Maybe a Digitrax problem

[David]

Well I am working on my SD45 Athearn RTR unit and my friend and I came to a problem.

The unit has a rotary beacon and we seem to be unable to program the decoder to have the beacon on when the front headlight is on but the beacon works when the rear light on and when the lights are turned off.

I know this can be done I have seen locomotives with the beacon on with the front headlights on...

[riss2509]

Ive got an idea that may help ya. Sounds like the CVs are messed up! On my Oakway SD60, I fully removed the rear headlight, and moved the beacon to the rear output. I changed CV33 to 1, CV34 to 1, CV35 to 2. Then, depending on the decoder, I changed CV 120 to 1 so the beacon comes on F2, and will flash while moving. And the beacon will remain lit even with backing up. Just an idea! Hope it helps!

[David]

That makes some sense, I think I am asking too much for DCC to handle ;D

[tpwillie]

I have 2 sd45-2 RTR models and the beacons work fine. One has the twin strobes and the other has just the beacon. I just plugged in my NCE decoder and nothing else. I have the end lights set up on F0 and F1 so I can control them. The beacons are on F2 or F3, if forget which since I don't use the units much. All the lights are individually controlled so I have on whatever lights I want when I want them. I turn on the strobe lights when I need then on and not otherwise. All you should have to do is remap the function that controls the beacon to whatever function controls the headlight, if you want them to work together. I use Decoder Pro to program my units so making the changes are real eay.

oOu