I am up and running with a new Digitrax Super Chief system, thanks to all of your help and guidance over the past few weeks. I am testing the system on one loco, that is an Atlas with a QSI Quantum decoder. I want to program the default loco address to the loco's number, in this case 9167. I am following the instructions in the Digitrax manual on page 91 and 92. after I hit enter in step 8...I hear the loco read back to me the loco number. I hit exit as in step 10, but the loco seems to stay as address 03. What am I missing? so far the DCC is really cool :)
Chuck
http://www.chuckcondron.com/CCLayout/index.html
Program a value of 34 into CV 29 as a separate step. This tells the decoder that you want to use the long address instead of 3. Most DCC systems do this by asking if you want to "configure" your decoder after changing something, but maybe you inadvertently skipped over this step by exiting from programming mode too soon.
this worked great! I take it I need to do that CV29 for each loco correct? same steps for each loco? I do appreciate your fast reply :)
I am up and running on all 3 of my locos with their road numbers, I am in DCC Heaven, thank you all!! now I need more locomotives! No one told me how addicting this would be lol.
VulcanCCIT this worked great! I take it I need to do that CV29 for each loco correct? same steps for each loco? I do appreciate your fast reply :)
Actually, no. Only if your decoder type is being given what the manufacturer specifies is a "long" or an "extended" address for that decoder.
For the QSI brand, any address using a number higher than "127" is considered to be an extended address. In that case, you would alter the setting in CV29, as you have found. But, to your question above, no, not all decoders and not all addresses. I don't know which they are, but some decoders use another number as the upper limit for their extended address/short address boundary. However, all NMRA spec compliant decoders do require you to configure CV29 if the number you assign is an extended address.
There is more: you have set all your CV29's to a value of 34 and are happily running your trains. Always a good thing! Yet, you could have assigned a value of 38 and still be having the same amount of fun. Why is this so? The value of 34 locks your decoder into 28/128 speed steps in throttle response with a capability of using strictly DCC current to the rails...not DC. The other value, 38, allows the decoder to use its "dual mode" capability of sensing which type of power it is getting and to conform to that type of power. So, a value of 38 allows you to take your engine to a club that is still operating on DC and be able to run your engine.
-Crandell
Yes be aware that CV29 does more than allow for extended addresses, it also controls a number of other things like direction of travel, speed steps, etc. so be sure to check the instructions that came with the engine or decoder to see what number to enter there.
VulcanCCIT...I hear the loco read back to me the loco number...
Turning off verbal response doesn't fix it - the QSI decoder still takes the time when it would respond before it will accept the programming of CV29, and the timeout on the Digitrax throttle is rather short. If you don't hit Y when it prompts for Ad4on? it will timeout and you'll have to start all over again. Best bet is to just manually set CV29. In fact if starting from a default address of 3, you can use one of the many online CV17/18 calculators to just program all three CVs manually in Ops Mode and it will always work. Most of the 17/18 caulculators also have CV29 calculators - so you cna check off the options you want and it will also give you the value to program in CV29.
Here's one: http://www.2fs.org/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
that is a cool website, thank you Randy! Thank you all, I am up and running...all loco's programmed and working. Now I need to get used to DCC as far as all of the cool things I can do now. I think it is awesome how I can have one train going one way and another going the other way on the same track :) I appreciate all of your help and this forum!
VulcanCCIT that is a cool website, thank you Randy! Thank you all, I am up and running...all loco's programmed and working. Now I need to get used to DCC as far as all of the cool things I can do now. I think it is awesome how I can have one train going one way and another going the other way on the same track :) I appreciate all of your help and this forum!
Just beware of the cornfield meet (head on collision). DCC is fun, until you crash your favorite loco trying to do too many things at once.
selector VulcanCCIT this worked great! I take it I need to do that CV29 for each loco correct? same steps for each loco? I do appreciate your fast reply :) Actually, no. Only if your decoder type is being given what the manufacturer specifies is a "long" or an "extended" address for that decoder. For the QSI brand, any address using a number higher than "127" is considered to be an extended address. In that case, you would alter the setting in CV29, as you have found. But, to your question above, no, not all decoders and not all addresses. I don't know which they are, but some decoders use another number as the upper limit for their extended address/short address boundary. However, all NMRA spec compliant decoders do require you to configure CV29 if the number you assign is an extended address. There is more: you have set all your CV29's to a value of 34 and are happily running your trains. Always a good thing! Yet, you could have assigned a value of 38 and still be having the same amount of fun. Why is this so? The value of 34 locks your decoder into 28/128 speed steps in throttle response with a capability of using strictly DCC current to the rails...not DC. The other value, 38, allows the decoder to use its "dual mode" capability of sensing which type of power it is getting and to conform to that type of power. So, a value of 38 allows you to take your engine to a club that is still operating on DC and be able to run your engine. -Crandell
Just remember with DC compatability enabled, you run the risk of the occassional run away locomotive. That is why many of us recommend 34 or 35.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
I did read that I can do 38...I have them at 34 for now. I will keep 38 in my memory for safe keeping :) Thank you Jeff!