Digitrax state that the PR3 will program SoundFX decoders,but can someone tell me if it will program other brands of sound decoders like Soundtrax's and ESU's Loksound?Or will I need additional hardware to do so,like Loksound's programming booster,etc?
I have a PR3 ordered from my LHS but will cancell it if I learn that it won't get the work done.I intend to equip a few of my locos with Tsunami's,but in the meantime,I'd like to change the adress (03) on my MRC equipped Athearn N scale Big Boy.From what I've read about these decoders,it may not be worthed the effort but then I have a friend who purchased two BLI N scale locos that are equipped with Loksound decoders who would also like to have their adress changed.
And then I have another question...can one dial in new adresses to sound decoders without changing any of the preset parameters or if connection to the PR3 automatically erases all preset parameters meaning that they'd all have to be dialed in again one by one.Other than having a common adress,these locos are running just fine and I don't want to tweak into their brains,at least until I know better.I'm worried about messing this up.
If by 'program' you mean load sound files and so forth - no, it will not do Loksound and Soundtraxx. Each brand of sound decoder has their own proprietary configuration for changing the sounds If you mean things like set the address, change motor parameters, assign funtions - yes it can do that.
Unless MRC changed something, their decoders don't do readback, no matter who's interface you use.
What DCC system do you have? I had no issues changing the address on Loksound locomotives using just my Zephyr. No problems changing QSI in Atlas and BLI locos, either. And no, changing the address will not wipe all other parameters in the decoder. Doing a factory reset on the decoder will reset all paramters to their defaults and set the address to 03.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
OK, I've got a PR2, so if they've changed anything, I know nothing, I know nothing...(the Sargeant Schultz Defense.)
These will only program Digitrax units, as far as I know. That's what they're supposed to do. If you want a device that will handle any decoder, well, dream on. Each manufacturer makes a programmer for it's own sound decoders, and they're not compatable.
Changing the address should not affect anything else. It's just another CV, as far as the decoder is concerned.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thanks for the answers.The only way I know of changing loco adress is through a the computer/PR1/JMRI setup at the club I used to belong to.The software is simple and I have changed all my loco's adresses successfully,even Lenz equipped Atlas.I have a DCS200/DT400R setup and know that adresses can be changed on Digitrax's regular decoders,but what about other brands?Or sound decoders?I've read that boosters are required for sound decoders but wich ones?Digitrax say that a booster isn't required with the PR3 but then,if it doesn't fit in anyway,it's useless to me.
Changing the adress is all I want to do,I'm satisfied with the loco's performance so far and am not asking for better,for the time being.
I didn't want to risk messing up a decoder by attempting to change the adress with my DT400 but now I feel more like reading the instruction book and giving it a try.At least,I have the factory reset feature if I goof up.
I guess I'm not sure about the question anymore.
The PR2 (and, I assume, the PR3) will program the CV's on pretty much any decoder. However, it will only download sound files to the Digitrax family of sound decoders. So, you can adjust CV's and addresses on any decoder, but you can't take a LokSound or other non-Digitrax unit and replace the diesel sounds with steam.
Jacktal,
The PR3 can be used with Decoder Pro to program addresses/CV's in an engine. The PR3 will only load 'Sound Projects' into a Digitrax sound decoder. QSI and ESU have similar 'sound programers' that only will download sound files into their specific sound decoders. I have not got a lot of 'flight hours' with a PR3, but changing the engine address does not reset the other CV's - Doing a 'Reset' to the decoder(Digitrax CV08, value '08') will reset everything back to the factory defaults.
As far as engine addresses:
Some sound decoders will not program on the 'program track', even with a program booster. The MRC sound decoders in Athearn Genesis engines are very hard to get the address in. You have 2 choices:
Some LHS's will program the address for you when you buy the engine, or for a small charge if you drop in with an engine purchased elsewhere. I bought a P2K USRA 0-6-0 from Engine House Services a couple of years ago at a train show. They programmed it and test ran it right there at the show - Great Service!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
My understanding is the PR3 allows you to program on a track connected to the PR3 as a standalone activity. As others have indicated, you can program any CV values and things like the locomotive's address.
If you go to the Digitrax web site, they have all the documentation for it online so you can read through and see if you think it does what you want.
Regards,
Chris
jrbernier wrote:... Some sound decoders will not program on the 'program track', even with a program booster. The MRC sound decoders in Athearn Genesis engines are very hard to get the address in. You have 2 choices:Take the rest of you engines off of the layout and do 'blast mode' programming 'on the main'.Program the individual CV's for 'low order'/'high order'/'4 digit address' on the main in normal ops mode programming. ...
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CSX Robert wrote: When doing ops mode programming, you do not have to program the individual CV's, unless you are programming using the Zephyr's built in throttle. If you are using a DT300 or DT400 throttle, even if plugged into a Zephyr, you can use the AD4 programming function to automatically program all three CV's in ops mode.
When doing ops mode programming, you do not have to program the individual CV's, unless you are programming using the Zephyr's built in throttle. If you are using a DT300 or DT400 throttle, even if plugged into a Zephyr, you can use the AD4 programming function to automatically program all three CV's in ops mode.
SOMETIMES. Even MOST of the time. However, QSI decoders won't program like this. They seem to require a long delay between seeing programmign commands for CV 17, 18, and 29, and the delay built in to the DT400 isn't long enough. I think it's the time delay to allow the QSI decoder to 'speak' the numbers if you turn that feature on - even witht he voice shut off, the delay is still there. At least, that's been my experience programming QSI decoders with a Zephyr and DT400. Others seem to take it just fine. With the QSI I've had to manually calculate what 17 and 18 shoudl be and set them one at a time, the set 29. Always do 29 last - so the deocder will still respond under its old address to accept the values for 17 and 18. Otherwise, you may end up in a state where you have no idea what the address is and have to reset it all.