We help the inaugural DCC Sig meeting this afternoon with Tom Haythornthwaite, Graeme Dunbar, Alan Pollock, Bill Pinfold and myself attending. Many areas of DCC were covered, and we agreed that the primary aim of the group would be to provide support and help to Society members in either the understanding or implementation of DCC - the discussions proved that DCC can be seen a black art which is incorrect because whilst it has jargon, the jargon is relatively simple and isn't a barrier to adopting DCC - the usual barrier is misinformation which is something we aim to avoid and help Members get around.
A summary of the major discussion point is;
Reading and Writing CVs
My summary here would be that if your Command Station can read and write CV1 (Loco Address) then it should be able to read and write the other CVs as the limitation with CVs are in the decoder not in the command station. The command station doesn't actually know what decoder it is connected to (excepting for ESU ECOS and Railcom+) and when reading it simply asks for the decoder value that is stored in the CV – HOWEVER not all decoders support ALL CVs, and excepting the mandated NMRA CVs you cannot rely on the meaning of a CV in one manufacturer meaning the same for another manufacture. Also not all decoders support all CVs, e.g. Hornby TTS does not support CV5 and CV6.
If you tune a decoder by change any of the values and find that it all goes pear shaped, then simply write 8 to CV8 and this will reset the decoder to OEM defaults (for most decoders)
Split Bus
The use of a split bus as I show in the picture really helps in the layout operation – it is not mandated that you use this but for a few quid it will help the layout operation as you can always switch accessories (e.g. turnout motors) when a track short occurs (e.g. over-run a closed turnout) as you can simply switch the turnout to the correct direction and the train will restart.(https://abload.de/img/splitbus32kk6.jpg)
Power districts and track busses are not quite the same thing – with a power district setup you are splitting the track bus into multiple segments, either because you have a large layout and need additional power, or commonly you have a lot of sound locos and the inrush causes the cut out/booster to trip due to the excess current on start-up. Power districts can also mean (depending on how they are wired) to allow for one area of the layout to fail (or short) but allow the rest of the layout to continue operation.
I will post the date, time and Zoom link for the next meeting and anyone who is interested in DCC or has an issue is welcome to join the meeting where hopefully we will be able to answer the question or provide guidance.
Meantime, if you have questions, post them here or as a new thread (https://www.009society.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
Iain
To Iain, the other members of the DCC SIG, and anybody else who has any thoughts....
I have a couple of FourDees locos that I had Ben at DCCSUPPLIES fit with Digitrax DZ126T decoders. Both locos have seized gone rigid - they won't move, and when I try to programme them (with a Digitrax DCS210) it's as if they aren't there.
I haven't yet taken them apart, but when I do, what should I look for? From the above symptoms, could it just be that a wire has come loose?
I hope to get to tomorrow's SIG meeting but I have a work meeting overlapping the first half-hour.
Tom
Quote from: Tom Haythornthwaite on January 19, 2022, 14:42
I hope to get to tomorrow's SIG meeting but I have a work meeting overlapping the first half-hour.
Tom
Sorry Tim I cant help with your query but:
I would like to try and join tomorrows SIG meeting, Can I do that? is it by Zoom, when?
I searched the web site but see no reference.
Any tips welcome.
Hi Andy,
I'm not quite sure how the information is supposed to be spread (which sounds like my understanding of DCC too), but I've sent you a message in this system with today's Zoom meeting particulars.
**Perhaps these meetings could be put in the calendar?
Tom
We had the second DCC SIG call today with Tom Haythornthwaite, Graeme Dunbar and myself in attendance. Graeme kindly described activities and kit available from the MERG (Model Electronic Railway Group) and SPROG sources of DCC components and touched on use of JMRI for loco and accessory control. We agreed this could be an interesting topic for a future call.
We discussed ideas for answering queries raised about DCC (and also drifted onto non-DCC stuff including Scottish scenery and Double Basses!).
Next meeting tba.
Bill
Hi Guys
Apologies for missing this I had the meeting date wrong I had it down as next week when is the next meeting
Thanks
Alan
This is for Iain or anybody else who can help.
Which DCC systems can identify particular decoder addresses in particular blocks?
I've used Digitrax and know their 'transponding' reports addresses.
The Zimo site linked below says "ZIMO loco number recognition only with ZIMO DCC system and ZIMO track section modules" but also mentions "RailCom address feedback, and many more RailCom applications in future software releases."
http://www.zimo.at/web2010/products/lokdecoder_EN.htm (http://www.zimo.at/web2010/products/lokdecoder_EN.htm)
Thank you, Iain.
I was happy to use purely Digitrax devices and decoders in Ukraine but as I'm going to have to start all over I'm interested in other options - and I think I like the physical arrangement of Next18 decoders.
Lots to learn, which is good.
I do not bother with lights, sound etc just simple running. I have also standardised on ZIMO for 009tThe size was the first attraction.
I just adjust a couple of CVs for the running characteristics I want, the running is excellent, When modelling 0n16.5 I used a variety of decoders with very variable results it was a pleasure to find something that worked without problem. Some will argue that using ZIMO just for driving is a waste of their facilities, however for me they are worth it just for the running.