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OLD AND ADVANCED CONSISTS
EXPLAINED
Before setting up any consist an explanation is needed to understand the operating
differences between Advanced and Old Style consists (also called brute force or
Universal). Basic decoders that have a short address but no CONSIST address
(Early Lenz, MRC 30x/31x series and Digitrax 120 series Decoders) can not be
used with advanced consisting.
ADVANCED CONSISTS
Decoders that support advanced consisting have an additional short address, the
CONSIST address, in addition to their normal Long and Short addresses. The
consist address is stored in CV19 and can have a value of 112-127.
A decoder considers itself in a consist if the Consist Address (CV19) is something
other than 0 or 128. A decoder is added to a consist when the command station
sends a command to set the consist address in the decoder to the consist number.
The decoder will now use this new consist address for speed and direction
commands. This has many advantages including the need for fewer communications
on the track and no need for the operator or command station to keep track of which
locomotives are in what consist on the layout.
Each locomotive in an advanced consist will still respond to function or programming
commands using the original locomotive address. This means the operator can turn
lights or other functions on or off for each locomotive individually.
To kill an entire consist, a command is broadcast on the tracks for each decoder
with that consist number to clear its consist address and return to individual
operation. Locomotives can also be individually dropped from a consist. You can also
add locomotives to a consist after the initial set up of that consist.
Advanced style consists can easily be taken from layout to layout and they will
continue to operate as a single unit.
OLD STYLE CONSISTS (also called brute force or
Universal)
With an Old Style consist, the command station keeps track of each locomotive in
the consist within the memory of the command station. Each speed change of the
cab generates a separate speed command to each of the decoders in the consist.
These extra speed commands on the track have significant ramifications if you have
a lot of consists operating at one time as in a club situation. The effect is to slow
down locomotive response to the throttle speed controls.
Use this method of building a consist with MRC and Digitrax 120 series decoders.
Decoders in an old style consist have no knowledge of being in a consist and will not
operate as a unit when moved to another layout. You can add one or more advanced
consists to any old style consist.
SETTING UP AN ADVANCED CONSIST
To set up a consist press SETUP. This screen allows you to choose the type of
consist to be created. For those consists that will contain advanced decoders, press
ENTER to select the advanced mode.
CONSIST 2:00PM
CONSIST 2:00PM
CONSIST 2:00PM
CONSIST 2:00PM
CONSIST 2:00PM
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
An advanced consist has no limit to the number of loco’s assigned.
NOTE: you can not setup, add, or delete a loco from a consist while the locomotive
is moving. It must be at speed 0. Decoders will not accept consist commands while
they are in motion. This prevents reception of false consist make/break commands
due to electrical noise generated by the wheels rolling on the track.