Changing Programmed Address

[One of One-Sixty]

As some of you have seen I attempted to install decoders into one of my JR passenger trains a few months back.  The install went smoothly although it took forever just because of me being nervous about breaking the damn thing as well as trying to take it apart and then trying not to melt it (long story).

Anyways I was on a borrowed layout that has DCC as I have nothing of my own nor any DCC equipment (I am getting them I swear).

My question is once I program and assign an address, is there anyway to reprogram that decoder and change the address?  The reason for this is because when I am on another layout, I don't want there to be confusion if we both assigned 3 for our decoders. So I decided to assign them the train number I gave them i.e. 253001, 253002, 253003, etc.

Also is there a limit to how many numbers can be used as an address?

[sizemore]

Commonly it should be two or four digits and customary to use the locomotive number as the address for easy retrieval.

T

[One of One-Sixty]

Unfortunately, there is no loco numbers as these are commuter trains.  Well obviously the proto versions has road numbers, but the models do not.  This is the reason I am numbering the way I am, following the way how many 1:1 commuter railroads assign the numbers to their passenger trains.  253 is the train model (Series 253 Narita Express), whereas the two digit number (01, 02, 03) following is the number for the train (Yes, I know my original post the road numbers was 6 numbers long, I dropped it down to five).  With most freight locos I have seen they all have 4 digit road numbers, so with my passenger consists having 5 numbers there is less of a chance of having the same number as somebody else.

Although I did contemplate on using one of the greatest ships in history number (1701), but alas also decided against it.

[wm3798]

You can't program more than 4 digits for an address.  I would add a number to the car so you can easily identify it on the layout.  Worst case, take a silver sharpie and write it on the undercarriage, otherwise you'll be constantly reading back to see what address you have there.

As for re-programming, 03 is the default factory address of all decoders (NMRA protocol, I believe).  To reprogram, use your system (or whatever system you're on at the time) and follow the instructions to program the address.  When you key in the new number, it will automatically overwrite the original address once you hit "enter" or "save" or whatev.

If you want to go with train schedule numbers, use only the last two digits, and go with that.  Again, figure out a way to I.D. the unit's address so it's easy to remember.  I imagine that some simple protocol is followed, such as even numbers eastbound, odd numbers west, which will help.

Lee

[davefoxx]

I'm with Lee on this one.  My Digitrax system won't allow me to read back CV numbers, so labeling those trains is a very smart idea.  What a pain to reprogram CV8 to default settings, ruining all other custom settings, just to reacquire the locomotive's address.

Dave

[John]

I set mine to the locomotive number on the side of the cab

[One of One-Sixty]

Alright thanks guys, good to know I am not dead lock into using the address I sheepishly assigned. 

As for what new address to assign and how to identify it, I will go ahead with making up my numbering system, of 5 digit cars, but the actual DCC address will be a shortened version of that.  So it will go something like this "Train A" will have decals of 25300-25301 for the cabs cars, but the assigned address will be 2500, and as I add decoders to the rest of the fleet they will all go up in sequential order with the decoder address being the shorten version of the lead cab car, 25302-25303/2502, 25304-25305/2504, etc..  The number scheme is the same as how 1:1 commuter railroads number their units, this also leaves the door open to number the trailer cars starting at 25400.

[John]

why not 5301 5302 5400 .. etc

[sizemore]

I'm with Lee on this one.  My Digitrax system won't allow me to read back CV numbers, so labeling those trains is a very smart idea.  What a pain to reprogram CV8 to default settings, ruining all other custom settings, just to reacquire the locomotive's address.

Dave

Dave,
I highly recommend getting the Digitrax PR3 and using JMRI to copy all those itty bitty 1's & 0's that took forever to program. It aids immensely. It helps consistent fleet management, say you get a new IM F-7 and you want it to match your other 9 IM F-7's; you load a profile and program your newest fleet member. It does it all for you!

The S.

[davefoxx]

I'm with Lee on this one.  My Digitrax system won't allow me to read back CV numbers, so labeling those trains is a very smart idea.  What a pain to reprogram CV8 to default settings, ruining all other custom settings, just to reacquire the locomotive's address.

Dave

Dave,
I highly recommend getting the Digitrax PR3 and using JMRI to copy all those itty bitty 1's & 0's that took forever to program. It aids immensely. It helps consistent fleet management, say you get a new IM F-7 and you want it to match your other 9 IM F-7's; you load a profile and program your newest fleet member. It does it all for you!

The S.

The S.,

What is the cost of setting all of this up?  I'd be interested (when I stop armchair modeling), if it didn't cost an arm and a leg or the software wasn't incredibly difficult to understand.

The D.

[wm3798]

For the basic stuff, you can accomplish the same thing with an index card...  The MRC doesn't have all that JMRI stuff, which is great to have for a vast club layout, or a large layout like John's, but in my mind it's a bazooka where a fly swatter is all that's required.

The ability to read back settings is a life saver.  If only you could do it on the fly and not just on the programming track... That would make consisting a lot easier.

Lee

[sizemore]

What is the cost of setting all of this up?

The D.

The D.
The cost of the PR3 which MBK sells for 68 clams.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/dig-pr3.htm

The JMRI stuff is free, and there is a slight learning curve but its nice. I basically load the profile, burn the board, then reprogram the address. I beleive John is also using JMRI too. Lee would like the switch list thing I've heard that JMRI has too.

The S.

[wm3798]

Bah, Humbug.  I model 1970.  I prefer my computer to have vacuum tubes and data tapes...  Fill the room with equipment to run an address book, that's the way we did it in the old days!

T. Edison

[sizemore]

For the basic stuff, you can accomplish the same thing with an index card...  The MRC doesn't have all that JMRI stuff, which is great to have for a vast club layout, or a large layout like John's, but in my mind it's a bazooka where a fly swatter is all that's required.

The ability to read back settings is a life saver.  If only you could do it on the fly and not just on the programming track... That would make consisting a lot easier.

Lee

Yeah I was doing the index card organization, when I started programming outside of Address, it was tedious to go through and reprogram all the CV's when I had to reset a decoder (because I tweaked something that didnt like being tweaked).

MRC released their own version of JMRI and they do have their own computer interface comparative to the PR3:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/accessories.asp

I think I heard Lee just go "OOoooooooohhhhhh".

The S.

[mmyers]

If digital records are your thing, JMRI can be downloaded and run in demo mode without a connection to any DCC system. A roster entry can be set up for each loco and all of its CV settings saved for future reference. Roster entries and CV's can also be printed out.