Cheers, Ted
Phoebe Vet Jeff: I have a Super Chief, a PR3, and Decoder Pro. As long as you have given each DS64 a board ID, you can just select it off the menu. It reads the DS64 configuration just fine. Unfortunately, it does not read or program routes.
Jeff:
I have a Super Chief, a PR3, and Decoder Pro.
As long as you have given each DS64 a board ID, you can just select it off the menu. It reads the DS64 configuration just fine. Unfortunately, it does not read or program routes.
Thanks. I have the same configuration. I was looking to be able to backup the DS64 configs, especially the routes. The OpSw values are of little value because mine are all standard. Backing up and restoring the routes and Option Switches would be of value. I pulled down the 2.4 manual and they state nobody has written the commands to pull the routes because the route support in Decoder Pro is so much better. It may be but I don't run my layout from PanelPro. Maybe someone will or I'll find the time to dig into it in the future.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
chinapig At the moment I’ve got 6 DS64s and 26 routes so maybe soon I’ll have to link up the Loconet and put the routes on the DS64s. I guess another advantage would be if the DCS100 decides to reset itself you don’t have to re-programme it! Last night I was having trouble setting CVs on a loco I purchased on Ebay, which just wasn’t accepting an address. I pressed the enter button three times in a row (frustration) and the DCS100 just cleared itself of all of its settings; only routes in this case. I’ve managed to get that loco sorted now anyway, so all I’ve got to do is re-programme the routes! Cheers, Ted
You brought up another good reason to use the DS64 routes, if you need to reset the command station for any reason. One thing I haven't gotten working yet is sucking the DS64 configs into Decoder Pro. I believe it can be done but I need to spend some more time with it.
At the moment I’ve got 6 DS64s and 26 routes so maybe soon I’ll have to link up the Loconet and put the routes on the DS64s.
I guess another advantage would be if the DCS100 decides to reset itself you don’t have to re-programme it! Last night I was having trouble setting CVs on a loco I purchased on Ebay, which just wasn’t accepting an address. I pressed the enter button three times in a row (frustration) and the DCS100 just cleared itself of all of its settings; only routes in this case.
I’ve managed to get that loco sorted now anyway, so all I’ve got to do is re-programme the routes!
Phoebe Vet chinapig So why do you set the routes up in the DS64s in preference to the command station? (I don't understand the tem "scaleable"). Ted Each DS64 can have 8 routes each operating 8 switches. The routes can be cascaded (one route running another route) as long as the next route is on a different DS64.Since I have 9 DS64s, I can run up to 72 routes, or with cascading can run one route with up to 36 switches.
chinapig So why do you set the routes up in the DS64s in preference to the command station? (I don't understand the tem "scaleable"). Ted Each DS64 can have 8 routes each operating 8 switches. The routes can be cascaded (one route running another route) as long as the next route is on a different DS64.Since I have 9 DS64s, I can run up to 72 routes, or with cascading can run one route with up to 36 switches.
chinapig So why do you set the routes up in the DS64s in preference to the command station? (I don't understand the tem "scaleable"). Ted
So why do you set the routes up in the DS64s in preference to the command station? (I don't understand the tem "scaleable").
Ted
Each DS64 can have 8 routes each operating 8 switches. The routes can be cascaded (one route running another route) as long as the next route is on a different DS64.Since I have 9 DS64s, I can run up to 72 routes, or with cascading can run one route with up to 36 switches.
Exactly. If I use the command station and make everything a global route then I am limited to what the command station can hold. For a DCS100 that is 32 routes with 8 commands each total across the layout. Depending upon the size of your layout, this may or may not be enough. You can cascade routes up to 3 levels deep, so you can extend or cascade reusable functionality but that can get complex and tricky, if you start running out of routes.
I don't use the routes in the command station. My routes are all set up in the DS64s.
chinapig I’ve sorted my problem out! I reset the DCS100 switch 39 to closed, which clears all routes, loco rosters, and mobile decoder info and consists. When initially setting up routes I used numbers above 32 thinking that I could use any numbers as long as I had no more than 32. Not so, I found out on reading the manual carefully. Everything appears to be just great. I’ve got all my routes sorted out and when I get my DS64s linked together with Loconet I’ll make a route to set the all the turnouts to closed which is how I’d like to start each session. Thanks for all the help. Ted
I prefer to put all routes on the DS64s and not on the DCS100. I find it more scalable.
I’ve sorted my problem out! I reset the DCS100 switch 39 to closed, which clears all routes, loco rosters, and mobile decoder info and consists.
When initially setting up routes I used numbers above 32 thinking that I could use any numbers as long as I had no more than 32. Not so, I found out on reading the manual carefully.
Everything appears to be just great. I’ve got all my routes sorted out and when I get my DS64s linked together with Loconet I’ll make a route to set the all the turnouts to closed which is how I’d like to start each session.
Thanks for all the help.
Hi,
That sounds like an extremely logical way to proceed and I shall follow. Before doing so. I’m going to put everything back to default to see if that gets rid of any of the gremlins.
chinapig This is may be where I lose it. If you close option switch 6 then the turnouts should not do anything at power up Yet Thrown (factory default) at power on, all DS64s and their 4 outputs power up automatically to their last state. But, when the option is set as Thrown, if you haven’t changed their state since switching off they would do nothing anyway when you power up. Both the positions of option 6 seem to suggest nothing should happen in my case. Ideally I want them all to start as closed so I know where I am, so I guess I’ll accomplish that by setting a route as you suggested. In fact, I’m going to push on with it now. Cheers, Ted
Correct. For what you want, opSw6 won't matter but I highly suggest the factory default, expecially if you use inline indicator lights. Otherwise your control panel will be dark when the DS64(s) power. On all of my DS64s I set a virtual route as my default. So, as an example, I have 6 DS64s supporting a section of my layout. I number them 1 to 6. So on each one I create a route such as 101C for #1, 201C for #2, 301C for #3 etc... The first 4 commands on each virtual will set the switches to their default state (some open, some closed, depending upon your layout and track plan). The 5th command in each of the 101C, 201C etc routes calls the next DS64 virtual route. So as an example my 101C route might be something like sw10 closed, sw11 closed, sw12 closed, sw13 closed, 201C. In this example sw10-13 are the 4 addresses on the first DS64. Thus when I execute 101C it sets the entire layout to default.
This is may be where I lose it.
Ted:
If you close option switch 6 then the turnouts should not do anything at power up.
Thanks for the replies Phoebe. I must admit I struggle with the Digitrax manuals. I had looked at Option 6 and set all the turnouts as closed before Powering-down but it seemed to make no difference.
When I Powered-on this morning everything stayed no switches were thrown and I thought things were solved. Having other things to do, I turned off immediately. However, when I turned on this afternoon switches were thrown again. ***!
I’m going to set up a route to throw them all closed as you suggested. Then I study what’s happening over a period of time and see if I can deduce a pattern. There must be one.
You can program a route that will set all your switches to your desired state with a single switch command then issue that command just before shutdown, or just after startup.
Welcome to the forum.
Option Switch 06-Power Management Options for DS64 Outputs
OpSw 06
up automatically to their last state.
up until they receive a command.
Thanks in advance, Ted.