I've only said it about 5 times now across two threads on the subject.
Doesn;t help that every comparison chart of DCC systems says NCE does Advanced Consisting. Well, yes and no. There is still an additioonal element of command station functionality in there.
JMRI consisting does true NMRA Advanced Consisting using ONLY CV19. Which was great until sound decoders enter the mix - then you need to fiddle with CV21 and 22 to set which locos make what noises - ie, you want prime mover on for all, but only the lead unit should have a headlight, horn, and bell.
You can run a JMRI created consist on any DCC system. You can pick up the locos and move them to another layout, and couple them back together int he same order, and it they will run as the same consist. What you can't do is just flip ends and swap the leading and trailing units and have the functions work right - well, you can physically swap the locos and it would work, but real railroads don't have giant 0-5-0 switchers to swap the locos around - the engineer or hostler adjusts a few settings and moves to the cab of the other loco and drives off. The whole point of A-B-A or A-B-B-A or just two cab units back to back is that they DON'T have to be turned on a loop, wye, or turntable. That makes pure CV19 consists a bit cumbersome, at least for turn type operation. If the locos run from terminal a to terminal b and then the consist is broken up, and the return train hauled by a completely different consist that may or may not contain any of the locos that arrived witht he last consist, then it's not such a big deal.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NCE uses something called "Intelligent Consisting". Motor commands are sent to the consist address, function commmands to the lead locomotive's address. It is a cross between decoder and command station consisting.
For specifics, consult JMRI users at their new website.
https://groups.io/g/jmriusers
RR Baron
Robert
The Tularosa Basin RR operating in the High Desert of Southern New Mexico
The Tularosa Basin: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Tularosa-Basin-NM-USGS-map_opaque.gif
JMRI DecoderPro currently cannot be used to build a NCE Advanced Consist.
CV 19 must be set by NCE Consist Setup commands . If CV 19 is set by any other method, NCE Advanced Consist will not work as intended. Also, if CV 19 is changed from the number set by NCE Consist Setup - NCE Advanced Consist will no longer work as designed to work.
NCE Advanced Consist only works if used with the command station that did the setup.
FYI -
Compatibility issue -
ESU LokSound V4 and V3.5 decoders do not respond to a NCE Advanced Consist CLEAR ALL ADVANCED CONSISTS as expected. The workaround is to use CONSIST DEL <loco address> command.
rettoprettop wrote the following post 2 hours ago: bandmjim Again you are setting CV19, if you set it, and is written to the decoder it stays with the decoder (loco) until YOU change it, you are not letting the NCE system select a consist number (cv19) it is easy to get confused with this I can see. I sure hope this works for me. This would fulfill my desire to go from remote test tracks to layout without having to reconfigure the consist. If it allows layout to layout flexibility, it shouldn't matter that my test tracks are Power Cab & the layout is Power Pro. Would this method work even if one layout is NCE and the other Digitrax? Can this methodology be done using only the NCE cabs or is Decoder Pro required?
What, exactly, are you trying to accomplish here, other than make life difficult for yourself?
The only things you need to program on a programming track are the individual loco addresses; whether or not it is going to run using the short or long address; whether or not the loco will run on DC and DCC or DCC only; how many speed steps you want to use; and which direction is normally forward. Everything else can be done with programming on the main. And that includes consisting. You don't need JMRI to do any of that stuff.
Concerning this "portability" thing that you seem so concerned about, your best and easiest solution is to consist on the main using the method used by whatever system is used on the railroad you are visiting. Yes, you can assign your own value to CV19, something between 1 and 127. Let's say you want that to be 26.
That will give you the portability you desire. No matter where you take the loco it will run if the selected address is 26. That is because you have given it a number that most DCC systems will recognize as a short address. But I suspect that all the other functions that you will have programmed such as bell and horn will not work properly because they want to be associated with the loco address, not the DCC consist address.
Further, you will confuse yourself because you will forget what number you used for the consist address. And you will confuse everyone else who is used to looking on the side of the cab for the loco number and can't get the train to run because it is in the way.
Now in your specific case, the best thing to do at your basement is to let the NCE system pick the consist number for you. Again you are doing this on the main. Now you don't need to remember anything, except to look at the number on the cab. If you find that you need to remember what the consist number is for some reason, you can always "browse consists" and the system will show you which locos are in which consists.
Yes you can use your NCE system to program the consist number, just to make that clear, you program your number into cv19 (0-127) makes no difference what system you use as long as you program cv19, try it, and remember the number as that is the number that will operate the loco from now on, until you program zero ( 0 ) into cv19 again. I use a 3x5 card to note numbers and settings for each loco and keep it in the box with the loco as a reminder of what is going on. Again it will now work on any system as long as YOU set the number into cv19. Jim
As long as you set cv19, regardless of what system you use NCE, Digitrax, JMRI, and do not let the system, other than JMRI ,set the value in CV19 , meaning you have to set a value in cv19 manually, most likely on the program track you should be good to go, then it retains the number in cv19 on the decoder and can be used on most any system regardless of mfg. Depending on the mfg. of the decoder will determine how or if you can assign the functions. LokSound gives you the most options of the decoders that I have used, but takes some practice to get just what you want, but can be done. Other decoders usually have less options or few,depends again on the mfg. JMRI Decoder pro is the easiest way to go really, click and write it to the decoder, the address, the rest can be done by program on the main with JMRI, and you can do each loco seperate as it will progam each by its road number that you assigned not the consist (cv19) number, remember. Give each loco its own number and give them all the same consist (cv19) number, then programming on the main, select the loco by its number and you can then program it to adjust speed, sounds, and functions. confused yet? again!
bandmjimAgain you are setting CV19, if you set it, and is written to the decoder it stays with the decoder (loco) until YOU change it, you are not letting the NCE system select a consist number (cv19) it is easy to get confused with this I can see.
I sure hope this works for me. This would fulfill my desire to go from remote test tracks to layout without having to reconfigure the consist. If it allows layout to layout flexibility, it shouldn't matter that my test tracks are Power Cab & the layout is Power Pro. Would this method work even if one layout is NCE and the other Digitrax? Can this methodology be done using only the NCE cabs or is Decoder Pro required?
I will always run the A units back to back once I program them with ID numbers (road numbers in my case) individually and then consist them. When I do the programming individually should I assign functions like bell etc. at that time or wait until I consist them?
Thanks for the input. I look forward to your reply to the above. I'll try it on the test tracks soon and the layout when I have time.
Robert, again, I assume you are using JMRI and that you will always run these A-B-A as a consist. Like I said using JMRI give each its own number and then go to the Consist tab in JMRI and give them all the same consist number, this will set CV19 to that number and the locos will run under that number, forward and back with no problem. Setting which function will be active in the consist under each loco can be selected, and depending on what decoder is used you will have different options, depends on the decoder. ( like having the bell ring only on the loco in forward direction, or lead loco.) Again you are setting CV19, if you set it, and is written to the decoder it stays with the decoder (loco) until YOU change it, you are not letting the NCE system select a consist number (cv19) it is easy to get confused with this I can see. Please try setting it with JMRI and give it a try I think it will do what you want it to do, then play with setting up the functions. Jim
Ok, again, regardless of the system that you use, if you are using JMRI to program, give each loco a different ID, its road number or what ever, then in JMRI go to Consist, and give each loco a consist number, same number for each, lets say 5, in the consist frame you can set the direction of travel for each , normal or rev. and below that you can set which function buttons are active in this consist, some decoders allow more options than others and are easier to setup than others. Now all three locos will respont to the CV 19 address (5), once and done, you can move them as you wish, program on the main with their original address to speed match or what ever. Once set up this way is how I run my consisted locos as they always stay consisted and run consisted and move from one layout to another with out any further programming, easy. Jim
wjstix rettop My question is easy to state but I fear difficult to acheive: Once I consist both A units as A-A only, and CV29 is set to reverse on the 2nd loco, must I always run the consist in only the forward direction. If I reverse the consist at the cab, will they run in the opposite direction (nicely)? I think probably not. Is there a method to make a consist bidirectional? I assume an A-B-A configuration is setup like a 3 loco consist but can the consist then be bidirectional? OK, I might be missing something but here goes my take.... If you have an A-B-A set of F-units that always run together (with the A units facing away from each other) and you give each one the same ID number, one of the A units will have to be set for normal forward operation, and the other A unit will have to be set to go backwards when you set your throttle to forward. Once they are all set up and speed matched, you can run the 3-unit set forwards or backwards as you wish and they will all go the same direction. If you have an A-B-A set of F-units, and each has a separate ID number, you can set up all three in a consist, but only one of the engines can be the 'lead' engine. Your throttle's instructions to the consist to go forwards or backwards will be based on what is forward and backwards for that lead engine. So if you have one A unit as the lead engine, the consist will follow that engine. If you run the train to a dead-end spur and want to now use a run-around track and have the other A unit be the lead unit, you'd need to break down the consist in your DCC control system and re-do it with the other A unit as lead unit. Note that in a multi-unit DCC consist with sound engines, all three engines will make diesel rumble sounds etc., but normally only the lead engine's bell and horn will sound.
rettop My question is easy to state but I fear difficult to acheive: Once I consist both A units as A-A only, and CV29 is set to reverse on the 2nd loco, must I always run the consist in only the forward direction. If I reverse the consist at the cab, will they run in the opposite direction (nicely)? I think probably not. Is there a method to make a consist bidirectional? I assume an A-B-A configuration is setup like a 3 loco consist but can the consist then be bidirectional?
My question is easy to state but I fear difficult to acheive: Once I consist both A units as A-A only, and CV29 is set to reverse on the 2nd loco, must I always run the consist in only the forward direction. If I reverse the consist at the cab, will they run in the opposite direction (nicely)? I think probably not. Is there a method to make a consist bidirectional?
I assume an A-B-A configuration is setup like a 3 loco consist but can the consist then be bidirectional?
OK, I might be missing something but here goes my take....
If you have an A-B-A set of F-units that always run together (with the A units facing away from each other) and you give each one the same ID number, one of the A units will have to be set for normal forward operation, and the other A unit will have to be set to go backwards when you set your throttle to forward. Once they are all set up and speed matched, you can run the 3-unit set forwards or backwards as you wish and they will all go the same direction.
If you have an A-B-A set of F-units, and each has a separate ID number, you can set up all three in a consist, but only one of the engines can be the 'lead' engine. Your throttle's instructions to the consist to go forwards or backwards will be based on what is forward and backwards for that lead engine. So if you have one A unit as the lead engine, the consist will follow that engine. If you run the train to a dead-end spur and want to now use a run-around track and have the other A unit be the lead unit, you'd need to break down the consist in your DCC control system and re-do it with the other A unit as lead unit.
Note that in a multi-unit DCC consist with sound engines, all three engines will make diesel rumble sounds etc., but normally only the lead engine's bell and horn will sound.
That's not trues, at least with NCE. NCE knows which loco is the lead and which is the trail, they have special meanings, because when you create the consist, it first asks for the lead loco, then it asks for the trailing loco, NOT any that may be in the middle. After you enter the address of the lead and trail locos, THEN you add all the ones in the middle.
It works because, even in a consist, a decoder will respond to function commands on its primary address. It will only respond to speed and direction on the consist address. Function response to the consist (CV19) address depends on the values of CV21 and 22, but function response to the decoder's actual address work exactly as if the loco wasn;t even in a consist. That's why NCE records the lead and trail numbers, it actually stores those and uses that to control the consist so you do not have to break it down and rebuild at the end of a run to go back the other way.
I'm ALMOST convincing myself to go NCE< but it's not difficult to do consisting with Digtrax, either. It doesn;t touch CV19, it just stores it all in the coommand station. With the dual knob throttles, you can control speed and direction from one address and direct the function commands to another - I do this with my club consist all the time, it contains a pair of GP7s with motor only decoders with an Atlas Trainmaster with QSI in the moddle. The technically I could consist it by simply picking the Trainmaster's address first, and then adding the Geeps in any order since there is no special concept of leading or trailing unbit with Digitrax consisting. Even then there is little need to break it up at the end of a run on a point to point layout to then go back the other way - just dial up the (former) trailing unit on the second knob and hitting the horn button sounds its horn, not the horn on the (former) leading unit which is now trailing. Just like it should.
RR BaronRR Baron wrote the following post yesterday: Randy covered - But it is an important fact so I will repeat. A locomotive in a consist the direction of its travel is determined by CV 19 not CV 29. Except when same address is assigned to all locos -- meaning CV 19 is not used and the DCC system does not know it is a consist. ================== NCE uses CV 21 and CV 22 differently than other DCC systems. Visit NCE Information Station in their website for more need to know details. https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001112643-Setting-up-an-Advanced-Consist-the-NCE-way
The link to Dave Heap's instructions for creating NCE consists is very instructional and also interesting with the addendums. I had seen it way back but forgotton about it. Thanks for posting it.
Also thanks to everyone who posted their consisting methods and narratives. I have read every one carefully. I have to admit that taking all into consideration is a little bewildering. Some of the methods are very simple in terms of setting up the consist by using engine ID's only but I wonder about the horn/light functions being correct. Other methods involve altering CV's, a step I would rather avoid and which may be unneeded if other methods can be used such as the ones posted by RR Baron & RRinker (Randy). This is not meant to dismiss any of the other methods presented.
The BLI E1 (not F3) A-B-A units are close coupler connected but I can't think of any scenario in which they might run as an A unit only but might run back to back without the B unit. I do know (now) that consists must be configured on the controller of the operating layout or test tracks, and why- thanks for that.
Bottom line to all this accumulated consisting knowledge is that because I use NCE only, I will use the built in consisting menus for both Power Pro & Power Cab with the guidlines provided by NCE (Dave Heap) via the link above.
I hope I'm now on the correct path. If anyone has additional comments, I welcome them.
Thanks again to: wjstix, bandmjim, dehusman, RR Baron, rrinker, MisterBeasley, BigDaddy & 7j43k
My club has DCC we use the smaller box throttles for running and have two "hammerheads" for consisting and such, if you use a "hammerhead" it is pretty intuitive, just start a new consist add the first cab number, direction that Loco is facing and then do the last loco, then you can add more in between, from there out the lead loco will be determined by the cab number entered, so say you have locos 1A 2B 3B 4A you'd like to run 4A as the lead loco so enter it's cab number, let's say you reach a turn around point and have to go the other way, you reenter the loco cab number as 1A now it will be the lead loco. To break the consist just delete each unit out of the consist. Once you do it once or twice it becomes more natural.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
RR BaronRR Baron wrote the following post 19 hours ago: The "NCE shame on you" is not deserved. That's my opinion, not yours. Was that too abrupt?
No sir, just right.
bandmjim Robert, my question is are you always going to be running your A-B-A's as a consist, and almost never splitting them up, if so I would suggest that you use CV 19 for consisting them and then with luck you will never have to mess with them again, once you figure out mapping the functions ( depending on decoders used) you might find that is the easy way to go. Some decoders are easier to figure out than others but it can be done, esp. with JMRI. Then you can move them from layout to layout with out going through any more programming.
Robert, my question is are you always going to be running your A-B-A's as a consist, and almost never splitting them up, if so I would suggest that you use CV 19 for consisting them and then with luck you will never have to mess with them again, once you figure out mapping the functions ( depending on decoders used) you might find that is the easy way to go. Some decoders are easier to figure out than others but it can be done, esp. with JMRI. Then you can move them from layout to layout with out going through any more programming.
If they are drawbar connected locos that will always run together, the easiest thing to do is just give them the same address. As I mentioned above, if you set CV19, then you will have to set CV21 and 22 in each of them so oonly the lead loco has bell and horn, and headlight, and whatever else should only happen on the loco leading the way. Then you have to take those values and put them in the trailing unit, and reset CV21 and 22 in the lead unit, when you want to runt he whole thing in the opposite direction. A lot of unnecessary effort if the consist is built using the standard NCE way.
Which is what I've been saying all along. Just use the menu on the cab to build the consist and everything will work as expected. No need to fiddle with programming the loco. And I don't even have NCE, I just read the instructions
CV21 and 22 are 0 by default in any decoder I've seen, so nothing to do - stick them on the track, hit the consist button, and follow the prompts.
It remains that this is not portable between two different NCE systems - which is the problem the OP in the other thread on this subject had. If you build the consist on one system, the other one has no clue about that lead and trailing loco number, so all that good stuff about just picking the address of one or the other depending on which way you want to run the consist doesn't work. You go fromt he best system of consisting to more or less the worst possible way to do it - the equivalent of manually programming CV19 and then setting CV21 and 22 in each loco in the consist so only the lead one has bells and whistles, and then manually setting CV21 and 22 again on the other loco when wanting to change direction. A consist built on the system you control it with has none of those issues, it just works as simply as described.
dehusman I've had an NCE system for years and I couldn't tell what CV's are involved or what anything's set to because I just build a consist following the NCE menu of entering lead, trail and middle engines and their direction and just hit enter. When I want the egine on the lefthand end of the consist to lead, I dial up that engine number. When I want the engine of the righthand end o the consist to lead, I dial up that number. No fiddling with CV's or consist numbers of anything.
I've had an NCE system for years and I couldn't tell what CV's are involved or what anything's set to because I just build a consist following the NCE menu of entering lead, trail and middle engines and their direction and just hit enter. When I want the egine on the lefthand end of the consist to lead, I dial up that engine number. When I want the engine of the righthand end o the consist to lead, I dial up that number. No fiddling with CV's or consist numbers of anything.
Because -
NCE has some command station features regarding locomotive consist not required by NMRA standards. Once an Advanced Conssit is correctly built the NCE consist manger (firmware) ensures the correct CV 21 and CV 22 apply depending on loco consist position at the time the consist is being run. Thus if you change loco consist position you do not have to reprogram CV 21 and 22.
Depending on function its CV 21 or CV 22 factory default value of zero will do when consist first built.
The "NCE shame on you" is not deserved. That's my opinion, not yours.
Was that too abrupt?
RR BaronThe "NCE shame on you" is not deserved.
If you look closley you'll see that the phrase you object to is there in jest because NCE named their two systems Power Pro & Power Cab. If you also read my posts carefully you may have noticed that I use only NCE systems. I wouldn't do so if I had a problem with NCE. I do find the two similar names sometimes confusing. That's my opinion, not yours.
Mr. RR Baron, you supply really good information on this forum and I do appreciate it a lot. Sometimes your offerings seem, if not testy, well... maybe just abrupt.
dehusmanI've had an NCE system for years and I couldn't tell what CV's are involved or what anything's set to because I just build a consist following the NCE menu of entering lead, trail and middle engines and their direction and just hit enter. When I want the egine on the lefthand end of the consist to lead, I dial up that engine number. When I want the engine of the righthand end o the consist to lead, I dial up that number. No fiddling with CV's or consist numbers of anything.
+1
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
What is missing is what does what, when and how it does it and what is kept where.
JMRI DecoderPro is just a graphical way to communicate to the DCC command station what you want done/ to happen. It is the DCC command station that creates and sends instructions to the decoder. When building a consist with NCE some info is in the command station and some info is in decoders. NCE DCC command station knows what locos are in the consist ID and the position each loco is in in the consist. Decoder in loco knows the consist ID it is in not the other locos in the consist.
The "NCE shame on you" is not deserved.
Guys, I have a headache going from one thread to another, LOL. I wish there was some way to take all of the great info from both and combine them. Is there a way?
Thanks to all for the feedback/replys so far.
I am now aware that I can't program a consist on my test track with Power Cab and then transport them to the layout that uses Power Pro without reconfiguring the consist again.
Just as an aside can't model railroad product names avoid having "pro" or "power" included? NCE shame on you.
CV21 and 22 are defined by the NMRA standards, not by NCE or Digitrax. They work the same way in all decoders. And on all systems.
NCE wants it to be 0, because their method of consisting handles the functions active in a consist. Digitrax, it doesn't matter because Digitrax doesn;t use CV19 for consisting by default and what loco gets sent the bell and horn functions is handled by the command station. CV21 and 22 ONLY matter with CV19 being non-zero and only applies when you bypass the consisting done by the system and manually set CV19, and then control the consist via the CV19 address. Which you can do with most any system, but why? That means you then DO have to mess with 21 and 22 to get the right locos to work as intended so the middle unit isn't blowing the horn.
Removed original reply as several subsequent replies with more detail made it unnecessary.