I am running a qsi rev"A" with a MRC Prodigy advanced system. The problem is that each time I power off the MRC command station for the evening or just a few minutes the QSI decoder in the loco has all its sounds but won't move. I have to reprogram the decoder all over again and keep the power on to run this loco. The MRC manaul mentions this problem with CV62 (voice feedback) in the decoder and I followed the reccomendation to the letter but the problem still happens with power off/on.
Any thoughts? Thanks!
I run a Digitrax Super Empire Builder, and I have three different versions of the QSI. Voice feedback of the current CV values is activated on all of them, but I don't seem to have the problem you are describing. Have you tried a double press of F6 just for kicks?
What does the double F6 do? or is supose to do? I think the problem is an MRC thing but I'd like to hear from other MRC prodigy Advanced people as well!
Thanks!
The QSI decoders have a sleep mode. You can place them in three separate states of "rest", and you activate it by double-tapping F9. As your QSI manual tells you, you double-tap once to place it in Stage 1 rest/sleep mode, and double-tap twice more for stage two (listen for the air let-off each time before going on with each double-tap), and yet a third time to place the decoder in silent sleep. It won't respond to any inputs from your throttle, not even function button depresses. The only one it will respond to is a double-tap of F6, which will awaken the decoder. I am suggesting you try a double-tap of F6 to see if your system is placing your decoder into one of the first two stages of rest ...somehow and somewhy. It is worth a try.
It may be your MRC system (wouldn't be surprised, frankly), but it may also be something about the decoder. Things go wonky now and then.
-Crandell
davidmbedard CPbuff What does the double F6 do? or is supose to do? I think the problem is an MRC thing but I'd like to hear from other MRC prodigy Advanced people as well! Thanks! As the person who actually programmed your decoder to your specifications, I kindly suggest that you read your manual. There is lots of useful, well-written info in there that includes your current situation. If you need help beyond this, feel free to give me a call. David B David your comment is terse, Why not answer the mans question here so other people using prodigy advanced learn from it to?
davidmbedard CPbuff What does the double F6 do? or is supose to do? I think the problem is an MRC thing but I'd like to hear from other MRC prodigy Advanced people as well! Thanks! As the person who actually programmed your decoder to your specifications, I kindly suggest that you read your manual. There is lots of useful, well-written info in there that includes your current situation. If you need help beyond this, feel free to give me a call. David B
CPbuff What does the double F6 do? or is supose to do? I think the problem is an MRC thing but I'd like to hear from other MRC prodigy Advanced people as well! Thanks!
As the person who actually programmed your decoder to your specifications, I kindly suggest that you read your manual. There is lots of useful, well-written info in there that includes your current situation.
If you need help beyond this, feel free to give me a call.
David B
David your comment is terse, Why not answer the mans question here so other people using prodigy advanced learn from it to?
I think David's response is appropriate. The QSI manual that comes with the decoder is full of information and the online manual is a veritable encyclopedia (about 200 pages in PDF format). You can learn a lot about QSI and DCC in general by reading them.
Joe
Thanks for comments Dave. However I have read the manual cover to cover at least twice. Some of us may not live in this realm of expertise and do from time to time have to ask others for assistance especially when you did not respond to my previous email sent to you!
Keep in mind this is a hobby and the forum was created for questions just like this! If you don't like the question being asked it's better not to respond at all!
Thanks for your response. It's answers like this that help us new to the hobby, immensely.
CPbuffThe problem is that each time I power off the MRC command station for the evening or just a few minutes the QSI decoder in the loco has all its sounds but won't move.
I can see where if the OP had read the manual he would have (eventually) discovered that the three-times F9 sequence would shut down the engine, and that the F6 function would start the engine. If I remember correctly, shutting down the engine also shuts down the sound. The F6 function initiates the start up sequence, including the engine sound.
However, as I understand the question, the engine somehow only starts up the sound but will not move when power is removed and restored. And it appears that the OP is not initiating the F9 function when removing power.
So, this being the case, would someone venture a guess why this might be happening so that we can all benefit?
EDIT: I was writing this and didn't see the post above. So, OP, did you have a function key pressed when you shut down the DCC system, or are we back to your original issue that you are doing nothing other than turning off and restoring power??
Found the problem guys, it was an MRC thing and problem of mine. Last week when consisting another loco (only a couple of road numbers off from this one) I must have added this loco into the consist as it too was on the main line during programming...
SO no amount of F9's or F6's would have worked as the loco would still not move. After clearing the consist from the MRC command control the loco works great along with the F9's and F6's.
Unfortunately MRC does not give you a running list of current or existing consist numbers on your control. Even if you remove the consist number from the handheld MRC still remembers the locos until you remove the consist number from the command centre. Lesson learned!
In my own defence, I am a consisting Luddite...haven't done it yet. But I will have to do that before very long.
For the information of those still reading, pressing F9 the first two double-taps with a QSI decoder does not eliminate the sound. All it does is keep the decoder from providing motive instructions to the motor. Therefore, the engine won't move, but it will still hiss, pop, squeel, and make all the random neutral sounds..which is what I took the OP to be describing. It is only on the third double-tap of F9 that the decoder goes fully silent....and still remains free of motive commands to the motor.
I am happy our friend has sleuthed out the nature of his problem. Nothing more satisfying than freeing oneself from the clutches of a devilish decoder.
QSI has an instruction describing the F9 sequence on page 21 of http://www.qsisolutions.com/pdf/quantumdccrefmanual_4_4_1.pdf.
They call the first F9 sequence disconnect, the second standby, and the third is the total shutdown. On the model I have, there is a distinct difference in the engine sound between the first and second F9 sequences. I think that the second sequence is supposed to represent overnight low idle operation. In both of these sequences, the F6 function is required to get the engine to return to "normal".
In David's defense, not that he really needs it, there is a tendency today to start in something new, and want all the answers before you know all the questions, which includes reading manuals.
I am a seminary trained, ordained pastor. I also spent the mid 1960's, 70's, 80's and into the 90's in the programming and computer field (trained by Santa Fe and continued with the Federal Reserve) so I could afford to pastor small congregations (my choice) and still have a living wage. I retired from the programming and systems field in 1996, and I just retired from the pastorate last year. I can't begin to tell you how many people buy computers for home without any real knowledge of how it works, then call me to ask if I will come and "hook it up" so they don't have to read or learn about what they have on their desk. "you set it up and I will take it from there". Then comes the phone calls as they can't make the printer work, or can't connect to the net, or whatever the problem. I will try to help, but I often offer the same response that David did, "read the manual first". Most people today seem to short circuit that step, then cry for help. I learned to program the decoders from "reading the manual", and I still have legit questions at times, but those I ask for help from know I have tried to solve it myself first.
Sorry for the lecture, Bob
I don't know which manual the OP was expected to read prior to trying to solve his problem. Looking at the QSISolution website, I see that there is a 28 page instruction manual (perliminary) for the Revolution-A. I presume that some variation of this came with the decoder. If this is what the OP had, there is not any trouble shooting section, nor is there any mention of there even being a CV 19. So no amount of reading the manual could have helped him solve what turned out to be his ultimate problem.
The instruction does refer the owner to another more extensive instruction which can be found on line. This is around 86 pages. This does have a trouble shooting section which even has the "my loco makes sounds but does not respond to the throttle" question. But the solution suggested here is to make sure you have not used the F9 shutdown mode.
There is another more extensive 264 page instruction that also has a trouble shooting section, but this section does not have the sound but no movement question.
From what I can gather from reading this forum, the inadvertent programming of CV19 to some value other than zero causes problems for numerous people, so one would think that there would be at least some mention of this in the instructions that come with the product. But I don't recall reading this in anyone's decoder instructions.
And so far as reading the manual goes, I think it would be reasonable to expect that someone would read the included instructions with the product. I think they normally call this the quick start guide. I don't think that it is reasonable that someone read and understand a 264 page instruction before having fun with his toy train.
But that's my opinion.