PowerCab/SB3/SB5 Software

Below is a list of the versions of Smart Booster and PowerCab Software and what each upgrade did. The PowerCab and the Smart Booster share the same software base and changes in software made to one effect the other and Visa Versa. Although there is no coordinated software upgrade for both systems at the same time, eventually the other system will get upgraded.

The letters "SB" mean SMART BOOSTER which is a name specifically targeted to PowerCab users. The SBxx series of booster are sold as a UPGRADE path for the PowerCab system and NOT presented as new DCC system. True boosters are not smart for the get their commands from the command station. But Smart Booster are in fact complete standalone command station and booster in a single box. However the command station software in the Smart Booster is basically the same as the PowerCab software and in fact the software revisions between them are the same.

The big difference is the Smart Booster and the PowerCab it the Smart Booster allow more cabs to run trains but gives up Programming Track support. Why? Since the Programming Track functions are still performed by the PowerCab itself, adding the Programming Track capability to the Smart Booster would be duplicating an existing function. Instead the memory space freed up by not supporting a programming track is re-allocated to supporting more cabs.

To learn more about the current rating of the various version of the Smart Boostesr, Look at section 3 here:NCE Boosters

Each new version of software generally inherits the same feature set as the one before and builds on top of it.

To get the latest software, go to the bottom of the list below for Links to buy it from NCE.

CAB = Throttle.

You can contact NCE at anytime and request a software upgrade at minimal cost. Customer who purchase a new system with older software can get a free upgrade when you send in your Yellow Warrantee Card.

Table Definitions:

Version: Version numbers not shown were never released and only used to keep track of software changes within NCE. Suffix characters after the number represent minor revisions of released software.

Max # of Cabs Allowed: The maximum number of Cabs allowed. If this is a PowerCab, the count includes the PowerCab itself.

Cab Addresses: Cab addresses that the PowerCab or SBx system will recognize. SBx system do not come with a PowerCab so the PowerCab's cab's address 2 becomes available for any cab to use.

Accessory Addresses: Cab address that you can use with NCE Cab bus specfiic accessories such as the AIU, USB interface and the Mini-panel. Starting with V1.65, the upper Cab addresses 8-10 are available but specifically limited to supporting cab bus accessories. Assigning a Cab to one of these Cab addresses will not allow the Cab to work. Do not confuse this limitation with DCC accessory addresses. Any address from

New Features/Changes: The key feature offered by this version of software. Every upgrade includes software bug fixes by default.

USB Support: Support for the NCE USB adapter. Allows one to run computer programs such as the FREE Decoder Pro software used to program decoders quickly and easily with a click of a mouse.

Locomotive Selection Action: (Changes to address the speed and function syncing problem)

a) DO NOTHING ACTION: When you pressed the ENTER key after selecting this "new" loco, the PowerCab would do nothing to the engine until you made a change to the throttle settings (Speed or function). The selected engine would keep moving and the functions lights would remain the same. No reset would ever take place. The down side would be that the LCD display would show the wrong speed and/or function status for that loco assuming it was not both stopped and lights off to begin with. As soon as the speed was adjusted, then the loco would respond to the NEW speed with the new speed indicated in the LCD display. As for the function lights, it was up to the operator to cycle the functions to get them into sync. Something that many people learned to do automatically without even thinking much about it.

b) RESET ACTION: When you pressed the ENTER key after selecting this "new" loco, the PowerCab would automatically send commands to that loco that effectively reset the locomotive into a known state: SPEED=0 & All Functions Off (When V1.28 reset the functions, it was only the first 10 functions that got reset (Function Groups 1 & 2: F0 to F9). Since this function groups includes the headlights, Lights Off was the result. All other functions above F9 did not change.) The operator did not have to do a thing and the LCD display would be correct. The other benefit of this feature was that sound equipped engines would start up when you selected them. This gave you a sound based feedback that the engine has been selected. The down side was that if you selected a locomotive that was moving or had it function lights on, the engine would come to stop and/or the functions lights would turn off.

c) V1.28B and going forward now allows the user to CHOOSE what will happen when a "new" loco is selected in the Command Station Setup Menu.

1) Do nothing (Like all versions before V1.28)

2) Reset (Like V1.28 did)

This allowed the user to choose the type of action you wanted when a locomotive was selected. Default setting is "Reset Action"

However with the release of V1.65, it removed the option making the "Reset Action" permanent.

Software Production Status: Shows if the software is currently being shipped by NCE.

Notes:

1) Current Overload protection was added to protect the PowerCab when used with 3rds party DC power supplies not provided by NCE. NCE PowerCab power supplies are specifically designed for use with the PowerCab. They limit the current and have a delayed overload shutdown feature to keep the PowerCab alive through common momentary short circuits found on layouts. Using a 3rd party power supply with higher current than the PowerCab can support risk damaging the PowerCab when a short circuit occurs.

2) If you buy a NCE USB adapter board, it ships with a PowerCab V1.28C chip the user must have installed to use the USB adapter. If you have V1.65 or newer, you do not use the chip upgrade. V1.65 and newer already have USB support built in. Installing the V1.28c chip will actually DOWN GRADE your PowerCab. Do not use the V1.28c software with a Smart Booster. It will not work properly.

3) NCE never advertized the support for the 3rd cab. The manual only talked about adding an extra cab at cab address 3. However if one purchased a second extra cab and setup it cab address at 4, it would work. The reason for this descrepency was NCE support for any Cab with a toggle switch on top (Cab04 for example). The toggle switch on top would allow one to switch between two trains. However the trick used to allow this to work was the Cab had TWO cab addresses. The switch simply toggled the cab address to change which train to control. This extra address would allow this class of cab to work as advertised.

4) Addresses 8-10 are NOT available for use by a cab. There are pre-allocated for use with NCE accessories that use cab addresses. Attempting to assign a given cab to these reserved cab addresses will not result in a working cab.

Last Edited:

3/31/2015

8/11/2015

10/11/2016

9/23/17

9/30/17

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