Joe: Thank you for your response. I had viewed your video previously and it was one of the reasons I was trying read CV6. I also went out to the website you suggested as a "speed reference" for ss128 = 60 will produce 40 mph. It is no longer available on that site. I tried it a couple of different times with the same "page cannot be found" results. I think I discovered why my CV6 was not responding when I started using Decoder Pro. I had not on the speed table so CV6 was inactive. I have not made the changes necessary to read CV6 on the engine that was giving me trouble because I have been distracted from "important tasks" with a recently presented "honey do list." Thanks again for your help. Please keep making those clear, concise videos for us beginners. Sam
Yeah, I can see that site being bad now. That video is old lol. Im glad you were able to get the problem fixed. I love decoder pro for that reason. You can see how everything it set up
Joe very good video. I was timid about trying to make adjustments to locos that way so I never gave it a try. After watching this video and learning a bit more, I can do this!!!! Much Respect D. Muse
Getting an NCE PowerCab soon, as it is being shipped to me. Very nice explanation, great job helping us newbies :) Can't wait to use your suggestions for programming my locomotives.
trainroomgary It's actually not as hard as it appears! I started out with a NCE Power Cab, and still have all the basic bits of it today. I added a SB5 Smart Booster and a DB5 Dumb Booster, for a total of nearly 10 amps. With the addition of the SB5, I could then unplug my Cab controller, and move it to other parts of the Layout, without affecting the train's speed at all (something that the PowerCab starter kit won't allow you to do.).... Programming is easier than ANY other system I've tried before! (I'm 52, and not the most techno-savvy guy!) As I also mentioned earlier, it's the most adaptable and upgradeable. Secret tip: If you have the PowerCab starter set, and need more power, but can't afford the $160 SB5 upgrade, simply replace the 1.7 amp wall wart it comes with, and replace it with up to a 4 amp wall wart! Really! That simple. The original PCB from the PowerCab starter set CAN handle up to 4 amps. I haven't tried more, but it EASILY and SAFELY handled the 4 amps for up to 3 years - until I was able to upgrade the system. 😉
Joe, great information for noob and experienced alike. Nice job! A side note: users - don't be bashful about setting CV2 as high as 50! Some older locos need that much. There are several other settings to get nearly any loco to crawl... but the whole purpose of this video was about basic tuning, and should stay there.
Extremely helpful. I just hooked my power cab up and it is my first time using dcc. When I initially ran the locomotive is ran decent on speed step 10. After addressing it it would only move decent around speed step 40. I guess I accidentally changed something.
You can either use JMRI, or a ruler. With the ruler you have to measure how long it takes for it to travel a particular distance and do some math to figure it out. I think I found a site online for that.
I saw that the site used for CV5 calculations was taken down. After about 2 hours of trying to find another table, I just gave up. So I tried something out. I may be completely wrong, but based upon 40mph=69, I divided and came up with 1.725=1 If im correct (which is possible but probably not) then 1=1.725 5=8.625 10=17.25 And so on.. im not sure again if any of this is correct but I hope it helps. I have a Gp7 I needed to program to go 65mph so I calculated and went from 40mph (69) to 50mph (86.25) to 60mph (103.5) to 65(113 *I rounded*) Again not sure if any of this is true but as far as I know it works, and since I don't have a scale speedometer, this is the best I can assume.
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey you did a direct short and you have nothing feeding around the bulb? I also think you have a Power Cab and Not a Power Pro. Power Cab Runs at 2 Amps, Power pro runs at 5 amps. unravels some stranded copper wire and place the wire across the rails. See if the wire is getting hot or staying cool with the short. You might not have the amps to light the bulb. or an easy check is to put the 2 track wires from the DCC system onto the bulb and see how it reacts.
Indo have the power cab and I placed the wires directly from one rail to another from the bulb. I think you're right it's not enough power to power the bulbs
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey Pretty smart for a guy that can not use Facebook. Do the wire test with the bulb in the circuit, you can also use a pencil led. If the the wire stays cool and not getting hot, you will more than likely not melt anything down and should be good to go.
Thanks for the video. My problem is that almost all of my engines I've put realistic amounts of momentum , Im now joing a club and want to be able to run 2 to 3 locos in a consist. I also have a wide variety of decoders (most of which being tsunami / econami). Any suggestions to speed match locos with lots of momentum or should I just remove the momentum and start from the top?
Sorry for the late reply, I would just match the momentum to the clubs. It is hard enough to get all the engines working together. Let alone trying to make the clubs engines match yours.
There is a contradiction between program on the main and program track. You say you do not have a program track yet to switch to program track. I cannot set cv on program track. If I hit enter to use program track I get short circuit error.
Can I set CV2 at 1 for even slower start speeds, or is 2 the lowest usable value? In other words----if I wanted to get the slowest possible speed from my loco, is this how I would acheive that? Thanks!
Hello.. I would be interested to know if it's possible to program the NCE with the Hornby auto control feature that's programed into the Sapphire decoder? there is a youtube video of this listed as, 'DCC SERIES: AUTO CONTROL HORNBY ELITE V1.4 (Part 24a)' by ay76..
A message of "Cannot Read CV" is an error message. Translation: The system asked the decoder a question but did not get a response back from the decoder. Check all your connections and track. Try a different decoder or locomotive for comparison.
Wait so if I put 3 locomotives with the exact same speed step numbers and speed table. They'll speed match? Because I want to speed match a walters sd70ace with a bachmann es44ac.
Not necessarily. If they are the same brand you have a better chance of that scenario working out, however, if they are different brands they'll most likely not speed match unless some of the numbers are slightly different
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey yeah, a little bit. The engines I really want to speed match are my two bachmann es44's and my two walters Sd70Aces. I'm sorta just trying to figure out how to speed match.
Joe, I am intrigued & confused with a comment on your Video. You say you haven't got a programme track, and you do all your programming on the Main. Then you press 'Prog/Esc. & then say that you don't want P.O.M etc. so press the 'Prog/esc' , 3 more times to put it in 'Use Programme Track' . So you are doing this in Programme Track mode? YET you haven't got a programme track ?. I can only presume you are actually turning the complete layout into a programming track ? As an avid user of NCE from over the pond , I am intrigued , or have I missed something ?
You are correct, I am using the whole track as a programming track. This is not ideal and can only be done if you have one engine on your layout. For my next layout, I will make a dedicated programing track and not program on the main anymore. Its way to risky the more engines you have on your layout.
Joe:
Thank you for your response. I had viewed your video previously and it was one of the reasons I was trying read CV6. I also went out to the website you suggested as a "speed reference" for ss128 = 60 will produce 40 mph. It is no longer available on that site. I tried it a couple of different times with the same "page cannot be found" results.
I think I discovered why my CV6 was not responding when I started using Decoder Pro. I had not on the speed table so CV6 was inactive. I have not made the changes necessary to read CV6 on the engine that was giving me trouble because I have been distracted from "important tasks" with a recently presented "honey do list."
Thanks again for your help. Please keep making those clear, concise videos for us beginners.
Sam
Yeah, I can see that site being bad now. That video is old lol. Im glad you were able to get the problem fixed. I love decoder pro for that reason. You can see how everything it set up
just getting into dcc, this video helped a lot with knowing which cv does what for speed adjusting
awesome, Im glad it helped you out!
Joe very good video. I was timid about trying to make adjustments to locos that way so I never gave it a try. After watching this video and learning a bit more, I can do this!!!! Much Respect D. Muse
Great info here, to those that find it difficult it really isn't, after you do 1-2 engines it is super easy.
How I get back factory default I can't get back 126 for speed step
Getting an NCE PowerCab soon, as it is being shipped to me. Very nice explanation, great job helping us newbies :) Can't wait to use your suggestions for programming my locomotives.
I'm glad the information was useful to you. It's a great system for sure
Very nice and simple to understand. Well done !!!
Thank you for your kind words! I really like this feature!
Hi Joe; Looks like a complex system, DCC. A lot to learn about speed steps. Well done demo. Gary from Michigan 🚂.
trainroomgary It's actually not as hard as it appears! I started out with a NCE Power Cab, and still have all the basic bits of it today. I added a SB5 Smart Booster and a DB5 Dumb Booster, for a total of nearly 10 amps. With the addition of the SB5, I could then unplug my Cab controller, and move it to other parts of the Layout, without affecting the train's speed at all (something that the PowerCab starter kit won't allow you to do.)....
Programming is easier than ANY other system I've tried before! (I'm 52, and not the most techno-savvy guy!) As I also mentioned earlier, it's the most adaptable and upgradeable.
Secret tip: If you have the PowerCab starter set, and need more power, but can't afford the $160 SB5 upgrade, simply replace the 1.7 amp wall wart it comes with, and replace it with up to a 4 amp wall wart! Really! That simple. The original PCB from the PowerCab starter set CAN handle up to 4 amps. I haven't tried more, but it EASILY and SAFELY handled the 4 amps for up to 3 years - until I was able to upgrade the system. 😉
Joe G Thanks. I try when I can....
I agree w/Gary from Michigan
I like the Dramatic delay from NCE Part 2 :)
Joe some good info and thanks for sharing cheers Robert
Joe, great information for noob and experienced alike. Nice job! A side note: users - don't be bashful about setting CV2 as high as 50! Some older locos need that much.
There are several other settings to get nearly any loco to crawl... but the whole purpose of this video was about basic tuning, and should stay there.
Joe G Somehow I figured.... I didn't want to upset the flow of your video series! 😉
Extremely helpful. I just hooked my power cab up and it is my first time using dcc. When I initially ran the locomotive is ran decent on speed step 10. After addressing it it would only move decent around speed step 40. I guess I accidentally changed something.
Sweet!!! Im glad it was useful to you. Now its time to run some trains!!
Joe this was a very informative video, thanks so much for posting it.
Nice video, makes setting those speed steps easy to understand. How do you know which speed step equates to 40mph?
You can either use JMRI, or a ruler. With the ruler you have to measure how long it takes for it to travel a particular distance and do some math to figure it out. I think I found a site online for that.
Joe thanks for this great tip i am getting my NCE system soon .
I saw that the site used for CV5 calculations was taken down. After about 2 hours of trying to find another table, I just gave up. So I tried something out. I may be completely wrong, but based upon 40mph=69, I divided and came up with 1.725=1
If im correct (which is possible but probably not) then
1=1.725
5=8.625
10=17.25
And so on.. im not sure again if any of this is correct but I hope it helps. I have a Gp7 I needed to program to go 65mph so I calculated and went from 40mph (69) to 50mph (86.25) to 60mph (103.5) to 65(113 *I rounded*)
Again not sure if any of this is true but as far as I know it works, and since I don't have a scale speedometer, this is the best I can assume.
Sounds pretty good to me.
thanks mate. trevor
You're welcome!
Wow..awesome Joe.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance
Thanks, i thought it might help out a few people including me lol
awesome model train video and I like you Alaska engine you got
***** your welcome and that's cool and you should check out my new video's on my channel and please subscribe to me
***** awesome thanks buddy
Nice Im going to remember this video.
I really don't like programing on the handset. I need to pick up the computer interface to be able to use JRMI. Still handy to know the CV's.
I use NCE...Did the light bulb light up? It will still short, 1156 bulb just will prevent more meltdowns.
the light didnt light at all
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey you did a direct short and you have nothing feeding around the bulb? I also think you have a Power Cab and Not a Power Pro. Power Cab Runs at 2 Amps, Power pro runs at 5 amps. unravels some stranded copper wire and place the wire across the rails. See if the wire is getting hot or staying cool with the short. You might not have the amps to light the bulb. or an easy check is to put the 2 track wires from the DCC system onto the bulb and see how it reacts.
Indo have the power cab and I placed the wires directly from one rail to another from the bulb. I think you're right it's not enough power to power the bulbs
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey Pretty smart for a guy that can not use Facebook. Do the wire test with the bulb in the circuit, you can also use a pencil led. If the the wire stays cool and not getting hot, you will more than likely not melt anything down and should be good to go.
yeah it sucks not having you on Facebook
hi Joe... awesome video.. very informative ...thanks for sharing.. vinny
always good to see how other systems work...
Thanks for the video. My problem is that almost all of my engines I've put realistic amounts of momentum , Im now joing a club and want to be able to run 2 to 3 locos in a consist. I also have a wide variety of decoders (most of which being tsunami / econami). Any suggestions to speed match locos with lots of momentum or should I just remove the momentum and start from the top?
Sorry for the late reply, I would just match the momentum to the clubs. It is hard enough to get all the engines working together. Let alone trying to make the clubs engines match yours.
cool instruction
There is a contradiction between program on the main and program track. You say you do not have a program track yet to switch to program track. I cannot set cv on program track. If I hit enter to use program track I get short circuit error.
I haven't seen that issue come up yet. I would call NCE and see if they have seen the issue or know what might be causing it
Can I set CV2 at 1 for even slower start speeds, or is 2 the lowest usable value? In other words----if I wanted to get the slowest possible speed from my loco, is this how I would acheive that? Thanks!
You an start at CV 1, but i try to set my engines for step one to be 3 mph
Thank you so much this helps a lot
Awesome, glad it was able to help you!
Hello.. I would be interested to know if it's possible to program the NCE with the Hornby auto control feature that's programed into the Sapphire decoder? there is a youtube video of this listed as, 'DCC SERIES: AUTO CONTROL HORNBY ELITE V1.4 (Part 24a)' by ay76..
That I'm not sure. I dont work with Hornby at all.
Programming CV 6 my pro cab reads "cannot read value". What should I do to fix this?
A message of "Cannot Read CV" is an error message. Translation: The system asked the decoder a question but did not get a response back from the decoder. Check all your connections and track. Try a different decoder or locomotive for comparison.
Thanks for the help!
Happy to help!
Can I do this with a Broadway limited steamer and walthers mainline diesel engine
I'm not sure, but it's worth a try!
Wait so if I put 3 locomotives with the exact same speed step numbers and speed table. They'll speed match?
Because I want to speed match a walters sd70ace with a bachmann es44ac.
Not necessarily. If they are the same brand you have a better chance of that scenario working out, however, if they are different brands they'll most likely not speed match unless some of the numbers are slightly different
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey ah. Thanks.
@@IronhorseRailProductions does that make sense?
@@JoeG-firehousewhiskey yeah, a little bit. The engines I really want to speed match are my two bachmann es44's and my two walters Sd70Aces. I'm sorta just trying to figure out how to speed match.
@@IronhorseRailProductions do they all have the same decoders
Joe, I am intrigued & confused with a comment on your Video. You say you haven't got a programme track, and you do all your programming on the Main. Then you press 'Prog/Esc. & then say that you don't want P.O.M etc. so press the 'Prog/esc' , 3 more times to put it in 'Use Programme Track' . So you are doing this in Programme Track mode? YET you haven't got a programme track ?. I can only presume you are actually turning the complete layout into a programming track ? As an avid user of NCE from over the pond , I am intrigued , or have I missed something ?
You are correct, I am using the whole track as a programming track. This is not ideal and can only be done if you have one engine on your layout. For my next layout, I will make a dedicated programing track and not program on the main anymore. Its way to risky the more engines you have on your layout.
How did you know that 69 equals 40mph?
Will this work on my MTH Big Boy or GP35?
It might, I'm not sure how MTH configures their Decoders