What, if any, are the advantages of using 128 speed steps rather than 28? I use 28 steps with my 2' by 18' shelf switching layout since the "top speed" is only 10 SMPH and I have the engines' speed set so that each step equals 1 SMPH. When would 128 steps be a better choice?
John in Carolina
When I have two or three trains running at the same time 128 allows for finer speed control to keep them apart. Also, I can split the layout so two trains can take different routes, however, the two routes cross each other at one point. Fine speed control lets me adjust that as well so they never meet at the crossing.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
That's my understanding as well. Twenty-eight speeds steps is quite a bit for lone engines to get them to run at a scale speed pretty closely. But, when two or more are MU'd, you might want the more discrete steps for finer graduation.
I don't know how the number of speed steps would help with MUing. Speed matching is generally done with 8-bit CVs, so those are independent of speed steps.
I use 28 speed steps. I don't often have trains chasing each other around a loop, so fine speed variations are not that critical when I run trains.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I use 28 also.
I have a brass Challenger that I set up for 128, but there wasn't any advantage to speak of. I just had to hit the throttle button a whole lot more times to get up to speed.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I use 128 (it's the Digitrax default). With the ballistic control of the encoder knobd (so a quick turn increments or decrements faster, and a slow turn increments or decrements by one step every couple of clicks, combined with having some momentum set, it makes it easy to run diesel locos with sound in a realistic manner without using manual notching or the ESU-only DriveHold - the prime mover responds to the speed immediately, the momentum only affects the motor acceleration. More speed steps per the speed range means finer, closer to analog control. If you set your loco for a top speed of 60mph, with 28 steps, each step is more than a 2mph jump. With 128 steps, each step is less than a 1/2mph jump.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
i use the smaller vaue .. i have small steam that runs 20 smph maximum ..
What Mister Beasley and Pruitt said.
Rich
Alton Junction
128. The 28 makes the incremental changes in speed too perceptible. Especially Tsunami 2 at speed steps 1 to 2 when switching. NCE has an Increase Fast button that jumps 10 steps if I need it.
- Douglas
I think 128 does give better control at slow speeds. For example, all my engines are speed matched with my slowest engines, my BLI NW-2 switchers whose top speed is about 40 (scale) MPH. That means on 128 steps, each step represents about 1/3 MPH. On 28 steps, each speed step would equal about 1-1/2 MPH.
In my case, my CVP system's main controller is set up so just one turn of the speed control dial goes from stop to top speed regardless of speed step setting. However, CVP's radio handheld units are set up so that in 128 step mode you have to turn the dial about 3 times around to the right in order to get to top speed. Setting it to 32 speed steps (and no, I don't know why CVP has 32 instead of 28 steps?) means to get to top speed just requires one complete turn. As much as I like the fine control of 128 steps, it's just easier to use 32 steps when running a train.
Hello All,
After experimenting with CVs and speed steps- -never really got into speed tables- -I prefer 128-speed steps.
For a lot of techno-geek reasons, I prefer the greater resolution of 128-speed steps no matter the CV settings of 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.
Understanding that DCC controllers are digital and not an analog DC waveform, 128-speed step resolution mimics an analog signal better than the digital steps or "jumps" in 28-speed steps.
Yes, I might move the DCC controller by a factor of 22: 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128- -in eight steps.
Being able to manipulate the digital signal in a "smooth" linear response, with finer gradations- -mimicking an analog signal, with steps between the digital jumps- -gives finer control.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Some of my locos give an audible report of speed and to my surprise, they are quite accurate even between brands. I use these audible reports to set the speed and trains stay where they should when it comes to keeping apart. Again the fine tuning of 128 speed step.