New to GRR RC and need AirWire help

[Rex in Pinetop]

I've got it all wired up but it's not listening or at least not responding.  I'm in trouble shooting mode.  Here is what I have so far:

1.  The RX battery is putting out 14.4 v and it's getting to the AirWire decoder board per my meter.  The TX batteries are brand new and light up the TX screen so I think those are good.

2.  The Phoenix Sound system comes on and plays the idle sounds so at least it's getting power and operating as expected so far.

3.  I've done the frequency check.  Both TX and RX were on "0".  Since nothing was happening with the Service Programming attempt to set the decoder address to 21 (my engine #) ie. no beeps like the manual said should occur and no response to throttle speed changes, I then changed the frequency to "5".  Same results - nothing.

Now what?  HELP!!

Rex

[rpc7271]

Look in the manual. There is a procedute for returning everything to the factory default settings. Reset everything. Do not reset the decoder address yet. Use the default address of 3 until you are sure everything is working. Hook your meter up to one of the sets of motor outputs and see if there is electricty getting through the decoder to the motors. Then go from there. hope that helps.

[Rex in Pinetop]

So frustration set in.  I disconnected all the wiring and started over.  I discovered a jumper on the decoder board that was not fully seated.  Once reset everything started working.  Amazing these electronics.  I will say that such a connection would never be allowed in RC Airplanes.  Imagine what would happen if the jumper came loose in the air... immediate loss of control.  Not too bad on a loco but disasterous on an airplane. 

Thanks for your help.  It's always good to have someone who knows something to get adive and help from.  I appreciate it.

Rex

[two tone]

Rex, What is supplying power to your sound card I use the same card and need to run my loco about half an hour once every couple of months to keep it charged up. That is if Im not running on a regular basis as over here we have had heavy rain and flooding since middle of June. Do make sure you keep sound card batt well chaged or it will fail. 

[Rex in Pinetop]

The Phoenix Sound 2K2 system is being powered off the main battery.  I didn't even wire up the little 3 cell battery that came with the Phoenix system.  It works beautifully as is right now.  My next step is to figure out how to command the bell and whistle sounds via the AirWire transmitter.  I did have a battery charger made for my single 14.4 v NiMHD pack.  Batterys + custom made it for me for only $24.95 US. 

Rex

[two tone]

 I use reed switches fitted under tender and magnets set where I want them in the track  Ive got on my western steam loco Bell water load coal load plus all the basic sounds that come with it. Nothing beats listening to the loco standing idele and hearing the fireman shoveling coal with the hiss of steam. Nothing in my book beats that.  But each to his own enjoy your layout

[sawdust]

Hi Rex, just a note from another Air Wire user.  I have several locos on Airwire but I use Phoenix P-5 sound, all the bell, whistles, chaffs and crossing whistles are automatic with the speed of the loco plus you can do bells and whistles by the push of the keys, like the water and coal filling all MNRA-DCC standards.  I love the no track cleaning, the first loco out of the tunnels are usually covered with spider webs and pushing pine needles.

Allen

[Rex in Pinetop]

Okay the Phoenix 2K2 Sound system plays automatic bells, whistles, and other sounds all on its own and thats great.  I love the shoveling and other idle sounds.  But I think there are more sounds available that I should be able to access if I knew how.

I've been reading the Phoenix sound manual, the AirWire decoder manual, and the AirWire throttle manual.  They all indicate that I should be able to manually blow the whistle and ring the bell from the throttle whenever I want to.  The throttle manual even says that F2 is reserved for blowing the whistle.  My question is how do I make that happen?  Is it already programmed and all I have to do is press the "2" key?  That would be too simple.  I've wired the decoder TM4-4 & 5 terminals to the Phoenix board 13 & 14 terminals per the wiring diagrams but now what?  Do I have to set some CV to some value?  If so which CV and what value should it have?  There are just too many combinations of programable CVs and possible values for those CVs to get lucky and guess which ones to set to what values.  HELP!

Rex

[two tone]

Rex   Give phoenix tech guys a ring I have always found them to be most helpful Keep a note of the guy you first talk to and use him as your contact it saves time if you need to talk to them more tham once    Hope this helps  

[Rex in Pinetop]

I gave them a call per your suggestion.  All I needed to do was rewire the AirWire DCC terminals to the Phoenix 1 & 2 terminals instead of the 13 & 14 terminals and then set the sound board address by running the SPR command TWICE.  I couldn't find anything in the manuals about setting the sound board address by doing the SPR command TWICE but it works.  Now I have control of 8 different sound functions.  I'm in business big time.

Thanks for the help.

Rex

[two tone]

You are welcome thats what we are here for on the forum. As I said I use reed switches as per the manual I would have needed help if I was running your system. I use the train engineer for my layout all turnouts are controlled by that saves a lot of running round the garden to keep changing them.    Enjoy your lay out keep them trains rolling

[Rex in Pinetop]

My reversing loop switches are not controlled.  I just let the loco change them when running through them.  I plan on controlling the others from the console with wire rather than pay for more decoders.  Of course that could change in time if LGB ELP parts go completely out of stock. 

An option I just thought of would be to use some spare aircraft servos wired to the console.  Lots of torque available with those.  Has anyone ever done that?

Rex