How To Find and Use the Horn Function on Piko Digi Fern Controllers

There's good news and bad news for Piko Digi Fern users when it comes to using the horn function on a loco decoder. The good news is that there are four buttons f1 to f4 on the controller which are used to access special functions on the loco decoder.

The confusing news from the manual is contained in several phrases. Firstly, that the "lights are switched on with the f0 key and off with the off key."

These keys are located above the f1-f4 keys which are circled in green on the image of the Piko Digi Fern.

The other confusing phrase from the manual is "the keys A to D switch the special functions f1 to f4 on and off." The A to D keys are circled in blue.

The upshot of all this is that I suspect that the function keys can be used to trigger sounds (among other things) that are pre-programmed in the loco decoder. I make this assumption because similar functions like cab lights (on/off) can be operated with these function keys.

However, since the Digi Fern (and this is the bad news) cannot be used to program a decoder, it's a bit hit and miss to figure out which key does what.

By the way, if you need more than 4 function keys, you can use the f+4 button to access functions higher up the order. There's still no guarantee that these will actually activate something, but that's all part of the trial and error game that is the Piko Digi-Fern.

The first step is to make sure that you're actually controlling the right loco, by selecting the correct transmission channel (with buttons A to D) and keying a known function. For example, press the loco key (it's top-leftmost on the Piko remote) and follow that with the loco address, and the desired function - say the + button to increase speed.

Cancel that operation, so you have a stationary loco, and can proceed to test the various f buttons.

Although the documentation states that the system will 'remember' the last loco that was used, I prefer to key the loco address each time when I'm doing trial and error operations.

So, key loco + address + f(n) and see what happens. Write down what happens, even if it's nothing. An easy test to make sure that the decoder accepts these functions is to start with f0 and off, which should enable you to turn the lights on and off.

Eventually, you should find the horn function, but without any way to visually see what you're doing, there's no actual guarantee! I'm personally saving up for something like the Sprog3 or z21 before I get into advanced functions like sound!

How to Set Train Address with Piko Digi Fern

The Piko Digi Fern is the name given to the remote control device that comes with the Piko Digital starter set (for example Piko 57156). Out of the box you usually get some rails, a DCC locomotive (set to C, or 003, more on that later) some rolling stock, the Digi Fern remote, and an IR receiver.

The first step is setup - and it's important when setting train addresses with the Piko Digi Fern that everything is set up correctly. There are two ways to set the address:

• on the main layout;
• on a service track.

If you intend to program "on the main", you must be certain that you know what you are doing, as the programming signal will be sent to every DCC device that is linked to the IR receiver! For this reason, I usually program on a service track - the procedure is the same.

Special note for those programming on the main layout line - please disconnect all accessories (such as DCC Cobalt switch engines or similar) and LED lights before continuing. I have lost a few LEDs due to this oversight, as well as reprogrammed a couple of accessories!

(My service track is just a bit of G231 (Piko H0 55201 H0) and a bit of G239 (Piko H0 55200 H0 Straight track G239) nailed to a board, with a couple of banana connectors to hook up the IR receiver!)

Setting the Train Address with the Piko Digi Fern

The special key to start programming is usually the third from the left on the top row, next to the red "stop" button.It looks like a double-branch or double point. There's a similar single point one next to it, used to activate DCC accessories like points and switches.

I'll call this key [P] for now. The key sequence is:

• [P][P][train address][P]

So, if [P][P]123[P] is typed, all locos on the track will get address 123. In fact, any number from 001 to 127 can be used, but the Piko Digi Fern is only really capable of handling 12 locos at once, and the IR receiver and power supply seem to peter out at around the 4th loco (depending on other accessories power draw and track length.)

During the process of setting the address, the loco will move, in twitches, so it's best to start with it  as far back on the service track as possible.

Once programming has finished (and the light on the IR receiver has stopped flashing), the train can be selected using the train button, followed by the loco address. When the system is switched on, the A - D keys are allocated to loco addresses 1 - 4, so it is easiest to stick with these numbers, as just the 'channel select' button A to D can be used to pick up control of a loco.

The official Piko Digital User Guide has now been translated into English, and can be downloaded from the Piko Web Site.

Any questions or comments can be left below in the comments section. Links are affiliate links that go to Amazon.co.uk, for which the author receives a modest commission for any products bought.