In the process setting up my layout with NCE & ESU loksound aux 6 in my engines & came across your video . By far the best vid with extremely informative info I have come across & will be using it side by side with my laptop when I get to my programming my engines. Who would ever think we would be using laptops to program HO scale trains .LOL.......
Great video Kevin. I may have to try one of those. As the trackwork on my new layout approaches completion I'll be prepping locos for the notch 8 run up the Mullan Pass at 12 mph. Consisting is key so I run NCE. But I'm still looking for the right sound decoder to simulate the slow climb at full power. I agree with you about manual notching. Keep up the great vids. Chris
Chris, thanks. I was planning on building a Mullan Pass layout several years ago. Actually started it, but it never got close to completion--never even got all the mainline track in. I've been railfanning there a lot. I've seen several of your videos on your layout and it looks like it is going to be great. Cheers, Kevin
Nice tutorial Kevin! I didn't understand the difference between universal and advanced consisting until now. I hope your layout repair is going well. Will you be showing us a video on that soon? Thanks. Cheers, Dan
Dan, thanks for the feedback. I got all the track fixed on the layout, but am holding off on the larger changes while I figure out the new track plan. Lots of changes to the track plan from the ones I showed in the last update. Cheers, Kevin
Very nice video Kevin. You did an excellent job showing the prototypes and your own locos as well. So when do you start at ESU ? HA HA. Just kidding. One of your best traits that I like about your videos is that you are not afraid to point out negatives about a product. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.
Paul, thanks for the feedback and compliments on the video. I just try to give my honest impressions of the models and products I review. I'd rather people know about the limitations or shortcomings of a product before they buy it rather than after. Cheers, Kevin
Thank you Very much for Sharing I'm getting a KATO N Scale Engine Soon! with Loc Sound It's the SDP40P Santa Fe.. Does this Engine possibly have these Features.. This Decoder was installed By KATO's Staff.. it's a Kobo shop Engine... Thanks for your Time..
According to the LokSound website, the factory equipped Kato N scale SDP40P is a Full Throttle decoder. You can look it up under downloads, sound file, LokSound US sound files for Factory Equipped Locomotives from the LokSound website. Cheers, Kevin
I use advance consisting with our digitrax system ah the club. Basically it changes the cab number to share the same number for engine control and which ever function you tell it to use. The bad part is you can't split up the consist to run your engine separate or with a different engine.
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, as I mentioned in the video you can use advanced consisting with Digitrax by manually setting CV19, but the MU+ and MU- controls only use Universal consisting. To change the advanced consist during an ops session you'd have to rewrite CV 19 to 0 using Programming on the Main. Cheers, Kevin
What is the rolling down the rails sound I hear on your red and silver Sante Fe's and one other consist?? Is it only part of ES or ET44's? Sounds like the real ones flying by, has that semi trailer tires singing sound like you here on the Interstate. Can find only Curve Squeal, Switch Flange and Rail Clack on my ESU V4 micro.
Hi - do you know how to disable the startup loco sequence - everytime the power is applied to the tracks, the startup sequence happens which gets annoying.
I forget which CV it is, but you can toggle most sound decoders between starting up when power is applied (default) or only starting up when the locomotive is first addressed (which sounds like what you want). Hope this helps. Cheers, Kevin
Skip, other decoders can have their CV values changed but only the LokSound decoders currently allow you to update/upgrade the sounds and software on the DCC decoder. Cheers, Kevin
Scott, agree that I really like the ability to update the software on the LokSound DCC decoders after purchase. Technology ages so fast, it is nice to be able to update the software without having to pay for a new decoder. Cheers, Kevin
Mike, are you just talking about manually programming CV 19? That's what I was talking about when I said you could use Digitrax with advanced consisting but the system isn't set up to use it. As far as I am aware there is no way to program the command station to make the MU+ and MU- keys use advanced consisting. If you are only going to build up your consists ahead of time you can build and advanced consist with Digitrax by manually writing CV19. However, building up consists (or adding helpers to a consist) during an operating session would require an operator to program the engine on the main. Something I never let operators do--too much of a risk of something going wrong. So am I missing something or were you just talking about manually writing to CV 19? Thanks, Kevin
you are right that the advance consists are set up prior, but the mu +/- can be used to combine advance consist. If JMRI is used even in a universal consist the trailing engine function buttons can be shutdown. I was referring to either cv 19 or JMRI.
Thanks for sharing this video Kevin. I needed help figuring out how to use my LokProgrammer. Glad I bought an NCE system that supports Advanced Consisting! Tim
Ha. You may have noticed in some of my other videos I do have a NCE PowerCab system too. I've also had a NCE Radio PowerHouse system in the past. I actually like most aspects of the NCE system better than Digitrax. However, because my layout focus on helper operations, the ability to have two control nobs on the Digitrax and the ability to see the throttle setting of both engines/sets of power at the same time is what got me to use Digitrax for this layout. Cheers, Kevin
Pleeeeease. It is not pronounced "lock sound" The decoder runs a locomotive. It is pronounced "loak" as in locomotive or the word cloak. Check the ESU videos.
