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CVs 105 and 106 are reserved
for user information.
Each of these CVs can hold a value
of 0 through 255 (decimal), and can be used to identify anything the
end user want to keep track of. They can't be used to control anything
in the decoder itself. To do that requires the manufacturer to have
made that provision. But, club members can use this to keep track
of which loco belongs to who - the way the manufacturer ID keeps track
of which manufacturer made the decoder. They could also be used to
keep track of a date, which way the decoder is programmed, which features
a decoder has, a way to keep track of the order in which decoders
were put into service, or anything else the user can conceive which
can be kept track of in 8 bits per CV. |
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The club can keep a roster of club members.
Each member is assigned a different number from 1 through 255. Each
club member programs his number into the specified CV. Anytime there
is a question about who a loco belongs to, all they have to do is
read the value in that CV. This, however, should not be used as an
absolute indicator of ownership. That information should be kept track
of in written records. This is because any unscrupulous person could
reprogram that CV to his number if he wanted to lay claim to the loco.
While model railroaders are generally a cut above the average population
in integrity, there are still some who haven't figured life out yet. |
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Since there aren't enough bits
in a single CV to keep track of a whole date, that will take both
User ID CVs. And even that is tricky if you want the day, month, and
year. However, you can keep track of a month and year (if you don't
also want the decade) in a single CV. For example, 101 could denote
October (10) of 2001 (1). This only becomes obsolete when you have
spanned more than 10 years. You can devise a method that could handle
up to 65 years. Since it only takes three bits to make a value of
12, the first three bits can denote the month. The last five bits
can denote the year. If starting with 2001, for example, the value
in the last five bits can go up to 65, for 2065. Other than that,
you'll have to use both CVs for a better dating system. There is information
concerning bit calculations on the CV
Bit Manipulation page. |
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You may have some
locos programmed some special way for something or other, and may
forget which loco has it and which don't. All you have to do is work
up a code to keep track of your different specialties and program
the appropriate code for each loco. |
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You may have some special features
in some decoders that others don't have. For example, you may have
Back-EMF control in some and not in others. You can't program Back-EMF
if you don't have it. Likewise with other things such as transponding,
etc. If you have some decoders with special features that you may
need to check on from time to time, just devise a special code for
them and program it in one of the User ID CVs.
Since each CV has 255 different values,
other than zero, you can assign different codes to special features
and programming. This way you can keep track of both of these things
in one CV. This will leave the other one open for a club ID if necessary.
While CVs 105 and 106 are specifically
reserved for user ID purposes, other CVs from 104 and down are sometimes
implemented with memory. CVs from 96 through 104 are reserved by the
NMRA for future use. But if they haven't been implemented for something
else, but have memory that can be used, there's nothing to keep you
from using them for whatever purpose you want - like keeping a full
date, as well as all the other things we've discussed and other things
you come up with. |
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| I think most decoders have this
implemented. Digitrax and Train Control Systems decoders have User
ID implemented as well as CV 104. I don't know how many others below
104 have memory. Throttle Up! (SoundTraxx) decoders have the User
ID implemented, but not 104. If purchasing other brands, and this
is important to you, ask your dealer to check it before you buy the
decoder.
The only system and throttle requirement
for these to be used is the capability to program and read these CVs.
All of Digitrax's current systems
can program any value into any of these CVs.
The User Identifier is not intrusive.
You do not need to bother with it unless you want to use it. |
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