Like Robert said - there is no difference between the command station sending 128 speed step commands to short address 10 and sending 128 speed steps to consist address 10. The command station does not know that address 10 is a consist or not (well, it does keep track, at least with NCE, because it also aliases the decoder's actual address - which still respods to function commands when in CV19 consist, btw). It is the decoder that decides which address to respond to - the address in CV1, or in CV17/18, based on the setting of CV29, OR the address in CV19. The command station has zero to do with this. If your consist address are only getting sent 28 speed steps, it's because you have configured the command station to send 28 steps to that address.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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I normally run my engine on 28 speed steps, however, when I set up a consist using my ESU EcoS system, the consist automatically transmits 128 speed steps. I've even contacted the manufacturer, and there's no way to change it.
When running single engines, the touch screen displays 28 steps. As soon as I select a consist, the screen automatically changes to 128 speed steps .... nothing I can do about it.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark R....As soon as I select a consist, the screen automatically changes to 128 speed steps .... nothing I can do about it.
Well there is something you can do about it. You can program the consist address manually, then select the address like you would a standalone engine and run it using 28 speed steps.
CSX Robert Mark R. ...As soon as I select a consist, the screen automatically changes to 128 speed steps .... nothing I can do about it. Well there is something you can do about it. You can program the consist address manually, then select the address like you would a standalone engine and run it using 28 speed steps.
Mark R. ...As soon as I select a consist, the screen automatically changes to 128 speed steps .... nothing I can do about it.
Ok - say I want to consist 123 and 456 with 123 in the lead. I would obviously be using POM to do this correct ?
So, under its own power, I couple 123 to 456. So then I access 456 and enter 123 in CV19. (?) Then they will both respond to address 123 ?
What if I'm dealing with 4-digit addresses ? - can't enter anything higher than 127 in CV19 can you ?
(Edit) - Ok, I just read through this ....
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/technical-discussions/consisting-information/nmra-dcc-consisting
What I prefer to do is not do-able. The ESU system creates consists within the command station complete with on-screen icons that show me which engines are consisted together and which direction they are facing, so I can easily select the consist I want to run. I prefer this method as it gives me a visual of what I have configured. I just wish it didn't default to 128 speed steps for consists as I normally prefer to run in 28 speed steps with my wireless push-button throttles .... 128 steps require too many button pushes.
Mark R.Ok - say I want to consist 123 and 456 with 123 in the lead. I would obviously be using POM to do this correct ?
Correct, you would be using Ops mode programming, which many refer to as "Programming On the Main" You could move the locos to the program track and program them there, but there would be no reason to do that unless they do not support Ops mode programming.
Mark R.So, under its own power, I couple 123 to 456. So then I access 456 and enter 123 in CV19. (?)
Correct, if they are facing the same direction. If you want them facing opposite directions, then you would program CV19 in 456 to 251 (123+128, adding 128 to the consist address tells this loco to run in the opposite direction).
Mark R.Then they will both respond to address 123 ?
Correct.
Mark R.What if I'm dealing with 4-digit addresses ? - can't enter anything higher than 127 in CV19 can you ?
Correct, you can not use an address higher than 127 as a consist address. Just pick an address, it doesn't have to be the address of one of the engines in the consist. For example, I have locomotives 8700 and 8703 that I usually run together, so I use consist address 87. I program one to 87 and the other to 215 (87 + 128) because I run them back to back.
Thanks Robert. So, what about light and sound control ? I'm assuming you also have to set up the mu'd engine(s) whether they are to respond to certain functions or not ? Don't want the horn on both units blowing, or don't want the headlights to be on the second unit.
My ESU system does this automatically - de-activates bell, horn and lights on all non-lead units (although this can be over-rided if desired). See my edit above for other reasonings ....
Hello All,
For my switchers I use 14 steps, for the rest of the diesels I use 28 steps and for the steam engine I use 128 steps.
Go figure!
The switchers; a 70-tonner and a 44-tonner, react better on 14 steps while doing switching chores.
The consist of three GP30's run well with 28 steps as does the consist of four GP40's. There is also a single GP40 and a GP38-2 that work well at this same setting along with the F7B and RS-11 used on the snowplow train. The F7A-B-B-A consist runs just fine on 28 steps too. Excellent low speed performance!
The steam loco, a USRA 0-6-0, has better low-speed and mid-range performance on 128 steps.
All of my locos have had CV's 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 manipulated; starting voltage, acceleration, deceleration, max speed and mid-range respectively.
Mid-range is calculated by the average sum of the starting voltage setting and the max speed setting (e.g. GP40: CV 2 @ 20 + CV 5 @ 255 = 275 ÷ 2 = [137.5] CV 6 @ 138).
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"