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Need a tip on Consists with diff. decoders.

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 160 posts
Need a tip on Consists with diff. decoders.
Posted by Gerome on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:10 AM

How difficult is it to get the decoders from two different manufacturers to run smoothly together? I hoped to use a Soundtraxx LC and a NCE D13SR together in a consist

Is is just a case of observation and trial and error with the CVs for acceleration and deceleration, V start etc.?

Many decoder instructions mention having the loco just begin crawling at Speed Step 1.  I use a Digitrax Zephyr.  Is Speed Step 1 the Position 1 throttle setting on any given controller, or is it someting more sophisticated?  I suppose if I get the various decoders just starting at the same setting, accelerating and decelerating at the same rate I am getting close to my answer?

Would be grateful for any tips, links to advice etc.

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Portland, OR
  • 3,119 posts
Posted by jfugate on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:13 AM

Yep, trial and error.

But with DecoderPro, it's very easy to speed match locos, even when using different decoders.

Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Kansas
  • 808 posts
Posted by jamnest on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:38 AM

Sign - Ditto [#ditto]

I have a Digitrax DCC system, but use a mix of NEC and Digitrax decoders.  Sometimes you need to speed match locomotives with the same decoder if you are going to run them in a consist.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 160 posts
Posted by Gerome on Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:16 AM
 davidmbedard wrote:

1.  Purchase an electronic system that measure the scale speed of the locomotive.  There are a few available.

2.  Use a throttle that allows you to read specific speed steps or %age of throttle.

David B

Thank you for the specific info, David.

A couple of questions: 

How expensive are these electronic systems in Point 1 above?

I take it that a Digitrax Zephyr is not sophisticated enough to complete Point 2 above as there is no way of reckoning percentage of speed with the simple throttle pointer?

(anyway, my Zephyr just packed it in/went haywire.  I'll see how they do fixing it under warranty.  I may have to switch to another throttle if I am not satisfied.)

 

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