Just wondering what other DCC users to to get around 4 digit addresses, i have been asigning the loco number but now have found several locos have got the Same number ie EL57 is listed as 57 and NR57 is also listed as 57 , if i give one 057 how do i remember which one it is? does anyone have a coding system that i could use to prevent issues like this? also some of my locos have got 5 digit numbers like 48125 if i drop off the first digit it then clashes with 81 class locos 8125????
The best answer is paint and decals. Renumber one of the engines. If decals are a problem, just paint over one digit and turn 57 into 7.
I have 4 engines with the number 2378. One is a Proto 2K GP9, and the others are old Athearn F7s. I use 2376, 2377 and 2379 for the F7s, and just try to remember which is which. When in doubt, I dial up the engine and flash its headlights. Some day, they'll all get proper numbers.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
DCC is limited to 9999 - that is the max. No 5 digit addresses at this time. Also, duplicate addresses will run both locomotives at the same time. Either take one locomotive off the layout of park it on a track you can isolate. At our club we have one guy with CGW 104 and I have MILW 104 - we just cannot run them at the same time!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Another option would be if you run MU just assign it the same number of a lead unit and make it a permanent MU
Eric97123 Another option would be if you run MU just assign it the same number of a lead unit and make it a permanent MU
This is what I have done with the two engines that have the same number. They always run together.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
The joy of the 4 digit address and how it does not really work very well for modellers from other nations that don't have all 4 digit road numbers!
I have several British locos and many of these have 5 digits. I have somewhat standardized on using the last 4 digits, and so far have not had a clash. With the road numbers that have letters, well your guess is as good as mine for a solution. It just has to be something you can remember easily. For an off the wall suggestion how about 3757 for the EL57 since the 3 and the 7 if turned upside down would look like EL If you are in Oz as I suspect, that would make logical sense as well
PS I am a Brit by birth so feel free to respond with Pommy Bstd jokes!!
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
This may be too complicated but I would try 3 for E and 5 for L as that is what the phone keypad has and is therefore pretty well accepted practice.
Richard
I have an N scale Shay with the road number B. Its address is 2000. 2 for the second letter of the alphabet and 3 zeros to fill out the other three places.
Tonka.
I usually write the address on a piece of tape and stick it on the bottom of the loco out of site. For the 3 digit address like 123 I usually make one 0123 and the other 1230. What is really bad is having 3 as an address. One of the club members has a little switch engine with the cab #3. Someone is always steeling it and running it into something on him. He has tried 30, 300, 3000, and 0003 as an address but the Lenz system always sees it as 3 or someone has the other numbers used.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!