Hi!
I am embarrassed to ask this question because I asked it a couple years ago and can't find the answer on the Forum archives (nor the print out of it).
I've got two (actually several but two is a better example) F7 A locos that I want to program as AA "back to back" locos that will probably never be separated. I do not want to consist them, and instead each is id'ed with the same loco number (37).
After programming the numbers, they obviously both go forward when power is applied, rather than one forward and the other backward. I spent the last hour trying to achieve this, as I seem to recall it was rather simple to do.
Please help - and I promise I'll put the answer in my DCC notebook IMMEDIATELY !!!!!
Thanks all!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Normal direction of travel is controlled by CV29. I can't quote the numbers because I use DecoderPro. It is, however, just as easy to assign a consist.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Dave is almost right. If you look at Digitrax's website for the decoder manuals, you will find a chart that covers CV29 and all the options for setting direction of travel and the default speed step.
You have two awansers to your questions here in the Fourms. Both are related to CV 29.
But will require you to read the Digitrax manual= Try this if you don't feel up to the reading.
I do not know just how you want your decoder to be programed, but to reverse the direction, add 1 the the value that is in CV 29 Default is 6- so try making CV 29 7 and see if that is not what you need.
Since both locos will have the same address, when you change CV 29, won't that changed the direction of travel for both? Can you just have one loco on the track and change CV 29 on only that one? When you put the unchanged one back on the track, will they now travel in opposite directions?
Hi, and THANK YOU !
I went in to CV29, "added 1", exited, and of course it reversed direction. Mission accomplished.
That being said, I could not find reference to it in the BLI manual, and while it is alluded to in the Digitrax manual, I sure didn't see it the first time around.
It sure would be nice if there was a list of programming tasks that the "average" operator will want to accomplish, and exactly how to do them written in an easy to understand format. Yes, I know the manuals have (or should have) them, but they are often filled with to many "ifs, ors, & ands, & jargon - making them a bit more complicated than need be. Yes, I am gradually writing my own in my own words, but I wish that wasn't necessary.
I understand a lot of folks are really into the DCC functionality and the customization of same, but there are also a number of us who just want the basic information to do the routine changes. Of course what adds to this, is the casual user doesn't program very much, and in fact may go weeks (or months in my case) between programming sessions.
Anyway, thank you all for your help, it is certainly appreciated!
I suspect several answers referred to Digitrax decoders, since your original post seems to suggest you were using a Digitrax decoder. If you'd mentioned it was a BLI engine you might have gotten a more specific response.
Anyway, adding "1" to CV29 is pretty universal across different brands of decoders for reversing direction.
EVERY DCC user should print copies of this file and keep it near your system, whether you use Decoder Pro or not --
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/166535/1830238.aspx
cacole EVERY DCC user should print copies of this file and keep it near your system, whether you use Decoder Pro or not -- http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/166535/1830238.aspx
Done. Thank you.
ANd keep a link here, it calculates CV29 for you:
http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm
If you have Windows Vista or 7 there's a desktop gadget out there that also has it in.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
wjstix I suspect several answers referred to Digitrax decoders, since your original post seems to suggest you were using a Digitrax decoder. If you'd mentioned it was a BLI engine you might have gotten a more specific response. Anyway, adding "1" to CV29 is pretty universal across different brands of decoders for reversing direction.
CV29 is an NMRA standard, They ALL work the same way, brand unimportant.
Except MTH, but they aren;t really DCC decoders.
sschnabl Since both locos will have the same address, when you change CV 29, won't that changed the direction of travel for both? Can you just have one loco on the track and change CV 29 on only that one? When you put the unchanged one back on the track, will they now travel in opposite directions?
Just put one on the track at a time when programming. Good reason for a completely seperate program track - just let one unit hang off the edge if they are drawbar coupled. so it's not on the track at all. Or put a couple of pieces of paper under the one you DON'T want to change.
Here is the Digitrax table for the CV29.
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/cv29-lookup.htm
Rich
Alton Junction