I think it's pretty much impossible to beat the ScaleTrains Rivet Counter series in plastic. No one else's palstic locos come close. Of course there's a price, literally, to pay for that nice detail. Plus they make nothing of interest to me. I don't much care for modern railroading.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
That question has been asked several times before on the forum and the answer is always..."It depends". Every manufacturer makes winners and duds so you have to take each manufactured locomotive on a case-by-case basis.
Detail is contingent on the manufacturer's design and attention to detail of the prototype. Realistic operation and sound, OTOH, is pretty much up to the decoder manufacturer and the quality of the sound files. One exception would be an OEM decoder made specifically for the manufacturer's particular locomotive by the sound decoder manufacturer.
Of the "Big Three" sound decoder company's - i.e. Soundtraxx, ESU, and TCS, the latter two are the best at motor-control and realistic operation. I think Soundtraxx & TCS are the leaders on steam files and ESU & TCS are better than Soundtraxx in regards to diesel sounds - at least that's been my experience.
So, again - "best" is contingent on a number of factors and doesn't necessary transfer across board to one particular manufacturer.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
A general question for all you long-timers. In your opinion, who makes the best HO DCC engines as far as detail, realistic operation and sounds?
I quickly realized that my 2 ScaleTrain engines are by far better quality products in performance and sound than compaired to my new engine from Broadway. My EMD SD40-2 by far has the best sound. Both ScaleTrain engines have the best realistic momentum from starting from a full stop, ramping up speed and going back to 000.
50 years ago my dad developed a DC controller modeled after real diesal engine throttles that had realistic momentum from 0 to 60MPH and back to 0 (HO scale model MPH). He ran adds in Model Railroader. Don't know how many he sold but I helpped assemble a bunch of them.
Buy a booster?
If you push Prog/esc, then the number 6, you should see Set Cab Param
Then if you push enter you should see Show Trk Current 1=Y
If you hit Enter, it should return to the clock.
Since you can't post pictures, you will have to tell us what you see and when you see it.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I'm still have not found out how to turn my CLOCK display on my NEC PowerCab. I still just get the "track current" read out. Does anybody know how to switch to display the CLOCK?
Anybody?
I'd post photos here but that feature doesn't work in this forum. I've tried.
BigDaddy Have to disagree with my friend Tom. Once you program it to show amps, it it is not temporary; is stays until you reprogram it.
Have to disagree with my friend Tom. Once you program it to show amps, it it is not temporary; is stays until you reprogram it.
That's what I had originally thought, Henry. When I tried it last night the time setting was restored when I cycled the power. When I tried it again this evening, however, it stayed on the current setting. I was able to restore the time setting when I got into the Cab Parameter setup (pressing PROG/ESC 6x) then cycling through the commends until it took me back to the main screen.
Anyhow, thanks for the correction...
kenbenHowever, I can't get both the run at the same time. I can blow the horns and bells on both. The light are always iffy. When I power up engine #1 to move FWD (or REV) it with start to move. Then while it's running FWD I start engine #2 but it won't move at all. The sound will rev up but no movement. If at this point I disconnect the cable from the PowerCab and plug it right back it, both engine will now run as commanded. Seems I have to do this everythime I power up to get control on each engine at the same time.
I wish I had proper video equipment to make one for you.
Have to disagree with my friend Tom. Once you program it to show amps, it it is not temporary; is stays until you reprogram it. However that isn't the cause of your problems. That said, I have no explanation of what you describe. I also think if you got a bad Powercab, unplugging it and plugging it back in wouldn't help. I vote for a Power Cab reset.
To reset the Power Cab
The only downside of this is that you will have to enter your locos again so recall will work. The instructions don't say you have to cycle the power off and on, but at the cost of 4 seconds out of your life, why not?
For anyone without a Powercab, to display current, you have to push the Program button 6 times, before that option comes up.
Edit Just saw your post, while I was composing mine. Just to be crystal clear, the first time you press the Program/esc key is Ops Programming the 4th time is Program Track. What do you mean by Programming Mode?
tstage,
I'm using the Programming Mode. Programming individual CV's is still a bit beyond my scope of understanding right now. I know they can control every aspect you engine has to offer, but I have to take it one step at a time. Or have detail instructions on how to do ??? whatever.
Thanks for your advice/tips.
bigdaddy,
Yes, this was a brand new PowerCab. At first it displayed the time but after trying to figure out how to grogram, I now only get the voltage/current reading.
I only have one 3' tracked wire to my PowerCab for just testing and programming as far. It will be some time before I'll have my layout where I can test anything on. So my little 3 footer is just for texting and programming.
Next time I get into running through the programming I will take detailed notes. That's why I prefer video tutorials. I learn much faster seeing rather than reading. Once you get past the quick setup things get confusing quickly.
Gregc
I finally have both engine programmed into my PowerCab and can switch between the two with the Recall buttion.
However, I can't get both the run at the same time. I can blow the horns and bells on both. The light are always iffy. When I power up engine #1 to move FWD (or REV) it with start to move. Then while it's running FWD I start engine #2 but it won't move at all. The sound will rev up but no movement. If at this point I disconnect the cable from the PowerCab and plug it right back it, both engine will now run as commanded. Seems I have to do this everythime I power up to get control on each engine at the same time.
You're correct, Randy. Current can be set up to display temporarily but will go back to the default when the Power Cab is shut off.
It's a current reading, not voltage, isn't it?
kenben,
Are you using programming mode to program your decoders with your Power Cab? Or, programming it accessing individual CVs? When initially programming the address, use programming mode (press PROG/ESC 4x > ENTER > 1). This will let you program both short and long addresses. I use this to setup my decoders initially then change individual CVs (e.g CV29, CV61, CV49 & CV50, etc.) to my liking.
Greg's advice about setting up the recall is sound. Whichever address comes up on the LCD screen, press RECALL. If it's the same, press SELECT LOCO and enter the other address then press ENTER. Now press the RECALL button and you should be able to toggle between the two addresses.
The time is the default setting on your Power Cab and the voltage current reading is only viewable if you change the settings in your Power Cab. You must have activated that feature when you were entering values into your Power Cab.
[Edit: Restarting your Power Cab (by unplugging and plugging it back into your PCP panel socket) will return the time display default.]
kenbenThe NCE PowerCab manual is a nighmare to try and understand. And I can't find how to set the SHORT address. It never comes up. Only the LONG address. Very confusing. Wish there was a good tutorail video that "shows" you how to program it. And on power up I now get the voltage reading instead of the time and I have to manually go in and change that everytime. ???
And on power up I now get the voltage reading instead of the time and I have to manually go in and change that everytime. ???
As far as I can remember, I've never seen the voltage current displayed. There is a setting to see that. Was this a Power Cab that was purchased new or used?
How are you programing, on the main or programming track?
I see Randy has suggested not to use short address, but it still should come up as an option, using either mode.
Recall be can adjusted. If it is 1, it only remembers one loco. With your problems with showing voltage current, and recall, it might be easier to do a system reset on the powercab, described on page 59 of the Manual ver 1.65
Maybe if you walks us through the steps in how you are programming the address and what you are seeing, we can see if there is something you are doing wrong.
basically, don;t use short addresses with NCE. Short addresses overlap the consist address range, and since the NCE consisting takes care of coming up with a consist number so you don't have to figure thatout, there's always a chance it could conflict with a user-assigned short address. NCE allows the entire DCC address range to be used as long addresses, so if the cab number of your loco is, say 40, just make it long address 40 and it will work fine with your NCE system. It won't work if you take it to a layout using any of the other popular DCC systems though.
kenbenBiggest problem is I can't get my PowerCab to switch between the two engines. RECALL does not work. It only remember the last cab entered.
presumably this means you see the same addr when you hit the recall button. could the same address be programmed into both slots?
change the address, press the recall button to see if it changes. If it does, press the recall button again to see if the original address appears
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Well I spent the day trying to figure out this programing for my SD40-2 and 4 GEVO. Got the SD40-2 to finally run forward and reverse. Lots of trial and error trying to figure out my NCE PowerCab. Mostly error. Got all lights to work somehow. But now the BELL button does not ring the bell on either engine. It does work with the #1 button.
Biggest problem is I can't get my PowerCab to switch between the two engines. RECALL does not work. It only remember the last cab entered. I have to manually enter each engine's number to get control.
The NCE PowerCab manual is a nighmare to try and understand. And I can't find how to set the SHORT address. It never comes up. Only the LONG address. Very confussing. Wish there was a good tutorail video that "shows" you how to program it.
Any tips or guidance? THX
Not a bad idea. Also removes any chance that perhaps the wrong button was pressed when trying to program. Once reset, the loco should run on address 3, and all functions should work. If you get that far - THEN try to set an address. Change nothing else. The PowerCab menu steps through selecting an address and setting it up. If it runs on the new address - try the second loco, same process. Remember to take the first one off the track - the powercab does not have a dedicated program track so any loco left on the rails will get programmed. There are ways to avoid that, but save that for later, stick with simple. Once you have both locos operating on an address you want (most people use the cab number), then we can look into other settings, both for the decoder and the PowerCab.
kenben Just got my test/programming track wired and the PowerCab connected. As soon as I place my 1st engine on the track it comes alive with the engine idling sounds. Horn, bell and lights seem to turn on and off. So I go through the steps in the PowerCab Manual to do a basic program set up on this engine and now I get NO ENGINE sounds at all. Engine runs, horn and bell work and 2 of the 4 lights work. Where did the engine sounds go? Also, when to turn on power to your layout how do you "start" the engines idling? Am I missing something in the basic set up? Thanks.
Just got my test/programming track wired and the PowerCab connected. As soon as I place my 1st engine on the track it comes alive with the engine idling sounds. Horn, bell and lights seem to turn on and off.
So I go through the steps in the PowerCab Manual to do a basic program set up on this engine and now I get NO ENGINE sounds at all. Engine runs, horn and bell work and 2 of the 4 lights work. Where did the engine sounds go?
Also, when to turn on power to your layout how do you "start" the engines idling?
Am I missing something in the basic set up?
Thanks.
Randy Rinker advises doing a full factory reset of all new decoders as a matter of cheap insurance against glitches that may confound the initial setup.
Depending on the numerical value of the address you are attempting to programme into the decoder, you should consider also the numerical value programmed into CV29 at the same time. It's a very important CV that imparts directionality to the way the locomotive moves in 'forward', but also both lights control and dual voltage sensitivity (modern decoders respond to both DC voltage, if that's all you supply it, and to DCC current).
Also, if the DCC system doesn't automatically remove track power and then restore it after a brief interval, or prompt YOU to remove, and then to restore, track power, the decoder won't be reset. It will only respond once again when you have Add "03" on your throttle.
Tom I wasn't being hypercritical. Everyone, including me, feels compeled to tell what they know or what they feel is additive to what is being discussed.
The OP doesn't need to explore more options until he figures out what is going on now.
BigDaddy For now the OP is having trouble switching between 2 locos. The option of increasing that to 4, 6 or maybe more, just complicates things.
For now the OP is having trouble switching between 2 locos. The option of increasing that to 4, 6 or maybe more, just complicates things.
Henry,
It was merely informational and a confirmation that the Power Cab can toggle between two (and up to 6, total) locomotive addresses. I believe I attempted to address how to add the 2nd address to the recall stack. Unfortunately, I neglected to mention pressing the RECALL button to select the other slot before pressing SELECT LOCO. Thanks, Greg!
They are both Rivet Counter engines.
I will check out check out the other settings.
THX
tstagethe former, the "Essential sound & DCC decoder". (Not sure what that is exactly...Maybe a slimmed down Select?)
I dunno what it is either but it is probably better than a Bachmann Sound Value
I read that the F6 controls the the ditch lights on the GEVO.
Assuming Kenben did everything right and the SD 40 runs backward, the basic setup with the Powercab, lets you change the engine to "reverse"
No offense to the Kenben, but it is possible that he is missing something or not doing it correctly. We see that all the time with posting pictures.
I checked the ScaleTrains website and both of those locomotive come with ESU Loksound decoders. Do you have the Operator or the Rivet Counter version? It looks like the latter comes with the Select V4.0 sound decoder and the former, the "Essential sound & DCC decoder". (Not sure what that is exactly...Maybe a slimmed down Select?)
I would download the Loksound 4.0 manual for setting up the ditch lights. It's possible that they are already set up; you just need to know which F-button to press to activate them.
The issue with your backwards running SD40 is an easy fix. All you have to do is to read the value for CV29 in Programming Track mode and increase it by one. For example, if CV29 reads "6"; change the value to "7". If CV29 reads "34"; change it to "35". If the value is an odd number, however, decrease it by one. Does that make sense?
The default recall stack for your Power Cab is 2 but it can set from 2-6 addresses. With one locomotive address listed on your Power Cab's LCD screen , press the SELECT LOCO button then the address of your other locomotive. Both address should then be in your recall stack and your RECALL button should toggle between the two. If not, then you will need to check to see what the recall stack value is on your Power Cab.
Hope that helps...
They have ESU decoders and sound. The instructions are detailed, as far as functions.
F6 controls the ditch lights, not sure about your directional problem.
Mike.
My You Tube
kenbenAlso the PowerCab will only remember the last cab entered. It will not switch to the ather engine when I press RECALL.
press the recall button before entering a 2nd addr. then you should be able to toggle between the two addresses by pressing the recall button.
you can configure the power cab to have more than just 2 addresses
Both engines from ScaleTrains and the PowerCab are brand new. As I am to DCC.