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LGB Loco confused by DCC programming attempt - It runs in DC but not DCC despite having an mfx/DCC decoder
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Offline Miamistax  
#1 Posted : 29 May 2025 01:10:46(UTC)
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Miamistax

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Joined: 29/05/2025(UTC)
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Location: Florida, Miami
I just bought a new LGB 20494 P42 Diesel Locomotive which has mfx/DCC pre-installed. Since i have several locomotives, the first thing I did was put it on my DCC programming track to change its address from 3 to 108. The loco flashed its headlights during the write and flashed again during the read where my controller's display indicated the change had taken effect. Except when I put it on the main track, it completely ignores the DCC throttle and all function buttons. And it runs perfectly in DC.

I tried programming it with an address of 9 to try a low number and also with 3 to try to put it back the way it was in the box. Nothing worked.

Am I supposed to press some particular function button to "wake it up"? Is there some special trick to programming it with a DCC controller? Or do I need to find an mfx controller to program it?
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Offline marklinist5999  
#2 Posted : 29 May 2025 10:25:28(UTC)
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marklinist5999

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Yes, it needs to be reset.
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Offline rhfil  
#3 Posted : 29 May 2025 16:30:02(UTC)
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rhfil

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What are you using for a controller?
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Offline Miamistax  
#4 Posted : 30 May 2025 02:01:25(UTC)
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Miamistax

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Joined: 29/05/2025(UTC)
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Location: Florida, Miami
rhfil Thanks. CV8 = 8 doesn't seem to work. Does it want a different CV setting to reset it?

marklinist5999 I'm using the ESU CabControl to run the trains outside, but I generally do the programming with a Digitrax DCS 52 because it has a nice screen that handles CV 1, 17, 18 and 29 all at the same time. I read somewhere after trying to program a new address that the trick with mfs/dcc is to run the loco with DCC first with the default settings and then mess with the CVs.
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Offline marklinist5999  
#5 Posted : 30 May 2025 12:53:44(UTC)
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marklinist5999

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Ok, I'm not familiar with using ESU controllers. There can be difficulty when trying to adjust CVs on mfx decoders. Marklin owns LGB and perhaps a CS 3 could disable mfx and set it up for dcc only. Digitrax as far as I know is not compatible with mfx decoders.
They may use railcom or another digital encoding. Mfx doesn't. You may be able to run the loco., but you won't be able to get every function.
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Offline Miamistax  
#6 Posted : 30 May 2025 18:38:46(UTC)
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Miamistax

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Joined: 29/05/2025(UTC)
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Location: Florida, Miami
Originally Posted by: marklinist5999 Go to Quoted Post
Ok, I'm not familiar with using ESU controllers. There can be difficulty when trying to adjust CVs on mfx decoders. Marklin owns LGB and perhaps a CS 3 could disable mfx and set it up for dcc only. Digitrax as far as I know is not compatible with mfx decoders.
They may use railcom or another digital encoding. Mfx doesn't. You may be able to run the loco., but you won't be able to get every function.


At this point, I'm willing to try to reset its decoder, but the traditional writing 8 to CV 8 doesn't seem to work. Do you know which CV(s) and number(s) to use to reset it to factory conditions?
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Offline marklinist5999  
#7 Posted : 30 May 2025 21:57:46(UTC)
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marklinist5999

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No, sorry I don't. I only run ho scale.
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Offline Miamistax  
#8 Posted : 02 June 2025 23:53:27(UTC)
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Miamistax

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Location: Florida, Miami
I kept sending 8 to CV 8 about four times and miraculously the loco now responds to DCC commands on address 3. And I'm going to leave it there.
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Offline marklinist5999  
#9 Posted : 03 June 2025 00:17:33(UTC)
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marklinist5999

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Location: Michigan, Troy
Oh 👍 good 😊 03 is the dcc factory default address.
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Offline Miamistax  
#10 Posted : 04 June 2025 02:03:33(UTC)
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Miamistax

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Joined: 29/05/2025(UTC)
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Location: Florida, Miami
Of course, now I’m exceedingly nervous about trying to assign it an address different from 3. Or trying to link grade crossing sound to alternating flashing lower lights. I’m just going to leave it as is.
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Offline marklinist5999  
#11 Posted : 04 June 2025 12:57:52(UTC)
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marklinist5999

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Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
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Location: Michigan, Troy
In order to change the address with my Roco with a Zimo dcc decoder, I connect the programming track to my CS 3, and edit the loco. In the menu setup in the address box. Dcc protocol enabled first. Mfx addresses are usually factory locked.
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Offline bph  
#12 Posted : 04 June 2025 17:43:23(UTC)
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bph

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Joined: 04/08/2018(UTC)
Posts: 1,162
One thing you could try is to disable the MFX protocol on the decoder. Sometimes this can help.

Another thing is that Marklin has corrected several dcc errors in the latest decoder firmware versions. So if you know someone with an updated cs3, it could be worth a try to see if updates are available and if that solves the issues.

If you download the latest mdecodertool from Märklin (free), it will also download the firmware files to your computer and the changelogs. So if you find the decoder part number, you can check the changelogs first. You might also be able to update the decoder firmware with a 60971+LGB 55129? and the mdecodertool software, if your decoder fits in the adapter.
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