Multiple Unit Consisting/NCE Consisting Notes

== NCE Consisting ==
When creating a consist the system may ask if it is an OLD or NEW Consist.
An OLD Consist is the same as a Universal consist. Locomotives are entered in sequence and functions are directed to the lead locomotive's address. 
A NEW consist uses Advanced Consisting, the lead locomotive address will appear on the throttle display. NCE often refers to this method as Intelligent Consisting.
=== NCE's Intelligent Consisting ===
:If using Digitrax multifunction decoders, see FAQ:Consisting with Digitrax Multifunction Decoders for suggested BEMF settings.
NCE employs a hybrid of Advanced Consisting, called Intelligent Consisting. Motor commands are sent to the consist address while function commands are addressed to the lead locomotive. The Consist Address is stored in the multifunction decoder's CV19. The consist addresses range from 1 to 127, sharing the space . The command station assigns consist addresses starting at 127. When a consist is deleted, CV19 is cleared and the consist address released for future use.
 The Power Cab, NCE Twin, and SB5 systems support consist addresses 116–127. The Power Pro supports addresses 1–127. 
The command station creates a table linking the locomotive address to the assigned advanced consist address. This alias controls the assigned consist address. The throttle displays the selected address, which can be changed during setup. 
</I> Do not manually program CV19 using the throttle or software like DecoderPro. Let the command station’s software create consists with the Consist Setup button on the throttle. The command station uses specialized DCC commands to create the consist and resolve decoder issues.This process can also bypass the Decoder Lock if active on most decoders.. 
==== NCE Hybrid Consisting and other DCC Systems ====
For a Hybrid Consist to work on another DCC system, the consist must be created using a 2-digit decimal number, not a hexadecimal number. Addresses up to decimal 99 ($63 hex) will work. Addressing with a 2-digit number from 100 to 127 (decimal) will not work.
=== Troubleshooting NCE Consist Issues ===
==== Sound Decoders ====
If you have problems with multiple sound decoders (such as SoundTraxx's SoundCar decoder with an NCE Power Pro DCC system, do the following:
#Delete all NCE-style advanced consists and consist your locomotives manually with Advanced Consisting: Set CV 19 (Consist Address) in each locomotive to the same value from 1 to 127 (+128 when the locomotive is facing backward). Additionally, Consist Function Groups (CVs 21 and 22) should be programmed manually in each decoder.
#With the consist address selected on your cab; you can use Intelligent Consisting to add the SoundCar decoders to that address.
 SoundCar Intelligent Consisting (NCE-style Advanced Consist)
==== Cannot Consist ====
There are two possibilities:
# Cab Bus address conflict
# Command station configuration
Two cabs can be using the same address. This routinely results in strange behaviours. Most NCE cabs default to the Cab Bus address of two. Regarding the second issue, the command station can restrict functions based on Cab Bus address. It is possible to permit cabs on specified addresses to perform consisting operations, forbidding all others from creating or deleting consists.
===== Advanced Consisting =====
Early multifunction decoders did not support CV19, meaning they cannot be part of an advanced consist.
==== "Old Style" Consists ====
NCE systems do not support more than four multifunction decoders as an Old Style / Basic consist. There are provisions for only four addresses during the address programming phase.
=== Clearing an NCE Advanced Consist ===
To clear an NCE Advanced consist using a non NCE DCC system, clear CV19 by writing a value of 0 (zero) to it. Repeat for each multifunction decoder which was part of the consist.
NCE provides a Clear All Advanced Consists command. This may not succeed with specific multifunction decoders.NCE uses Broadcast Mode to transmit Clear All Advanced Consists, some decoders may not respond to this command when Broadcast Mode is used.
Category:DCC
Category:Multifunction Decoder Features 
Category: Consisting
Category:CV