This stands for OPerationS
Mode Programming. This means that programming can be done while you
are running the loco on the layout. It can be done anywhere on the
layout and does not need a programming track like Service-Mode
Programming. OPS-Mode Programming is most useful when you need
to see or hear the programming change instantly, or when something
such as momentum needs to be changed during an operating session.
With OPS-Mode Programming, the first
step is to select the loco with the throttle. Most of the time you
will already have it selected and are operating it. Once selected,
all you have to do is go into the OPS programming mode and do your
programming. The reason the loco has to be selected to start with
is so the system will know which locomotive to send the programming
codes to. With OPS-Mode Programming, the only decoder(s) that get
programmed are those with the target address (the address that was
selected into the throttle when you entered the programming mode).
With Digitrax dual-knob throttles, the loco that the programming will
be sent to is the one that is active when you enter the programming
mode.
When you first enter the programming
mode, with a Digitrax system, the display will show you which programming
mode you're in for just a couple of seconds. If it doesn't indicate
the OPS-Mode, use the FUNC or PROG button (depending on your throttle)
to toggle through the programming modes until OPS comes up. Note:
the UT2 throttle does not support
OPS-Mode Programming.
Once in the OPS-Mode, do your programming
as usual. If programming the volume on a SoundTraxx sound decoder,
for example, you will hear the volume change as soon as you press
the ENTER or SET (depending on your throttle) button. If changing
momentum, it will be changed instantly
but you won't notice it until you change the speed of the loco. If
programming an FX lighting feature,
you will see the change instantly.
Some systems and/or decoders do not
allow OPS-Mode programming of the base (two-digit) address, and there
is no provision for decoder feedback. This means the GOOD or FAIL
returned after programming is meaningless. This also means you can't
read a CV value back with OPS-Mode - the DCC standards and RPs don't
provide for it. If you try to read a CV value back in OPS-Mode, it
will FAIL. Reading a CV value must be done in the Service-Mode. And
only systems that have the Read/Write feature can do that.
However, with the advent of Digitrax's
Transponding technology, reading CV values back can be achieved. Any
Digitrax decoder with the last digit of "3"(such as the
DH163IP or DN163K0A) can respond back if it's in a detection block
wired for Transponding. Further, the read-back is practically instantaneous
- no waiting for the normal polling of the CV for a value. Press the
DISP button, and the value is returned instantly. |
