Got my new Zephyr hooked up, and it works great. EXCEPT, I can't get it to program a new address for my engine on the programming track OR in ops mode. I am absoultely sure I wired the programming track correctly. I double gapped from rest of layout, and ran the wires from the track to a DPDT switch on my control board, which then runs directly to the PROG terminals on Zephyr. When I enter programming mode and try to read the current address of the loco, the Zephyr gives me the error "d nA", even though I know it is programmed for the factory default of "03" and the engine works fine using this address. So I went ahead and tried to write the road number of the loco (2502) by pushing LOCO twice to get me to "Ad4", entering "2502", hit CV-WR, and hit EXIT. It appears to take the new road number, but it doesn't work, it reverts to "03" when I change back to regular mode. So according to the manual (BTW, this is a P2K U28B with Quantum sound) it says to try programming in Ops mode. But when I do that, I get the error "BUSY" from Zephyr. What on earth am I doing wrong?
You WILL have to program CV17 and 18 and 29 independently with a QSI decoders. They take too long to acknowledge the setting in CV17 and 18, so they are not ready to accept the next program command which sets CV29 when you let the Zephyr automatically set the address. It also seems to help if you make sure the lights are off and you mute the sound on the main prior to programming. After doing that I was able to program QSI locos from Broadway Limited with my Zephyr no problem. All else failes, you can do ops mode programmign on the main, and set CV17, 18 and then 29. Select the default address (03) and verify that it's the only loco addressed as 03 on your layout, then hit the Program button until it says OPS int he display. Press CV, type in 17, press CV, enter the value for CV 17 from the calculator David links. Then press CV WR. Repeat for CV18 and 29. After you write the value for CV29 it will stop responding. Release loco 03 and select the address you set your loco for and you should be all set.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Good idea, make sure you're getting the long address you THINK you're getting. Although you can always stick it on the program track and put CV29 back to 6 and go back to using 03 as the address and try again.
What has BLI/Quantum changed in their decoders?
I have three locomotives equipped with them and have NEVER had a problem programing them with my Zephyr. Either on the programming track or on the main in OPS mode.
Two of my locos are BLIs. A Hudson and a Mike. The other, a Proto 2000 actually belongs to my grandson. The Mike is going on 5-years, the Hudson on four. The Proto is just over a year old. Is it just the latest decoders that are giving trouble?
I was thinking of trying a couple of the QSI after market decoders. Now I'm not so sure.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Well, after a couple of tries I got it to work. Not sure why I could not get it to correctly write the proper CV values for 17 and 18 the first time, but eventually it worked. One time the entire locomotive just went silent and would not respond to anything, not even after the manual-suggested 15 second wait with the power off. I had to use the magnetic wand to completely reset the factory settings. Now I just can't figure out how to make it run prototypically as far as starting and stopping. It runs like a DC loco right now, and I can't find anything in the user manual on how to make it gradually speed up and slow down like it did with the Quantum Engineer. Any ideas? BTW, thanks for everyone's input. I'm getting there...
CV's 3 and 4 are the acceleration and decceleration values, respectively. Since they are two seperate settings, you can make the loco speed up faster than it slows down, or slow down faster than it speeds up. Start small and work up til it runs liek you want. With a diesel loco, adding momentum to the QSI decoders make the engine sound rev up and act like it's under load if you crank open the throttle. On steam it makes the chuff harder and sharper during acceleration.
It's probably easiest to adjust these in Ops Mode so you don't have to keep switchign back to the program track.