Here's another noob question about NCE: What must I do to make my radio unit work with my Pro Cab when I change its number? Everything works fine out of the box, I hooked it up and tested it from all the farthest corners of my trainroom. Then I tried to change the Cab# from its factory default [2] to something different, and when I unplugged the cab from the UTP and turned it back on, the display just said "NCE RADIO Ver. 1.5" and it wouldn't respond to any keys I pressed. So I changed the Cab# back to "2" and the radio control started working like normal again.
This wouldn't bother me at all in lone wolf mode, but when I have guest operators over, how will the radio unit recognize their cabs?
[BTW - I tried to post this same question to the Yahoo NCE-DCC list earlier this morning, but since I am a new member there they first have to "approve" my message, it still hasn't showed up there yet as of 1:00pm ]
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Could it be the master throttle must be 2 and subsequent one another number? I don't have a PH-Pro but my Power Cab must be set at 2 when it is used as a command station.
Jack W.
Ken,
What # did you change the cab to? The range of Pro Cab #s for radio cabs, according to the NCE website, is 2 - 17. The FAQ notes to avoid cab address #8 because of problems with that #. If you change the cab # to outside this range then the cab wouldn't be recognized.
Silver Pilot
Also try programming it with the UTP disconnected from the cab
Springfield PA
Silver Pilot... The range of Pro Cab #s for radio cabs, according to the NCE website, is 2 - 17. ...
SP - I believe you nailed it. I changed the number to "1"; the regular PhPro manual [without wireless-related info in it] said I could use any number between 1 and 63. So I figured that when I have op sessions, Cab #1 would have the highest "rank" since it's the layout owner's cab. There wasn't any printed documentation for the radio base unit, so I just plugged it into one of the UTP slots [based on my experience with my former Digitrax wireless system] and it worked. I have to wait until I get home before I can test one of the valid-range address numbers, I'll keep you posted.
Thanks everybody for your responses!
CSX_road_slugI have to wait until I get home before I can test one of the valid-range address numbers, I'll keep you posted.
Yeah, that's what the problem was. So I changed it to '9', and now it's working OK.
CSX_road_slug Silver Pilot... The range of Pro Cab #s for radio cabs, according to the NCE website, is 2 - 17. ... SP - I believe you nailed it. I changed the number to "1"; the regular PhPro manual [without wireless-related info in it] said I could use any number between 1 and 63. So I figured that when I have op sessions, Cab #1 would have the highest "rank" since it's the layout owner's cab. There wasn't any printed documentation for the radio base unit, so I just plugged it into one of the UTP slots [based on my experience with my former Digitrax wireless system] and it worked. I have to wait until I get home before I can test one of the valid-range address numbers, I'll keep you posted. Thanks everybody for your responses!
If I understand correctly this means the upper limit for a NCE radio system is 16-17 Cabs. This may prove insufficient to many Clubs.
jalajoieIf I understand correctly this means the upper limit for a NCE radio system is 16-17 Cabs. This may prove insufficient to many Clubs.
Each NCE ProCab can run up to 6 trains simultaneously, so even with "only" 17 cabs there's no club in the world that would need more.
cacole jalajoie If I understand correctly this means the upper limit for a NCE radio system is 16-17 Cabs. This may prove insufficient to many Clubs. Each NCE ProCab can run up to 6 trains simultaneously, so even with "only" 17 cabs there's no club in the world that would need more.
jalajoie If I understand correctly this means the upper limit for a NCE radio system is 16-17 Cabs. This may prove insufficient to many Clubs.
I guess my wording was misleading, I meant operators each with their own cab. I am an occasional operator on a very large PH Pro powered layout and this particular layout needs 40 operators each with their own cab to operate the layout properly. This may be one of the reasons the club doesn't use radio.
jalajoie I guess my wording was misleading, I meant operators each with their own cab. I am an occasional operator on a very large PH Pro powered layout and this particular layout needs 40 operators each with their own cab to operate the layout properly. This may be one of the reasons the club doesn't use radio.
The radio ProCabs are in the 2 - 17 address range (minus one address I think you're not supposed to use).
However, you can use the smaller radio handsets in address range 19 - 49 (minus one address I think you're not supposed to use).
In my opinion there is probably not a need to have 40 of the larger handsets in use. You only need them for programming anyway. And if your club is like the one I belong to, it's probably best to limit the amount of damage any particular idiot, ummm I mean incompetent, ummmm I mean fine inexperienced gentleman can do.