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Programing with NCE

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  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 228 posts
Posted by mike33469 on Monday, January 12, 2015 6:51 PM

Today I was able to program 1 engine on the programing track, as the others are already done on the main I think I will leave well enough alone.  I don't know why this engine was able to be programed on the programing track but it worked.  All the other emgines I had trouble with the system was able to read the manufacturer and decoder so they should have been able to be programed.  Anyway thanks for everyones help.

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, January 12, 2015 12:50 PM

maxman

While it is possible that a reset to decoder defaults is in order, I guess the original concern would be why you were not able to use the NCE programming track.  Perhaps you could tell us exactly how you tried to program (what buttons you pushed for example), and which CVs you were trying to program.

The fact that nothing seemed to change after you programmed seems to indicate that no programming occured.

 

I agree with maxman.  I have a PH-Pro 5 amp wireless system as well, and my programming track is separate from the layout.

A reset of each decoder to factory defaults is the starting point, but the programming track should be accepting input as well as setting the long address.

Tell us how you are using the programming track and what types of decoders you are trying to program.

It could be that the programming track is not wired correctly or, perhaps, even faulty.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by mlehman on Monday, January 12, 2015 11:29 AM

Elmer,

I suspect it's a PowerPro. You can arrange a radio install on a PowerCab by the factory, but this is special order after the original sale only. They don't sell a wireless PowerCab AFAIK, so that's why I asked about how he had the programming track hooked up based on that likelihood. Also, the PowerCab has only the one set of power outputs, so there's no chance of confusing what needs hooked up with it to use only the programming track.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
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Posted by gandydancer19 on Monday, January 12, 2015 10:31 AM

What NCE system is being used?  Power Cab with upgrades, or the Power Pro system?

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.

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Posted by mlehman on Monday, January 12, 2015 9:00 AM

maxman
While it is possible that a reset to decoder defaults is in order, I guess the original concern would be why you were not able to use the NCE programming track.

Sounds like the OP might possibly have a separate programming track, but is feeding it from track power to the layout? If so, then the solution is to power the programming track from the separate output provided for it on the command station.

 

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
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Posted by maxman on Monday, January 12, 2015 7:21 AM

While it is possible that a reset to decoder defaults is in order, I guess the original concern would be why you were not able to use the NCE programming track.  Perhaps you could tell us exactly how you tried to program (what buttons you pushed for example), and which CVs you were trying to program.

The fact that nothing seemed to change after you programmed seems to indicate that no programming occured.

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Monday, January 12, 2015 6:32 AM

 The biggest issue with Lenz is that addresses 100-127 are always long addresses. Locos in this range will NOT work on Digitrax, as 1-127 is always a short address in Digitrax. Shouldn;t matter in NCE since 1-127 can be long OR short, but you do have to key in the address differently when selecting it.

 ANd all these different schemes fit the letter of the NMRA standard. All because they didn't dare offend Lenz, which would have been the ONLY system affected by setting a clear definition to 1-127 vs 128+. Their original system only went to address 99, even though the addressing scheme allowed for up to 127. For want of 2 LED segments, they stuck with 99 (only needed a '1' digit, not a full 7 segment LED, to display 100-127).

              --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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

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  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, January 11, 2015 10:42 PM

I don't know what decoders you are using, but at this point, you might want to try a factory reset on each and start from scratch. I've had a couple engines that were programmed on my Lenz system and they acted very strange when I tried running them on a Digi-Trax system at a friend's house. Brought them back home and they worked fine. (?) A programmed decoder on ANY system should WORK on any system, but there seems to be something odd when programmed on Lenz and transferred to another system.

Mark. 

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by mike33469 on Sunday, January 11, 2015 9:52 PM

They were never consisted on the Lenz system.  Some have sound and some do not, the one that only runs foward does not have sound.

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Posted by maxman on Sunday, January 11, 2015 9:27 PM

Were your engines consisted on the Lenz system and did you clear the consists before putting them on the NCE system?

Are they sound locos, or non-sound?

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Programing with NCE
Posted by mike33469 on Sunday, January 11, 2015 9:19 PM

I recently set up my NCE wireless system.  I'm having some programing problems. First, I've set up a programing track(completely isolated from the layout) but I can't set up addresses for any of my locos. I follow all the steps and when I reach the end and put the engine on the layout nothing happens.  So far I've programed 4 of my engines on the main and they seem to operate just fine.  The 5th engine however runs in foward reguardless of which way I set the direction.  I need some help.  One other thing I've switched over from a Lenz system.  None of my egines ran on NCE until I reprogramrd them, I thought you could switch from one system to another with out having to reassign adresses. Thanks

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