DCS

I add mine when Its on the layout.     cTr...( Choose the Right )

Gandydancer posted:

I am fairly new at the DCS part of my layout.  My question is as follows.  

I want to add an engine to my DCS system.  If I use a piece of track that is not part of my layout (ie: a test track) to program this engine into my DCS, is that better than having that engine added on while on my layout track?  

Thanks to all that reply.  

Yes much better with the test track....   Why?   Probably a perfect dcs signal.

 Also less chance of an ID conflict with other engines.

As long as the TIU has the same number as the layout tiu you should be fine,

EXx My Tiu here is tiu #1... You could add the engine here  at my house  and run it with your tiu providing it's tiu #1 ( a one blinker)

TEST TRACK BETTER.  If you add it on your layout you MUST remove all other DCS engines to avoid issues.  

Gregg,

If I disconnect my track TIU, and connect it to the test track to add a DSC engine which is no effort to due, will that work for me?

Gandydancer

Gandydancer posted:

Gregg,

If I disconnect my track TIU, and connect it to the test track to add a DSC engine which is no effort to due, will that work for me?

Gandydancer

 

Yes .

Greeg,

Thank you very much.

Jack,

If you add it on your layout you MUST remove all other DCS engines to avoid issues.

That's not correct. You can certainly have other DCS engines on the track when adding an engine to a DCS Remote, as long as your DCS signal is strong enough.

An engine should add without any issues even if you have a few other DCS engines on the track and powered up. It's not a function of how many other engines are on the track as much as it's a function of how strong is your DCS signal.

As long as you don't have more than 4 or 5 other engines powered up but not stated up, or even a couple started up, if your DCS signal is strong it shouldn't matter.

 Barry And I have been  back & forth over this very issue for years. Yes he 's correct,, you may get away  adding a engine with a few other engine  on the track but.... This is probably what might happen....

Engine not found

engine adds with no  name

Engine adds but borrows the name of a previously added engine

Engine add a previous engine  that has already been added

Two brand new engine with the same ID might give you a hard time adding unless using a programming track one engine at a time.

 Man!  Save yourself a head ache and use a programming track or equivalent...

 Our layout is big . 4 tiu in super with an excellent dcs signal. We wouldn't dream of adding without a programming track.

On the other hand

If you have 3 or 4 engines   try it it. you can always delete them and start over.

I get a kick out of some who say  "I don't take any engine off the track and have over 50 engines"

What they don't tell you is ..They're sitting on dead tracks.

Gandydancer,

What many of us do is we keep one of our sidings isolated from the rest of the layout to use as a programming track.

Regards,

Greg

Test track for me especially if it is newly acquired used engine with an unknown address.

I don't deal in things that should happen, so I feel as does Gregg.  There are 25 DCS locos sitting out on my layout, and I'm not going to remove them  If I'm adding a loco, I only power up the TIU controlling the area of the layout where I've set the loco.  I then turn off power to every other block on that circuit.  Thus, only the loco to be added can be seen by the TIU & remote.

To all that have answered my question regarding adding engines to DSC on a test track.  I thank each and everyone for their outstanding and very informational post.  You are truly all like me kids at heart and have a deep love for the hobby.  

Thank you all again,

Gandydancer