Hi,
I'm really getting into this DCC stuff and getting comfortable with the basics. Today I Mu-ed my first two locos - both BLI Paragon RSD-15s with sound. Ha, I actually understood the manual's directions and got the task done rather easily.
Mu'ed together, both locos have the "loco sounds" functioning. However, when I hit the bell or horn buttons, only the bell/horn works on the lead (top) loco. I ASSUME that this is the way it should be, for in the real world (to the best of my knowledge), only the loco with the crew - typically the lead loco - would work the bell or horn and it would only be for the loco they are riding in........
Is this correct????
Thanks all!
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
That is correct, they are operating as they should.
Once nice thing you can do with a DT400 though, since it has two throttles, is when you run in the opposite direction (so the lead loco is now the trailer), you cna dial up the new 'lead' loco on the second knob and blow the horn from that one - you can't control speed or direction from that knob, you have to use the one that is assigned to the consist, but you can operate the sounds. Even works when the consist is 3 or more locos. Just dial up whichever one you want to control sounds on on the second knob and have at it. You could have an ABA set of F units where only the B unit has a sound decoder, etc.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks again Randy!
I "practiced" with the MU function yesterday and like most everything with DCC (so far anyway), its easy once you know how.
It looks like the locos are all programmed the way I will run them and I can now concentrate on thorough testing of the new layouts lower level staging tracks.
Thank you!
Just for academic interest -
I have a Lenz system. When I create an MU, I can use any individual engine number in the consist to control the speed and direction, as well as the MU number itself. So, when I'm going forward, I punch in the front engine, and when I go backwards I punch in the trailing engine. I've got a few soundless F7As, and one sound-equipped F7B. I run my F7 consists dialed into the B unit so I can ring and toot appropriately.
This month's MR, by the way, has a short article about controlling functions in MU mode.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Just for academic interest - I have a Lenz system. When I create an MU, I can use any individual engine number in the consist to control the speed and direction, as well as the MU number itself. So, when I'm going forward, I punch in the front engine, and when I go backwards I punch in the trailing engine.
I have a Lenz system. When I create an MU, I can use any individual engine number in the consist to control the speed and direction, as well as the MU number itself. So, when I'm going forward, I punch in the front engine, and when I go backwards I punch in the trailing engine.
If I am not mistaking, that feature is unique to Lenz systems. NCE now have what is called double ended consists which achieve the same behaviors using the stack recall function.
MisterBeasley I've got a few soundless F7As, and one sound-equipped F7B. I run my F7 consists dialed into the B unit so I can ring and toot appropriately.
I've got a few soundless F7As, and one sound-equipped F7B. I run my F7 consists dialed into the B unit so I can ring and toot appropriately.
This is also possible with a Digitrax system. It may also be possible with NCE, I will have to test that.
Jack W.
Read the DCC column in the new MR. Though it applies to lights, it should also be applicable to other functions such as bell and horn. The overriding factor is how your system handles consists. Based on your description and the article, you obviously have a Digitrax system. Other systems may require a different action to get the same response.