They dooon;t really use CV21 and 22 differently - they just don;t use them at all. Because when you build the consist, it knows the actual address of the lead loco. ANd on ANY system, even if CV19 is set to a non-zero number, you can control the functions by addressing the commands to the loco's 'normal' address. You just can;t control the speed or direction - the decoder only responds to speed and direction command sent to the CV19 address. So you don;t need to set CV21 and 22 to control what functions respond to a consist address, the system sends speed and direction commands to the consist address, so all the locos respond, but sends function commands only to the lead loco. Notice the order you build a consist, as well - you put in the leader, then the trailer, and THEN any that are in the middle. That's because they are tracking TWO regular addresses - the lead and the trailing unit, so when you get to the end of the line and want go go back the way you came, it can flip which is the lead. The units in the middle aren;t intended to do anything other than follow along with speed and direction, so the order they are added to the consist doesn;t matter.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
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
RR Baron
Yes, the PowerCab works the same way. You just might not have enough power for a massive ABBBA consist is all.
THis is what I was trying to say int he other thread - you should not have to mess with CV21 and CV22 with NCE, it handles that for you IF you build the consist on the system you run it on. If you set CV19 manually and then try to run it using the CV19 address, you will need to configure CV21 and 22 in each loco. But why would you do that? Just use the Consist menu on the cab and set it up, easy peazy.
rrinkerDo not consist with the PowerCab on your test track and then carry the locos to the layout - the consists are NOT portable. While a lot of the 'magic' happens in the decoder with CV19, there IS information stored in the system related to the consist. You can test it on the test track, but then break up the consist following the NCE instructions before moving the locos to the main layout, and then build the consist using your ProCab.
Is that also true if one only has a Powercab? Seems like that would be the same system.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
With NCE consisting you pick which loco is the lead and which is the trail, then add any in-between ones, like the B unit. The system automatically handles changing direction (which makes the former leader the trailer, and vice-versa). You do not need CV29 involved here, the directioon is set by how it configures CV19. Whatever consist number it assigns is used in CV19 for any loco going normal forward. If you say the loco you add is going reverse (it's on the menu as you add the loco to the consist), it uses the consist number +128 in CV19, which means use that consist number but travel the opposite direction.
Do not consist with the PowerCab on your test track and then carry the locos to the layout - the consists are NOT portable. While a lot of the 'magic' happens in the decoder with CV19, there IS informatioon stored in the system related to the consist. You can test it on the test track, but then break up the consist following the NCE instructions before moving the locos to the main layout, and then build the consist using your ProCab.
I have a Lenz DCC system and mine works that way.
With Lenz, I can run the consist from either the consist address or the individual addresses of any of the locomotives. If running forward, I use the address of the lead engine, and if running reverse I use the trailing engine, so that the headlight is properly controlled.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
rettopI assume an A-B-A configuration is setup like a 3 loco consist but can the consist then be bidirectional?
Starting a new thread is a good thing. I am not the consist guru but I would bet money a consist has to be bidirectional.
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?
The consist should then be bidirectional. We do it all the time.
Ed
I have been following the I got to be honest, not a good experience with Bachman products because of the interesting consisting information. I didn't want to hijack that topic so I,m going with this one.
By way of background, I use all BLI locos, mostly steam except for my new F3 Set. The layout is all NCE Power Pro but I use Power Panel cabs for programming (on test tracks near the Win10 computer) and for testing (speed match, etc.). I recently installed a DCC interface to the taest tracks and I'm learning the latest JMRI Decoder Pro.
Thanks for your interest, I hope and thanks in advance.
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