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15.4 Route Basics
You can use your DT402 with a DCS100 to set up routes that are triggered by
operating a single turnout address to make it either
c
(closed) or
t
(thrown).
Setting up and operating routes is similar to consisting locomotives because
you can cause more than one unit to operate based on a single command sent to
the system. We call the turnout address to which other turnout addresses are
“consisted” to the TOP address. To operate a route, use
Sw
(Switch) mode to
select the TOP turnout address in the route and move it to either
c
(closed) or
t
(thrown) to initiate the route you have previously set up in your route list.
The TOP turnout address does not need to be physically present on the layout,
it can be a "phantom" turnout address.
The DCS100 supports up to 32 routes. Each route consists of a list that con-
tains a TOP turnout address and its position
c
or
t
and up to 7 other turnout
addresses and their positions. Routes are stored in the DCS100’s memory and
can be operated by any throttle in the system that can send switch commands.
Each of these 32 routes is operated by setting the TOP turnout address to the
position saved in the route list. When a route is triggered, a route can include a
switch that is the Top of another route and all the entries in the second route
will be added to the string of turnout commands the initial route request gener-
ates. The second route called is a "nested" route.
From the initial route you can "nest" up to 3 levels deep. Note that a route that
itself does not contain another Top switch (i.e., another route) will not increase
the nest depth. Knowing this, you can assemble up to 120 switch commands in
a single route if you are careful when you set up your nesting.
If the DCS100 determines that you have exceeded these limits, it will beep 5
times to alert you to the problem. Note that if a route contains the same switch
command more than once and this causes the route to "loop back" on itself, this
will also generate a 5 beep route error indication and no switch commands will
be issued to the layout. In this case you will need to edit the route and correct
the errors in the list before trying the command again.
15.4.1 enabling Routes
Before you can set up routes, you must set the DCS100’s OpSw #26 to
c
(closed). See your DCS100 manual for instructions for changing OpSws.
You can erase all current routes in the DCS100 by setting OpSw 37 to
c
(closed).
15.4.2 external Routes
The DS64 stationary decoder can also generate cascade switch message com-
mands or routes independently of the DCS100’s capability. See the appropriate
manuals of these products for further details.
