How do you set up a large loop that is divided into two blocks to run in conventional mode controlled by a Cab-1? I thought the solution would be to have a transformer and PowerMaster for each block then program the PowerMasters with the SAME Track ID. That way when you turn the red knob on the Cab-1 the engine will get the same voltage regardless of where it is on the track.
I've been reading "Command Control for Toy Trains, 2nd Edition" by Neil Besougloff and revised by Carl Swanson. On the bottom of page 47 it says "You can also give some or all of the TPCs or PowerMasters the same ID number and control the voltage in an entire division."
But on page 5 of the PowerMaster manual it says "Your PowerMaster is factory-programmed as track (TR) 1. If you are using a number of PowerMasters to control different blocks of track, keep in mind that each PowerMaster must have its own ID number. No other product–including Track Power Controllers, multiple locomotive lash-ups that are addressed as “trains,” or other PowerMasters–can share that ID number."
The manual for the Legacy PowerMaster doesn't have that exact language but on page 12 it does say "Before you operate the LEGACY PowerMaster with the TrainMaster Command Control System, you will need to assign a unique ID# to the PowerMaster."
If I give each PowerMaster a unique ID then whenever I want to change the speed of the (conventional) train I have to: press TR, press 1, turn knob, press TR, press 2, turn knob. Since there is no way to "read" what the current setting is on a particular "TR" it won't be easy to keep them at exactly the same level.
