First of all, I am a total beginner with DCC. I have a Digitrax Super Chief and I am working on an N scale layout (which is also new for me). I have finished laying track for the end of a dog bone, so the track I have laid so far ends up right beside where it starts. I have an engine that I bought at a train show and it came with a decoder installed. At the train show I had them try it on a test track with DCC and it ran fine. I wired what I have so far and I gave it a try. After setting up, programming, etc., I was able to run the engine from one end of the dog bone to the other, reverse it, and run it back. Then I couldn't get it to go. I figured I must have pushed a wrong button. A few days later I tried it again and it wouldn't go. A few days later I tried it again, and it went one way but wouldn't reverse. By that time I was a little more comfortable with watching the throttle at key times, and I noticed it flashed the word "alarm" for about one second. I haven't been able to get it to go since. I put a nickel on the track and the command station did its beeps and flashes, and when I took the nickel off it went back to normal. Should I get a Digitrax decoder for the engine? Should I get another engine (obviously I will some day anyway). Am I missing something on the throttle? Any thoughts??
Most of the locos I bought decoder equiped worked when I started using them and continued until I replaced them with Digitrax decoders. Most of the OE decoders did not support some CV's that I wanted to program. TCS is another company with good decoders.
I thought I was experiencing Deja vu. It seems that you keep posting the same questions over and over.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I'm beginning to think a new decoder is the answer. I'm more and more stumped every day. Thanks for the help.
Well, yes. I was using a computer that kept telling me the website had a problem, so I kept trying over and over. Really though, it was posting them. I might have this message out there 5 or 6 times. It appears I'm no better at computers than I am at DCC!! I'm not giving up on either one, though.
It definitely does NOT need a new decoder, since you managed to get into the fast clock settings by inadvertant gefingerpoken, you probably have also status edited the address to use something other than standard DCC 128 speed steps, which is the default for Digitrax command stations. If you do not see the screen with numbers under the left and right knob that go up and down as you turn the knob you are just not in the normal function mode to run trains, but in some other mode, like program or accessory operation. If the dot int he upper right is not lit, you simply don;t have the power turned on to the track. All this an more is explained in the manual. I would recommend starting back at the beginning and re-reading the quick start portion which tells you exactly which buttons to press to select a loco and make it move.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Is it an Atlas N Scale Decoder equipped engine? They are notorious for losing contact between the motor and the decoder. If you have control of the lights e.g. can turn them on and off with your throttle then the problem most likely is the contacts.
Another thing to check is if power is actually on to the track. You could have put the system into suspend. Look for the little black dot on your throttle. Press the F11 and F12 buttons. Look between the 11 and 12 that come up on the display. There should be a black dot there and it should be on steady. If it's off or blinking press the Power and Y/+ buttons until it comes on steady.
Martin Myers