i recently bought a mth loco a sd70 very nice loco i read the booklet it says to run loco on number 3 it runs very nice on number 3.... question... is it possible to put the loco number into my digitrax system and run the loco with my other locos kato broadway atlass etc
i have approx 50 dcc locos and do not want to run a odd ball loco
if i can programme the locos i will buy some more and run them in multiple they are very nice locos.... thanks peter
From what I have read about MTH DCS-equipped locomotives, they cannot be consisted with DCC locomotives because MTH's DCS is a proprietary system that does not comply with the NMRA DCC Standards.
For that reason, among others, I don't own any MTH products.
You can program the address to the cab number instead of using the default of 3. There aren't too many other changes you can make.
It can be consisted with other regular DCC locos, but since MTH doesn't provide for any of the DCC CVs to adjust the running speed it will be hard to match speeds with other locos, so you may have to be content to run it solo. You can still run other locos at the same time, up to the limit of your system's capacity.
If you really like the looks of the MTH model, they are finally starting to release some of their models as DC only with a decoder socket so you can use any standard DCC decoder. It still isn't quite the same as putting a decoder in an Atlas or Kato unit, based on the review that was recently in Model Railroad News I think, there is a fancy light board to get lighting effects in DC and this may or may not impact full operation with a decoder. But at least you'd be able to speed match it with other brands and run them together.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The only way to program a MTH loco to its cab number is using programming on the main.
MTH will only support Universal consisting, therefore Advance consisting is out of the question.
Jack W.
peterjenkinson1956 i recently bought a mth loco a sd70 very nice loco i read the booklet it says to run loco on number 3 it runs very nice on number 3.... question... is it possible to put the loco number into my digitrax system and run the loco with my other locos kato broadway atlass etc i have approx 50 dcc locos and do not want to run a odd ball loco if i can programme the locos i will buy some more and run them in multiple they are very nice locos.... thanks peter
AFAIK all decoders come with "03" as the default address, although I think one engine manufacturer does offer some engines with the engine's no. already programmed in.
Supposedly MTH engines are speedmatched to each other, so you can run 2 or 3 MTH engines together with no problem. To run an MTH DCS engine with DCC engine, you'd need to change the CV's for the DCC engine - that is, you'd have to use your MTH engine as a "golden engine" and speedmatch your other engines to the MTH one.
In general you can run DCS engines with a DCC system, but you can't access all of the functions I believe.
If you read the book that came with it you'll find that you can easily set the address to the road number with a CV change. I believe it's CV29. You will be able to run it on the layout with no problems. As noted before if you use universal consisting with MTH loco's since there's no advanced consist option.
Other than that you have to live with the settings MTH decided you'll like.
Good Luck.
Springfield PA
thanks for the replys i was worried that i would not be able to run the loco in multiple running it as the first ( top ( loco and the others as the slave locos is a good idea... thanks for that
i even thought of ripping the guts out of a broadway loco ...sd40 ...and putting it into the mth loco then the loco woul have been the same as my others and then put the mth innards into something like a amtrak loco.... yes a strange thing to do however that is how my mind works... thanks peter
Can the sound and DCS be taken out of this loco to become DC only.
Russell
i read the booklet that came with the loco ... loco number is 100... set up cv29 punched in 38 to set extended address to engine cab number
now nothing loco does not run tried address 3 3333 and 100 all u/s i am ready to throw this junk against the wall.................................................................
reading the booklet the reset function is function key 21 i dont have function 21 on my digitrax system any ideas how to reset everything to factory settings
Unless the MTH DCS system is radically different than NMRA DCC standards, CV 29 is not the address CV. CV 1 is what you need to reset for a short address of 128 or less.
Setting CV 29 to a value of 38 has no meaning because that is not a value acceptable to the decoder.
Set CV 29 to a value of 6 and then set CV 1 to your desired address of 38 if that's what you want it to have.
peterjenkinson1956 i read the booklet that came with the loco ... loco number is 100... set up cv29 punched in 38 to set extended address to engine cab number now nothing loco does not run tried address 3 3333 and 100 all u/s i am ready to throw this junk against the wall.................................................................
While I only programmed one MTH SD70ACe so far, the one I did it was a piece of cake using programming on the main with a Digitrax system.
In your case for a cab number of 100, set CV1 to 100 and CV29 to 6.
For any loco with a cab number from 128 up, apparently CV17 and CV18 are already programmed to the right value at the factory, there is only CV29 to set with a value of 38. This is what Hamltnblue was referring to in his post above.
In my case I did not take any chances and programmed CV17-CV18-CV29 independently and using POM programming.
CV29 to 38 is for a long address, , for Digitrax that is something 128 and higher. Address 100 is a short address on Digitrax. You should be able to set CV29 back to 6 on the program track and get it to run on 3 again. If CV1 is supported, set it to 100 and you'll have the loco operate on 100 instead of 3.
Randy, a DCS equiped loco will not program on a programming track. The only way is POM programming.
POM to address 0 then, make sure no other locos are on the track or they will get programmed too. At least this works with Digitrax, I've done it before with a loco that had an unknown address and would not read on the program track. Also, Zephyr Blast Mode ought to work even for the MTH, assuming a Zephyr is the system involved. It puts full power on the program track, same caution, remove all other locos because it ALSO puts full power on the main track.
Even if they DO somehow make something I actually want, no way would I EVER buy MTH, unless they make ALL the new release in the DCC ready version so I don't have to deal with the useless incompatible DCS garbage.
i run digitrax super chief 8 amp i have a seperate track for progeamme on the main the layout main track is disconnected and then i can programm on the main without any effect on the other locos
cacole Unless the MTH DCS system is radically different than NMRA DCC standards, CV 29 is not the address CV. CV 1 is what you need to reset for a short address of 128 or less. Setting CV 29 to a value of 38 has no meaning because that is not a value acceptable to the decoder. Set CV 29 to a value of 6 and then set CV 1 to your desired address of 38 if that's what you want it to have.
As you suggested, MTH does not follow NMRA Dcc Standards. You can actually set the loco road number with CV29. Go figure.
Hamltnblue As you suggested, MTH does not follow NMRA Dcc Standards. You can actually set the loco road number with CV29. Go figure.
This is how I understand it, the proper values for CV17 and CV18 are already set at the factory. To enable the cab address for DCC all there remains to do is setting CV29 to 38.
correct. If you want a different long address you can still set cv 17 and 18.
For those curious here's a link to the documentation for the SD70Ace with DCS decoder. Page 19 lists the few CV's supported in DCC and their function.
Note that you can program on the program track but you actually use different CV's when you do.
http://www.mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/download/instruction/80dl15194i.pdf
it sounds very complicated ... dont know why mth chose to change everything i have never had any problem programming any loco to put a number into a loco usually takes me 30 seconds
i have even developed a method of programming broadway locos that is foolproof these mth locos must turn a lot of potential buyers of buying the locos i bought the mth loco to see for myself just what they are like and if happy i would buy quite a few more... sorry to say no more once bitten etc... if i ever make a mistake and programme another loco on the main and all my locos change.... a simple mistake than to change mth locos back again is not such a simple thing to do
i like the idea of putting in a seperate drive decoder...i may follow that suggestion up with a private message.........however..... i believe that when buying an expensive loco you should not have to do that
ihave posted the loco to mth in america cost me $34 to send it hope they can sort it out under warrenty i will keep you all informed as to the results.... peter
They now have a DCC ready version of the ACE's In the future I'd suggest grabbing on of those and throwing a tsunami in.
to CACOLE: you said that have reasons to no have any MTH locos: as you know to much about DCC, can you explain why??? In my area there are contradictories opinions....!!!
Looks like he was referring to the on-going half crocked DCC compatibility in MTH loco's. It's a legitimate concern that is echoed with many in the hobby. CV29 is just one example. With the DCC standard it has nothing to do with addressing. By using that CV to perform an address change only confuses people and leads to threads like this one.