This is a problem as my wife is sleeping on the other side of the train room wall (I'm a night owl.)
How can I prevent this from happening? Will turning of the track power before lifting the loco off the track prevent this? Once the loco shorts even for a split second (I use PSX circuit breakers and a Digitrax Super Chief system) I have to go through the six-eight steps to decrease volume.
My wife's suddenly awakened speaking volume is NOT decreased, however ;-) What to do to keep the sound decoder or dual decoder's sound at a constant low volume?
My wife is very supportive and participates in the R.R. but there are "reasonable" late night noise ordinances that are "enforced".
I have an additional question regarding Athearn/Genesis long address CVs. In the manual it has a lower byte and upper (or higher) byte CV listed. Neither shows numbers that would match my cab # (4058) so I'm wondering what to do. My Challenger is sitting there "ticking" away but no other response from my DT400. What IS an upper or lower byte? Thanks very much.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
The answer is yes it is possible to lower the overall volume on a sound loco. JMRI is by far the best tool to permanently reduce all volumes on your locos.
JMRI will also make it a snap to program 4 digits address on your loco. If however you want to program CV17 and CV18 with your throttle here is a calculator to ease the task
http://ruppweb.dyndns.org/xray/comp/decoder.htm
You will also have to program CV29 to enable 4 digits addressing. Here is a look table for CV29 values.
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/cv29-lookup.htm
Jack W.
Will this PERMANENTLY keep the low volume setting even through short circuits and lifting of the locos from the rails?
I'm not sure if I experienced the sudden full volume increase when I removed them with track power off or only when it was on. (Don't want to do a trial for that until I have to!).
Is there a way to do this without JMRI? Even with the calculator CVs entered will they STAY entered? Thanks for additional info. and any clarifications before I give it all a try.
It looks like the lower/upper byte info. I'm seeking might be in the info. you linked.
I'll experiment.
If I'm still too bone headed, I have a JMRI/lap top equipped friend I can get ahold of, later. Thanks again.
Athearn: (Unless it's the MRC decoder that's the problem!): With your DCC system select "loco to run" mode (on a DT400 does this simply mean push the "loco" button, I'm presuming?)
Select loco address 125 (different from the calculator CVs.?)
Program on the main/Ops mode. Select CV 125
This defaults loco to 03 factory default.
(Didn't do anything in this case.)
I guess I"ll try the CV17 and 18 method (calculator) next.
BLUELINE: Directions for 4 digit address with Digitrax DT400: I can run on 03 as is but this procedure isn't working:
Preg PROG> See PG. mode.
rotate throttle counterclockwise until reads AD2. Press right throttle knob to change to AD4.
Use keypad to enter 4 digit address (3202 in this case) and push enter.
Display asks "AD$on?=y. Press the Y(yes) key.
WHEN I press Y, the cab number goes up to 3203 instead!
I've tried pressing "Enter" both before and after the change to AD4 but the loco continues to operate on default address 03. So...NO WONDER I'm confused! After seeing what else you all advise, I'll try using CV 17 and 18/calculator methods unless anyone thinks I shouldn't.
Thanks so much folks.
I have to leave now to go to the train club, if nobody reply till I come back, about 10:30, I will further explain.
Your original post was two fold.
First: You ask if it if possible to permanently lower the overall sound volume of a decoder. The answer is yes, however manufacturers use different CV for that purpose and with QSI you even have to set 3 different CVs. When I have to program anything with a sound decoder my tool of choice is JMRI.
Second: Setting a 4 digits long address with a sound decoder, most of the time CV17 and CV18 get the proper value but CV29 is not programmed with the appropriate value. You have to set CV29 as an additional step.
What I do with sound decoders is to program all three CVs individually on the program track.
In the case of engine 3202 here is how to do it:
1) Place the engine on the programming track and use Page Mode.
2) Use the calculator to determine the value of CV17 and CV18. For 3202 CV17=204 and CV18=130
3) Program 204 into CV17 and 130 into CV18
4) Program 34 into CV29 for analog off or 38 if you want analog on. My preference is 34.
This worked every time with QSI, Soundtrax, Blue Line, Paragon and Paragon2 decoders I had to program so far.
But like I said before using JMRI will facilitate the job tremendously.
I don't quite understand what you mean with CV125. Is this the cab # of your loco. If so this is a short 2 digits address and it is stored into CV01 with a value 125 and a value of 2 or 6 into CV29. CV17 and CV18 are not used with short address.
Hope this help a little.
PS MRC decoders do have a pretty bad reputation.
Since you have the super chief system you must be trying to program on a programming track. At my club we have two Digitrax systems. A super chief on our HO layout and the Empire builder on our N layout. When we had a programming track set up with the super chief we had a lot of problems programming anything on it. We set up a portable programming track that we use on the N layout to program with the empire builder on the main. Digitrax recomends using the PG programming mode but many decoders from other manufacturers will not program with this mode and we just try them all until the address takes. Whenever members have a loco to program only the address, we do it on the empire builder. All other CV programming is done on the chief using OPs mode on the main. I have programmed many loco's from all the manufacturers and have never had to change a CV to get the loco to take the desired 2 digit or 4 digit address. One thing with digitrax that I don't know if the other systems do is you have to be fast when the display prompts you to enter something like the 4ad=y add on. Try all of the programming modes ph, pd, pg and po. If this doesn't work you may need a programming track booster of find someone with an empire builder. Each sound has a volume CV to lower the volume or raise it. Once the volume for say the chuff is set it should not change unless you adjust the CV to do so. I have heard nothing good about MRC decoders + I have two of them and they just bolster what I've been hearing about them. I have just purchased a 2-8-0 consolidation from Bachmann with the tsunami sound system. It took the 4 digit address on the first shot ( pg mode) and i'm currently playing with the CV's for the sound levels and other functions.
You are right, the Empire Builder sends full power to the decoder while the Super Chief reduce the output to the program track in order to protect decoders from bad install.
I wasn't sure if I should try other modes but did (hoping in my ignorance that that wouldn't cause problems. Sounds like it doesn't.(?)
Perhaps the MRC needs a booster. Does JMRI provide that function/act as a booster?
As Athearns directions (posted above) state to use address 125 AS WELL AS CV 125 I was pretty darn confused as this was contrary to what you guys and other directions for other brands have instructed...
Athearn's CV 17 and 18 chart DOES jive with what you've posted for me.
I did push AD4-Y quickly (within 6 seconds) but got that "one higher" end number for my address. (3202 became 3203). What's going on there, you think?
Lastly, I have re-entered a CV in the past, (thanks to Randy Rinker) to restore the Blueline's sound after it vanished following a short at a mis-run turnout. (This was before I got PSX breakers and stopped running against turnouts. Ah the learning curve.)
With what you guys have instructed, are their any additional things I should take into account for the Bluelines having two decoders instead of a dual?
Thanks VERY much for helping me to understand the calculator CV 17/18 process. I wasn't aware that online calculators even existed so thanks.
I'll give it all a go again and if all else fails, I'll call up my JMRI equipped buddy-hoping that will also provide boosting. I know someone else who owns a separate booster device too, so eventually I should work it all out and learn what to do once and for all.
I can't begin to tell you how fantastic folks on this forum are.
I would like to know what the "tick tick tick tick" sound emitting from the Genesis Challenger is telling me. I'm presuming it's just letting me know that I have track power, but wondering if it's also telling me the MRC decoder is acting up or something else is shorting. No smoke or anything just the repetitive sound.
Most grateful for the lessons and help.
Capt.Grimek/Jim PS: I forgot to ask again, why the decoders go to full volume when they short at turnouts or I lift them from the track (at least with track power on). It sounded like that shouldn't be happening. Is the difference that I've never entered a minimum volume CV and have only used the DT400 to reduce volume? (Hope that's everything now! :-0 retsignalmtr
With the chief you cannot program addresses on the main. You can adjust the values of CV's though'' Addresses require a programming track.
BUT, I just now (after reading your message) saw on PAGE 26:
Service mode programming:
Decoder addresses can only be programmed using service mode programming.
(Do these statements at all contradict each other?) I guess I'll have to look into a programming track set up and JMRI. I'm assuming that the only way to keep permanent volume levels when removing locos from the track or shorting out on turn outs, etc. is to enter the volume CV. Are the factory default sound volumes generally REALLY loud? If that's the case, then tonight I can at least adjust the volume permanently and just run on 03 for now.) Thanks again, Jim
I don't have the manual for the chief here (its at the club) but when i set up the system there I understood that you needed to program 2 and 4 digit addresses on the programing track, but all other CV's can be adjusted on the main using ops mode (po) programming. That is how we do it there. But the programming track has been basically useless so that is why we use the Empire Builder with great success.
You can DEFINITELY program the address in Ops Mode with Digitrax. You can program a 4 digit address if the loco currently has a 2 digit address, and vice-versa. And if it currently has a 4 digit address and you want a different 4 digit address - just temporarily set a 2 digit address.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Also (aside from the possibly suspect MRC in the Athearn) do you have any idea why nothing is happening other than the constant "tick, tick"ing and I'm not getting any other response/or programming entry from it?
Still confused about the CV125 address 1 thing in the Athearn manual? This should be easier than this, I"m thinking-at least with the Blueline with the Digitrax decoder.>P
No clue on the MRC - but based on other posts on this forum, odds are pretty good it's toast if it just sits there and ticks. The address 125 and then CV125 thing sounds like some sort of reset thing that if it works would reset the decoder to all defult settings, including settign the address to 3 regardless of what it is now. Most decoders need the power cycled after the reset sequence, so after doing those steps (try ops mode as well as on the program track), turn off track power or just pick the loco up.
With dual decoders like a Blueline plus motor decoder, it's usually easier to program the two seperately. Setting the address shoudl work, at least in Ops Mode, since those CVs are the same on all decoders, but you can sometimes run into problems trying to set up other stuff because of potential CV overlap, such as motor control stuff. For example, there might be a CV on the motor decoder you need to set to 1 to enable a feature, that same CV could be used ont he sound decoder to set the volume of the bell or something. It doesn't happen too often, the sound decoders are thanfully tending to use higher CV numbers so they don;t overlap, but it's something to watch out for.
Capt.Grimek.
I have to agree with Rinker ( as usual he is always right), the MRC decoder is probably smoked. I suggest you contact MRC about that, they may have junk decoder but their customer service is top. There is also a MRC Yahoo group that you could join for assistance. One of MRC repair tech. is on that list.
Blue Line locos are a pain, I hate programming these decoders. For some reason I am scare to use the lock method, I tried the different short address/same long address method and found it can be confusing when one gets tired. I now program the sound decoder in the loco and the motor one out of the loco. I use NCE not expensive decoder tester to do that.
You say you don't have a programming track, a programming track can be a simple length of flex track, connected to the programming track output of your Super Chief. This is what I use with my Zephyr and my Power Cab or a Pr3/JMRI combo in standalone mode.
Simply hook up a piece of flex track and use the CV17-CV18-CV29 method I described earlier.
I am nearing 100 decoders programmed, my own fleet is 45 decoded locos and I am the one programming locos for the club's members.
So far I have programmed Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, TCS motor decoders and QSI, MRC, Blue Line, Paragon, Paragon2, first generation Soundtraxx and Lock Sound sound decoders.
My tools are Digitrax Zephyr, NCE Power CAB, PR3/JMRI, Digitrax Super Chief/JMRI, NCE decoder tester and Lock Sound programmer.
You say one of your friends has access to JMRI, If you can ask him to show you how it works, you will be hooked and will never go back to an other way of programming.
Good luck
Actually, if it's a factory installed MRC decoder in an Athearn loco you'll probably have to go through Athearn for repairs. Give that reset process a try though, it might just be scrambled a bit.
Something to know, with DecoderPro you can run it with the connection to the layout being one of the 'simulator' modes - so you can use it on a computer NOT connected to your layout. Like on my laptop here at work. You can go in and select your decoder model and then use the checkboxes and generally much easier than trying to figure out CV values options in DecoderPro to make the settings you want. Then look on the CV tab, any that are changed from default are highlighted in red - use your system to program those CV values and you're all set.
Divorce !!!!!!!!!!
This one (now married 30+ years) is a keeper! Very supportive, my very best friend in life, helpful and turns a blind eye to M.R. purchases most of the time. Just a light sleeper! It's a riot. I can tip-toe down the hall at night and hear, "Could you not make so much noise, please?" yet once we had a spectacular car crash outside of our house with sirens, flashing lights for a couple of hours and loud voices and she never woke up once!">PP
Thanks rets.Jack and Randy.
I should be seeing my JMRI friend Wed. night at our group's operations night. I'll see about making an appointment with him to trouble shoot further, using all of the above methods and get educated. It may be a few days before we can get together but I'll let you know how it goes. I'll be SO glad when I've had enough experience with decoders and installs that this stuff becomes second nature. I will look into getting JMRI onto my wife's laptop as soon as I can. Cheers.