NCE PowerPro System Upgrade

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System Upgrade Soon

This is preliminary info about some of the software upgrades coming soon from NCE. It is subject to change or deletion at the sole discretion of NCE.

Summary of SOME of the NCE Software Upgrades: (11-12-04)

1) Improved and Simplified Programming on the Main and Program Track..
2) Direct Mode Programming added
3) 12 Functions now available
4) Throttle Controlled Momentum enabled
5) Option for Wireless Duplex Repeater and Simplex Cabs added.
6) Support for Macro Panel added
7) Improved and Simplified Advanced Consisting added
8) Support for Analog Fast Clocks is now included
9) Support for Signal decoders is now included
10) Backup of system memory for consists, macros and system setup added
11) Improved support for computer operation and programming added
12) Support for an unlimited number of wireless cabs added
13) Support for a unlimited number ‘computer’ cabs added

The following is detailed info for some of the upgrades listed above.

ADDITION 11/12/04
- "Computer" cabs are now supported via direct writing of data responses to cab context memory.

ADDITION 11/11/04
- In the SET CMD STA menu:
You can now backup and restore the battery backed command station RAM to a computer. This has been
tested (so far) with PCs running Hyperterminal on WIN XP and WIN98se
There are three backup options:
Macro backup saves all 256 macros
System backup saves the system setup (SET CMD STA menus stuff)
Consist backup saves the advanced consist tables
The data is sent as an ASCII file to the terminal program

ADDITION 11/1/04
- The number of macros has now been increased to 256
The entire range of 0-255 is now enabled.

ADDITION 10/31/04
- The RS232 baud rate is now configurable in the SET CMD STA menu. There are three rates available:
1 = 9600
2 = 19.2K
3 = 38.4K

ADDITION 10/28/04
- The momentum button now works. When you press the button you will be prompted for a momentum level from 0 to 9. Pressing a digit button will set the acceleration and deceleration rates of the current locomotive or consist(s) with the value entered (times the multiplier). If you have an OLD STYLE consist with one or more advanced consists the momentum command will ‘drill down’ into all locomotives in the consist and set the momentum on all. We have tested this with an old style consist made up of 4 advanced consists with six locos each.

Factory default acceleration/deceleration rates (multiplier of 8)
Rate 0 = 0 seconds to full speed, 0 seconds to stop
Rate 1 = 7 seconds to full speed, 3 seconds to stop
Rate 2 = 14 seconds to full speed, 7 seconds to stop
Rate 3 = 21 seconds to full speed, 10 seconds to stop
Rate 4 = 28 seconds to full speed, 14 seconds to stop
Rate 5 = 35 seconds to full speed, 17 seconds to stop
Rate 6 = 42 seconds to full speed, 21 seconds to stop
Rate 7 = 49 seconds to full speed, 24 seconds to stop
Rate 8 = 54 seconds to full speed, 27 seconds to stop
Rate 9 = 61 seconds to full speed, 30 seconds to stop

The momentum button has a programmable multiplier from 0-25 in the SET CMD SAT menu.

The momentum deceleration rate can be set in the SET CMD STA menu to FULL (same as acceleration) or HALF (1/2 the value of acceleration).

You can disable the momentum button in the SET CMD STA menu.

ADDITION 10/21/04

- The command station can now be setup to send Event driven RS-232 output data for changes to AIU inputs. Each change of an AIU nput is an AIU "event". A 3 byte RS-232 message is generated for each event listing the AIU input number that changed and what polarity it changed to. The format for the data is:
ADDITION 10/18/04
- A macro can now be linked to another macro by entering an accessory address of 9999 when programming the macro. You will then be prompted for the macro number to link. You can chain as many macros together as you like.

ADDITION 10/12/04
- You can use the PROCAB to send signal aspect commands. Program your Procab <OPTION> to a value of 108. Pressing OPTION will allow you to access the signal aspect entry menu. Signal addresses range from 1-2044 and valid aspects are 0-31.

Currently only NCE signal decoders (not released yet) support NMRA signal packets so you will not be able to try it out yet.

ADDITION 10/1/04
- A complete rewrite of OPS programming has been done. The are now 10 sub menus for OPS programming (there were originally three)

Press <ENTER> to see each subsequent sub menu item at the "1=ADR 2=CV 3=CFG" prompt. Then press the number corresponding to the sub menu you desire.

1=ADR - set loco addresses
Programming the loco address is now under this menu instead of the CV programming menu. Setting the address is also simplified. Just select the new address type (short or long) then enter the new address. There are no longer restrictions on programming the same address type as the one in use.
2=CV - no changes
3=CFG - no changes
4=MOTOR control
Prompts and gets input for the following NMRA standard definition CVs:
Start voltage (CV2)
Max voltage (CV5)
Mid Voltage (CV6)
Acceleration (CV3)
Deceleration (CV4)
PWM frequency (CV9)
Kick rate (CV116, an NCE specific CV)
Kick depth (CV117, an NCE specific CV)
5=FUNCTION MAPPING (NMRA standard function mapping)
You are prompted for the function number to map. If "F0" you are asked if it is forward (F0F) or reverse(F0R). Press the appropriate digit. The top line of the LCD displays the function number and the output numbers that can be controlled by the function. Pressing of a digit
key will enable the output on the decoder when the function is activated. Pressing the same digit key again will disable the output. The top line of the LCD will have small output numbers on the display
when the output numbers are 10 through 14. To enable/disable these 'high' numbers press the digit key that is 10 less than the output number.
Example: press 0 for output 10, 1 for output 11, etc.
6=NCE EFFECTS
You are prompted for the output number to setup. Use the thumbwheel or up/down speed buttons to scroll through the lighting effect options. Press ENTER when you get the one you want. Next press 1,2 or 3 to select the 'directionality' or the output Last, press 1 if the output has an LED connected, any other key if incandescent lamps.
7=SOUNDTRAXX - special SOUNDTRAXX indexed feature programming
When programming CV120-127 you are asked for an index number before you are asked for the CV value. CV119 is then automatically set with the index value before the original CV is set with the desired data. All other CVs are programmed in the normal manner.
8=QSI - special QSI indexed feature programming
When programming CV51,CV52,and CV56 you are asked for an index number before you are asked for the CV value. CV49 is then automatically set with the index value before the original CV is set with the desired data. When programming CV56 you are asked for primary and secondary index numbers before you are asked for the CV value. CV49 and CV50 are then automatically set with the index numbers before CV53 is set with the desired data. All other CVs are programmed in the normal manner.
9=BIN - programs a CV with binary imput.
Enter CV number to program then press bit number to toggle individual bits to make up a binary byte. Press enter to program.

ADDITION 6/1/04
- A complete rewrite of the programming track operation has been done.
STD mode
Paged/direct auto detect
Set address is now broken out separately
Motor control
Prompts and gets input for:
Start voltage (CV2)
Max voltage (CV5)
Mid Voltage (CV6)
Acceleration (CV3)
Deceleration (CV4)
PWM frequency (CV9)
Kick rate (CV116, an NCE specific CV)
Kick depth (CV117, an NCE specific CV)
Function mapping
You are prompted for the function number to map. If "0" you are asked if it is forward or reverse. The top line of the LCD displays the function number and the output numbers that can be controlled by the function. The bottom line of the LCD displays the outputs that are enabled for that function. A digit means that output is enabled,a dash means it is disabled. Pressing of a digit key will enable the output on the decoder when the function is activated.
Pressing the same digit key again will disable the output.
The top line of the LCD will have small output numbers on the display when the output numbers are 10 through 14. To enable/disable these 'high' numbers press the digit key that is 10 less than the output number. Example: press 0 for output 10, 1 for output 11, etc.
CV mode - same
CFG mode - same
PAGED - forces paged mode and jumps to STD mode
DIRECT - forces direct mode and jumps to STD mode
NCE EFFECTS
You are prompted for the output number to setup. Use the thumbwheel or up/down speed buttons to scroll through the lighting effect options. Press ENTER when you get the one you want. Next press 1,2 or 3 to select the 'directionality' or the output Last, press 1 if the output has an LED connected, any other key if incandescent lamps.
RESCUE mode - updated factory reprogram (works with more decoders)

ADDITION 5/5/04
- Function commands are now optionally sent to the consist address. You can turn this off (it's on by default) in the SET_CMD_STA menu.

CHANGE 3/4/04
- The maximum fast clock ratio hase been reduced from 25 to 15
- The <BELL> button is now mapped to F1 instead of F3 by default

ADDITION 1/11/04
- The long awaited improvements to advanced consisting are in this version.

When prompted for the "CON ADDRESS:" the highest open consist address is displayed on the LCD. If you wish to use this address (recommended) just push ENTER. You can also enter any short address just as with previous versions.

After entering the usual LEAD LOCO address (and direction), you are prompted to enter an optional REAR LOCO address (and direction). You can skip either or both loco addresses by pressing ENTER.

When you exit, the LEAD LOCO will be selected for running. If there is no LEAD LOCO the REAR LOCO will be selected. If there is neither a LEAD or REAR loco the consist address will be selected. In this case "CON:" will NOT be displayed on the top line of the LCD as there is no "other" address by which the consist is known.

- You can now BROWSE CONSISTS by pressing PROG 9 times (the short cut is to press PROG followed by 9). Them press enter at the "BROWSE CONSISTS" prompt. The LCD will display something like:
"CON: 127 10:42AM"
"LEAD:2190 R:4484"
Each button push will display the next lower consist in the list. When you get to the "bottom" of the list
it will start over at the top. You can also scroll up and down through the list using the speed buttons
of thumbwheel.

You can clear a consist entry from the list by pressing CLEAR then pressing 1 at the "KILL CON? 1=YES" prompt.

If there are no consists in the list the display will say "-CONSISTS EMPTY-"

Press PROG/ESC at any time to exit browsing.

ADDITION 11/16/03
- Support for functions 9-12
- In the SET CMD STA menu "HORN OFF PKT" is programmable this is used the number of times a "horn off" packet is sent when the HORN button is released. Previously this was always 1 which led to a sound decoder occasionally missing the "off" packet. The factory default is 2 but can be set as high as 16.

CHANGES
- The factory default speed table has been updated to reflect the NCE Version 3.0 to V3.5 decoders

BUG FIX
- Function commands can no longer be sent to short address 0
This prevents all Horns or other functions coming on unexpectedly when an operator presses a function button with a 'blank address'.

We welcome comments or suggestions from readers; please write or call.