Speed step/ status edit questions

[Jim Starbuck]

 The majority of my engines are small switchers operating as single units one or two at a time on my small Unitrack test layout and the rest happens on the Modutrak layout a few times a year. Both use Digitrx systems with the home game a Zepher.
Over the last several months I’ve noticed changes in how they respond to throttle input.
There wasn’t any movement until turned up to around 15 on both a DT400 and UT6R. Turns out the speed steps had changed and once I realized that’s what was going on a simple status edit to 128 restored the super slow performance and sound once again matching the engines movement.
The majority of my decoders are ESU both sound and non with a few Digitrax sprinkled in.
When I do an install and initial programming I always set the decoders up for 128 speed steps and it’s my understanding that information resides on the decoder.
My question is what would cause a near global change in speed step settings across 40 engines?
Is there something I need to change in the Zephyr as the unexplained changes happen on engines that haven’t run anywhere but my home system.
It a simple quick fix but I’d like to find out why it’s happening in the first place.
Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jim

[Maletrain]

The setting that is in the decoder is between either14 speed steps or 28/128 speed steps, accepting either from the command station in the latter case.

There is a setting in Digitrax command stations that defaults to the number of speed steps for "new" addresses when acquired by a throttle.  That is set by the combination of Op Switches 21, 22 and 23.  See manual page 47 (pdf page 48) of https://www.digitrax.com/media/apps/products/starter-sets/zep/documents/ZephyrManual.pdf .

It sounds like you somehow have those op switches set for 28 speed steps.  The default setting is for 128 speed steps, which is Op Sw 21, 22 and 23 all set to "t" ("thrown").  But, if Op Sw 21 gets set to "c" ("closed"), then it will be in 14 step mode, and if both Op Sw 21 and 22 get set to "c", it will default to 28 step mode.

[Jim Starbuck]

Maletrain,

I wasn’t sure what I was looking for so thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction.
All is good now.

Jim