Several weeks ago, I upgraded my DCC system from a Super Empire to a Super Chief Radio. I have a pair of Intermountain matched F7's that I had "mu'd" together. They worked just fine. No problems. (Road numbers 7023 and 7022) When I first hooked up my Chief, 7022 wouldn't recognize the command and only the top engine (7023) would respond. So... I just put them on the program track and "mu'd" them. No problem, they worked just fine. Or, so I thought. The problem seems w/ the Chief, that everytime I turn off power to the Chief, the units become... "un-consisted" and I have to reprogram the consist each time I power up. 'Sup w/ that ???? Its just baffling that I performed the same procedure on the Empire w/ no problem but the Chief = problem. And yes, I am plugging my DT400 into the bus when programming, plus I am using the "MU" command w/ the top engine on the right and the slave on the left. Any ideas???????? [ February 07, 2006, 12:16 PM: Message edited by: Kitbash ]
Ususally I use the programming track to assign the locomotive number to the decoder. I then MU locos together on the mainline, not on the programming track. Give that a try.
Kitbash: I program (assign a loco number) my loco's on the programing track. I make up the consists on the mainline track(Lenz calls it programming on the main). Stay cool and run steam......
I have a Chief as well, (not radio, but that shouldn't matter,) and I haven't experienced the problems you are having yet. First of all, consisting locos using the chief should be done on the mainline. You've obviously done it and understand the concept since you were able to do this with the empire builder. (THis is not considered "programming" really as the chief handles the consist for you) However, it seems that you are trying to consist on the programming track? For the cheif the order should be: 1) place locos together on the main line 2) select "top" loco on the right throttle 3) select "second" loco on the left throttle 4)ENSURE that they are both going the same direction. 5) Select the left throttle, and press 'mu' and '+' At this point the locos are consisted... power offs should not effect the consist, and they should not "disapear" from the cheif, however there are times when any digitrax command station will clear itself of unused addresses. this is controlled by doing some programming on the command station itself, which I haven't done yet. The other option for you might be just programming the two addresses to use the same single address(simple consisting). If your using those 2 units together all the time this may be the best option for you. just my .02 -Chris
Well. I came home tonight. Rolled out the F7's out of a storage track, onto the mainline and lashed them up. I then powered down, waited 1 minute, then powered back up. It works! However (Twilight Zone theme music in background) WHY do electrons behave differently on the mainline than a programming track? I mean.. my programming track is part of my layout (interchange siding) that is isolated w/ a double gap and a double pole switch. Therefore, I see no reason why "electrons" would behave differently???? Anyway... it worked. They are rolling around, hauling a freight as I type.
