Instructions

tams elektronik

English RedBox

10.2. DCC-Format

The DCC format was developed by LENZ** and later declared as standard by the NMRA

(National Model Railroad Association). Meanwhile the RailCommunity (Association of

Manufacturers of Model Railcroad Products) maintains and advances this standard.

Data transfer in the DCC format

In the DCC format, data is transferred continuously and thus there is no DC power on the track.

Hence, different to Motorola formats, locomotives without decoders do not automatically start

moving when put on the track. It is possible to control one decoderless locomotive from the

central unit in DCC layouts, because the analog driving signals are laid over the digital signals.

Nonetheless, this feature is not recommended, as it tends to damage the engine electrics. This is

the reason why it is not supported in EasyControl.

Possibilities of the DCC format

The DCC format features up to 10239 addresses, up to 28 (or 32768) functions and up to 128

speed levels as well as an absolute driving direction. How may addresses, functions and speed

levels can actually be used depends on component limits such as the limits of decoders or the

central unit.

CV programming

Today’s CV programming allows you to set a decoders properties by setting the so-called

configuration variables (CV variables). The meaning of each variable is clearly defined by the

NMRA. Each variable has 8 bits and can contain the values of 0 to 255. To be able to use

extended addresses, one address uses two CV variables. The values can be transferred bitwise

or bytewise. Bitwise transfer only makes sense if each bit has its’ own property (e.g. CV# 29). In

the table in ssection 10.2. you can find the most commonly used CV variables and their possible

values.

Page programming and register programming

Before CV programming, there was register programming and page programming.

The possibilities to set the decoder properties are limited when page programming is used.

There are only 8 registers to program (primary address, Vstart, acceleration rate, deceleration

rate, configuration data, manufacturer version No., manufacturer ID). The possible values of the

Page programming offers the same possibilities as CV programming. The properties of the

decoder are set in register variables. 4 registers make one page. The pages are adjacent

(register 1 to 4 on Page 0, register 5 to 8 on page 1, and so on) so a register can be accessed

directly while programming.

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