Hi
One more time before I buy the NCE USB adapter (tight budget). Just so I understand, Will Decoder Pro help me to determine the values to put in the CVs or does it just keep track of those values that you work out on your own? I use a separate three foot long programing track for setting CVs with my NCE Power Cab.
Thanks
Lee
The best answer is: Download JMRI and try it out.
That is the best way to see the power of Decoder Pro. You can try it in simulation mode before you buy any hardware.
DecoderPro will be able to both read and write CV values to your decoders. It will keep the latest values stored in a database. For most decoders, it will calculate what CV values are used for various settings based on you selecting various checkboxes and so forth - yo don't need to figure out that 108 goes in CV58 to make the left ditch light for flashign ditch lights. You just select that you have the left ditch light connected to the green wire and it calculates what CV value to use in what CV. Same with speed curves, you can 'draw' the curve using sliders (like an equalizer) and it will set the speed table values based on your curve. For CV29, you check off if you want DC operation, if your loco runs in reverse, etc, and DecoderPro calculates the value of CV29 for you.
Previous post is spot on - go download DecoderPro, and when it prompts for a layout conenction pick one of the 'simulation' modes and you can play around and test it out all you want. You can even use this to calculate CV values that you can then program in manually with the PowerCab. The only thing you can;t do in simulation mode is read the CV values from an existing decoder, it also cannot determine the decoder type automatically, since in simulation mode it's not actually connected to your layout.
--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 Guys
I did'nt know you could do a simulation without hooking up to the controler. Now I have to get a monitor for my old computor or talk my grandkids out of one of their old lap tops.
yankee flyer Will Decoder Pro help me to determine the values to put in the CVs Lee
Will Decoder Pro help me to determine the values to put in the CVs
Lee, I don't think anyone answered your question. The answer is no.
Decoder Pro is great for setting CVs, changing function key assignments with the simple check of a box, and great as a backup of the optimum CV setting you work out for your loco. If the decoder gets messed up or stops responding properly, you can simply write back into it the last best complete set of CVs that you liked.
But it is not a programme to tell you that any particular decoder should have any particular value for any of its CVs (in fact you can enter a value that is out of the range of a particular CV and Decoder Pro won't be able to alert you). You do have to work out these yourself. But Decoder Pro makes it especially easy to do this by rapidly allowing changes with a mere check of a box or changing a value with a slider or entered number while OPS mode for example.
Lee,
You may have seen this already. It is video of a clinic given at the 2008 NMRA convention in Anaheim. Decoder pro project founder Bob Jacobsen demonstrates some of the more advanced things you can do with decoder pro. There is an introduction to the basics too. Hope you find it useful.
Advanced Decoder Pro
Introduction to Decoder Pro
Cisco Kid yankee flyer Will Decoder Pro help me to determine the values to put in the CVs Lee Lee, I don't think anyone answered your question. The answer is no. Decoder Pro is great for setting CVs, changing function key assignments with the simple check of a box, and great as a backup of the optimum CV setting you work out for your loco. If the decoder gets messed up or stops responding properly, you can simply write back into it the last best complete set of CVs that you liked. But it is not a programme to tell you that any particular decoder should have any particular value for any of its CVs (in fact you can enter a value that is out of the range of a particular CV and Decoder Pro won't be able to alert you). You do have to work out these yourself. But Decoder Pro makes it especially easy to do this by rapidly allowing changes with a mere check of a box or changing a value with a slider or entered number while OPS mode for example.
Additionally, what it will do is take some of the complexity out of programming CV values by putting them into English and doing the Hex/Decimal conversions for you. This can be especially helpful with bit mapped registers like CV29 and others. You select the option and it does the conversion. Also once you get templates for existing decoders, you can copy them to new locomotives and just change the address. This makes it extremely easy to clone decoder settings.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
First, my set up;
NCE Powercab, with a SB3 cammand station expeansion, and 3 additional throtlles. I also have the NCE USB and a program oval for programing and speed matching seperate from the layout.
Decoder pro will not make the decisions for you but will make programing a sinch. The latest doenload from them allows you to simply wave your mouse over a value in the screen and it will give a small explanation of what that value can do for you, and this uasually includes ranges of acceptable values. Some of the verbage is a bit out of my scope as I adhere to the KISS method but it is so nice to play with the speed curves and set these value with the click of the mouse.
The main thing to remember with Decoder Pro is that programers designed it and it leans towards thier understanding. They are working on making it more user friendly for people like me who need some explanation before changing values.
I love it and use it for speed matching and lighting effects.
John
Very helpful, I believe I have a better handle on what Decoder Pro can do.