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Command Station Memory Management
System Memory Management
Layouts that feature large group operation or have a large number of locomotives and consists,
might occasionally encounter system messages that require attention. Although these messages
may never been seen, once they appear, they must be understood and handled properly. This
section describes the system memory management messages, their meaning and procedures.
EasyDCC Memory Management Terminology
Registration: Automatic or manual process by which a locomotive decoder address or consist
address is added to the system's internal memory and becomes active. Upon registration, the
activity timer is started.
Unregistration: Automatic or manual process by which an address is declared inactive. Once
unregistered, the inactive address's memory space becomes available for reuse, but only if the
system requires it. Until the memory space is needed, the inactive address plus its speed-step
setting and it's function status, remains in the system and can be reactivated simply by setting a
throttle to the inactive address. Upon reactivation, the activity timer starts over.
Active address: Locomotive or consist address that has received throttle or function commands
within a specified amount of time. Each time the address receives either a throttle or function
command, the timer is restarted. The memory space occupied by an active addresses can not be
used.
Inactive address: An unregistered address or an address that has had its activity timer expire.
This memory space occupied by this address is available for reuse and will not appear in the table
of active addresses.
Activity Timer: An automatic count-down timer, unique to each registered address, which is used
by the system to monitor all active addresses. Each timer is preset to 16 hours and counts down
whenever the Command Station power is on. For most layouts, 16 operational hours is about 1
month of moderately heavy use. The timer resets back to 16 hours any time a mainline command
is sent to the address or if a throttle is used. Once the timer expires, the associated address and its
memory space is declared available and becomes available for reuse.
Maximum Number Of Registered Locomotives and Consists
The maximum number of registered locomotives and consists is 255. Once this limit is reached,
the system will automatically unregister any unused locomotive or consist to make room for new
entries. Remember that locomotive registration and unregistration is largely automatic.
However, if necessary, unregistration can be done manually.
Automatic Address Registration Process
Locomotive addresses are automatically registered and become active if:
1) a locomotive address is assigned to one of the Command Station's built-in throttles;
2) a new locomotive address is dialed into a wireless or plug-in throttle;
3) a locomotive is added to a consist; or
4) you use Main Track Programming to set the number of speed steps for a new address.
Automatic Unregistration Process
Only UNUSED or inactive numbers are unregistered and this only occurs once the system is full.
The time period has been defined as 16 continuous hours of non-use. Unregistered locomotive
addresses are not physically deleted. The unregistered address (along with its speed step setting)
memory space remains in the system. The Command Station simply "marks" the space as
suitable for reuse. Also, marked addresses, whether done automatically or manually, will not
appear in the active address list when viewed with the SHOW LOCO ENTER command.
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