Here is an excerpt from the BLI advertisement: Broadway Limited Imports is proud to present the EMD F7 locomotive into the new BlueLine Family. These DC-Sound equipped locomotives are extremely smooth and powerful runners with sound that packs an incredible punch! Each BlueLine locomotive comes factory-fitted with our own proprietary sound system for DC. And for all the DCC users out there, BlueLine doesn't disappoint. We've included a NMRA Standard DCC Socket so you can quickly and easily install your favorite decoder.
My question is this: do I need to install a sound decoder or would a standard decoder do the job? Any recommendations on which specific decoder is best to use? Thanks.
Alton Junction
A standard decoder is all you need as it plugs in along with the sound decoderthat is already there. I haven't done an F-7, but did use NCE decoders in a steam and diesel so far They both sound and run great. There are several decoder types listed as easy and compatible, but i got the NCE's as an option.The actual programming was a bit difficult and I ended up programming on the main so I suggest you get on the BLI website for advice programming once you get a decoder. They were aware many of us were having issues and the advice posted on the website helped. J.R.
GMTRacing A standard decoder is all you need as it plugs in along with the sound decoderthat is already there. I haven't done an F-7, but did use NCE decoders in a steam and diesel so far They both sound and run great. There are several decoder types listed as easy and compatible, but i got the NCE's as an option.The actual programming was a bit difficult and I ended up programming on the main so I suggest you get on the BLI website for advice programming once you get a decoder. They were aware many of us were having issues and the advice posted on the website helped. J.R.
Thanks, GMT, for that reply. I went to the BLI web site and read up on their installation instructions. Meanwhile, I came across some comments on another forum about problems setting up a consist for multiple Blue Line engines but the BLI web site does not address this issue. Have you had any experience with this issue one way or another?
I have a couple of the Blueline F7's. I find that programming the sound decoder first, unplug and install motor decoder and then program to the same address. Then I plug the sound decoder back and WAMO!!
This may sound like a pain, but it works. I have not had any issues doing it this way.
I have been TRYING to program my F-7 using a Lenz system. No luck. Any suggestions? I cannot figure out the cv 15 and 16 thing. Do I need to program on the main?