I use these days to do decoder programming it makes things so darn easy. I especially like the way I can open the decoder windows for two different locos on the main and do speed matching using ops mode programming. Makes speed matching locos a piece of cake!
And if there is is something slightly different about the PowerCab’s implementation of NCE’s protocol, you can bet JMRI will be modified to work with it as quickly as possible.
–Randy
Mr. Fugate this was actually started because on your volume three video! Awsome video!
If I remember correctly you installed a different type of decoder into your dummy unit in the video. But you mnetioned the DSX. I suspect it’s a little different with a DSX decoder???
Excited about JMRI I can’t believe more people are talking about it here. For me it seems like a good direction for the hobby to go. Gui’s interfaces make it so easy to program a loco. And the information you show in the video about speed matching is excellent!
Hi I am in the UK what is JMRI decoder have not heard of it before please …
Brian
JMRI answer:
DecoderPro works fine with NCE. I utilized the serial hookup between the master NCE station and my PC, and have the workstation set up next to my programming track, right off the staging yard. I can pull engines onto the program track, pull the data off the decoder, modify it and store it, or simply download a similar engine’s saved configuration into the new one. Very easy!
The only thing you need to watch out for is the QSI sound system installed in BLI and other brands sometimes doesn’t respond to the NCE programming protocol. This manifests itself as a message in DecoderPro stating that it couldn’t find a decoder. This is a voltage issue due to the QSI system requiring more voltage to program than the NCE (and other) programming outputs put out, and if you have the problem you will need to install a booster inline with the programming track feeds. Soundtraxx and Tony’s both make good ones, and there are others out there.
Brian, here is the JMRI website. Good stuff.
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/
Funny you should ask. I just posted this in another thread. The dummy picks up power on its own, but is also bused to the units on either side of it (see the micro-plugs on either end). So when in an ABBA set it has 32 wheel pick up.
Ahh - I am doing this too. Have two such setups already, more in work. I use Digitrax 163-series decoders in the powered unit and a DSX w/speaker in the dummy. I find the MRC rectangular enclosed speaker works very well with the DSX and saves a lot of work. I simply mount it facing down about where the motor goes in an Athearn geep or SD dummy - removing a small amount of metal with moto-tool for exact fit. No extra holes in fuel tank or elsewhere. I do have to remove gears from a set of powered trucks, as Athearn dummy units typically have plastic wheels. All this works great BUT:
Here is my showstopper problem so far: I want reverse-sensing headlights and ditch lights on both units. Getting extra power pickup is also desirable, as mentioned by jfugate. (I have a local friend who visited Jim’s layout and told me the extra power pickup works great; this should cut down on DSX ‘restarts’ due to interrupted power!)
Anyway, Montana Rail Link uses ditch lites flashing with the horn at crossings, with ditch lights steady-on at all other times. I have a bunch of MRL geeps and SD units and am modeling the Bozeman Pass area (where I live - Bozeman). The digitrax 163’s have this feature, including the extra set for reverse ditch lites. (The DSX of course has no light outputs.) The ‘reverse’ lights will be on the dummy (2nd or last) unit, not where the digitrax decoder is located. So I need more than the 2-4 wires between units, as shown on Jim Fugate’s setup. In fact, with the reverse headlight, two reverse ditch lights, common (+), and extra power pickup, I need six (!) wires between units. This seems to be a bit impractical.
I ordered some Digitrax TF4’s (4-function decoders), and was going to put one of these into the dummy unit for its light functions. However, they do not have ‘reverse’ trigerring of functions, and do not have a dedicated ditch light ‘mode’ at all. (Although one can make the yellow & white outputs function as alternating strobes - but very awkward and req
I have done the dummy route for several fellow club members in addition to my own. I also recomend the multi unit pick-up as being the most reliable. As to the ditch lights you mention, I use the old style Soundtraxx DSD motor control sound decoders now available for around $40 or less. These have both sound and light outputs. To program without a motor substitute a 150 ohm / 1 watt resistor for the motor. This can be installed permanently. Now program the unit for the light functions you want.on the dummy unit. If you use the same address as you use for the powered unit you don’t have to worry, just program each seperately on the programming track. If you use different addresses for each unit the sound unit MUST be consisted as the Lead Locomotive, regardless of its position in the string, or the bell and horn will not work.
Now you only need the two “track” wires between units.
Thanks SimonJeff Info appreciated, Brian
Thanks to DBMitchell for restance value he used successfully.
My solution is going to be: use some of the cheaper extra decoders
I puchased when ‘new’ in DCC (several months back). For example
I have some Lenz LE1014’s left around - they are low current and
were relatively cheap. They do have complete ditch lite functionality.
The only Soundtraxx DSD decoders I’ve been able to find (090LC
and 100LC) are indeed going for lower prices now but do not have
any ditch light capability whatsoever - just headlight & backup. The
DSD 150’s are out of production - don’t know what light capabilities
they had when available.
So I will have three decoders: 1) Digitrax 163 series (no more -143
series out there) in the lead unit. Controls motor, fwd lights.
2) DSX EMD 2nd gen in dummy unit for sound only; 3) also in
dummy, Lenz 1014 or equiv lo-current lo-cost decoder with load
on motor leads (orange & grey). This decoder will run the headlight
and ditch lights on dummy and will have NDOT set to 1.
Best I can come up with. I use the ‘Lyle Dowel’ method to program
these separate decoders in operations mode. Di Voss - an NMRA
friend in Seattle - has published a data sheet on ways to program
multiple decoders in one loco.
Thanks for all the help.
jrchaff / Bozeman, MT
jrchaff
Take another look at the Soundtraxx DSD100LC. They do have ditch light capability. Pages 26 & 27 of the Soundtraxx LC decoder manual explains how to set it up.
I too use a small load, usually a 100-125 ma light bulb across the motor leads on DSD100LC decoders installed in dummies. I have never had a problem with programing one of the LC decoders with my Zephyr. Or any other decoder, including BLIs, except one Soundtraxx DSX decoder that has been giving me fits.
I have several F& AB sets and a PA-B-A set where the track leads are interconnected with Miniatronics 2-conductor micro plugs. Stutter is not a problem. I am going to perform the same operation on my E8A/E7B set and another NYC F7 AB set soon. Just have to lay hands on the micro plugs.
In any case, whatever you use for motor load or interconnecting the locos, good luck.
I don’t understand. What is the purpose of making a fake motor? I recall pre-programming many decoders and don’t ever recall a problem without a motor connected. Is this something unique to Soundtraxx?
Texas:
Yes, it can make a difference. I’ve had Soundtraxx decoders reject programming commands unless they had a motor load on them. Most decoders chirp the motor slightly to indicate a successful command execution, and having the load on the motor leads helps make that “chirp” burn a little current and fools the command station into thinking all is well with the decoder.
The load is easy to add and it’s cheap insurance that the decoder will respond to programming commands properly.