Decoders: Switcher mode

[tstage]

After recently installing a decoder in my Proto 2000 0-8-0 switcher I was trying to recollect a few decoders that I had that allowed me to half the speed of the locomotive on-the-fly by pressing F6(?).  I'm thinking it could have been either Lenz or Loksound.  However, most of my locomotives are boxed up because I'm in-between layouts so I have no way of checking.

Does that sound familar to anyone?

Thanks,

Tom

[Bob Schuknecht]

F7 on Loksound is the switcher mode.

[tstage]

Thanks, Bob!  I knew it was either F6 or F7 and thought it might be on my Trix 2-8-2 Mikes, which came with the older V2.0 Loksound decoders.

Although I don't use that mode for those particular locomotives, I do have a Loksound decoder in a Stewart VO-660 switcher and the half speed option really adds to the switching.  Thanks again for confirming that for me, Bob.

Tom

[wjstix]

Hmmm...I'm pretty sure LokSound isn't the only decoder that has that feature, but I'd have to go back and look at the instructions on some of my decoders to see which ones do.

[JoeinPA]

Digitrax decoders both sound and non-sound have this feature.

Joe

[rrinker]

Digitrax ones default to F6 for activating the switching mode. Half speed at full throttle and it also halves the setting for momentum.

This may be the difference between always using 128 speed steps by default vs using 28 - I almost never use the switching mode, because with 128 steps there is plenty of room for slow speed control.

                                 --Randy

 

[DigitalGriffin]

I have that feature on my Lenz-Gold.  They call it yard mode.