All decoders should allow programming on the main. They may not do so well trying to change CV1/address on the main, though. For example, Digitrax's DB150 manual states that Paged Mode is preferable for programming address changes. If your new NCE system allows programming on the main at all, a QSI will take the changes. I do that myself.
I have an InterMountain F7B with factory QSI sound. It seems to accept programming on both the main and program tracks using my NCE Power Cab system. I will admit that the QSI system seems to be a bit fussy and I have had to reset it to factory settings a couple of times, but overall the NCE Power Cab seems to work very well.
Good luck with yours!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
My experience has been the same as Dave (hon30critter). QSI systems, in my opinion, are a bit quirky and except for the turbine decoder, I have not been particularly impressed with the prime mover sounds. The Soundtraxx decoders, on the other hand, have very distinct sounds for their prime movers. They are also very simple to program and the Equalizer makes it easy to tailor the sounds to your liking.
Everybody has an opinion and that's mine. Not beating the drum for Soundtraxx, just happens to be the system I am most familiar with and find easiest to work with. As always, your mileage may vary.
PoM works great with QSI, I have no problem programmign my Atlas Trainmaster, although I have Digitrax not NCE. I didn;t even turn off the verbal reporting, so when I added momentum, for example, it spoke back "CV 3 equals one zero" It did the address fine on the program track, with no booster. If you have a PowerCab, it should also have no problem.
I have one Tsunami diesel, and there's oen feature I absolutely cannot stand, and it doesn;t seem possible to alter it. The loco ALWAYS moves before the sound ramps up. Great for a light engine move, but when pulling a train - not so realistic. ALl i had to do with my QSI is plug in some momentum and instantly I have the ability to take off gradually with no engien rev OR have the loco act liek it has a 100 car train attached. Somewhere this mornign I read some post that it was ahrd to set up the brake squael on a QSI - also not really true, I jsut added some deceleration momentum, and now I have automatic brake squeal which only activated when there is a large speed difference - ie, if I slow down one step at a time, the loco will drift to a stop without makign noise. But if I rapidly turn down teh speed, the brakes will squeal as the loco stops. Couldn;t be easier to configure and use, no buttons to push, and no special sound CVs to configure, just plain old momentum that every decoder has CV3 for acceleration, CV4 for deceleration)
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
hon30critter I have an InterMountain F7B with factory QSI sound. It seems to accept programming on both the main and program tracks using my NCE Power Cab system. I will admit that the QSI system seems to be a bit fussy and I have had to reset it to factory settings a couple of times, but overall the NCE Power Cab seems to work very well.
LOL
A couple of times?
I am always resetting QSI locos to factory defaults. Sometimes, merely turning on my system, calling out the loco, and getting nothing but silence and stillness, tells me that it is time for a reset.
Rich
Alton Junction
That's weird. I've never had that problem with any of my QSI decoders, Rich.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage That's weird. I've never had that problem with any of my QSI decoders, Rich. Tom
Tom,
The only problem that I have ever had with my QSI decoders is just what I mentioned. I sometimes have to reset to factory defaults for no apparent reason, usually after I have not run one in awhile. A QSI loco will just sit there and not respond, once in a while a steamer, once in a while a diesel.
I sometimes get decoders of all kinds that do strange things. My method of correction, which seems to work for me about 90% of the time (and for me these glitches are quite rare), is to simply switch off the system entirely, even unplug it. Wait, two, three, restore power, and almost always all the right addresses are available, and they all power up.
Once or twice I have even tried a double press of F6. I often place locos stored on tracks into the F9 coma if they have QSI's, but I tend to not do that for locos I am about to restore to their original packaging for long-term disuse. However, I sometimes forget to remove them from the coma before I place them in long term storage. If I get a dead duck next time I place it on powered rails, I try F6 before anything.
Crandell
The only weird thing that happens to my Power Cab once in a while is that I get a "phantom" address on my display - i.e. where one of the addresses gets changed to a completely different address; one that isn't included in my roster. All I need to do is to press SELECT LOCO, enter an address for a locomotive on my layout, press ENTER, and I'm off and running again. Again, it doesn't happen very often.