7j43k For DCC, there are (presently) two ways to program a locomotive: "programming track" and "on the main". Note that these terms don't really mean the physical track. Again: THEY DON'T REALLY MEAN THE PHYSICAL TRACK. The real difference is that the two methods have DIFFERENT characteristics. And one of them is that you cannot "read back" CV values with "on the main" programming. So, as has been mentioned or implied by some folks above, you cannot read CV values when you are in the "on the main" mode. Whatever track you are physically on. Lifting a loco from your "programming" track to your layout does not affect which mode you are in. Nor does going in the other direction. While the above is obvious to old timers in DCC, it was NOT obvious to me when I was a beginner. Ed
For DCC, there are (presently) two ways to program a locomotive: "programming track" and "on the main".
Note that these terms don't really mean the physical track. Again: THEY DON'T REALLY MEAN THE PHYSICAL TRACK.
The real difference is that the two methods have DIFFERENT characteristics. And one of them is that you cannot "read back" CV values with "on the main" programming.
So, as has been mentioned or implied by some folks above, you cannot read CV values when you are in the "on the main" mode. Whatever track you are physically on. Lifting a loco from your "programming" track to your layout does not affect which mode you are in. Nor does going in the other direction.
While the above is obvious to old timers in DCC, it was NOT obvious to me when I was a beginner.
Ed
Rich
Alton Junction
BigDaddy So how is it his resets didn't erase the long address?
So how is it his resets didn't erase the long address?
If the long address is programmed as the default from the factory, a factory reset will return it to that factory set number. A "factory reset" doesn't necessarily mean 03 with Loksound decoders - you create your own "factory reset".
I mentioned this way back with my first post on this topic ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
richhotrain Well, that is not quite right. You cannot program "on the main" on the programming track. Two different things, two different "tracks". Also, the programming track is fed a lower voltage than the main, so the programming track is the better place to play with an untested decoder. Rich
Well, that is not quite right. You cannot program "on the main" on the programming track. Two different things, two different "tracks". Also, the programming track is fed a lower voltage than the main, so the programming track is the better place to play with an untested decoder.
It IS right. I have a "programming track". It is a very nice stretch of Kato Unitrack completely separated from the layout. But I can do "on the main" programming on that very same track by moving the wires on my ProCab.
And, if I want, I can do "program track" on my whole layout. In that case, there IS no physical programming track.
My point is that the differences are in the electronics, NOT the physical tracks. EVEN THOUGH they are usually described as physical tracks: "programming TRACK" and "on the MAIN".
As I said, it took awhile for that to get through to me.
Ed is technically correct, Rich. With a Power Cab hooked up to your layout as the main DCC system, you can choose either POM or Programming track mode to program your locomotives. Granted, it's better to use the latter because of the lower voltage and the ability to read CVs. With the Power Cab - it's just a different mode but the same wires.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Ed is technically correct, Rich.
Ed is technically correct, Rich.
richhotrain tstage Ed is technically correct, Rich. Well, then, let's call it a matter of semantics. As Ed describes it, it is no longer a "programming track" in the purest sense. Rich
Well, then, let's call it a matter of semantics. As Ed describes it, it is no longer a "programming track" in the purest sense.
I think that depends on what "it" is.
I don't mean to argue the point about the differences between Programming on the Main (POM), aka OPS, versus programming on the Programming Track. Maybe the terminology differs with different systems. On my NCE PH-Pro, Programming on the Main and programming on the Programming Track are two distinct, and different, modes.
What concerns me is that we not confuse newcomers or casual browsers of these forums. Perhaps the topic is worthy of a separate thread.
They are distinct modes with any system that supports both. Even those that do not have a different set of connections for the "program track" like the Powercab or the Digitrax DB150.
Programming on the program track, or service mode (that's why programming on the main is also called Ops Mode) is a broadcast. Any decoder receiving the signal is suppose to respond. Service mode provides for but does not require a read back capability.
Programming on the main, or Ops Mode, is directed programming to the selected address. It CAN be broadcast if programming to address 00, which is the broadcast address (also used to run an analog loco on Digitrax and Lenz). There is no reading back, although with the addition of Digitrax Transponding or Railcom you can read information from decoders on the main.
For those systems without a separate program track connection, calling it "programming ont he main" is probably confusing - they only HAVE one track. Unless they have rigged up an isolated section and added a toggle switch to control power to the rest of the layout - but if they understand that then they should get the distinction between a "programming track" and the "main track". On those systems that DO have 2 different connections, it's fairly easy to see the difference.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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