Modifying Functions

[joe323]

I realize this is dependent on the decoder involved but in general is possible to modify the default way a function operates for example:

Changing F8 so that the mute is the default and sounds only switch on when I press the button to toggle the sound on Useful for late night Ops.  I am not near my layout so forgive my guessing at Function numbers

Changing F1 and I think F2 so that instead of the bell and horn toggling they would only sound when the button is actually depressed.

Changing the lighting (F4?) so it comes on at start up and stays on unless I choose to cut it off.  With modern locomotives being LED's I think this should be the default since the life span of an LED at this point is possibly longer than my remaining life span.

If it matters I use an NCE Powercab. I have 4 Bachmann Sound Value Locomotives and one Atlas GP 38-2 with a Digitrax silent decoder.

 

Thanks in advance.

[peahrens]

joe323

I really this is dependent on the decoder involved but in general is possible to modify the default way a function operates for example:

Changing F8 so that the mute is the default and sounds only switch on when I press the button to toggle the sound on Useful for late night Ops.  I am not near my layout so forgive my guessing at Function numbers

I have 4 Bachmann Sound Value Locomotives and one Atlas GP 38-2 with a digitrax silent decoder.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

For some of the items you listed indeed the decoder type comes into play.

I can comment on the sound being on upon powering up the layout.  The default on my LokSounds is sound off at power up and F8 from there to turn sound on or off again. I know this can be reversed if desired but I prefer the default.

Further on that, I think the Tsunami (don't know about the Tsunami2) can be set so the sounds go off after stopping the loco, after a time period that can be varied with CV.  I forget the startup characterics, not sure if I have mine set to be quiet until loco movement with the throttle.

I can attest to the Sound Value on my Bachmann 2-6-2 of around 2013 vintage.  It would always start making sounds with layout power up.  That annoyed me greatly as another 15 or so locos on the layout did not do that and I like to start each one up that I am going to run. The CVs needed to prevent the auto sounds on at power up are deactivated on that vintage Sound Value.  I took a sledge hammer approach; i.e., replaced the decoder with a LokSound Select.

A prior thread on that subject:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/256249.aspx

 

 

[wjstix]

As far as start-up sounds, sometimes that depends on how you shut down. Some decoders allow you to do a 'shut down' when you've parked the engine, where after hitting a particular function button or pattern (like hitting F8 three times) you hear the sounds of the motor(s) shutting down, and it stays silent until you hit F8 (or whatever).

There are some decoders that you can set whether a particular function button toggles on and off, or is only on when held down.

[Mark R.]

Whether a function is latching or momentary is a fuction of the operating system.

By default all systems have F2 as momentary and all the other functions are latching. Some systems do allow you to make functions either latching or momentary (Lenz and ESU come to mind), but that is not the norm with most systems.

Mark. 

[rrinker]

 NCE makes the 2 key a latching F2, and the Horn button is a momentary F2 - just use the Horn button. Bells normally would be latching, bell on or bell off.

                         --Randy