Just as the title says. I change the CV's and move the engine to test on main but like a lot of DCC stuff, I am proubly missing something as Digitrax videos are great but their written instructions suck as they just assume knowlege of stuff.
No, you cannot test using the program track outputs. They are intentionally current limited to protect the decoder in case of an error when installing it. Instead of moving between the program track and main, just leave the loco on the main and program it using Operation mode programming, I'm pretty sure all current decoders support it.
CSX Robert just said what I was going to say.
Rather clearly, I think.
FWIW.
My understanding from reading the manual for my DB150 is that a programming track is simply to test that the circuitry is correct and to set the desired unique address, but this time in full power and Paged Mode. After that, everything else should be done on the main and in Ops Mode, where you CAN test your adjustment increments.
OK, do some of those other modes work on the dedicated track, otherwise how would you stop other decoders on the layout from being programed. As you can see, I am totaly confused and like I said the written instructions are not the best but the system itself is very forgiving and the world has not blown up when I make a mistake, turn the base off and then on again seems to fix everything when running.
rrebell OK, do some of those other modes work on the dedicated track, otherwise how would you stop other decoders on the layout from being programed. As you can see, I am totaly confused and like I said the written instructions are not the best but the system itself is very forgiving and the world has not blown up when I make a mistake, turn the base off and then on again seems to fix everything when running.
Operations mode does not work on the programming track. Operation mode instuctions are sent to a decoder address and will only program the decoder address that is selected on the throttle. Just make sure you don't have addresss '0' selected because that is the broadcast address and will program everything on the layout.
I don't have what most using DCC would properly call a 'programming track'. I use the lead to my turntable as my programming track. It is isolated at both ends. It is gapped at the accessing turnout, and naturally terminates at the edge of the bridge pit.
I hope this will be clear enough: my DB150 base unit's outputs go to a DPST toggle mounted on the fascia. Wrapped around the same input posts are the feeders to the programming track (really my turntable lead). With this arrangement, if the DB150 indicates track power applied with its small red light, then I know the input posts on the DPST are also shunting power up to my turntable lead. So, I can do programming that way, but the rest of the layout is unpowered. No possibility of programming all other decoders when I enter Paged Mode and do the address change.
When I throw the toggle, the lead is still powered as before, but now the power leaves the output posts of the toggle and flows on to the rest of the layout. With this arrangement, the turntable lead still gets the same packets and I can drive the loco off it and make it join the rest of the flock.
The DB150 doesn't have a programming track capability. It just has three different modes of programming (I think), with Paged Mode being what Digitrax wants us to use when assigning addresses. After that, flick the toggle, and I can programme Master Volume, chuff rate adjustment, momentum, etc.
selectorI don't have what most using DCC would properly call a 'programming track'. I use the lead to my turntable as my programming track. It is isolated at both ends. It is gapped at the accessing turnout, and naturally terminates at the edge of the bridge pit.
Sounds like a programming track to me.
selectorThe DB150 doesn't have a programming track capability. It just has three different modes of programming (I think), with Paged Mode being what Digitrax wants us to use when assigning addresses.
Paged mode is what is usually used on the programming track - at least it is with my Digitrax Zephyr. Does your system allow you to read back CVs on the programming track when in paged mode? If so, it should allow you to change them on paged mode too I'd think?
In OPS mode, you have to input the decoder ID at the start (so you're only programming that one decoder), so of course you can't use OPS programming until your decoder has been assigned an ID. However, I don't think it means that you can ONLY change the other CVs using OPS programming, just that you can't use OPS programming until you've changed the ID in paged mode.
I have a DCS 51
LastspikemikeMy ESU Cab Control will program ESU decoders on the main Ops power. In fact with Railcomm the whole separate track programming process is pretty much obsolete.
All modern full flegded DCC systems will program all modern DCC decoders in Ops mode.
Stix, I think most people using systems other than the original set of Digitrax systems like my Super Empire Builder use the term 'programming track' to mean a length of track off the layout and set up only to test decoders, meaning limited voltage and not the operational voltage. I could be wrong. If I'm correct, I don't have what most would call a programming track. I do programme on an isolatable length of track on my layout, except when I do address changes on Paged Mode, it can't be done with other decoders listening in to the conversation. They'll all nod in concert, a bad thing.
The SEB does not poll CVs and announce their current programmed values. Paged Mode is really 'broadcast mode', and is why all other decoders must be isolated or removed before assigning an address to any one decoder on the layout. In fact, it's best done off the layout (programming track) or on an isolated length if it is to be on the layout...as I do.
You should use Ops Mode for CV changes, as you say, because if you used Paged Mode, accidentally as I have done at least four times, you change every CV of that number on all 'listening' decoders...every stinkin' one of them.As our late friend Randy R used to say, when you have a decoder go wonky, but it still seems to be functional, and it won't respond to begging or any other entreaties to play nice, including resetting it, enter Paged, Add '00' acquired, and perform the appropriate reset function for that decoder. Just don't do it on the main. Do that on my turntable lead (flip the toggle first) or take the loco to the programming track.
I am pretty sure you CAN change CV's in Paged Mode because it's full voltage, just as it would be in Ops Mode. My DB150 doesn't have a programming output. It's full bore all the time. It's just that if you do that by mistake, you'll change all other decoders getting the DCC signals at the same time. Not a happy evening.
There seems to be some confusion regarding programming modes.
Service (broadcast) mode uses the program track outputs. It writes to every decoder on the track connected to that output. Usually a separate length of track is used for this purpse.
Paged Mode is an old method of programming using service mode. It is a very slow method of reading the contents of a CV. Most modern decoders now use direct mode.
Ops Mode writes to a specified address, on the main track. You can set the primary address using Ops Mode, but Extended Address writes are a gamble. Some decoders may not allow address changes in this mode. If it fails, you will need to use the program track. It is suited to making quick changes to a single CV.
Some older command stations do not have enough power to program a modern sound decoder on the program track. For that, a program track booster is needed. Command stations introduced after the arrival of sound decoders shouldn't have that issue.
selectorStix, I think most people using systems other than the original set of Digitrax systems like my Super Empire Builder use the term 'programming track' to mean a length of track off the layout and set up only to test decoders, meaning limited voltage and not the operational voltage. I could be wrong. If I'm correct, I don't have what most would call a programming track. I do programme on an isolatable length of track on my layout, except when I do address changes on Paged Mode, it can't be done with other decoders listening in to the conversation.
I think you're confused about the term "isolated". When the manual tells you the programming track has to be 'isolated' it means it has to be electrically isolated from the rest of the layout's tracks. It doesn't mean it has to be physically isolated, like on a separate workbench from the layout. Many DCC modellers use a separate electrically isolated block of track on their layout as their programming track, with a toggle to switch it between regular DCC and programming.
It sounds like since your system doesn't have separate outputs for a programming track, that you have to put the engine on a track separate from the rest of the layout so you can change the address, since OPS mode requires you to put in the engine ID so only that engine's CVs are changed.
One option might be to get a PR4 and download DecoderPro from JMRI so you can change the CVs on a programming track hooked up to your computer. Or keep an eye out for a used system, like an old Zephyr, to use for programming and testing. Oddly enough, I use CVP on my layout now, since their radio control is so good, but have kept my old Digitrax Zephyr hooked up to a circle of track for breaking in and programming, since the Zephyr is so easy (compared to CVP) to do programming with.
What I have is a separate peice of track on a board that I can plug into the layout and set it on my very large workbench x-desk which is right next to the layout. The command station is in easy reach too.
What are you trying to test? I'm very new to DCC, but if your DCC system has a USB port or other way to plug into a computer, you can use JMRI to see the values programmed into a decoder, If you're trying to test sound, depending on the system's manufacturer and what software is available, you can test sounds in a sound-equipped decoder on the programming track as a feature of some manufacturers' sound-installation software (in the case of Digitrax, it's their "SoundLoader" software.) I just downloaded JMRI and SoundLoader last week and don't really know what I'm doing with either yet, but at least so far it's a much easier way to see if a CV was loaded than constantly moving a loco from the programming track to the layout and back.
Jetrock What are you trying to test? I'm very new to DCC, but if your DCC system has a USB port or other way to plug into a computer, you can use JMRI to see the values programmed into a decoder, If you're trying to test sound, depending on the system's manufacturer and what software is available, you can test sounds in a sound-equipped decoder on the programming track as a feature of some manufacturers' sound-installation software (in the case of Digitrax, it's their "SoundLoader" software.) I just downloaded JMRI and SoundLoader last week and don't really know what I'm doing with either yet, but at least so far it's a much easier way to see if a CV was loaded than constantly moving a loco from the programming track to the layout and back.
In that case the "Sound Loader" software and PC connection would definitely be helpful, as not only can you test sounds on the programming track from the PC, you can see the filenames of any sounds on the decoder. But probably not helpful if you aren't set up to connect a laptop to the layout, of course.