Question after reading NCE power cab manual:
Looks like you can work with two trains easily at the same time with the recall button.
True.
Both trains will either be in normal mode or yard mode. True You can't have one normal and the other yard. Correct Also it looks like as long as you use the throttle in power cab mode you don't even have the choice for yard mode. Correct. You have to unplug and replug to get into yard mode.
The cab key programing look like a great feature, but might be tedious to setup. Can this programming be done on a PC and then downloaded into the CAB?
I'm not familiar with this. Maybe an NCE user can comment. Right now there is no computer interface for the Power Cab but it should be released any day now.
The use of RS-485 standard would see to leave open other companies to add to the control bus. Does NCE publish the software protocol packet information for there cabs?
???
Whoops! It looks like you can easily use the wrong cable (4 pin/6 pin) when plugging in the power cab, because they use the same RJ12 connector. What happens if you do this?
??? But, I don't think it's too easy to do if you read the instructions. One is coiled and one is flat.
OK, now I am confused. On page 24 it states that the power cab can have:
2 cabs (is this the recall button usage) No. You can add one more cab by plugging it in to the system. Then you can recall back and forth between 2 locos on each cab.
12 trains at the same time (how?) ???
16 advanced consists (OK this is in the encoder so that makes sense)
4 old style consists with 2 loco each (this is what is being kept in the
controller). Only two locos seem restrictive.
12, 16, 4, etc. These large numbers are some type of maximums but really don't come into play for the typical home user.
Do the speed buttons only work in Pro Cab mode and not Power Cab mode?
They work in both.
If I installed a NCE decoder that supports the kick rate/depth, can I program it with another system (say MCR)?
Yes
I am not sure that I follow the "decoder function key remapping". Is this being done in the decoder or the controller? This sounds very flexible, but in real operation how often would this be used? Can someone give me an example of how they use this feature?
In the decoder. For example, in a consist I may assign different keys (other than the 0 key) to control headlight, rear light, etc.
What is the upgrade path for NCE? If I start with a Power Cab (2 amps) and add SB3 (3 amps) can I now wire two zone? 2 amps in one and 3 amp in the other?
Power Cab is 1.7 amps. When you add SB3 your entire system now has a total of 3 amps only. The 1.7 amps no longer exists. No separate zones, unless you add additional boosters.
Or should I start with one of the other systems? They look a lot more expensive.
If you think you will eventually want more than 3 amps or want 5 or more amps for the entire system, or if you want radio, you may want to go wtih the Pro Cab radio to start with. But there are many upgrade option possibilities and it all depends on your specific desires.
Kent
Note:
I feel a little uncomfortable commenting on NCE (although I used Power Cab for a brief period of time) so I hope that a more experience NCE user will comment on your questions and clear up anything that I may not be correct on.
Jerry