Overview:
Broadway Limited has issued a new line of H0-Scale locomotives called "Blueline".
These locomotives are equipped with sound decoders that can be operated in a conventional Direct Current environment.
They also are fitted with an 8-pin DCC Medium plug to allow for conversion to a DCC operating environment.
Among other decoders, Broadway Limited recommends using our DN143IP mobile decoder for this purpose.
Converting these locomotives is simple, but programming a 4 digit address can be a challenge.
BLI has a support page which indicates that changing the locomotive address and other CV's can be done in OPS Mode (also called Programming on the Main) or Direct Mode.
The preferred method from a Digitrax perspective is OPS Mode, and this programming is done by using the throttle, either the DT400 or the throttle which is built into DCS50 Zephyr.
After installation of the decoder and prior to programming, you should be able to run the locomotive at locomotive address #3, which is the Factory-default address for the decoder.
Operations Mode Programming with DT400:
As per BLI, the procedure is as follows:
Install the decoder as described in the BlueLine Operators Manual.
The locomotive default address is 3.
You should be able to run the locomotive as Locomotive #3.
Leave the locomotive on the main track with track power on.
Press PROG until you see "Po" in the center of the bottom row of the display.
Rotate the left throttle counterclockwise until the display reads "AD2".
Press the right throttle knob to make the display read AD4.
Use the keypad to enter the 4 digit address, 2477 for example.
Press ENTER.
The display will ask "AD4on?=y."
Press the Y+ key before the question disappears.
If it disappears, press enter again, then press the Y+ quickly.Press EXIT.
Press LOCO, 2477, then ENTER to run the locomotive.
Notes on Blueline programming with DT400:
BLI has added notes concerning programming their locomotives with DT400:
1. When changing from a 2-digit address to a 4-digit address, the system will ask if you want to enable 4-digit addressing.
Respond by enter "Y".
2. When changing from a 4-digit address to a 2-digit address, you must first enter the address, then manually reset CV29 back to its default value of 6.
OPS Mode Programming with Zephyr:
Notes on Blueline programming with Zephyr:
Entering a four digit address to a Digitrax decoder fitted to a BLI Blueline locomotive using Zephyr requires that the address be entered with numerical values, individually.
That is, the value for the first two digits of the locomotive number is entered under CV17 and the value for the second pair of digits is entered under CV18.
Then, CV29 must be set to recognize the use of four digit addressing.
These numerical values must be calculated, they are not the same as the actual digits which you want to have as the locomotive address.
Digitrax operator Bill Grobe discovered that performing a four-digit address programming with Zephyr must be done in a particular way:
I had to have the locomotive and sound running, then put the loco on the mainline and perform OPS Mode programming - BUT I had to hit EXIT after each CV was changed, then Hit PROG MODE, change the next CV then EXIT until all three were changed.
To get DCC and cab number 6778, their downloaded calculator determined that for locomotive address 6778, I had to enter:
CV17 to 218 then EXIT then PROG CV18 to 122 then EXIT then PROG CV29 to 34 then EXIT Bottom line - make the thing run in DCC at the default address BEFORE you start making changes - I didn't and it cost me some time.
Our thanks to Bill Grobe for this helpful tip.