How does DCS handle indentical (same model) engines on track.

You need to give the second engine a new number when you add it to the remote.

No issues just a slight name change that the system seems to do on its own. I have 3 MTH/Ives 3236's, 3 10E's and 3 N&W Unshrouded J's; I have no issue running any of them at the same time.

Scott Smith

@speperak posted:

If I have two identical mth engines on the track at the same time, can DCS distinguish between the two? I pose this question because I just purchased a second mth engine that I already have and wondered about running them at the same time. thanks, speperak

No problem at all, DCS addresses them by their DCS address.  I've had two identical A-5 steamers here, and I just added one and then the second one and could switch between them freely.  I even ran them in an MU configuration.

@DMASSO posted:

You need to give the second engine a new number when you add it to the remote.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the remote automatically assigns a different address, no need to do anything manually unless you don't like the address number it picked. 

Correct, the DCS system handles the details.

Thanks much for the reponses. I have ordered an engine that is identical to one I have in model, road number, etc and was wondering if it could be used with DCS at same time as original. Will try it out soon. thanks

I don't have this issue but thought of a question that might help the original poster: when I want to add the new engine and have it get a unique number (different than the identical engine) which do I do: have the original engine already on the track and started up and then add the new one so that the system can find an open slot/unused number, or can I just put the new one on the track and do the add without having the original engine there too?

My guess is that if you put the new engine on the track by itself and try to add it the system will say it's already in the system.  My guess is that even if you didn't try to add it, since it has a currently used number, you can start it up using the original engine's number and run it as though it is the original engine.

= walt

My sense is that the PS2 and PS3 boards each have a unique internal identifier not unlike Ethernet board MAC addresses.  In the past I've taken two identical engines and simply added them one at a time without an issue.  I can't repeat that test because I no longer have access to two identical engines.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My sense is that the PS2 and PS3 boards each have a unique internal identifier not unlike Ethernet board MAC addresses.  In the past I've taken two identical engines and simply added them one at a time without an issue.  I can't repeat that test because I no longer have access to two identical engines.

That is exactly the thought I had since I first got into DCS.  Star wiring reminds me of Ethernet as well.  It seems like my experience working with Ethernet the last 20 years of employment helps me think through DCS better than other systems that are out there.

DCS will give the second engine a different address. I have a few engines that were duplicates (two GP35's, one SD45, and one U25B) that I renumbered. They initially appeared with the same road number, but DCS gave them different addresses. After changing the numbers, I edited the name of the engines to reflect the new numbers. This will remain in place until the engine is reset to factory defaults. There is supposedly a way you can edit the chip to change the numbers, but it's complicated (like the old "Debug" program from the DOS days).

If you're not going to change the numbers, at least make some visual distinction on the locomotive and edit its name. By the way, in a consist, DCS uses the address as opposed to the name, so even if you don't change anything it will still work.

@AGHRMatt posted:

After changing the numbers, I edited the name of the engines to reflect the new numbers. This will remain in place until the engine is reset to factory defaults. There is supposedly a way you can edit the chip to change the numbers, but it's complicated (like the old "Debug" program from the DOS days).

The permanent number change can be accomplished by any MTH ASC using the Dealer Loader. Any upgrade or board change I do gets a permanent name of the owner's choice.

You might be able to do it with the ADPCM editor for MTH files, I've never tried finding those strings in ADPCM.