Well now, that's a new one to me....a resistor across the tracks. Thanks...I'll post a follow up to say how it works.
(Yes a good buy...., a Bachmann Spectrum SD 40 brand new DCC onboard for $20...I snapped a few up.)
I'm not absolutely positive but I believe the Bachmann DCC on Board decoders are from Lenz. The trick that Jack mentioned is the same one used to program sound decoders on older DCC systems.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I've run into the same thing with a Zephyr and the cheap-o Bachmann DCC on board locos (a good buy, I think).
You need to put a 1000 ohm resister (I just use alligator clips) across the programming tracks to get it to see the Bach loco. I found this tip somewhere on the Bachman site but I don't remember where. The locos are still tempermental to program, but it can be done with the resistor in place. I have successfully changes addresses and accel/ decel rates. Sometimes it takes three or four tries to "make it stick."
Still... for the money, I can put up with them.
No, I know that's not it. I think that you might have the older crappy one too, because it looks very similar to the NCE replacement. I don't think Bachmann used these NCEs as original equipment. If you have a "Bachmann DCC Onboard" you probably have the older one. But.....did you get it to program? If so, how?
"This decoder is specifically designed as a replacement for "Bachmann DCC Equipped" diesels. Providing a more smooth, more quiet operation.The decoder has 4 function outputs. Complete with 2 Golden Glow LEDs in the package."
http://www.ncedcc.com/
Go here and look for the BachDSL decoder and see if that's what you have. (you'll have to go a few pages into their decoder section to find it. I think it's at the bottom of the 4th or 5th page) This is the one that Bach put in my GP. I think it's their standard non sound decoder. They have the manual as a download. Good luck!
No, they do not respond on the main....at least for setting the address. And I can't read back any CVs on the main, of course. The only documentaton relating to this stuff is the instructions for the E-Z Command decoder Bachmann supplied.....but it isn't exactly the right instructions for the DCC Onboard decoder they used.
They are not the NCE replacements, but the factory installed units.....I don't know who made them. Do you think NCE (I might have said NEC earlier) made the originals...maybe, since they have the decoder specific replacements.
If anyone know who made the decoder used in the DCC Onboard locos that might help. I have a question in to the Bachmann support center but like to ask around as these forums are a wonderful source of info.
Aww, nuts...I guess I will just put in the nicer NEC ones.
Do they respond if you try to program them on the main? Are these the NEC decoders that Bach installs on their GP's? Did you try to download the documentation from NEC? Maybe their instructions say more than the Bachmann site does.
They should work and you should be able to change CV's.
Hello,With 50 locos to put decoders in, they are not all going to get the Cadillac treatment...so I thought I could use the 6 Bachmann SD40s with DCC onboard just as they are. Well, I would like to alter some CVs but I can't access them!
(I have the page from http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/newez/1_Amp_Decoder_Instr.pdf regarding the CVs for the basic DCC onboard decoders. And I know that the bit numbers are not right in the example on the PDF and have to be considered 0 to 7 instead of 1 to 8)
.....but when I put any one of my Bachmann DCC onboard decoders on the programming track to program in service mode with my Digitrax Zephyr, I just get the "dnd" error which means no decoder is recognized.
Yet the programming track works with other decoders and the the locos in question all work with address of 03 and other factory defaults.
What gives? Any tips on getting access to the CVs on these basic DCC onboard decoders...with a Zephyr?
If I can't get them to respond at least to change the loco address I guess I will put the loco specific NEC replacement decoder in all of them.
Thanks to anyone with experience who cares to answer.