1) Mainline (Ops mode programming) will work better for speed matching. Just remember that "close" is good enough, or you'll drive yourself crazy.
2) OPS and DIR are apples and oranges. OPS is operation-mode programming, as opposed to Service mode (program track). DIR is more or less the format used to "talk" with the decoder. You will need to pick Ops vs. service mode depending on where you want to do your programming, but JMRI will pick the best format (DIR, etc) based on your DCC system and the decoder type.
3) Not if your locos all have unique addresses, and you use that unique address when you're programming.
Hello I just downloaded JMRI Decoder Pro and installed the drivers for Locobuffer USB. I have a few newbie questions,
1) I would like to do speed matching, am I better off doing it on a long piece of programming track or on the mainline?
2) On my Zephyr do I have to pick a programming mode such as OPS or DIR?
3) If I'm on the mainline do I have to remove all my other locos off the track?
I appreciate any feedback, thank you.