Can anyone tell me if a LokSound diesel decoder comes stock with any alternate horns, and if so, which CV gets changed and what the range of that CV is?
Thanks
Take time to check the LokSound site. What each decoder comes with is spelled out and they have sample sound clips you can download to your PC. I do that with any sound decoder question.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Max, if you don't want to mess with down loading the sound files try Ulrich Models. Steve has done a couple of sound loading for me.
http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Gents, thanks for your replies, but they don't answer my question.
The engine is not mine, the decoder is already installed, the paper instructions don't seem to address my question, and the little CD that came with the decoder appears to have delaminated itself. And the horn doesn't sound anything like a horn.
Oh, and I don't know which flavor LokSound decoder is installed. All I know is that it is a LokSound. So I can't query the website to see what "came with".
I'm basically trying to do someone a favor.
So, what I'd like to know is do LokSound decoders come pre-loaded with a few alternate horn choices? And if they do, what is the CV that allows you to make the selection and the value range of that CV? I'm willing to scroll through the pre-loaded sounds manually, if I can determine where they are hidden.
I really don't want to have to fool with downloading anything since I don't have computer access near my test railroad.
davidmbedard Is this a 3.5 or Select decoder? A select decoder will have multiple horns, while a 3.5 wont. David B
Is this a 3.5 or Select decoder? A select decoder will have multiple horns, while a 3.5 wont.
David B
David:
I can't say I'm exactly sure. The little ESU User Manual pamphlet I was given says "LokSound, LokSoundXL, suitable for decoder version V3.5". If this is correct, then it is a 3.5 as you suggest. But the guy who gave me the loco has other LokSound units, so I don't know if he gave me the correct manual.
But on my NCE programming track it comes up as manufacturer ID 151, version 059, and 059 does not seem to be the same as 3.5 or 35, or however the system translates the decimal.
Do you happen to know what the select decoder version number is?
Max.
You have a version 3.5 decoder. That decoder only comes with one horn but can be changed with a Lokprogramer. The programer can change any sound or the whole sound file whichever you want to do. I do say that the weak horns were always a problem with the Version 3.5 decoder. Partly because of the weak amplifier section that required 100 ohm speakers. The factory installed versions had a larger amp that enhanced the horn and bell sound over the other sound tracks. You can try different horns with the programer without removing the decoder.
The Select decoder is a totally different animal. It does not require the 100 ohm speakers and the amplifier is almost a 2 watt. Large enough to drive 4 ohm speakers but 8 to 16 ohm are recommended. It comes loaded with multiple prime mover sounds and up to 16 different horn selections. These are all selected by changing CVs and an expensive programer is not needed.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
What model is it? If it came with the little Loksound manual, it might be a Precision Craft loco? Sometimes the included an alternate horn, my T-1 4-8-4 had two whistles already programmed in. If you say it doesn;t sound liek a horn, it's probably a single chime A200 style - what horns are on the actual locomotive? It's probably the right one for the model, earl diesles tended to have those sort of horns. If the horn on the loco is a more modern multi-chme and the sound is of a single chime, well, then yeah, it should be changed to match.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker What model is it? If it came with the little Loksound manual, it might be a Precision Craft loco?
What model is it? If it came with the little Loksound manual, it might be a Precision Craft loco?
Randy and Loco:
Yes, I have determined w/decoderpro that it is a version 3.5, or at least in that family. The loco is a Stewart U25, and as far as I can determine the decoder was a factory install. The modeled horn has two bells forward and one bell back, so I guess I'd call that a 3-chime.
In addition to being "weak", the horn sounds like a cross between an ah-ooo-ga and a sheep bleet.
I have borrowed a programmer, but now I have to figure out how it works. Or more accurately how to connect it to a computer. The programmer does not have a USB connector. It has a 5 over 4 pin connector, which the computer I'm typing this from appears not to have. I guess I also need to download some software to run the thing as the guy I borrowed from couldn't find his copy.
Loco, you said that I can change only one sound. I looked at the LokSound website and didn't see a place to download individual sounds. Can you link me to that web page?
It's a serial port. It ought to work with a USB to serial adapter, since as far as I know it doesn't do anything silly with the baud rate that wouldn;t be supported by the USB to serial adapter.
I don;t think they have individual sounds to download, you have to download a complete project that has the horn you want, then you can make a custom project which has all the sounds of the original with the horn swapped for the one in the downloaded project.
I would suggest calling Ulrich Models, they do sound file programing for Loksound 3.5 decoders and will more than likely have the answer off the top of there heads. I posted a link toward the top of this post. Very help full company!
cudaken I would suggest calling Ulrich Models, they do sound file programing for Loksound 3.5 decoders and will more than likely have the answer off the top of there heads. I posted a link toward the top of this post. Very help full company! Cuda Ken
Ken:
Thank you, I did see the link in your first post. I'm sure that I could also get some help/advice from our local friendly train store. The problem I have with doing that is I don't know where the loco's owner purchased it from. And I hesitate taking up hobby shop owner's time looking for freebe information on stuff they didn't sell. I don't like the idea of upsetting them in case I need their help on something they actually sold me. Probably just a character flaw on my part.
In case anyone is interested, this ended up being a good news, bad news, good news endeavor. The first good news was that I figured out which version of the programmer I had, got it successfully connected to the computer and a piece of track, and managed to download the proper software onto the upstairs computer and get it copied to the downstairs computer.
And I successfully changed the horn.
The bad news was that in changing the horn I deleted all the other sounds.
So I managed to download an appropriate soundset, get it from upstairs to downstairs, and get the decoder sounds restored. This soundset had a little better sounding horn, so I'm somewhat happy.
But I wish I new what I did wrong and what I did right. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart.
Max, he programed a Loksound 3.5 decoder that I was given for free. I did buy the speakers for the PCM Big Boy it was going in from him. Plus I bought from him before and will again. But, that is one of the reason Steve (owner) is so helpful.
Ken
davidmbedard Remember that with the programmer, you can adjust the volume of the sounds up to 200%. So if the horn is too soft, then bump it up. David B
Remember that with the programmer, you can adjust the volume of the sounds up to 200%. So if the horn is too soft, then bump it up.
The problem was not with the volume. The problem was with the quality of the sound...basically it caused a vacuum in outer space.