Hi SP,
Yes, of course the MTH engines can be set for 4 digits. You need to program CV29 and enter a value of 34 (2 for 128 throttle steps + 32 for 4 digit adressing). Then you can program the adress. The first two digits get programed into CV 17 and the last two into CV 18. Remember, ALL programming of MTH engines must be done on the mailnine. If the DCC system you're using won't allow programming the adress CV's on the mainline you can enter the adress into CV's 50 and 51.
Just a note (applies to pretty much any decoder, not just MTH), if you're programming on the main, enter the values for CV17 and CV18 first, THEN CV29, otherwise you're going to lose the loco into limboland as changing CV29 will make the 4-digit address active and..oh wait, I didn't put in the 4 digit address yet... This will require a trip to the program track to fix unless you previously had a 4-digit address set and can remember what it was. On the program track, the order doesn't matter. Most systems have an automated way of settign 4 digit addresses where you dial in the desired address and it sets CV17,18, and 29 all in one step. Usually this works, some decoders have trouble with it at times.
Do MTH decoders work differently? In NMRA DCC CV17 and CV18 aren't just the first two and last two digits of the 4-digit address. ie, CV17 - 21 and CV18 = 24 is NOT address 2124 in NMRA DCC.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
That's a good point Randy. Fortunately, MTH puts in a 4 digit adress of 0003 at the factory (00 in CV 17, 03 in CV 18). Of course, you have to remember that , especially if you've already changed the 2 digit address. I agree, changing CV's 17 and 18 first would be better. I should have written it that way in my prior post.
No, the MTH decoders aren't any different from NMRA spec. I forget about the archane nature of programming CV's 17 and 18 because I'm spoiled by my NCE system which does the translation automatically. Thanks for the correction.
Thanks guys I will try it as soon as I can.
Zane