You should never see issues like that because your sum total of locos is less than the system capacity. NCE and Digitrax do things differently, in Digitrax there are a fixed number of 'slots' that hold information about a loco in use. Once a loco is 'dispatched' or just properly stopped with the functions turned off, the same slot can be reused for a different loco. Total number of slots depends on the system, the Zephyr Xtra has 22, the DB-150 has 22, the DCS-100 has 120, and the new DCS-240 has 400 (for REALLY big clubs) - though we do not run into Slot Max issues with our 28x130 modular layout using the DCS-100.
I'm not sure what migth be happening in Hornblower's situation, if I take a throttle and do not dispatch the loco from it, then later pick up the same throttle and select a different loco, only the recently selected one will more, the old address may be active in the command station because it wasn;t dispatched but it's no longer tied to the old throttle if said throttle is now running a different loco. The only issue we ever have is when someone tries to run loco 567 and keys in 678 instead - in that case they will turn the throttle and 567 in front of them won't move, but if there's a 678 on the layout - it will move. No brand of DCC system can prevent that. Only the full feature throttles can actually link multiple locos to one throttle knob - 'MU' or 'consist' so you can drive multiple locos simultaneously, like prototype diesels. For models, you can do the same with steamers, but it's much more fun to run steamers protoypically, with one engineer per loco, and if they have sound you can even use whistle signals to coordinate movement.
It can be more complicated in a club situation, if two people have the same model, with the sme number. There needs to be a scheme so that every decoder has a unique address, or else one member has to eep their loco off the layout or on a power isolated secion of track while the other memeber runs their loco that has the same number. We use a first come/first served plus participation method - if you're there to help with setup, you can keep your 605 as 605, if someone shows up later ALSO with a 605, they will have to change their address to be able to run theirs.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
maxman Joe: You are starting to get baffled by differing opinions that will do nothing but confuse you. Any time someone asks here about using a DCC system toward which they are "leaning", there will suddenly be additional posts by proponents of whatever the opposing system is. You have your set of criteria concerning what you need the system to do, which if I understand correctly, is to be simple to operate, be able to run only a couple of locos, and allow you to maneuver from your chair. I would suggest that you pick the system that will satisfy these criteria.
Joe:
You are starting to get baffled by differing opinions that will do nothing but confuse you. Any time someone asks here about using a DCC system toward which they are "leaning", there will suddenly be additional posts by proponents of whatever the opposing system is.
You have your set of criteria concerning what you need the system to do, which if I understand correctly, is to be simple to operate, be able to run only a couple of locos, and allow you to maneuver from your chair. I would suggest that you pick the system that will satisfy these criteria.
You nailed it right.
Someone asked about the 7 foot NCE cord. Since the SIW is L shaped with 2 5 foot wings, if I mounted the face plate dead center it should work.
Given my druthers I would occasionally like to allow some of my non dcc logos to strut their stuff something NCE does not allow but digitrax does. Yes I am aware of the limitation.
But that's minor compared to my desire to have 4 digit addresslng and the ability to have my dcc locos creep along to to couple uncouple and spot cars on the 3 industries I serve.
Joe Staten Island West
A quick note to the OP. Sorry if I pushed the thread a little off topic. What I originally tried to relate is that there seems to be a growing trend within experienced DCC users in favor of NCE DCC products over all other DCC systems. Thus, I would think going with an NCE system would be a pretty safe bet.
Hornblower
hornblower A quick note to the OP. Sorry if I pushed the thread a little off topic. What I originally tried to relate is that there seems to be a growing trend within experienced DCC users in favor of NCE DCC products over all other DCC systems. Thus, I would think going with an NCE system would be a pretty safe bet.
Thank you Hornblower that is the direction I am headed pending my upcoming trip to Trainland.
You can add a longer cable to the cab.
"For regular cabs the maximum length is 40 feet. When used with the Powercab this cable carries full track power so the maximum length is 8 feet. "
You can add more throttle panels.
SouthPennYou can add a longer cable to the cab. "For regular cabs the maximum length is 40 feet. When used with the Powercab this cable carries full track power so the maximum length is 8 feet. "
According to NCE, the maximum length for the Power Cab is eight feet, and it comes with a seven foot cable, so you can't add much!
SouthPennYou can add more throttle panels.
To use those with the Power Cab, you either have to add an additional throttle or get a Smart Booster.
hornblower...It was requested that I provide an example of fewer keystrokes. "Dispatching" on an MRC Prodigy Advance throttle requires pressing and holding the DEL button until the loco number disappears from the display...
Sorry, but there is no MRC equivalent to dispatching.