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Post by montyvox on Dec 28, 2009 9:09:42 GMT -5
Good morning gang-
I wound up getting a new Genesis SD45-2 for NS. The model, and more importantly the sound, are outstanding.
There is only one slight issue. When I throttle up, the engine takes off like a rocket when the throttle is set to 01.
It's so bad, that when I had it coupled to an SD40-2, the SD45-2's wheels would spin until the speed of the SD40-2 caught up.
I have yet to try speed matching- I have no idea how to do it. I use the NCE power cab as my DCC system of choice, and I haven't started to figure out how to use it, but I could use any help that I can get, because I want things to run smoothly.
What is the best way to speed match? Just put the engines on the track, and then follow the steps in the NCE manual or is there another way?
Thanks for the help- Matt
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Post by Kiro on Dec 28, 2009 23:36:25 GMT -5
Good morning gang- I wound up getting a new Genesis SD45-2 for NS. The model, and more importantly the sound, are outstanding. There is only one slight issue. When I throttle up, the engine takes off like a rocket when the throttle is set to 01. It's so bad, that when I had it coupled to an SD40-2, the SD45-2's wheels would spin until the speed of the SD40-2 caught up. I have yet to try speed matching- I have no idea how to do it. I use the NCE power cab as my DCC system of choice, and I haven't started to figure out how to use it, but I could use any help that I can get, because I want things to run smoothly. What is the best way to speed match? Just put the engines on the track, and then follow the steps in the NCE manual or is there another way? Thanks for the help- Matt DonĀ“t know what kind of decoder your diesel has but usually the following CVs do the work, firs try to get the useful range for each configuration variables (CVs) and try different values in them: CV2 (star voltage), CV3 (acceleration rate), CV4 (deceleration rate), CV5 (for the speed at highest speed step) and CV6 (mid range speed). You can get the manual from the decoder brand site and the check if your decoder has al these CVs. Once you are familiar with the CVs you can find other "fine tune" CVs for forward trim and reverse trim. On some decoders some CVs are not present, for example Tsunami is very simple and lacks some of them (CV5 and CV6 as I can recall) and are very difficult to match with other brands, Loksound has all the CVs for matching speeds, etc. What I do is to take one diesel as the "master" for the desired speed and then match all the other diesels, obviously the process took be several sessions but it is worth. Be careful to run engines that are not properly matched becasue the motor can "stall" and then the decoder can be burned.
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Post by Raeder on Dec 29, 2009 16:35:20 GMT -5
Hi Matt,
If you are looking to do speed matching, I would suggest using DecoderPro. I have used it to match dozens of locomotives, and it makes things a lot easier. I think you can just hook your PowerCab to the computer with the appropriate cable, but not sure on that, someone who owns one would have to chime in on that. I know I've seen it done, just didn't look too closely at the time. The quick way of matching is to set CV 3 and CV4 to zero, then start changing CV 2, CV 6, and CV 5 to match things up. The quick start you are seeing is the result of CV 2 being set way too high, sometimes they come from the factory like that, I don't know why. Setting it to 0 is a good start, then start increasing it until your loco just creeps down the track. Then set the unit on a track parallel to the unit you are matching to, and run both units down the tracks, with about 40 or 50% speed on the throttle. See if the unit needs to be sped up or slowed down to match with the other. Raising or lowering the value of CV 6 will increase or decrease the speed around the midrange. Once that are matches up, the locos should be match for speed pretty well. If you want to, you can match the high end as well, CV 5. I usually don't because I don't run my locos that fast. Just not enough track around to do that with! If you really want to get in and tweak the speeds until they match perfectly, dig into the speed table and match things up that way. Use DecoderPro, though, speed table matching isn't fun with a handheld throttle!
Kevin
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Dec 30, 2009 17:06:09 GMT -5
I agree with Kevin, decoder pro is the way to go! I've got it on the layout and its nice and easy to use. Takes a few minutes and you have your engines down pat.
Do you know if its a MRC decoder? I'm not a fan of the MRC sound decoders.
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Post by Raeder on Dec 31, 2009 12:39:01 GMT -5
I agree with Matt, I'm not a real fan of MRC decoders, either. The new ones that support CV readback might be better than their old ones, but I haven't worked with the new ones enough to know.
I have found, that if you do all the programming on the main, you can usually force them to take the programming and work. Address changes, CV changes, everything. Plus, DecoderPro doesn't get in a tizzy if it doesn't get a response back from the decoder.
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Post by montyvox on Jan 2, 2010 10:05:23 GMT -5
Yeah, I have already downloaded decoder pro.
I am just waiting for the USB adaptor for my laptop.
I don't have MRC decoders, just Digitrax & NCE ones, as well as one Tsunami.
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jan 3, 2010 18:53:14 GMT -5
You will have a slight learning curve with Decoder pro, everyone does. Just take your time, if you get upset, walk away. Think your way through it and remember.... CV8=8.....
LOL
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Post by montyvox on Jan 4, 2010 9:50:56 GMT -5
Thanks Matt.
One more quick question about decoder pro- I have the USB cable running to the adaptor. Then I have the rj12 cable running from the USB adaptor to the command controller. The question that I have is, do I plug in the RJ12 cable to the spare port on the regular plug for the DCC?
I tried it yesterday but it didn't connect, although I have a driver issue that I think is all set.
I can't plug the RJ12 cable into the command station, becuase then it doesn't work, so I think it has to run into the spare connection on the main board for the DCC.
If I make this sound confusing, then you know where I'm at. Decoder pro though doesnt' seem that hard to use. I do like the program.
Thanks Matt
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jan 4, 2010 13:06:05 GMT -5
Do you have a Digitrax system? I'm only familiar with the Digitrax command station and Decoder Pro.
Do you have LocoBufferII correct? When you plug it into the computer is the green light on the LocoBuffer?
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Post by montyvox on Jan 4, 2010 13:10:31 GMT -5
Hey Matt-
No I use the NCE powercab. I think I have it figured out, so I am going to test it tonight and see how it goes.
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CIOR
Chairman
Posts: 2,046
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Post by CIOR on Jan 4, 2010 18:30:26 GMT -5
OK, hope you get it figured out, I have no clue with the NCE system.
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Post by montyvox on Jan 13, 2010 9:42:43 GMT -5
Hey gang-
Well I finally figured out Decoder Pro. The issue was how I started up the program. There is a sequencing of events for the NCE Power Cab, and here they are, in case anyone here uses it, but is having issues like I did:
1. Hook the cab bus up to the command station 2. Power up the command station 3. Hook up the USB cable to the interface 4. Turn on Decoder Pro 5. Have fun!
It's that easy.
Thanks Matt
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