I recently read an article by Mark Gurries that outlined how to use the Program Macros feature on the NCE Pro Cab.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/dcc-welcome-page/nce-info/nce-macros
The article acknowledges that the most common task of the Program Macros feature is to setup up a track route or path through a yard with a single push of a button. However, the article goes on to state that you can use the Program Macros feature to control locomotive functions such as motor speed, lights and sound.
Has anyone done this, that is, use Macros to control locomotive functions such as motor speed, lights and sound? For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to use the Program Macros feature to control locomotive functions. The Program Macros feature only seems to want to accept commands to control turnouts that require accessory decoders.
Rich
Alton Junction
I do believe you have to use NCE's mini panel to control the speed, lights etc.. I played around with this about 6 months ago, it does work just have to set it up. take a look at the manual for it. https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/search/click?data=BAh7DjoHaWRpBC%2B2%2Bgs6D2FjY291bnRfaWRpA9BMCDoJdHlwZUkiDGFydGljbGUGOgZFVDoIdXJsSSJuaHR0cHM6Ly9uY2VkY2MuemVuZGVzay5jb20vaGMvZW4tdXMvYXJ0aWNsZXMvMjAwOTgwMDE1LU1pbmktUGFuZWwtVGhlLU5DRS1Sb3V0ZS1hbmQtQXV0b21hdGlvbi1Db250cm9sbGVyBjsIVDoOc2VhcmNoX2lkSSIpM2ZmY2M3YjItY2Q2OS00ZDYyLWI5NjMtN2NkNDljNTk1YTQ5BjsIRjoJcmFua2kGOgtsb2NhbGVJIgplbi11cwY7CFQ6CnF1ZXJ5SSIWbWluaSBwYW5lbCBtYW51YWwGOwhUOhJyZXN1bHRzX2NvdW50aQ4%3D--f0485edeaa8f4f1697930a5d25e1cb80f01ea8f5
Thanks, cowjock.
I agree with you that the Macro feature on the Pro Cab apparently does not provide control functions for locomotives. I do have a Mini Panel that I use to program routes, but I have never explored the control functions for locomotives. It would be an understatement to say that the Mini Panel manual provides only limited information.
See this documentation for a 'sample' automation using the Mini Panel
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/200896775/Mini_Panel_Auto_Program.pdf
It is using syntax for control of a decoder -- see for example one of the four-command steps where the device accesses CV4 and sets a value of 35. There are a number of things here that might make better sense with more discussion of programming conventions I don't have time to find and read.
Thanks, Overmod. I have seen that example before, and I have a list of links to other sites as well that provide examples of programming the Mini Panel. None of these other links are from the NCE website and that is a big part of the problem. You have to go searching the Internet for help with programming the Mini Panel.
I have mostly relied on the Mini Panel to program routes through series of turnouts in yards and large passenger stations. That is, in part, what your link is demonstrating. The loco operations are easily accomplished with the throttle, and you really don't need the Mini Panel to program loco functions.
From the relative lack of responses to this thread, it seems clear to me that not a lot of members on this forum use the NCE cab to Program Macros. I suspect that not many use the Mini Panel either except to program routes through series of turnouts. That is really where the Mini Panel comes in handy once you learn how to program the Mini Panel.
My feeling is that a first time user of the Mini Panel will struggle to master the programming aspect, mainly due to a lack of good instruction on how to do it. That is the same problem in trying to Program Macros on the NCE cab.