Programming speed controls on a TCS K1D4 -- can't seem to do it

[OldEastRR]

It's in a KATO U30C, and I know diddly about CVs and stuff (I'm lucky I can manage to program in the loco's number address). Following the written instructions from several sources have not helped. What I want is for the loco to have more than coasting to a stop and accelerating to warp speed as its only 2 speeds.
What CVs do I program, and what do I program them with?

[mu26aeh]

You can start with CV 2, 5, and 6.  Go to page 43 for a table for different engines with sample numbers.  I have used them with some success.  Warning : Link is for Digitrax manual, I know there are detractors here of that system

http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/cms/media/documents/documentation/Decoder_Manual_V2-01_2014.pdf

[peteski]

Those CVs (3-step speed table) can be used to adjust the range of speed but from the description of the problem there seems to be more to the problem. But I might be overthinking this.

Yes, Kato locos are speed-demons, but even with the decoder's factory settings there should be discernible range of speeds while going through all the speed steps  It should start slow, and go at supersonic speed at the maximum speed step (whether your system is set up for 14, 28 or 128 steps). But the difference in speed should be discernible in the middle range of the speed steps (dialed up on the throttle).

I would probably start off with CV2 at 0 or maybe set it to 1, then make CV5 128 and CV6 64 (all in decimal numbers). That should cut the speed in half.

[OldEastRR]

OK, first rule: don't have another throttle, also in the circuit and set to the engine's number, going full speed. Gee, once I removed that, the loco runs fine. 

[peteski]

OK, first rule: don't have another throttle, also in the circuit and set to the engine's number, going full speed. Gee, once I removed that, the loco runs fine. 

That will sure make the loco act strange.  You sure found the culprit. That new-fangled DCC stuff is just so complicated! 

[carlso]

Yep, that sounds like a Digitrax unit. On our club layout, we have a hard time convincing fellow engineers to dispatch their loco out of the system when they are finished running it for the day. You notice I said we have a hard time as some people just do not pay attention when given instructions or just don't care. It does not take very long for the two club throttles to both have the same locos in their stack and we begin having problems. This past week we had a train sitting in the yard and it would not stay put as it moved very slowly ahead and encroached upon a turnout. After tracking down the problem we found, that consist of two locos, on each club throttle and one of them the throttle was still on 2nd speed step thus the units always had at least 2 speed steps controlling them. We have now gotten into the habit of totally purging the "brain box" of all addresses before each an every show or run day. That means new consists have to be set up.

We found you can fix or work around the hardware issues but how do you get fellow users to respect the rules and do it right.

However, you know what, we still have fun !

Carl

[Kisatchie]

...We found you can fix or work around the hardware issues but how do you get fellow users to respect the rules and do it right.

Hmm... you have to kill
them if they don't...

[ntex]

I find using JMRI software on my laptop to program my decoders is so much easier than changing cv values. The software is very user friendly for those of us that don't know didly.

[Mike C]

I find using JMRI software on my laptop to program my decoders is so much easier than changing cv values. The software is very user friendly for those of us that don't know didly.

I resisted JMRI for a long time , didn't really think I needed it . Programming wasn't to hard with my PowerCab ..... Well after I installed JMRI I see what everyone is talking about !   Now programming sound decoders is SO much easier !