It refuses to accept any CV value changes my Digitrax DCS50 Zephyr tells it. Throw in the fact that this is my first attempt programming and I'm confused beyond all reason. Does anyone have experience programming the MTH SD70ACe on a Zephyr? I have no idea what to do.
On a side note, cab number is 1982
There's only a limited set of CVs it even reponds to, MTH in DCC does not support all CVs. What you can try is programming onthe main - Ops Mode. Look in the included manual, it tells you how to set the address to the cab number. It's NOT the same as generic DCC decoders.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
eagle1030:
First suggestion is to be patient. There is a bit of a learning curve involved. You won't get it all at once.
Second suggestion is to carefully re-read the Zephyr manual if you haven't done so already to make sure you are not missing any steps.
Does the locomotive respond to normal DCC commands? i.e. forward, backward, lights, horn, bell.
What type of decoder are you using?
I'll let the Digitrax experts take this further. I use NCE.
Main point is to be patient.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yes, all functions work. The locomotive runs fine, I just want to do addresses and map functions. I've been programming on main, and the locomotive responds just as the MTH manual says it should by tooting the horn. Sometimes it will actually respond to its long address after I program CV 29 to 38. But when I power off the layout and power it back on, it only responds to address 03. Lately after I change CV 29 to 38 and go back to running trains, the instant I select it's long address it goes into the PFA function.
Edit: And it's the factory protosound 3 chip.
David,
That was my first thought also but I was in the LHS the other day and looking at an MTH GP35 that was DCC ready. Thought I would put in a Tsunami. I looked at the MTH manual for the engine and discovered that I would have to remove the trucks and wheels in order to remove the shell. It looked like a much more complicated process than in other brands. I decided it wasn't worth the trouble and passed. The MTH engines look good and probably run well on their system but I will stick with Athearn, Atlas, Proto and Intermountain.
Marty C
eagle1030 But when I power off the layout and power it back on, it only responds to address 03. Lately after I change CV 29 to 38 and go back to running trains, the instant I select it's long address it goes into the PFA function.
But when I power off the layout and power it back on, it only responds to address 03. Lately after I change CV 29 to 38 and go back to running trains, the instant I select it's long address it goes into the PFA function.
I recently got an MTH SD70ACe with factory sound as you describe. It's taking me a while to get used to the various function keys, and I hadn't tried to reprogram the unit address. I did it successfully on an NCE Power Cab using the programming track. The MTH documentation says to wait 5 seconds before powering the layout down after changing a DCC CV. I did this, powered the layout back up, and the loco kept its long address with the cab number.
I would suggest using the programming track, setting the long address, waiting well over 5 seconds, powering down, and then powering up again and running the loco on the layout to see if it kept its long address.
Eagle, some systems will drop the packets being sent to sound equipped locos when the sound feedback is enabled (QSI definitely). See if you can disable the sound feedback and try programming. And are you using programing on the main, or program track. Some systems only have enough power to program on the main, eventhough they are designed to do both. I think that is solved with a program track booster.
The owner of MTH went his own way and developed his own form of DCC which may or may not be better than standard DCC.
Depends what side of the fence one sits.
But, MTH locos are known for not playing well with normal DCC when it comes to prgraming decoders.
For a few yrs I was in the bussines of fitting and programing normql DCC decoders and got to the stage of refusing an MTH loco. It just wasted to much time.
Things may have changed recently, I don,t know.
But just be aware that an MTH loco may not be all that compliant in all departments when op/programing with normal DCC.
Cheers
Ian