Just received back from LHS 2 Proto F3's converted to DCC with LokSound Select sound decoders. My LHS has in the past used only Tsunami's for the few I have converted to DCC/Sound in the past year. I really like to motor control of the LokSound (better than Tsunami) and the sounds seems as good. Now my question: Unlike the Tsunami that has a CV input to have it always be silent when track power is turned on, I can't find this in the LokSound Select. I know I can do the same using F8 on the LokSound at the end of a session, but that doesn't work if it is a consist on my Sper Chief system, only the lead engine responds to F8 (or unless I am not aware of that capability). So, can I program the LokSound (especially when in a consist) to be silent apon track power turned on? Thanks all.
They may have left the decoder set for DC operation mode. This can be turned off by setting CV 29 = 34.
An alternative is to set the decoder so even if it is set for DC operations mode the sound doesn't come on until F8 is pressed. That is accomplished by setting the following CVs:
CV 32 = 2CV 403 = 32CV 13 = 128
cacole They may have left the decoder set for DC operation mode. This can be turned off by setting CV 29 = 34. An alternative is to set the decoder so even if it is set for DC operations mode the sound doesn't come on until F8 is pressed. That is accomplished by setting the following CVs: CV 32 = 2CV 403 = 32CV 13 = 128
But will that work for BOTH engines in a consist? Or does it just work for the lead unit?
I'm just pointing out what is in the LokSound Select User Manual without actually trying it myself. I believe that if the CV changes are made before you create the consist, they should remain in effect when in the consist. The only way to know for sure is to try it and see.
From one statement you made, you seem to have the LokSound Select User Manual, but those of us who do not have the exact same setup as you, with an identical decoder programmed by the same local hobby shop you got yours from, are not going to know how it was programmed by them, so I would suggest that you contact them and ask for help.
I have a LokProgrammer and do all my own LokSound programming using their step-by-step software procedures and have never ran into the problem you're asking about, because I start with totally blank, unprogrammed decoders.
Thanks for the input. I do not have a manual, but I will download tomorrow and also make the changes you suggest using DecoderPro
Those are indexed CVs. DP may not work. Simple program track settings will do it in about 3 minutes. Earlier Loksound select decoders were silent on power up and you needed to press F8 to wake the sound up. The default setting has changed to sound on power up. And yes even in consist. F8 to the consist address will wake up all the consisted decoders.
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!
Pete, what I am finding is that when in a consist F8 only activates/deactivates sound on the lead engine, so if I silent the consist with F8 during a session only one of the two engines goes quite. When I power up on the next session the lead engine is still quite but the second engine still has active sound. That's why I like the Tsunamis, but I was hoping I could find a way to have the LosSound behave the same.
As a default, with Loksound decoders, no functions will respond to a consist address .... you don't want the horn blowing or the bell ringing on the second unit ! Unfortunately, this also applies to F8. To change it so F8 DOES respond to the consist address, just change CV21 to 128. Now both units will start when you press F8.
Alternately, you should be able to address the second engine, press F8 to start it, then revert back to the consist address to control them both.
If for some reason you prefer all your engines to start up when you power up the layout, change each engine to the following ....
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 2
----------------------
CV403 = 32
Be sure to change CV31 and CV32 first (these are the register CVs) before you change CV403.
Never really understood the concept of having engine start up with the layout myself. Each individual engine should be started only when you are ready to use it.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Setting CV21 and 22 has no effect witht he default Digitrax consisting, it doesn;t use CV19 for a consist address, they are created in the command station (NCE calls it "Old Style"). You can do CV19 consisting, it's just not the default. Using the standard consisting won't send anything other than speed and direction to the trailing units. At one point, my only sound loco was a B unit, so I would mix and match that with other locos and simply selected that sound unit on the left knob while it was in consist to blow the horn and so forth. Now, some of my F units are permanently connected, so I just set them to the same address (the ones with drawbars, not couplers between them). Unless you use CV19 and also set CV21, or assign the same address toi all units in a consist, you'll have to do like the real thing, and start up and shut down each unit individually.
Once shut down with F8 they will stay shut down until you start them up again. The Tsunami behavior of not starting up until speed step 1 is hugely annoying and part of why I got rid of my only Tsunami loco. Now everything comes up quiet, and I can have the loco running before it moves.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Mark R. As a default, with Loksound decoders, no functions will respond to a consist address .... you don't want the horn blowing or the bell ringing on the second unit ! Unfortunately, this also applies to F8. To change it so F8 DOES respond to the consist address, just change CV21 to 128. Now both units will start when you press F8. Alternately, you should be able to address the second engine, press F8 to start it, then revert back to the consist address to control them both. If for some reason you prefer all your engines to start up when you power up the layout, change each engine to the following .... CV31 = 16, CV32 = 2 ---------------------- CV403 = 32 Be sure to change CV31 and CV32 first (these are the register CVs) before you change CV403. Never really understood the concept of having engine start up with the layout myself. Each individual engine should be started only when you are ready to use it. Mark.
Thanks Mark, I set each of the 2 engines in the consist to CV=128 but unfortunately hitting F8 only silences the lead engine
Thanks Randy, fortunately the 2 engines I had converted with the LokSound decoders are F3's that I mu with a F7 dummy in between, which will not be broken up, so I can just address them the same and be fine. Going forward with some more conversions I was hoping to get LokSound motor control with Tsunami sound functionality. I guess I just can't have it both ways . . .now have to make a decision which way to go, LokSound or Tsunami. Oh well.
Tophias Mark R. As a default, with Loksound decoders, no functions will respond to a consist address .... you don't want the horn blowing or the bell ringing on the second unit ! Unfortunately, this also applies to F8. To change it so F8 DOES respond to the consist address, just change CV21 to 128. Now both units will start when you press F8. Alternately, you should be able to address the second engine, press F8 to start it, then revert back to the consist address to control them both. If for some reason you prefer all your engines to start up when you power up the layout, change each engine to the following .... CV31 = 16, CV32 = 2 ---------------------- CV403 = 32 Be sure to change CV31 and CV32 first (these are the register CVs) before you change CV403. Never really understood the concept of having engine start up with the layout myself. Each individual engine should be started only when you are ready to use it. Mark. Thanks Mark, I set each of the 2 engines in the consist to CV=128 but unfortunately hitting F8 only silences the lead engine
.... And when you hit F8 again, only the lead engine starts up, right ?
Like Randy mentioned it must be the way your system handles consisting. If you dial up the actual address of the second unit, you should be able to press F8 and have the engine start up. Then return to the consist address and have control of both units (I would assume ?). Give that a try.
Tophias Thanks Randy, fortunately the 2 engines I had converted with the LokSound decoders are F3's that I mu with a F7 dummy in between, which will not be broken up, so I can just address them the same and be fine. Going forward with some more conversions I was hoping to get LokSound motor control with Tsunami sound functionality. I guess I just can't have it both ways . . .now have to make a decision which way to go, LokSound or Tsunami. Oh well.
The trouble with making them both the same address is that the horn and bell will be working on both of them at the same time. If you set up your MU'd engines using Advanced Consisting, my original suggestion will work just fine. Check out this link for setting up your engines using advanced consisting ....
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB911/advanced-consisting-with-digitrax/
Yeah, forgot about that. So looks like separate addresses, normal Digitrax Universal consisting and prototypical shutdown each session. Who knows, maybe I will come to actually embrace the prototypical aspect of it . . . Even though I'm lazy!
Just to look at the other side of the fence for a minute .... When using two Tsunami decoders MU'd on your system, when you press F8, does only the lead unit mute ?
Correct, but usually I just let them both idle for the rest of my session (usually not a long time, I'm just a one man gang for my operation sessions) and then the next time I power up they are both quite (because of the decoder functionality, nothing to do with the Digitrax MU'ing).
Going away in the morning for the weekend, but early next week when I get back I will actiually start F8'ing some consists to see if maybe I'm not as lazy as I think I am. Then if it's no big deal I will go forward with LokSound for my future conversions; if not, I'll stick with Tsunamis. It's not like their motor control is junk, IMO.