Any suggestions for a book/publication regarding descriptions (for dummies) and suggested values for CV's? I've looked online and am astounded by how confusing the process is. I just want a reference book in plain English to allow this brain dead hobbyist to figure out which CV's do what, their ranges and suggested initial values.
mkepler954 Any suggestions for a book/publication regarding descriptions (for dummies) and suggested values for CV's? I've looked online and am astounded by how confusing the process is. I just want a reference book in plain English to allow this brain dead hobbyist to figure out which CV's do what, their ranges and suggested initial values.
Problem is, there are two kinds of CVs. Those mandated by the NMRA standard, and those used by the manufacturer to control additional features and fine tune operation.
No book could cover all of them, and it would be obsolete in no time.
Most decoders will set all the CVs to their defaults when you do a reset. Some decoders come with detailed instructions, some are pretty sparse. Soundtraxx has large, detailed manuals available online for their Tsunamis, but that isn't true for everyone.
A basic set of NMRA CV functions and typical values can be seen here.
Agree with both Max's posts. I will add that other than a lot a reading, the best thing to do is just experiment. Try out different settings, and when it is total messed up, do a reset if you have to. Just like everything in life, it will start to sink in.
And sometimes you just have take a break and comeback later!
A couple of links that may help http://www.mrdccu.com/ and https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home
Both of these sites have a lot of info.
QSI makes it even more difficult with INDEXED CVs. MTH is DCS so not all CVs are available as if DCC. Bottom line, read the manuals for what you have, I wouldn't get to know about all of them since I don't own all of them. I have developed a 3 ring binder with info on tuning sound and movement, etc for each type we have.
But, the best thing we've done to deal with the various mfgs CVs is to use JMRI. It has tabbed sheets with boxes you check/uncheck or features where you can plug in various values to come away with a loco configured as you prefer in common english. It is a computer program that makes everything a LOT easier and it's free. You just need an old computer with an interface(we use locobuffer) to your DCC system.
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/
Richard
There are no shortcuts. Dealing with DCC means getting into manuals, finding out what potential/capabilities your decoder has, and then availing oneself of those capabilities...the hard way. Almost none of us reading does more than adjust master volume, adjust individual volumes to taste, set inertia and momentum, and then do the addressing and consisting as required. With an hour of experimentation, you can tune three or four decoders in all those CV's.
As suggested earlier, play around. Decide you are going to learn what CV3 does, the CV that makes your locomotive start more slowly and work its way up to speed. The realism you get as a result is well worth the 10 minutes it will take you to learn how to acquire that CV, and then to enter six or seven values into it, while subsequently seeing how each value affects the loco's acceleration. All of my locos get lots of inertia programmed into CV3 because I like my trains to pull away from a dead stop realistically. If nothing else, it extends the lenght/time of your main loop because of that slow acceleration. Ditto for CV4, the one for momentum. When you shut down all speed info on your throttle, a passenger train running at limited speed should take a minute or more to slow to a stop, and mine do. It will travel about 15-20 feet in that time. Sound decoders such as the Paragon 2 and the newer QSI's will make the brakes sound at some point, adding reaslism. Braking trains are nothing if noiseless.
Almost none of us can throw out a fishing line from our bedroom window and hook breakfast that way. We have to get stuff, get on our boots, hike out, apply techniques, and actually FISH!! It takes effort and time. But also experience. That's how you get to know decoders, too.
Crandell
Train ModelerBut, the best thing we've done to deal with the various mfgs CVs is to use JMRI. It has tabbed sheets with boxes you check/uncheck or features where you can plug in various values to come away with a loco configured as you prefer in common english. It is a computer program that makes everything a LOT easier and it's free. You just need an old computer with an interface(we use locobuffer) to your DCC system. http://jmri.sourceforge.net/ Richard
Not just English! I counted 156 different language selections in the Preferences drop-down.
Seriously, a big round of applause to the JMRI developers for making a conscious effort to include an internationalization ability in JMRI, and to those folks who have taken the time to produce and include the translations!
To stay on topic, I agree with Richard's assessment that JMRI makes dealing with CV's easy.
And you don't really even need an actual connection to your DCC system (although having that connection makes it a LOT easier!)
Just run JMRI with one of the "simulated" connections, bring up your decoder, select the options you want, go to the "CV" tab, check the values for the CV's that JMRI has flagged, and manually program them using your DCC system.
these, http://www.nmra.org/standards/DCC/standards_rps/rp922.html, are at least the basic ones described by the standard. Near the top is a summary with default values, and down further are descriptions
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Stevert Train ModelerBut, the best thing we've done to deal with the various mfgs CVs is to use JMRI. It has tabbed sheets with boxes you check/uncheck or features where you can plug in various values to come away with a loco configured as you prefer in common english. It is a computer program that makes everything a LOT easier and it's free. You just need an old computer with an interface(we use locobuffer) to your DCC system. http://jmri.sourceforge.net/ Richard Not just English! I counted 156 different language selections in the Preferences drop-down. Seriously, a big round of applause to the JMRI developers for making a conscious effort to include an internationalization ability in JMRI, and to those folks who have taken the time to produce and include the translations! To stay on topic, I agree with Richard's assessment that JMRI makes dealing with CV's easy. And you don't really even need an actual connection to your DCC system (although having that connection makes it a LOT easier!) Just run JMRI with one of the "simulated" connections, bring up your decoder, select the options you want, go to the "CV" tab, check the values for the CV's that JMRI has flagged, and manually program them using your DCC system.
I also would suggest JMRI. Trying to keep track of CV's on different manufaturers decoders is almost impossible esp as more come on the market. The developers of JMRI do the hard work for you. I have found that using JMRI takes all the difficulty out of programming decoders. Plus its a free program.
If you're in HO or larger scale, you could also do what I've done - standardize on one make of decoder. I don't do special form factors, I hard wire whenever possible, which avoids issues with wierd factory DC/DCC boards, and also allows me to use the (usually) cheaper wired decoder instead of special shapes. All my non-sound locos use TCS decoders - they have ones for nearly any loco ever made. For sound locos I have standardized on Loksound, since they make a couple of different models to fit most any situation, the micro is small enough to fit in the smallest loco I plan to run, the sounds are easily swapped so i can keep a few on hand just liek non-sound decoders and use them for any loco type I want simply by swapping the sounds, the sounds are great, and the motor control is amazing.
Much less to remember - basically, two sets of CVs. My prototype and era means no fancy lights on my locos, so the non-sound ones are super simple, I just set basic front and rear lights and give them an address. After doing a few I don;t even need to look at the instruction sheet for the CVs and values. I do have JMRI set up, mostly I use that at the club to configure member locos since half the time the owner of the loco doesn't even know what decoder is in it. If someone just want to change the address, it's honestly faster to just put it on the program track and set it with a throttle than fire up JMRI, but for setting all the different sound volumes, or configuring various types of lighting, it is extremely useful.
It doesn't come instantly - I've been doing DCC for about 10 years now. When I first got my system, I was reading manuals constantly to learn this stuff.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
One small additional suggestion:
KEEP NOTES! Whether it be through JMRI or simple experimentation, always write down where you started from (i.e. what the original CV value was) before you start to make changes, and what numbers you ended up with.
One second big suggestion:
Recognize that you will need to study each manufacturers' manual(s) carefully and completely if you want to master your decoders. Sounds daunting at first, but for whatever you learn, you will gain much more in understanding. (Does that make sense? - its kind of exponential). When you get into the details of programming, if you are having trouble then ask the question here.
And make sure you remember that you are actually having fun!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks guys. I've installed 5 Tsunami sound decoders so far without a hitch. Unfortunately, I have the Bachmann EZ Command wireless system and can't read the current CV's. I just ordered an NCE wireless unit so help should be on the way. I went online and saved at least 20 DCC sites so I will be immersed in absorbing all I can for the next several weeks, then become a CV value testing fool!
Unless its design has changed since I purchased one about seven years ago, the EZ Command does not have the capability of changing almost all CV values. You'll have to take the locos to a hobby shop or a club for that....or get another DCC system that has the capacity to enter values into all the user-programmable CV's.
Sorry.
mkepler954I have the Bachmann EZ Command wireless system and can't read the current CV's. I just ordered an NCE wireless unit so help should be on the way.
That's a huge step up in capability.
For a huge step up in ease-of-use get whatever it will take to use JMRI with your NCE system.