LGB 55021 decoder speed steps

[Ralphmp]

The LGB 55021 instructions are quite explicit about sticking to the factory default of 14 speed steps when the decoder is used on MTS II. I have also seen warnings about retaining 14 speed steps in the documentation for LGB locos with factory-fitted decoders (e.g. Track Cleaner, GE4/4 II Arosa edition)

I assume that here was a sound reason for this and it would be helpful to know:

1. What the reason was
2. Is this reason still valid now we've moved on from MTS II
3. Did it/does it apply to other DCC systems such as Massoth, Lenz, etc.
4. If a 55021 is set to 28 or 128 speed steps is this likely to damage the decoder?

Appreciate this is pretty basic stuff but I'm trying to reuse some 55021 decoders and I don't want to introduce issues unnecessarily by using inappropriate speed step settings.

Hopefully one of you experts can explain this for me.

Thanks in advance

 

[Zerogee]

Can't really help on questions 1-3 (though like you I will also be very interested in the answers - I suspect the answer to no.2 is probably "no", but I couldn't say why...), but re question 4, as far as I understand it you won't do any damage - the worst problem you're likely to encounter is the lights on the loco flicking on and off, as if you send 28 speed steps to a decoder set for 14 speed steps it seems to interpret the "extra" speed commands as lighting on/off commands instead.....

That is probably not a great deal of use, but then I don't profess to be an "expert" ("X" is the unknown, and "spurt" is a drip under pressure.....)

Jon.

 

[Dan]

The original MTS II system was 14 steps only, if upgraded the model number had a letter P after it for parallel and the handhelds must have the letter P also.
To turn on parallel mode you must hit F and 9. Test by pressing 7 and it should only blink ionce, not 7 times.


55021 decoders can be set to 28 speed steps, but will not work properly on a MTS I or II system, no harm will be done. MTS III will not work unless you use the Massoth Navigator.

The 55027 will do 14/28/128 speed steps and some onboard decoders will do 128, but I have found all onboards will do 14 and 28.

Note that the system must be configured for the same speed steps as the decoder. The more advanced systems remember individual loco settings and all 3 speed steps can be active for 3 different engines.

MTS systems start with all functions off, other systems let the engines and/or the system remember the last settings. So, when I place my engine on the track it defaults to my last setting which is usually forward and sound on. If I have other function keys set, it shows them on also.

 

[Ralphmp]

Thanks Dan.