Non-Sound Decoder MX600 - MX638 and Sound Decoder MX640 - MX659 Page 37
CV
Denomination
Range
Default Description
#158
Several special bits +
RailCom variants
0 - 127
4
ATTENTION: all other bits in this CV are used for a va-
riety of different special sound settings.
Bit 2 = 0: RailCom speed (kph)
– feedback using the
“old” method (for MX31ZL ! Id 4)
= 1: RailCom speed (kph)
– feedback using the
new STANDARDIZED method (Id 7).
With the help of
bidirectional communication
according to RailCom
decoders will acknowledge received commands -
- which increases operational reliability and the bandwidth of DCC systems because already
acknowledged commands don’t need to be sent repeatedly;
current decoder data is sent to the comman
d station (“global detector”) -
-
e.g. “real” (measured) train speed, motor load, routing and position codes, “fuel reserves”, current
CV values on demand from decoders is sent to the command station or more precisely, to a
global
detector
in the command station;
decoder addresses are recognized by “local” detectors -
- the actual loco positions are determined by local detectors connected to individual track sections (in-
tegrated in future MX9 track section modules, later StEin), which has been possible wit
h ZIMO’s own
loco number recognition for a long time, even without RailCom.
RailCom will be further developed over the coming years and new applications added, which of
course requires new software updates in decoders and other equipment. ZIMO decoders as of 2009
are able to send their own loco address from an isolated section of track (with a so called broadcast
method, very fast, although only for one loco inside that section), send CV content on demand along
with some decoder data such as actual speed in kph, load and decoder temperature.
On the system side, only one third party product has been available from the beginning
– the address
display LRC120, which is a “local” RailCom detector displaying the loco address on one track section.
In 2007, the ZI
MO MX31ZL came to market as the first command station with an integrated “global”
RailCom detector.
Since 2013, ZIMO delivers the new MX10 command stations with integrated detectors for RailCom.
The MX32 cab (released early in 2011) uses feedback functions from the start (speed indicator, CV-
reading), but until the appearance of the MX10 is accessible only in connection with the MX31ZL.
RailCom is activated in ZIMO Decoders with
CV #29, Bit 3 = 1
AND
CV #28 = 3
These are usually default settings on a new decoder, but RailCom is turned off by default in many
sound projects or OEM CV sets and must therefore be activated first with above CV’s (see table
above).
ATTENTION (if speed-feedback does not work): see CV #158, Bit 2 (in table above).
“RailCom“ is a registered trademark of Lenz Elektronik GmbH.
5
ZIMO SOUND
– Selection and Programming
Sound projects, Sound Collections, free and fee-based projects etc.
Specialties of the ZIMO sound organization over the traditional offerings from other manufacturers
Each sound decoder requires a
sound project in the decoder’s flash memory.
The sound pro-
ject is basically a file, composed of the sound samples of a real locomotive (or several locomotives in
the case of the "Sound Collection", see below), as well as playback instructions (in the form of sched-
ules, dependencies on operating condition, speed, acceleration, pitch, etc.) and assignments (to func-
tion keys, random generators, switch inputs, etc.).
Each ZIMO decoder comes loaded with a sound project (usua
lly a “sound collection”, see below).
Other ZIMO sound projects for installation by the user can be downloaded from the ZIMO sound da-
tabase at
in the form of
“Ready to use” projects
(.zpp file) and often, in addition to
that, as
“Full featured” projects
(.zip file):
The “Ready to use” project is a
.zpp file,
which after downloading is uploaded to the decoder with
the help of decoder update modules such as the MXDECUP, MXULF, MX31ZL or MX10 command
station. The file is placed on a flash drive which is then plugged into the USB host socket of the men-
tioned modules or sent from a computer (connected to the USB client socket with the software
ZSP
installed on the PC) to the decoder. After the sound upload, many assignments and settings can be
changed to suit individual tastes (even though it is a "ready-to-use" project), using the procedures and
CV’s described in the decoder manual.
The
“Full featured” project on the other hand is a
.zip file
as downloaded from the sound data-
base; it cannot be uploaded to the decoder directly but can only be unzipped and edited with the help
of the
“ZIMO sound programmer” ZSP.
Assignments and settings can be determined within ZSP
and it is also possible to remove sound samples for external processing or exchange them with oth-
ers; it is therefore possible to create your own or highly individualized sound projects. The result is
again a
.zpp
file that can be uploaded to the decoder.
ZIMO sound decoders are delivered preferably with a
“Sound collection”;
this is a special type
of a sound project:
sound samples and CV parameters for several engines (i.e. for 5 engines) are
stored on each decoder. The preferred sound for a given locomotive can be selected with the cab (no
need to load a different sound sample from the computer). (CV#265)
The user is free to change acoustics of a locomotive to his/her own taste by combining for example a
chuff sound from 5 different chuff samples and one or several whistles (selection is made using the
“CV #300” procedure); equally select from bells, compressors, coal shoveling, oil burners or break
squeals etc.
Note: Even normal sound projects ("normal" = for a specific locomotive) can comprise the characteris-
tics of a "sound collection", by containing several whistles for example from which one can be select-
ed using the “CV #300 procedure”.
Among the sound projects available from the ZIMO sound database, it must be distinguished be-
tween the
-
“Free D’load” (= no charge) sound projects,
often produced by ZIMO and the
-
“Coded” (= purchased) sound projects
, from external sound providers.
The "Coded sound projects" are contributed by external ZIMO partners (= providers, for example by
Heinz Däppen for the Rhaetian Railway and American steam locomotives), who get reimbursed by
the sale of "load codes". These fee-based projects can be downloaded for free from the ZIMO Sound
Database, but can only be used in
"coded" decoders,
i.e. those in which the appropriate
"load
code"
has been programmed beforehand.
“Encoded decoders" can be purchased with the “load
