I have an MRC Prodigy Express that I've been trying to program my DCC locos with. I've tried programming the speed steps to 128 but it always ends up at 28. How do I get this top value to 128? All my locos run fine at 28 except for my BLI HO Trackmobile. It's fairly slow, however. I know the prototype isn't a speed demon to begin with but the model seems even slower than that. How do I increase the speed on this, or is that fixed within the model. Is there any way to program the Con-Cor HO PCC so that the interior lights can be shut off and on? It's always on inside. (The exterior headlight can be shut off and on.) Thanks.
Not sure what the decoder is, but in order to use 128 steps, CV29 has to be modified and set to use 128 step mode.
Thanks David. Supposedly programming the steps variable does that, which I've done, so I'm not inderstanding why it's stuck on 28.
There should be a button on your controller labeled "SPD STEP." With the loco selected, use that button to toggle control between 14, 28, and 128 speed steps. You have to tell the decoder what speed steps your using and tyou have to ell the command station what speed steps to use.
They are probably hardwired to be on all the time, I know with the N scale Zephyr and Aerotrain they are. If so, you would have to re-wire the lighting to be able to control it.
I did use SPD STP, Robert, to set it to 128. No change, so you may be right and their being hardwired. Can anyone confirm? These are the locos: - Bachmann 4-4-0 Modern American Richmond - Con-Cor PCC - Bachmann HO 45-Ton Switcher And of course, the BLI Trackmobile mentioned previously.
This is exactly what you need to do, but press "enter" after the correct speed step appears. I have a Prodigy Advance2 (which works the same as your express) and this is what needs to be done to change the speed step, as long as the decoder is already set right, which it should be by default to 28/128, you just need to press the SPD STP button until you see "128" in the display and then press the blue enter button. It will remember the setting for that loco address. The CAB will remember the SPD STP setting for as long as the loco stays in the CAB's recall buffer (25 most recent locos as long as it is plugged into the base unit, 5 locos if it is unplugged, might be less for the express). edit: if the CAB is displaying 128 speed steps and the loco is responding, you're good. If the CAB is only display 28, then something else is wrong (CAB or base unit messed up, you didn't press enter or something else to do with the CAB/Base unit). The CAB should have no idea what speed step your decoder is on.
Thanks jrfuda for the explanation. That filled in the missing link for me. I didn't realize that SPD STP was CAB dependent, not loco dependent. Now that I've got the concept down, I'm able to change SPD STP correctly.
