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NCE controller and Paragon sound system -- cannot change CV for air pump [SOLVED]

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, November 12, 2021 7:29 AM

tsd

One thing that people don't always get is that the manual is for say every steam engine. So it may say a default is say 100, that does not mean that is the default for every engine. BLI will tweak default CV's for different engines and at that point is partly the peference of the person tuning the engine for the production run as to what CV's get set to for their default.

I have to agree with you on this point. 

When I first went down to my layout a few days back to test my two Paragon 2 equipped steam locomotives in order to help Matt, the first thing that I did was to record all of the sound CV values between CV 130 and CV 152 in each loco. (I did not test CV 198 because the Rod Knock Volume did not seem relevant to Matt's issue.) The values in CV 130 to CV152 did not always match the default values in the manual, although I had reset the decoders to factory defaults prior to the test.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by crossthedog on Friday, November 12, 2021 10:32 AM

richhotrain
richhotrain wrote the following post 2 hours ago: tsd One thing that people don't always get is that the manual is for say every steam engine. So it may say a default is say 100, that does not mean that is the default for every engine. BLI will tweak default CV's for different engines and at that point is partly the peference of the person tuning the engine for the production run as to what CV's get set to for their default. I have to agree with you on this point. When I first went down to my layout a few days back to test my two Paragon 2 equipped steam locomotives in order to help Matt, the first thing that I did was to record all of the sound CV values between CV 130 and CV 152 in each loco. (I did not test CV 198 because the Rod Knock Volume did not seem relevant to Matt's issue.) The values in CV 130 to CV152 did not always match the default values in the manual, although I had reset the decoders to factory defaults prior to the test. Rich

@tsd, this is good to know and keep in mind. Thanks.

@Rich, I saw that the little spiral manual that came with my NCE cab has a handy list in the back where you can record those CVs. I intend to do that. In pencil.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this and especially you two: tsd for hitting upon the final answer and Rich for his absurd level of dedication to the project and for not pulling any punches.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, November 12, 2021 10:44 AM

crossthedog

Thanks to everyone who helped with this and especially you two: tsd for hitting upon the final answer and Rich for his absurd level of dedication to the project and for not pulling any punches. 

ahh, yes, absurdity, the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the human inability to find these with any certainty.

Rich

Alton Junction

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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Friday, November 12, 2021 12:34 PM

crossthedog
I saw that the little spiral manual that came with my NCE cab has a handy list in the back where you can record those CVs. I intend to do that. In pencil.

Matt,

Actually, the easiest place to store those CVs (and all of your CVs) is JMRI Decoder Pro, which is a free download.  It will read and capture the CVs for each locomotive and store it for prosterity.  It is especially beneficial when you have to reset your locomotive's decoder back to factory settings.  You can then just write them back to the reset decoder and not lose any of those CV settings that you spent time tweaking.

To do that you'll need an NCE USB module to interface between your decoder, your Power Cab, and the computer you load Decoder Pro on.  Given that I have 50+ locomotives with decoders, it's worth the cost to have all those CVs stored in a safe place for retrieval, if and when needed.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
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Posted by crossthedog on Friday, November 12, 2021 1:38 PM

tstage
Actually, the easiest place to store those CVs (and all of your CVs) is JMRI Decoder Pro, which is a free download. It will read and capture the CVs for each locomotive and store it for prosterity. It is especially beneficial when you have to reset your locomotive's decoder back to factory settings. You can then just write them back to the reset decoder and not lose any of those CV settings that you spent time tweaking. To do that you'll need an NCE USB module to interface between your decoder, your Power Cab, and the computer you load Decoder Pro on. Given that I have 50+ locomotives with decoders, it's worth the cost to have all those CVs stored in a safe place for retrieval, if and when needed. Tom

Tom, is it this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254221678621?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=254221678621&targetid=1263433205254&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9033307&poi=&campaignid=10454522096&mkgroupid=120142078537&rlsatarget=pla-1263433205254&abcId=2146002&merchantid=119221719&gclid=CjwKCAiAvriMBhAuEiwA8Cs5lX6JGJAnBQor-7YvTY4rQVrVP0Ub8uHeRQMdMV_gqIBgFy4V01bpJRoCYJQQAvD_BwE

Do you just run a USB cable from this to a laptop?

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Friday, November 12, 2021 3:15 PM

Matt,

Yea, that's the one.  What you need is a USB-to-printer cable to interface between your computer and the USB module.  You'll also need the 4-contact coily coil that came with your Power Cab in order to connect the Power Cab to the opposite end of the module board.

It's a bit tricky to initially set up, as you need to install & connect things (e.g driver) in a particular order so that JMRI properly recognizes the USB module.  Once it's set up though it operates well.  NCE has more information on the USB module, if it is something you think you are interested in:

https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001995503-Using-the-USB-Interface-with-JMRI-Read-Me-First

The JMRI website also has information, as well...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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