A few days ago, I picked up a Bachman HO 3-truck shay. I ran it on its old Analog decoder for a while, then I switched it with a TCS WOW101 Steam decoder that I had tucked away in a spare parts bin. I switched on my Digitrax DCS210 and DT500 throttle, and I navigated to Address 3 (Default). I used a few functions, but nothing happened. The idling sounds were playing, but I could do nothing. After thinking for a minute, I realized that I had forgotten the address all together. I thought 'Oh, big whoop. I'll just reset'. I hit the "LOCO RESET" key to reset it back to 3, but nothing happened. shut off and turned it on again, and nothing. My guess is that its address is not 3. Is there any way I can rescue this 'mystery address'?
Grant
On the programming track, write 2 to either CV8 or CV30. You'll probably need to power cycle afterwards (lift one side off rails for a few seconds)
Peter
Tried that, had no outcome. Any other fix?
Go to the TCS website and look up Audio assist. Follow the instructions and it will get you to a reset option.
Didn't I state before that I completely forgot the decoder's address? Using Audio Assist would be pointless if I have no decoder address to edit.
NickelPlateGrant Didn't I state before that I completely forgot the decoder's address? Using Audio Assist would be pointless if I have no decoder address to edit.
What is the "reset key"? I'm assuming that you put the loco with the new decoder on a programming track and started programming from scratch? If you did that it would not matter what the existing decoder address is.
It's not new. I had it buried in a parts bin, as mentioned in the first post. Before, I had used it on about 2 other locomotives. The reset key is found on the DCS210, and its purpose is to wipe any decoder on the track to factory state, which it failed to do, oddly.
I was just reading the manual on the DCS210, and it seems that reset button is more for releasing locos in a consist, or if your getting a "slot full" error.
I would go to the TCS site, find out how to reset the decoder you have back to factory defaults, and follow that procedure.
Mike.
My You Tube
NickelPlateGrantUsing Audio Assist would be pointless if I have no decoder address to edit.
It's been a while since I used audio assist, but I'm not sure you need the addy.
https://tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/2018-05/WOWSteam%20Sound%20Manual%20v4.pdf
8888 then 4 then 3 then 2.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Using your Digitrax throttle: Enter programming track mode, pick CV 8, enter a value of 2, press ENTER, and cycle power. You should then be able to operate your loco on address 3. You don't need to know the previous address to do that...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The reset button on the DCS210 clears the command station, it does not reset any decoders.
If you don't know the address, simply put the loco on the program track and set whatever address you want. You do not need to know the old address to program a new one on the program track.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NickelPlateGrantIt's not new
Yes, I realize it is not "new". It is "new" to the loco. Anyway, I'm not sure why you are adverse to putting the darn thing on a programming track and starting fresh.
And, FYI, just went through a similar issue with a loco at the club last night. An individual had a loco that made sound but didn't move. Since it was a steamer, it took us a couple minutes to realize that he had consisted it with another loco and had forgotten that fact. And of course he didn't remember what that consist address was, so the loco just sat there waiting for him to try the other 9,998 addresses.
As far as that reset key goes, I'm not a Digitrax person, but I've been here awhile and I've never heard of that being used to reset a decoder. Maybe it's something new.
Oh, right, that reminds me. Call me unprofessional, but I don't have this "programming track". Nor do I have a layout. Just a loop of track because I'm moving in a few weeks. Also, Tom, how does one enter programming mode?
Your loop of track will work just fine as your programming track, Grant - even a single piece of track - as long as your Digitrax system is attached to it.
I use NCE so I don't know how to program with a Digitrax throttle. Should be in your DT500 throttle or Digitrax manual though.
[Edit: Looks like it's found on pg 56-57 of your DT500 throttle manual.]
Look in the manual for the DT500, it's chapter 11, starts on page 55.
As Tom says, just use your loop of track. Once when you get a lay out built, then you'll want to include a programming track.
EDIT: Sorry Tom, you beat me to it. I just seen your edit when I posted.
It's happened to me before, too, Mike.
Probably not possible, but can someone provide a step-by-step walkthrough? Nothing's happening. Talk to me as if you're talking to someone who's just started in the hobby, because that's pretty close to who you're talkin' to, lol.
The place to find all this information is in the manual for you DCC system. You will first need to look for the section on setting up a programming track. I think there is a different place on the command station to plug it in, but it really don’t know without looking at the manual. The find the manual for you decoder and find which CV you need to program and what value you need to set it at to reset the decoder. Then figure out how to program CVs on you system, found in you manual. The do everything.
Expect this to take a lot of reading. I took me quite a while to figure it out and a lot of try’s in which it didn’t work. Just persevere! You can do it!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
What's not possible? If you don't have the manuals, here's links, from the Digitrax web site.
DCS210 manual:
http://www.digitrax.com/media/apps/products/command-stations-boosters/dcs210/documents/Evolution_manual_rev.1.pdf
DT500 manual:
http://www.digitrax.com/media/apps/products/throttles/dt500/documents/DT500_manual_rev.1.pdf
A lot of the same information is in both manuals.
Okay, this was said before, but I need to say it again alone so it can (hopefully) get across better.I don't have the address for the engine/decoder, that's why I started this in the first place. Due to the fact that I don't have the address and the address is lost in the other 9,982 addresses, I have no control over anything on the engine, just the outside stuff. So ANY of the TCS CV programming ain't gonna work in this type of scenario that I'm obviously failing at explaining, lol. I can only control the DCS210, DT500, an unfinished program track, and that's it....Is that better or do I have to start over?
Grant,
I don't know how to make it any plainer to you: You DO NOT need the original decoder address in order for you to reset your decoder to factory settings.
What little I picked up glancing at the DT500 manual is that you access programming mode by pressing the PROG button. Then you choose which mode you want program in. Change CV8 to "2", press EXIT, then cycle power. That will reset your decoder back to address 3.
[Edit: Pgs 58-59 of the DT500 manual show you how to call up and enter values into individual CVs]
If you needed to know the original decoder address to reset your decoder...you wouldn't need to reset it...
Eh, I guess "plainer" ain't good enough. I'll just say it's broken and buy a new one. At least it'll have a pre-set address that I'll actually know, LOL. Decoder probably got internally sandwiched by a bunch of parts anyway. Aye, thanks for the suggestions.
Good Luck, Ed
NickelPlateGrant Eh, I guess "plainer" ain't good enough. I'll just say it's broken and buy a new one. At least it'll have a pre-set address that I'll actually know, LOL. Decoder probably got internally sandwiched by a bunch of parts anyway. Aye, thanks for the suggestions.
Okie-doke. Hope you don't have to reset that one at some point.
So, when you said the TCS Wow was "tucked away in a spare parts bin", was it still inside its protective anti-static bag? Or, rolling around freely?
Just curious...
Oh boy. he's just not gettin'it at all. He just don't and won't understand that the lost address of the decoder doesn't make any difference for a factory reset.
Tom you have done everything but take the loco from his hands and do it yourself!
I only hope that after he buys a new one, that he never has to reset it.
He needs to get up close with the manuals and figure out how to use his Evolution Starter Set. From the way it sounds, he still doesn't understand what that "reset" button on the DCS210 does, and insist that it should reset his decoder.
Good luck Mr. Grant!
I'll give it one last shot - the basic hookup in the instruction manual is NOT that complicated to follow, but hey...
Take all your other locos off your loop of track
Take the wires hooked to the Rail A and Rail B terminals on the DCS and hook them to PGM A and PGM B. Now you have a program track.
Instructions and/or the video above show you how to set an address. Just do that. it does not matter what the current address is. Setting the address makes it what you set it, regardless of what it might have been before.
Switch the wires back to Rail A and Rail B. Now run your loco on the address you set it to.
Do not overthink. Just because it SEEMS complex does not mean it actually is. Inside those black boxes it may be complex, but you don't need to know that to actually use it. Everyone on here uses a computer or some sort of smart device to post on these forums, how many actually know how a computer or smartphone actually work? DCC is no different.
I still use an older DB150, and after a reset, it shuts down track power, and you have to turn track power back on, which recycles the power and completes the reset.
I not sure how the DCS210 works for the power recycle.
Phew, geez, Mike, That's a much-expected punch in the gut. Welp, despite how much that kinda hurt, I was able to reset it, thanks to the Digitrax video that was posted by gmpullman...
Until the speaker touched the board and it short-circuited the decoder. Somebody queue a failure trombone sequence, lol.
I honestly didn't mean it to be a "punch in the gut" just wondering what it's going to take to get you to realize you don't need the "old address" for a reset.
Sorry, I didn't mean to hit so hard!
And I'm glad Ed's video did it for you!
And, Hurray, you got it!!
NickelPlateGrant Somebody queue a failure trombone sequence, lol.
Yup, been there....
So tell me, did the DCS210 shut down track power after the reset, and you had to turn track power back on to complete the process?
That's the way my old DB150 does it, just wondering if the newer DCS210 works the same.
NickelPlateGrant Until the speaker touched the board and it short-circuited the decoder. Somebody queue a failure trombone sequence, lol.
Noooo! After all this work!
So your going to have to get a new decoder after all! All this work for nothing!
Iv’e never had a decoder short-circuit, and am glad of it. Hope you get the engine working eventually