OK I am gonna try and explain this the best way possible. I have an AC4400CW Blueline engine with sound. I bought an NCE decoder to run it DCC I have a Digitrax Zephyr DCC unit with a Digitrax DT400R Throttle. Please explain the steps I take to program it and the sound to the road number. When I program the engine to the road number it works but the sound is still on 03. How do I get them both to the road number.
well first I am not sure why you put an NCE decoder in the loco when you have a Digitrax control. The NCE decoder is a polling decoder and the Digitrax is a digital decoder. First replace the NCE decoder with a dz145 digitrax. Then program the loco to its road number useing the PO function on your controller. After you do that, use PG on your controller to program the sound. Works every time. I have two C-30-7 Blueline I just programmed that way. Shannon
I programmed NCE decoders in a pair of Bluelines with no huge problem, though having two decoders in the same loco is always going to be a bit of fun. First off pull the NCE out, but don't bother putting the little card back in. Now you should be able to program and test the sound decoder as if it was any other (ie. change address, rev up, etc). It seems you've already got the NCE address set, so then you can probably just plug it back in and go. But if not then there is a more involved process you can use to give individual programming of the two decoders. For that, before you reinstall the NCE set up the CV15/16 pair for the sound decoder (see the Blueline manual) with key = 2 (I think) and 'lock' it. Now install the NCE and set its CV15/16 up with 'key' number 1. Now you can program the decoders individually for address, etc, by setting the key CV to 1 or 2 depending which one you want to work with.
What do you mean NCE is a polling decoder? NCE and Digitrax are both digital decoders and are completely compatible with each other's command stations. There is no reason not to use NCE decoders with a Digitrax command station(or vise-versa), that is the whole purpose of the NMRA DCC standards.
NCE is a digital decoder not a polling decoder.And, the reason I bought it was because it is a perfect fit and Digitrax was out of their decoders.But with DCC standards NCE can be used with Digitrax as it has never failed me before.
Thanks Mike, I tried it last night and it runs great.I did what you said and pulled the NCE decoder out and programmed the sound and then reinserted the NCE decoder and she ran like a top.Thanks again.
What is a polling decoder? I've never heard of this type. There are a brand or two I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. NCE isn't one of them though. Martin Myers
