SoundTraxx DSD-150/DSX Owners Manual - Manual (Page 30)

30 Digital Sound Decoder Owner's Manual
Configuring for Consist Operation
The DSD supports consist operations and has three related CVs:
CV 19, Consist Address
CV 21, Consist Function Active
CV 22, Consist FL Function Active
The consist CVs allow the DSD to recognize a new address assigned to the consist without changing the primary or
extended addresses. Additionally, they allow each locomotive in the consist to be run as a single unit but with different
function properties.
These CVs are useful when building up a triple header for example. Each locomotive in the triple header is assigned
the same consist address by programming CV 19 with the consist address between 0 and 127 (0x7F). If a locomotive
is facing backwards in the consist (unlikely for steam operations but we mention it anyway), it should be programmed
with the same consist address plus 128 (0x80). If the forward locomotives are set to address 60 for example, the
backwards engine must be set to 60+128 = 188. Failure to do this will turn the consist into an angry pushme-pullyou
as all locomotives will try to move forward from the perspective of their own cab and a few pulled couplers might
result!
With three engines in the consist, you’ll probably want the headlight function to activate only the lead engine’s light.
And you’ll only want the backup light on the trailing engine to work. But you probably want the firebox flicker on for all
three engines. CV 21 and 22 allow you to define how each engine responds to function commands sent to the consist
address. CV 21 controls which of functions 1-8 are active when the consist address is enabled and CV 21 controls
the FL function for forward and reverse. As each bit in both CVs enable a different function, you’ll need to refer to the
section on Bits and Bytes, page 18, and the DSD Technical Reference to determine the proper value for each CV.
Note that when the consist address is set, the locomotive will continue to respond to instructions sent to its primary
or extended address except for speed and direction data.
To deactivate the consist address and restore normal operation, CV 19 must be reprogrammed to 0.
Remapping the Functions
Function Mapping Explained
Function mapping allows the DSD’s sound effects and function outputs to be reconfigured to respond to a different
function key input. This especially useful for users who have throttles with less than eight function keys as now they
can pick and choose what effects they can control instead of being restricted to an arbitrary assignment.
There are 10 function mapping CVs - eight CVs, 35-42 are used to assign output control to function keys 1 through
8 respectively.
The other two CVs, 33 and 34 are both for the FL function. CV 33 controls which outputs are on when FL is on and
the locomotive is moving forward. CV 34 controls which outputs are on when FL is on and the locomotive is moving
in reverse. If the same output is selected in both CV 33 and CV 34, that function will turn on when the FL function is
on regardless of locomotive direction.
As the DSD has more function outputs (for the purpose of discussion, we’ll consider sound effects to be outputs)
than there are function keys, not all keys can control all outputs. The table on page 24 in the DSD Technical
Reference shows which functions can be mapped to which outputs. Note that a function key can be set up to control
more than one output and also an output can be controlled by more than one function key. In the second case, the
outputs are logically or’ed to the function keys so that if an output is mapped to two function keys, either key will turn
that output on, however, the output will not turn off until both function keys have been turned off.
Function mapping is tricky and if the user is not careful, ‘interesting’ things can happen. As each bit in the function
mapping CVs enables a different output, you’ll need to refer to the section on Bits and Bytes and the DSD Techni-
cal Reference to determine the proper value for each CV.
Function Mapping Example