I just started in DCC and I am having fun. I currently have a Progidy Advanced squared or 2, Digitrax DCS 52, and an ancient Command 2000. I recently received an Atlas RS engine with a decoder installed manually. When I load it into the prodigy or digitrax, as soon as I go into any of the programming modes, the headlight on engine comes on. But thats it. If I try to read or program it, it always comes back with 0000 for any address using any of the programming modes. And when I try to write, I get the "No decoder Ack Pulse" Here is the kicker, if I use the ancient command 2000, it will let me read it, write to it, and run it. Please see picture and help me first identify the decoder, and what I can do from there. PS, once I make changes with the command2000 and switch back to the other 2, they read nothing. And same issues. Thanks V
Some systems are a lot more sesitive to clean track contact and other contacts. I could get the no response with the older DCC++ and would clean the track and then it would read with DecoderPro. A DCC-EX command station is much more forgiving and DCC-EX also has options to read decoders that act in this manner. Clean the track and try again with one of the ones that didn't work but sounds like you have things fixed. See if you can read CV8. If so you can look here... https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us...nufacturer-ID-listing-The-Value-listed-in-CV8 ... and use the number there to see the manufacture. Sumner
Sumner, its just 1. and my program track is brand new and works with others.And the light comes on as soon as I go to prgram, and when I try to read the engine, it jerks a little. But it always returns 0000 even if I program it for anything else. Cant read CV8, or 7 for that matter, cant read anything.
you should be able to pull it loose and take a look or pic of other side . looking for other numbers /letter ect to find out who it belongs to......
SPROGs are also well known for being able to read/program troublesome decoders. When acknowledging programming commands, the decoder will pulse the motor to draw current for the response that is sensed by the programmer/command station. Dirty motor/brushes/wheels, a bad solder joint, and/or a loose wire can interfere with the response.
Any chance you can share a high res pic of both sides of the decoder? The only reason I can think of for the PA2 or DCS 52 not to be able to read the decoder details is possibly a loose connection for the motor wires. Both of these look for a current draw on the PROG track for the ACK pulses which typically are generated by the motor spinning one direction or the other. Also, if you are using the MRC system as a daily user drop me a message as I'd like to ask a few Qs.
That looks like a really old decoder. Many of the early decoders did not support readback. Well, the Command 2000 isn't reading it because the Command 2000 doesn't support readback, but if it will run it, the other systems should also. Have you tried running it on the other systems using the address programmed from the Command 2000 (it would have to be from 1 to 10). If it's an older decoder like I suspect, the it likely will not support 128 speed step mode either so you would need to try 14 or 28 speed steps.
Ive set it to 2 and 5 with the command 2000, it wont run with either of the newer systems when set to those addresses.Are you saying set the speed steps with the command 2000?
No, make sure you are trying to run it using 14 or 28 speed steps (14 if you programmed it in "Normal" mode, 28 if you programmed it in "Advanced" mode). On the Prodigy, the "SPD STEP" button changes the speed step setting - on the DCS 52, look up "Status Edit" to see how to change the speed steps. Note that changing the speed step setting only applies to the current address, so you have to make sure you have the address you want to try selected before making the speed step setting change. The other thing I meant to mention is you should also be able to program the decoder with the other systems. Again, with it being an older decoder you may have to use a "short" (primary) address, and if it doesn't support readback you'll get an error, but you should still be able to program it.
