Two recent threads have mentioned a decoder manufacturer and a "version". I've looked and haven't been able to find any place where there is a cross reference between a "version" and any manufacturer's individual type and/or style decoder.
Is there such a cross reference and I'm just not looking hard enough?
The version number usually refers to the software programmed into a decoder by the manufacturer, and the only way to know what that is is to read the documentation provided with the decoder or go to the manufacturer's web site and download their documentation. You'll usually see something like this:
NCE D13SR Decoder version 3.5Lenz LE102XF-JST Universal DCC Decoder Version 4.5
Or you can read the value in CV 7, which is the software version number.
cacoleNCE D13SR Decoder version 3.5
So what you're saying is that if you know you have an NCE D13SR installed, you can determine what software is programmed into it.
But if you see manufacturer 11 with a version 3.5, you cannot tell that the decoder is an NCE 13SR. Is that correct?
First look at this link:
http://www.nmra.com/standards/DCC/standards_rps/rp922.html#Table1a configuration variables
Look at Table 1a Configuration Variables
Then at this one :
http://www.nmra.com/standards/DCC/standards_rps/Appendix%20A,%20RP%209.2.2%202009.07.31.pdf
This will tell you the Manufacturer name and the decoder version only.
You are right in saying you cannot tell the decoder is an NCE D13SR or a D13SRJ.
Jack W.
maxman cacoleNCE D13SR Decoder version 3.5 So what you're saying is that if you know you have an NCE D13SR installed, you can determine what software is programmed into it. But if you see manufacturer 11 with a version 3.5, you cannot tell that the decoder is an NCE 13SR. Is that correct?
No, that's not right.
Each manufacturer has a unique ID number. NCE is 11, so if you see 11 in CV8 it will always be an NCE decoder. Unless, of course, the decoder allows CV8 to be altered and someone has done so. But according to the NMRA specs, CV8 is supposed to be a read-only CV so in theory that would never happen.
Anyway, here's a list of the manufacturer ID's: http://www.nmra.org/standards/DCC/mfgnumbers.html
Also, something to be aware of concerning the version numbers. A manufacturer may use the same software for several different decoder models, and within the same decoder model they may periodically update the software. So looking at the version number isn't always, or even usually, a reliable way to tell exactly which decoder you have.
For example, the Atlas Four Function Dual Mode, Four Function #345, and VO1000 (Part #500099) decoders all have a Manufacturer ID of 127 and a version number of 46. But they are all different decoders. You can find more info here: http://jmri.org/xml/XSLT/pages/DecoderId.html
HTH, Steve
Well, thanks for all the information, I think. I wasn't interested in the CVs, and I had already looked at the other links which all basically contain the same information (which is that there is a identifier associated with each different manufacturer.
What I wanted to know was whether or not one could associate a version number with any particular decoder produced by a manufacturer. And I think you have all given me the same "No" answer.
Thanks again.