On 9/8/2024 5:38 PM, Ken Fordham wrote:
*Hi Dave*
I got the switch to show output on and output off but where does the extended accessory decoder set originate from? I didn't understand that and nothing changed on the signals.
The NMRA "Extended Accessory Decoder" is defined by NMRA "Standard 9.2.1". Extended Accesory Decoders _typically_ use this for conveying an "signal aspect" for a "signal mast" or for a "signal head", depending on how the Extented Accessory Decoder is built.
The "Extended Accessory Decoder" has a _separate_ "addressing space" from "mobile decoder"s (i.e. loco decoder addressing). And it has a _separate_ "address space" from "basic accessory decoder"s (i.e. switch addressing).
In JMRI, the "Extended addressing space" has not been defined as a "Bean" like a "Turnout" or a "Switch" or a "Reporter" or ... But JMRI _does_ support its use for controlling Signal Mast "aspects", or Signal Head "aspects", on those DCC systems which can support a way to send an appropriate "NMRA Packet" to the DCC track signal.
And some systems can support the "Extended Accessory decoder" mechanisms while the DCC track signal _may or may not_ be used. As an example, LocoNet can be one of those. A LocoNet message can convey a the NMRA Extended Accessory "packet" _directly_ to a LocoNet device which implements the NMRA Extended Accessory functionality, without needing to pass the "packet" to the DCC Track signal. The Digitrax SE74 can do this - it can pay attention to LocoNet messages that control the SE74's signals via the NMRA Extended Accessory "aspect" information. Even when the command station's track output is _turned off_...
Regards,
Billybob
