That would depend on how the consist is setup. If it is setup using CV19 (decoder assisted consisting) then you could use the consist ID as the loco address and it should work.
Thanks that led me to this link.... http://jmri.org/manual/JMRI_2-14_manual/Main_ConsistControl.shtml I'll study that more. I'm new to this and before I'd seen a youtube on doing it with a NCE cab and couldn't see how that would work with Dave's controller. It looks like I'd also need to understand more on speed matching the loco's in the consist. If they were speed matched fairly well then would the first option in that link also work? Thanks, Sumner
From the link you have provided, the following is a limitation: DCC++ (Arduino based) does not support the CS assisted consist approach, only basic/primary address consist and decoder assisted consists. However, the DCC++ESP32 project supports all three types of consists, though it is not very well documented on how to create a consist (adding that to my TODO list). I'd highly recommend speed matching your engines in the consist regardless of which approach you end up taking. After you have speed matching completed, JMRI should be able to assist you in programming the locos to either of the supported options. I have a preference to the CV19 approach since it offers more control over the behavior of the locos in the consist.
Thanks, I think I understand the basics but will have to do a lot more studying up on this. You've helped me get a good direction to go in. If anyone else has used either of Dave's throttles in this situation I hope you jump in, Sumner
I’ve been fighting to create a consist as well to no avail. Both thru withrottle and the consist tool on JMRI. It’s to the point I’m considering setting them all to the same DCC address, andsetting the second A unit to run in reverse.
Sumner -- As you asked, I'll jump right in. I am a fan of Bodnar's works, such as his smoke generator using e-cigs, pretty neat. However I am old (79) and have no clue what language any of you young folks are speaking with regards to DCC++, arduino and all. However I am totally engrossed in ESU sound and as an example I have a consist of 6 units made up of SD-7/9's, GP-30, SD-35, all but one with sound. I can consist them using Digitrax throttle method, Engine Driver and such. Oh but, I am lazy and consist them by making each decoder sound the way I want and then assigning the same address to each. It is easy Richard. If I want to run one or two other steamers or diesels I just consist their address to the common multi unit address. When through with the extras I just remove them from the consist. BTW, I am not so old as to not install my own decoders and speakers. I love the tinkering! Always have fun, Carl
A couple more questions trying to understand this. I'm trying to understand the mechanics of building a consist with three units with the same address. Would you run them all onto the program track individually and then reprogram them all at once? If so can you reprogram them all back to their original road numbers with all of them on the program track at the same time? At some point do you have to physically pick them up and move them together or separate them to program them? Thanks, Sumner
Sumner, The way I do it and I am not suggesting that this is the only way by any means : 1. I put each individual loco on the program track and set the decoder for things such as direction of travel, lights off or on, sound levels for the various available sounds. In other words however you want that particular loco to act. I set the address to what ever I want, may be lead loco # or any # I want. After doing each loco that way they all will respond to commands sent to the common address. 2. If you have them all on the program track at same time, ANY and ALL changes you make will effect each loco, so do them individually. I know, I am as clear as mud, but hope this helps. There may be other shorter, easier ways to do this. Keep in mind the above applies to program track. If you try to program a loco "on the main" and there are other units on the tracks every one of them will pick up the program you are sending to the one you WANT to program. Carl
Consisting is not as difficult as you think. Here is where you start: Advanced consisting depends on your DCC controller. If it is Digitrax, the Advanced Consist address has to be less than 127 All you need to do is to setup the consist address to say 55 for giggles and laughs and set the direction. Now write the sheet to the decoder (locomotive). Nothing else has to change. Once this is set, the locomotive will only respond to address 55 and will move in the desired direction. To break up the consist, all you have to do is reset the Advanced Consist Address to 0 and write the sheet to the locomotive. The original address never changes. That is really all there is to it.
Thanks, so do you physically pick them up and move them from the program track to where the consist will be after changing their common address? If you just change the address won't the other settings on each decoder remain unchanged? Thanks for helping me understand this, Sumner P.S. David thanks for the input. I'm assuming that was for Digitrax. I'm using DCC++ to start with.
Only the CV you change will change. All others , with the exception of compound CV's like CV29 may be different if they one of the elements in the compounding CV has changed. You do not have to have all the locomotives in the programming track to set up consists with Advanced Consisting, that is more for simple consisting, giving every locomotive the same DCC address. Advanced consisting changes CV19 and CV20, simple consisting only changes the DCC address. And yes, Sumner, the example is based on Digitrax, but only for the address range for Advanced Consisting. All systems implement consisting in their own way. But using JMRI to set it up will work on any System.
Thanks Dave. I guess what I'm having a hard time visualizing is the mechanics of building the consist and how to put the loco's together without actually picking them up and putting them together. How do you group them together without all of them moving at once? I can see how it works once they are coupled to each other. I must be missing something obvious Sumner
It is simple, place locomotive on the programming track and set the consist address and consist direction, write to decoder. Place on Track and repeat. When they are all done and coupled together, they will all move with the consist address on your throttle.
Thanks, what I've been trying to visualize is where someone has a yard spur that can also be a program track. I couldn't see how you could run the engines one at a time onto the program track. Change their address to a common address and then out again to a location for building the consist and then run them together in a consist without physically moving them by hand. I could see running them all onto the program track with their individual address and coupling them together. Then changing all of their address in unison and run them out in unison but couldn't see how to undo this later. If they are setup using the CV19 to build a consist will they respond individually still to their road number address and as a consist address? I'm probably overthinking this , Sumner
The will only move with the consist address. Lights etc still can be manipulated using the road number address. Also it is the combination of CV19 and CV20, not just CV19
