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LokSound 28 or 128 Speed Steps Track and electrical/DCC
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Active Member 58 posts SD70M2 Active Member 58 posts
SD70M2

Just curious, but have been wondering what speed steps most of you fellows with LokSound decoder equipped models use when operating your layout. 28 or 128?

I currently own 6 models with LokSound decoders and always use 28 speed steps. I program them using CV's 2, 5, and 6 so that at speed step 5, I'm running at 10 scale miles per hour (model takes 6 seconds to move 12 actual inches). Since my layout is a freelance end of branch switching layout slow and easy is the order of the day.

It looks like many of the fellows that use the ProtoThrottle seem to use 28 speed steps when programming their models for use with that throttle or am I mistaken?

I've have experimented with adjusting the speed table so that speed step 10 = 10 miles per hour, but I prefer the fewer button presses on my NCE throttle to achieve the same speed control. I finally was able to get a LokProgrammer so I can easily make all sorts of adjustments/settings that I was doing using just the NCE throttle and save those settings to a file.

So what do you folks use and do you have any special settings to get your desired speeds? Custom speed curves, etc.

Ed Vasser, Frankfort, KY
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ku7u Regular poster 360 posts
ku7u

Speed steps

The simple answer is, if you are not a "knob twister", and you are using any amount of momentum it really doesn't matter. Choosing 28 or 128 will only affect the resolution of the steady state speed of the loco, and as you pointed out, the physical action, e.g. button presses, required to change speed. If using 28 the resolution will be a few mph but if using 128 it will be less than 1 mph. With momentum the decoder will gradually vary the speed between steady states using its internal 256 speed steps. You won't notice the granularity of the internal steps.

If, on the other hand, you are a knob twister and not using any momentum, instead choosing to simulate the motion of the loco yourself then you would want to choose 128 speed steps. Apparently many folks choose to operate that way.

But I want to let the decoder do the simulation and to force myself to control the loco as a real train engineer would be required to do. As such I program my Engine Driver throttles running with JMRI to 28 step mode and then set the buttons to 4 speed steps per press, giving me 8 steps (7 actually but close enough). A real diesel loco engineer only gets 8 steps (notches) of speed resolution. I use a lot of momentum and the brakes available on the V5 decoders to control motion. It's very realistic.

I have also created a couple of "sound slots" that finesse acceleration and braking by rapidly modulating the Drive Hold and braking features of the V5 decoders. These additions give me a more realistic acceleration profile.as well as a proportional train brake and the ability to add "tonnage" to the train simply and quickly.

George

Edgewood, WA
lose, verb - to forego possession of something
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