I purchased a pair of Mikes Train House GP-38-2s (both with DCS and sound). I'm using the NCE PowerCab system. Now, out of the box both engines function perfectly. However, when I try to run the two in a consist things get a little strange. First I tried using the "advanced consist" feature. The sound came on and the engines moved forward and backward as desired. Could not get the headlights, bell, or horn to function no matter what button I pressed. So I tried using an alternate method to consist the engines, I think on the controller it says "Old Type". Entered the engines and everything worked fine, bells, whistles, you name it. Because my layout is linear and stretches for about 20ft I have to use additional "cabs " (NCE CAB-04) to control the train when I reach the other end of the layout. When I try to use one of these I hit select loco and enter the consist number. Only one engine will move and no sounds other then engine sound. No lights, bell, or whistle. These are pretty simple cabs as far as control goes so there are not many options. Is this just a "quirk" between the two (DCC and DCS) systems or maybe this CAB-04 doesn't have enough capabilities to work with DCS? I do not have any difficulty when using DCC equipped engines. Any thoughts?
Jim
Jim,
I don't know if it specifically affects consisting but you're going to be limited in what you can do/what CVs you have access to with a DCS locomotive on a DCC layout. To fully utilize the DCS technology, you need a DCS system.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but...I'm guessing that the only way around it may be to remove the DCS decoders and install DCC decoders.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I was just hopeful I could run the two engines together and use just the basic sounds, engine, bell, horn. Nothing fancy. I mean it will work using the main controller. I'm just limited as to how far I can walk because of the length of the cord. My first experience with MTH product. Interesting!
jeep35Because my layout is linear and stretches for about 20ft I have to use additional "cabs " (NCE CAB-04) to control the train when I reach the other end of the layout.
Are you using the PowerCab to operate the train to the other end of the line, and then walking to the other end and using the 04 to go back to the origination point?
What happens if you plug the 04 into the other socket where you plug in the PowerCab and start out with the 04?
The Power Cab is located at what would be the beginning of the layout(basically at one end). It's all good until the train gets far enough away from the beginning of the layout that I have to use an additional cab (cab-04). Maybe the issue is I'm not calling the "consist" the correct number when I select loco on the Cab-04. Ordinarily I just type in the locomotive number on the first one in the consist and it works correctly (this is with DCC). I was just wondering if there were any subtle differences when using DCC to operate a DCS (Mikes Train House) locomotive.
The issue when using the "Old style" consists has to be some sort of NCE quirk. NCE's "Old Style" consists are what Digitrax does by default, and I can hand off consists to any throttle at any time.
The reason it works with the MTH locos is that it does not involve programming anything to the decoder. The standard consists use CV19, which the MTH decoders support, but it also needs access to CV21 and CV22 to set which functions work on a given decoder when in consist. I suspect the MTH decoders don;t support having this set.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
jeep35Ordinarily I just type in the locomotive number on the first one in the consist and it works correctly (this is with DCC).
Is this one of those deals where you have to put in the consist number that the command station assigns (i.e.: from 1 to 127) rather than the number on the side of the cab?
Randy,
With DCC equipped locomotives I can switch between different throttles/cabs with no trouble at all. Never used this brand of locomotive before. Just to see what happens, I'm going to try to consist one of the MTH engines with a DCC engine and see if works.
The first time I tried it that way and I couldn't get the lights, bell, or horn to function, just engine sound. That's when I tried the Old Type of consisting.
Well, I tried consisting with a DCC locomotive and it worked. This gave me hope so I tried to run both MTH engines together using the Cab-04. This time I did an "advanced" consist. It assigned it a number and I tried again. Better luck this time. I can control the train with Cab-04 and the sound functions seem to be working. Is it possible the issue was with the Cab-04? It had not been used in a while. Perhaps a dirty/loose connection. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
jeep35 Well, I tried consisting with a DCC locomotive and it worked. This gave me hope so I tried to run both MTH engines together using the Cab-04. This time I did an "advanced" consist. It assigned it a number and I tried again. Better luck this time. I can control the train with Cab-04 and the sound functions seem to be working. Is it possible the issue was with the Cab-04? It had not been used in a while. Perhaps a dirty/loose connection. Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Jim
It is difficult for me to follow exactly what you have done. You say you did an advanced consist. You would have had to do this with the PowerCab since you cannot consist with the 04.
And if you were able to advance consist, that means that MTH has added CV19 capability to their decoders. I believe that I had read somewhere that they had done this.
Then you say you assigned the consist a number and were able to call up that number with the 04. So I'll ask again...did you let the PowerCab pick the consist number (127 for example) and select loco 127 on the 04, or did you let the PowerCab pick the consist number and then enter one of the loco engine numbers into the PowerCab?
Yes, when I did "advanced consist" I used the main Power Cab and it did assign the consist a number. Now, just to be sure, I just tried it again. This time I used the Cab-04 ( not to program the engine just to run them) and entered the lead locomotive number instead of the number that was assigned to the consist (wanted to see what would happen). The engines moved as intended and enough of the sound functions worked to satisfy me. Honestly I don't even know if there was even a real problem. As I said it could have been a loose connection or dirty connection or more probably "operator error". Seems to be functioning correctly for now.
glad to hear things are working now.