Jim S.,
There are two obvious things that can control a slot's "default" "operating mode" - that is, whether the slot defaults to "trinary" or "128 speed step" or "28 speed step" or "14 speed step" or "motorola" or one of the other possibilities...
First, you might want to take a look at DCS100 "OpSw"es 21, 22, and 23. These are supposed to provide the "global system default type" when acquiring a locomotive which is not already in the DCS100 slot table (and when the throttle does not override the command station).
Depending on which firmware version of DCS100 you have, and which version of the DCS100 manual you have, you can find conflicting information on these, and different lists of what values are supported. I've always used a "poke-and-hope" approach - try a set of OpSw 21/22/23, power-down then power-up, then acquire a loco that is not already in a slot, and see what mode it comes up in.
You need to use a DT*00x or DT402x throttle with a display to view the "status". For some throttle models, it is necessary to "status edit" the slot to view the "status" to find out what "status" or mode that the slot is using for the loco.
Second, if you use DT100x, DT300x, DT400x, DT402x, or DT500x throttles, each of these can provide a "default slot operating mode" which may override the DCS100 defaults.
With the DT100x throttles, the throttle's "Secondary Option" code "oS" influences the default slot operating mode value.
With the DT300x and DT400x throttles, throttle "OpSw2" influences the default slot operating mode value.
With the DT402x throttles and the DT500x throttles, when the "NewTypes" option is "on", then the "Nu Type=" value takes precedence over the command station's default slot operating mode; you want to make sure the "Nu Type=" value is reasonable (i.e. not "tr1"). Alternately, you may set "NewTypes" to "off" and rely on the command station's default value.
Regards,
Billybob
