With this simple tool you can calculator all CV values you need for you DCC installations.
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Speed step control: Advanced Mode (28/128 speed steps) or Standard Mode (14 speed steps).
Speed table ON or OFF
Analog mode conversion ON or OFF
Normal Direction of Travel (NDOT)
2 digit addressing or 4 digit addressing
The value you program into CV29 sets all of these 5 characteristics. If you want additional information about these characteristics, it is included in the calculator.
Use this calculator to select which features you want to activate and the CV29 value to program into your decoder will be displayed automatically. The defaults are listed in the calculator.
If you will use 4 digit addressing, change CV29 to one of the values that allows for 4 digit addressing.
Speed Control
There are two modes for speed step control: Advanced or 28/128 speed step control or Standard or 14 speed step control, used only by older systems, such as LGB MTS. A modern command station such as ZIMO MX10 and all of ZIMO decoders utilize of course 128 speed steps. Therefore for all ZIMO installations this setting should be left as Advanced unless you are using an older non-ZIMO command station.
All ZIMO decoders operate in default mode with 128 speed steps and we recommend that for best performance you run them in 128 speed step mode.
Addressing
All ZIMO decoders are capable of both 2 & 4 digit addressing.
Analog mode conversion
is very convenient if you plan to run your ZIMO decoder locomotives also on regular DC layouts. With analog mode conversion enabled, the decoder will automatically begin operating as a DC locomotive when no DCC signal is detected. This means that if you place your ZIMO decoder equipped loco, with analog mode conversion enabled, on a regular DC layout, it will run on the DC layout. Depending on the programming of the ZIMO decoder, especially for the sound decoders, the decoder will still utilize important motor control functions (such as BACKEMF) but also delay the motor operation until a minimum track voltage is reached and the build in upconverter can power the sound system as well. The threshold is about 5-6V. Disabling analog mode conversion can be useful for setting up brake generator sections on the layout also known as BreakOnDC. Call TRAINLI or ZIMO Technical support for more information.
Normal Direction of Travel (NDOT)
NDOT lets you set up your locos to run either long hood forward or short hood forward. Because with DCC the decoder determines which way the loco will move independent of track polarity, you can set up either direction as forward depending on the prototype. (Not all decoders - except ZIMO of course - have this feature, so be sure to check the card that came with your decoder) If you run a consist of F7A-B-B-A, then the last A unit runs in reverse and needs to be told that this is actually the forward direction.
Speed Table
Speed table can be enabled or disabled using CV29's value. Speed tables are used to customize the throttle response curve of each decoder equipped locomotive. The speed table values can be stored in the decoder by programming values into CVs 65-93. These will remain stored in the decoder even if the speed table characteristic is turned off by the value programmed into CV29. You can use CV29 to turn speed tables on and off. This feature can be very helpful if you need to run a consist and the two (or more) engines don't synchronize well.
