Broadway Limited's New Paragon 2

[Hamltnblue]

Well I picked one of the new BLI Paragon 2 AC6000's up this weekend. After checking it out and running about an hour it appears that the unit is identical to the Blueline version with a BLI decoder. CV8 reports a value of 38 which indicates Broadway Limited. Most functions are the same with some good stuff added. I'll only list the CV's added to the Blueline list. CV1 Primary Address CV2 Vstart CV3 Acceleration Delay CV4 Deceleration Delay CV5 VMAX CV6 VMID CV10 Back EMF on/off CV15 Unlock ID Code CV16 Lock ID number CV17 Extended address MSB CV18 Extended address LSB CV21 Consist functions type 0 CV22 Consist functions type 1 CV29 Configuration bits CV 33-61 Function key assignment CV67-94 Speed table entries CV 128 Master volume. Now 0-128 Blueline is 0-15 CV135-152 individual volumes. Same but now default 128. Was 100 CV153 Passenger /Freight message volume CV155 Maintenance/Radio volume CV156 City/Farm/Industrial/Lumber volume CV193-199 Diesel RPM level 1-7 to adjust where Diesel speeds up CV208 Cab light Throttle stop (NO CAB LIGHT IN THE AC6000) CV209 Brake set throttle stop CV210 Brake release throttle stop CV224 Horn select (between 3 horns) they are present CV225 DCC Control 1 CV226 DCC Control 2 CV227 Forward/Reverse warning (horn blasts when starting forward or rev) CV229 Extend consist lighting CV230 DCC easy consist CV231 Headlight brightness CV238 Loop repeat CV239 Macro loop adjust CV240 Random sound occurrance CV245 Enable alternate horn ending and start delayThe engine has a reset button that resets all CV values to default. This is of course for those who run DC or cant simply set CV8 to a value of 8. The new sounds are not played randomly. They have a series of messages that are randomly played on each function key press. You get one sound and it's done such as a moo from a cow or a car horn toot. The function keys can be reassigned. F14 passenger station sounds F15 Freight train departing or arrival message F16 Maintenance facility sounds F17 Crew Radio messages F18 City sounds F19 Farm sounds (Cow, Rooster etc) F20 Industrial sounds F21 Lumber mill sounds Macro recording. I haven't tried this one but it looks interesting. You use one function key to record the operation of the engine while you're running. You hit the same function key to stop recording. Another function key is pressed and the engine will repeat the recorded operation. You can repeat between 1-14 times or indefinitely. You can also adjust the timing of the loop. During playback the DCC controller will not function. The emergency stop button will stop the playback and return to normal. There is a limitation to the space you have to record and it depends on how many throttle changes you have as well as horn presses etc. 28 speed steps is suggested to increase recording time. In the back of the manual there are instructions for NCE procab users to enable function keys F13-28 if you have firmware dated March 2007 and later. Luckily I have it. How it works is if you press the option button once , F1-9 act as Functions 11-19, Twice they act as 20-29. The expn button will also show the status of all 28 functions. Pretty neat. A couple of things noted during operation. 1. At higher rpm's the diesel has a much higher pitch. Enough to give you a headache. It will require some volume adjustment for sure. 2. With no sound the engine is completely silent. Very nice mechanics as was the case with the Bluelines. 3. The speed steps are completely different that the default of my Blueline AC6000 using an N14IP decoder. To consist some work will be needed. 4. Alternate horns are a bit different than the default. All sound good. All in all the Paragon 2 has an excellent set of features.

[rrinker]

 Sounds neat, and once again - who needs 28 functions. Barnyard sounds? From my locomotive? Maybe if I was modeling a Mexican railroad and they had a couple of chickens in the cab....or a cow strapped to the walkway.

                                        --Randy

 

[Hamltnblue]

I guess they had extra room and decided to add something new. You or I may not have a need for it but I'm sure someone will. I'm just glad that they finally included DCC with sound to get us out of the nightmare of Blueline with dual decoders.

[tstage]

Halmtnblue,

Thanks for the report on the new Paragon2 decoder.  I have read about the recording function before.  It sounds a lot like an A - B button on your CD player remote: Press A to record; Press B to stop recording.  You can then repeat "section" A - B infinitum.

Halmtnblue, just a side note and request; not a criticism.  Would it be possible for future reviews to use paragraphs to break the review into "readable" chucks.  It's much easier to read and digest that way.  It also makes it easier for browsing later on - especially when you're trying to find that one tid bit of information that you need but can't remember.

Thanks...and thanks again for the review.

Tom

[dadret]

Glad to hear you like it - I have an SW7 on pre-order and am looking forward to getting it but it may be April now

[cacole]

 You did an awful lot of typing to duplicate information that can be downloaded in a more readable format from the Broadway Limited web site.  The entire technical manual for the new Paragon 2 decoder is free for the download in .PDF format.

http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/Paragon2techDiesel.pdf

 

[Hamltnblue]

Actually I was pointing out the things that were changed from the Blue Line and not the entire manual. Alot was added though, almost half. The manual is 188 pages and the blueline manual is quite large also and it would be alot more reading than just reading a 1 page post. As far as paragraphs and splits between lines, I had it pre-typed and pasted it. All pasted fine but when I posted the message it took all of the carriage returns away. I tried it twice with no luck. :(

[tstage]

Hamltnblue

As far as paragraphs and splits between lines, I had it pre-typed and pasted it. All pasted fine but when I posted the message it took all of the carriage returns away. I tried it twice with no luck. :(

Hamltnblue,

Not to belabor the point but just so you know, you can go back and edit your post once it's posted by hitting the Edit button above the text box.  Okay, I'll shut up now.

Tom

[Hamltnblue]

Not a problem, but when I hit edit the screen looks perfect with everything in order, it's only when I hit post that it gets screwed up. If there's a way to make it stay like it shows in the edit window let me know.

[locoi1sa]

 If your a subscriber you can do a review in the MR main page and just post a comment in the forum. I do think they would want reviews in the review column. 

  On another note I would like to get ahold of one and try it out and compare it with other sound / QSI decoders. I for one like the Blueline sound in my steamers. I have had no problems with the Blueline decoders and TCS combo. Since I do not have any Blueline diesels I can not comment on them. But my steamers were well worth the price and would buy more.

     Pete

[tstage]

Hamltnblue,

I've had similar problems when cutting and pasting text into a post - even from Word - so I know exactly what you are talking about.  I think the only way around it is to physically re-type the text into a new post.   Not worth it...

Tom