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QSI will not program

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  • Member since
    March 2019
  • 11 posts
QSI will not program
Posted by MOAK on Sunday, September 19, 2021 7:05 AM

Hello all.   About a year ago I got a killer deal on an Intermountain FP7A & B unit.  I'm understanding now why it was a killer deal.  I have a Digitrax DSC51 and I use a program booster.  I have tried everything in a fruitless attempt to program the QSI, including "blast mode".  CV62 is impossible to reset,  or any other CV for that matter. I've left the sound on, I've attempted the menu used for a full re-set, all to no avail.  Example; press program to direct, ( I've tried all the modes) press steps, press 3, At this step, it will either blink #3 continuosly, or if I'm lucky, show a value of 000. I key in 25, I then key the CV-WR, it blinks once, then reads 25.  Wow, success!!  NOT!!   Just a big tease. I'll set it back on the pike and as soon as I call it up, the conductor screams loudly, RESET.  I've been working on this off and on for about a year. I've read, I've watched videos, I even contacted digitrax for help. They just re-iterated everything I had already attempted to do, so as a fool, I've attempted to do this over and over again with zero results.  I'm to the point now of giving up and settling for the factory settings, pulling the shell off, yet another time, and muffling the speaker so the loco isn't so loud.  Posting up here is my last resort, in the hopes that I'm missing something really simple. Thanks all for any input, I'm looking forward to the coversation. 

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Posted by 7j43k on Monday, September 20, 2021 9:39 AM

I can appreciate your frustration.  If no one here can help (I can't), I suggest checking this group out:

 

https://groups.io/g/QSIndustries

 

It's got about 1200 members, all with a definite interest in QSI decoders.

 

Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, September 20, 2021 5:49 PM

You may have already tried this, but let me ask you anyhow. Have you tried to Program on the Main (POM)?

Programming on the Main is also referred to as Operations (OPS) Mode programming. You will need to turn off verbal programming acknowledgment (set CV62 to 0) for the long address to be set properly. I see that you are struggling to reset CV62, but you should be able to do it in OPS mode unless the decoder is faulty.

How are you trying to reset the QSI decoder? As you probably know, QSI uses a 3-step procedure.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by MOAK on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 4:26 PM

Yes, unfortunately it will not allow me to set cv62 to 0.  Yes, I've attempted the 3 step procedure multiple times.  Once I got up at 4:00 AM thinking I might surprise it into submission. 

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Posted by MOAK on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 4:44 PM

thanks for your informed responses, I've checked each of your suggestions again. One never knows, I may have missed something very minor. However, I'm thinking more and more that the decoder is faulty. It's used, I got a great deal and the units look good. So I'll actually run it as is.  Throttling up and down realistically can be a blast once you get it right. 

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 4:54 PM

MOAK

Yes, unfortunately it will not allow me to set cv62 to 0.  Yes, I've attempted the 3 step procedure multiple times.  Once I got up at 4:00 AM thinking I might surprise it into submission. 

 

LOL. Did getting up at 4:00 AM work?

QSI decoders can be quirky. Trust me, I have lots of them.

If the 3-step reset did not work, some QSI decoders use a magnetic wand for the reset.

Other QSI decoders have a reset jumper on the decoder. If yours has a reset jumper, turn off power, remove the jumper and restore the track power. There will be an audible acknowledgment from the engine at the end of the reset sequence (usually 3 toots of the whistle/horn).

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by MOAK on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 4:14 PM

Hmmm, the speaker delivers the word " reset " each and every time I call it up. ( still # 03 ) this has given me an idea. something is stuck or frozen. Otherwise it wouldnt say "reset" every time. And as long as it's stuck in reset mode it will not program..  I'm gonna check this in the morn 

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 4:19 PM

Are you doing Programming on the Main (OPS mode)? That is better than the Programming Track.  QSI decoders don't seem to like the Programming Track even with a Programming Track Booster.

Are you trying to reset with the 3-set CV steps, a magnetic wand, or the jumper?

Rich

Alton Junction

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  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
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Posted by JoeinPA on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 4:28 PM

MOAK

Hmmm, the speaker delivers the word " reset " each and every time I call it up. ( still # 03 ) this has given me an idea. something is stuck or frozen. Otherwise it wouldnt say "reset" every time. And as long as it's stuck in reset mode it will not program..  I'm gonna check this in the morn 

 

I wonder if the reset reed switch is stuck in the reset position.

Joe

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Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 4:34 PM

MOAK
I have a Digitrax DSC51 and I use a program booster.

Just under the heading "try everything", have you tried programming the decoder without the booster? Might sound crazy, but when I got my Digitrax PR4 earlier this year I hooked it up with the booster I had used on the old PR3. I had trouble programming some engines, and found if I did it without the booster it worked perfectly. I've programmed a variety of decoders since then without the booster and had no problems.

Stix
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 6:04 PM

03 is the short address.

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 6:27 PM

Lastspikemike
 
richhotrain

03 is the short address.

 

Of course so the locomotive has reset to the default settings. If it can be reset it can be programmed. 

Hard to say for sure. In his initial post, the OP made reference to "still #03" which seems to indicate that he never programmed a 4-digit long address into the decoder. Or, he couldn't program a 4-digit long address. So, the fact that the short address of 03 is present doesn't necessarily mean that the decoder reset to factory default in this particular case.

Lastspikemike
 

The Q1 manual also says on page 21/22 that programming on a program track may not work. If not then you have to program in zoos mode (full voltage) or the decoder may not accept CV changes.    

Yeah, as I mentioned previously to the OP, QSI decoders don't seem to like the Programming Track and seem to prefer Programming on the Main. One of the QSI decoder's many quirks.

Alton Junction

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 7:13 PM

The jumper method works similarly, and the word "reset" is announced to indicate success. So, for the OP, the question remains, does his QSI decoder have a magnetic reed switch or a jumper.

Alton Junction

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Posted by MOAK on Saturday, September 25, 2021 8:39 AM

Gentlemen; thank you one and all for your input. Reed switch? I had no idea until I put the board under my magnifying glass to discover that it was not a resistor or a fuse of some kind. The two little "paddles" were stuck together. I gently pulled them apart using two sets of tweezers. If I ever need a reset I'll just slide them back together.  the last 2 hours have been quite productive getting this thing programmed.   I also disconnected the powerpax booster. No need.   What a great forum as no one mentioned my ignorance with DCC sound.  This is my first one. Let the fun begin

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, September 25, 2021 8:54 AM

MOAK

Gentlemen; thank you one and all for your input. Reed switch? I had no idea until I put the board under my magnifying glass to discover that it was not a resistor or a fuse of some kind. The two little "paddles" were stuck together. I gently pulled them apart using two sets of tweezers. If I ever need a reset I'll just slide them back together.  the last 2 hours have been quite productive getting this thing programmed.   I also disconnected the powerpax booster. No need.   What a great forum as no one mentioned my ignorance with DCC sound.  This is my first one. Let the fun begin

 

MOAK, that is excellent news and a great workaround. Congrats!  

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    March 2019
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Posted by MOAK on Saturday, October 2, 2021 6:15 AM

Yes, now, as I have it programmed properly, it's time to tear down my current pike & start all over. Thanks everyone again. 

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