Well, I now have an Athearn GP9 and a Kato RS2, both with LokSound Select decoders. I have a NCE PowerPro and use of JMRI DecoderPro, and LokSound Select users guide download. I haven't bit the bullet on the LokSound Programmer, planning to procrastinate until clear on my path on favorite decoder; i.e., will TSU WOWsound become my go-to.
Gererally, I find it easier to make changes by Programming on the Main using the NCE, such as the long address and speed matching using CVs 2, 6, then 5. I found Decoder Pro confusing with the Select and I'm not at all sure it's consistent with the decoder on things like functions, but I used it to change one loco's "forward" direction (when I could not get CV 29 right for that).
But then, ready for consisting, I used the NCE to create an advanced consist and they run fine together, the good news. The bad news is I can't interpret the Select users guide to set the locos' functions as desired. I know I need to tinker with CV 21 on each to get things like the main sounds (horn, bell, dynamic brake, startup, etc) in function buttons 1-8 set sensibly. What I'd like there is for the front loco to sound the horn or bell when going forward, the other when reversed, separate startups (F8) of each loco, etc. At a minimum I'd like the horn and bell to functon on the lead loco basis direction. And with CV 22 I need to set the headlight (forward) and reverse lights to go as appropriate only on the leading loco. One loco has separate MARS lights, so not sure that can be incorporated; i.e. would want F6 to function when goind forward.
Anyway, if you can help sort out my confusion, at least on the main lights and bell & horn and combined versus separate loco F8 startups when in consist, that would be a big step for me. I'm not sure, once consist settings are as desired, when to use the separate loco address (e.g., for non-simultaneous startups) versus the consist address and how that works.
And when I convert another RS2 to Select and place it in the middle, I will not want horn, bell or lights to work in consist, but will want the startup F8 and prime mover sound to work.
Thanks in advance!
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Well, you also have CV22 to control functions in consist. CV21 is 1-8, CV22 is F0, and F9-12, I thought the beauty of NCE's way of consisting was that you can easily flip things around? So if at the end of the run you swap the Top loco, now the one on the back is the one that should make noise and the one that used to be on the front now will not blow the horn. You shouldn't have to configure anything, really.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Everything you want to do is easily done with the LokProgrammer .... not so much so otherwise.
Using POM you will need to set up the horn in each unit of your consist to be directional, just like lights. If your two engines are set up back to back, configure the horn in each engine to only function when travelling forward. Makes notes of the CV values so you can change them whether they are in a consist or not, or running forward or reverse in the consist. You would only have to set F2 to be active in a consist (CV21=6) and make it directional depending on which way it's facing in the consist. This does work, but if you regularly mix and match your engines in consists, you will be spending a lot of time re-configuring CVs.
Most of my engines that are consisted tend to stay that way for a long time, so the initial set up time lasts for a long time.
As for the lights, advanced consisting still allows you to access the trailing unit's address for things like starting the engine and turning on/off lights. Say you have engine 1234 leading a consist with 5678 trailing. Dial up 1234 and press F8 to start the engine. Then dial up 5678 to start that engine. Lights work the same way. Change direction, dial up the trailing unit and turn its lights on.
Some things should be automatic, like which end the horn blows from, and other things should be manually set, the engineer can't turn on the lights in the trailing unit without being in it.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Thanks, guys. I found a better explanation in the Tsunami guide for CVs 21 & 22 than in the Select guide, and I also need to consult my NCE manual to see if it does anything differently as it is used for advanced consisting. I understand that to do what I want will require choosing the individual loco address to do some things when in consist. I'll play with it this afternoon, and hopefully get it figured out, between the user guides, your input and some trial and error.