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Hi Ross,
I read the spec sheet I got with the loco and it says that the decoder has 28 step capability. And the decoder is an E-Z command decoder.
I placed the loco on the programming track and used the Digitrax Zepher to "status? edit" and set it to 28? speed steps.

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• ‘Status editing’ the address to 28 speed-steps would be correct for this decoder.

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• Changing ‘speed steps’ will not affect the speed range of the locomotive.? Decoders do not have a continuously variable output – their output is in ‘distinct’ steps across the speed range.? A decoder operating at 28 speed steps will have 28 distinct speeds from stop to maximum; a decoder operating at 128 speed steps will have 128 distinct steps from stop to maximum.? Maximum speed will be the same in both cases

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And as I said before using the speed table did nothing to change the speed slow or fast. I even set the table to go all out 255, but have found since that the decoder will not allow that.

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• AFAIK, none of the E-Z Command decoders have speed adjustment other than V-start.? I just noticed that the DecoderPro definition for the 4-function E=Z Command decoder includes a speed table.? I couldn’t find a reference to a speed table in any online Bachmann documentation.? This may be an error in the DecoderPro decoder definition.? Your spec sheet should indicate the appropriate speed control CVs if they are implemented in your decoder.

You are saying that the decoders in the two locos that I am trying to speed step cannot be adjusted that way? Would that be a non NRA compliant decoder? I thought that Bachmann has been up to the standard?

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• NMRA Conforming requires that the NMRA ‘mandatory’ CVs be implemented per the NMRA specs.? If any ‘recommended’ or ‘optional’ CVs are implemented they must follow the NMRA specs for those CVs.? ?None of the speed control CVs are mandatory thus not required for a ‘minimum’ NMRA Conforming decoder.

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I looked for a compatible decoder to replace the board on the Bachmann locos, but could not find an exact match. I have not done much looking for decoders as all of my engines are mostly Bachmann or Digitrax, mostly Digitrx. Is there a way to find a decoder board that has the head and rear light built in that will fit?
into a SD9 or GP30?

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• The Digitrax ‘Decoder Selector” might help you.? Other decoder manufacturers have similar selectors on their web sites.? You can also ask for help on the Digitrax forum – not suitable here on the Jmriusers forum (IMHO).? I don’t recall you mentioning scale – although your comment on including lights leads me to believe these are N-scale models.

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Thanks
George
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