OpSwitch 39 for Digitrax Command Station

[shark_jj]

For a number of years now I have been using OpSwitch 39 to clear out the slots in my DB150 Command Station.  Somewhere on the Digitrax website I read a recommendation to use OpSwitch 36 to accomplish this.  It had to do with the fact that OpSwitch 39 returned the command station to its factory setting of 20 maximum slots rather than the 100 it is capable of.  Anyway, my command station has started to act up again so it is time to clear it out and I can no longer find the information on the Digitrax website.  I would appreciate either some guidance on the best way to proceed or some direction on where I could find information on these two OpSwitch settings.

[shark_jj]

After continued searching, persistence paid off and I have located the information I needed.  Thanks.  Now if I could just train operators to release their engines, and zero out their throttles before releasing, this problem would become a thing of the past.

[Paradise275]

Hi John.
I thought the DB 150 was only capable of running 22 locos/addresses.
I thought the DCS100 was the one that could accommodate the 100 plus addresses.

Rick

[peteski]

The "slot clearing" thing seems to be only in Digitrax systems. The other systems I have dealt with don't seem to have this "feature", and don't need periodic purging or a having to release engines from throttles.

[John]

The "slot clearing" thing seems to be only in Digitrax systems. The other systems I have dealt with don't seem to have this "feature", and don't need periodic purging or a having to release engines from throttles.

subtle digitrax bashing

[peteski]

subtle digitrax bashing

Ya think?  I just call them as I see them. 

[John]

Hmmm -- what happens when you want to enter loco #251?

NCE System Basic Specification
The NCE system can support up to 63 cabs or operators. Max
number of 250 trains can be operated a one time. Has full range
of addressing (2 digit addressing and consists 1-127, 4 digit
addresses 0000 to 9999). Signal and accessory addressing range 1-
2044.
The command station has an RS-232 serial interface that allows you
to communicate with the system using a PC or Mac. Most model
railroad programs support the NCE system. One popular
program is Decoder Pro, available free over the internet

[mmyers]

Actually if you break up unwanted consists and zero the throttle on sigle addresses, Digitrax command stations will purge the address on their own. Sloppiness causes the slot=max issue. just like the mess on my workbench. Eventually, I have to stop and clean it all up.

Martin myers

[mmyers]

I've always wondered what the lag time would be on an NCE radio layout with all 63 cabs going. Or how about a second NCE radio layout in the same room?

[C855B]

As "chatty" as NCE's radio system is, collisions would make the system inoperable after no more than a dozen throttles.

>Or how about a second NCE radio layout in the same room?

Probably OK, within the dozen or so throttles. I do know the hard way that NCE proximate to Digitrax duplex all but shuts down Digitrax.

[mu26aeh]

After continued searching, persistence paid off and I have located the information I needed.  Thanks.  Now if I could just train operators to release their engines, and zero out their throttles before releasing, this problem would become a thing of the past.

Care to provide a link ?  I also have a DB150 that I need to clear out at times.

[peteski]

Hmmm -- what happens when you want to enter loco #251?

NCE System Basic Specification

I would never need to exceed that limit (same would apply to great majority of home layouts).  If I had a large club layout which would have more than 251 locomotives at the same time, I would get Digitrax. I think.... 

[shark_jj]

Thanks for the input guys.  Couple of corrections, it is a DCS100, I have a DB150 slaved to it.  mu26aeh here is the link you requested.  It tells you how to increase the number of slots from the factory setting of 22 slots to 120 slots.  At the bottom you will see the brief instructions on how to use Op Switch 36 to clear out the slots.  http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB555/dcs100-command-stationbooster-expanding-available-/

[davefoxx]

Can someone explain why I need to do this to my DB150?  I have never cleared out the slots, and I've owned this command station for more than ten years.  I do notice that I occasionally get three beeps, which supposed to be a purge of a locomotive address due to non-use.  Does that keep it clear enough that I'm probably not pushing the limit of the DB150?  Or is there something that I'm missing here?

Thanks,
DFF

[reinhardtjh]

Dave,

Does that keep it clear enough that I'm probably not pushing the limit of the DB150?

This is exactly it.  You have 22 slots and how many separate engines/consists do you run at any given moment?  If a slot is not used for a certain period of time, then the DB150 will drop and clear it.  If you dispatch your loco when you are done, you are doing the same thing.  Unless it is a busy layout or someone is playing with a lot of different engines, most people will never see this.

Good info on Digitrax slot managment: http://www.dccwiki.com/Slots