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DCC function mapping

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  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: N.E. Lancashire (off Jnt. 12, M65.
  • 215 posts
Posted by john.pickles87 on Saturday, February 22, 2014 9:37 AM

Hi,

I’m with Cary, if you have a small layout stick with your Pro and get a Sprog, a length of flexi and a couple out croc clips.

I use Gaugemaster (MRC) Prod 2□ x 4 on the layout which is a few miles from home, so I do most of my programming at home at me desk; any matching is done on an isolated branch at the club which can get busy on running nights.

Hope this helps. 

Oh ye if you get into retro fitting decoders I’d get hold of an NEC Decoder Checker and program on that, then mount them on the locos.

Be in touch.

Pick.

?
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alabama
  • 1,077 posts
Posted by cjcrescent on Saturday, February 22, 2014 4:33 AM

The Crown Valley Railroad

I guess I'm going to upgrade my DCC system!

 

Even though you have an MRC system, if you're satisfied with it, there is no need to upgrade, unless you're going for the full acsess another system can give you.

What you can do is;

1. Download and install on your computer JMRI.

2. Buy a Digitrax Pr3, a Locobuffer, or a SPROG. If you get a Pr3, get a wallwart transformer of 12-15V 1A capacity.

3. Buy a PTB-100, and get another wall wart to power it.

4. Load the Pr3 software. Plug it into your computer. Set up JMRI.

Start the easiest programming you've ever done!.

Carey

Keep it between the Rails

Alabama Central Homepage

Nara member #128

NMRA &SER Life member

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 65 posts
Posted by The Crown Valley Railroad on Thursday, February 20, 2014 9:18 PM

I guess I'm going to upgrade my DCC system!

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 65 posts
Posted by The Crown Valley Railroad on Thursday, February 20, 2014 9:17 PM
Thank you for the info...
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, February 20, 2014 6:48 PM

 Just remember that it does not magically give you more functions - if you remap what's on F25 to be on F5, then what's currently on F5 has to be disable or moved to a different function. You can have more than one function activate with the same key, but for sounds that's generally not what you want.

                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, February 20, 2014 2:11 PM

Function mapping is a process within the decoder. You will need to know what type of decoder is in your engine and download the manual for it. The manual will have a section for function re-mapping. Follow the parameters in the manual and change the appropriate CV's using your program track just like any other changes.

If you are referring to a soundtraxx or MRC sound decoder, it's not too bad of a job to absorb the information. If you have a Loksound decoder, you're in for a heap of learning to do it manually.

 

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
  • 3,290 posts
Posted by gandydancer19 on Thursday, February 20, 2014 1:57 PM

Function mapping is when you can reassign throttle buttons to do things differently than what they were set up for. As an example: F0 usually turns the light on and off. You can remap it so the light turns on and off using F5 instead. doing it manually is a complicated process (I think). I have never done it manually. I always use JMRI's Decoder Pro and a computer, which is hooked to my DCC system.

Since you have MRC, you can't use JMRI because MRC won't give out the specs to their system. Because of this, most serious modelers don't buy MRC DCC systems. MRC does have their own computer program, and it MAY do function mapping, but I don't know. Contact MRC to find out.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 65 posts
DCC function mapping
Posted by The Crown Valley Railroad on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 2:04 AM

My MRC Prodigy Express handset does not have a shift key. How do I access functions 16-28 on my sound decoders? I've heard about function mapping but don't know how it works. Any help would be appreciated...

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