I'm very new to programming decoders and am having some issues with what is the most difficult install I've undertaken so far. I've programmed a few now this one is troubling me. The one in question is a TSU-1000 that I have put in a Con-Cor AeroTrain. After installing the decoder, I ran it successfully on the layout under the defaults (address 3).
Of course, I didn't want to keep it set to the default number so I put it on the programming track. My programming track is hooked up to a Soundtraxx PTB-100 then to a Digitrax Xtra PR3 which hooks it to my laptop running JMRI's Decoder Pro. I've used this system to successfully program several other locos (at least two of which also featured Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders). Yet, this one seems to have altered my sound. When I changed the decoder address (to match the cab number = 2), I lost sound. I can restore the defaults and regain sound, but it drops when I change the address again. I've tried changing the long and short addresses thinking that the single digit might be the cause but haven't had any luck. What am I doing wrong? It runs under address 2 but it doesn't make noise. Or, it runs on address 3 and makes noise. Nuts!
My follow up question will be about installing a Soundtraxx CurrentKeeper as the lights blink too much for my liking. It looks like a central Florida lightning storm inside the coaches! Where do I install the CurrentKeeper? The decoder attaches with a standard eight pin harness. The CurrentKeeper has a plug but there isn't a corresponding one on the decoder (that I can see, anyways). Ideas?
Thank you in advance for any helpful suggestions! I greatly appreciate all of your advice!
Visit my layout!
LaSalle Street Station
What does CV29 say after the new adress?It should read 2 or 6 if DC is enabled.
Rock Island Jim:
Regarding your second question, are the coach lights supplied through the decoder or are they powered from the tracks directly? If you can control the lights via a function button then the CurrentKeeper might solve the problem. However, if the coach lights get their power directly from the track, attaching the CurrentKeeper to the decoder won't fix the lighting problem. In that case you will have to install the keep alive circuit directly into the coach lighting systems. Soundtraxx doesn't mention whether the CurrentKeeper would be suitable for this. That would be an interesting question to ask our resident electronics experts.
Normally coach lighting is done on an individual car basis. If that is the case with the Con-Cor Aero Train then you would need one keep alive for each car. That could get expensive assuming that the CurrentKeeper could be adapted to the task.
There are less expensive DIY keep alive options. Check out this thread on caboose lighting. Best to read all the posts because there is an error in the first diagram - it is missing a resistor.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/242370.aspx
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Fo NCE systems, you have to program in some leading zeros for the long address, so #3 becomes 0003 when entered. Don't know if this applies to Digitrax or not, but easy enough to test to see if that works.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
RR Baron The low/no sound problem source is the Digitrax Xtra PR3. The PR3 automatically changes CV128 to 0 or 1 to implement the "neutral mode". SoundTraxx uses CV 128 as master volume control. Use your DCC system to reprogram just CV 128 = 192 or a level to your liking. Value of 255 is max so 192 is 75% of max. The closer you get to 255 you may damage the speaker. =========== Current Keeper see http://www.soundtraxx.com/documents/appnotes/currentkeeper_tsu1000.pdf
RR Baron hit the nail on the head. Digitrax uses CV129 to turn off motor functions when testing sound files on their sound decoders, their PR3 sets this value to 0 automatically. When using JMRI, the first thing I do when working with a Soundtrax decoder is to reset CV129 back to its normal value.
Vernon in Central Indiana
Vernon/IN RR Baron hit the nail on the head. Digitrax uses CV129 to turn off motor functions when testing sound files on their sound decoders, their PR3 sets this value to 0 automatically. When using JMRI, the first thing I do when working with a Soundtrax decoder is to reset CV129 back to its normal value.
Vernon/IN,
I believe you meant to use CV 128 where you wrote CV 129.
RR Baron Vernon/IN, I believe you meant to use CV 128 where you wrote CV 129.
You are quite correct; I plead early morning (after a late nite) and no coffee when I posted.
Thanks for catching that.
Ok. Well, I tried to change CV 128 to 192 but I don't think that worked. I'm not really sure. I tried doing it through the computer setup mentioned in the original post. I also tried doing it using the Digitrax system directly.
When I tried to read the CV, it always gave me a DnA response (on Digitrax) or a failure to respond on Decoder Pro. When I tried to write the 192 to CV 128 it always appeared to work, but I couldn't read it back to check. When I moved it off the programming track and on to the main, it still did not make noise. Clearly there is something that I'm doing wrong.
CV 29 reads 6 according to Decoder Pro.
As I mentioned in the original post, this is all very new to me. Any further help is greatly appreciated! I might well be missing something that is taken for granted by those that know more about programming than I do.
Just program it on the main. The PR3 has enough power to program Tsunamis, but unless you have a DB150, your command station likely does not, so it's never actually getting reset.
SInce the loco is controllable, put it on the main, select it (run it back and forth to verify you have the correct address selected, and no othe rlocos with that address on the rails), then select Po for ops mode and set the CV. You can;t read back on the main, but it doesn't matter - if it works, the sounds will come on.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.