Are you programming an "extended" address, say above 127? If so, once you have done the initial address change, go into Ops Mode and progamme CV29 with a value of "38". Then, after exiting programming, acquire the new address on your DT400, and you should hear a whistle and the decoder will power up for you.
It's the way I do it.
If you are using a DT400, read the manual for that throttle. It tells you how to programme addresses, whether short or extended. When you first enter programming with the DT400, it should display Add2, or something like that on the left side...pertaining the the left encoder knob. Simply dial in the new address using the right hand encoder, press enter, and your system will probably shut down...mine does. Restore power to the track, and select the new address...press the number buttons, but only after you press and hold either of the encoder knobs for a couple of seconds. You'll see "recall" flashing, at which point you punch in the new address digits, and then click the encoder flashing. You should be in business.
Dave, the DT400 doesn't have an indication for CV1. When you enter programming, no matter the mode, Add2 flashes indicating, to me, that it is ready to receive input for CV1.
this what i did i went to prog then pg, it went to ad2 then i dailed in 04 on the right hand knob hit emter i did not lose power it just read no good once and than read good after i tried it several times . also the decoder did not go into fault mode lites flashing
the only problem ,it didn't work when i programed it on 4
it just sat there no lites nothing went back to 3 and it run
I use the older Super Empire Builder system with the DB150 base unit and a plain old, non-radio, DT400. I programme all my decoders, (three different types, including Loksound), on a short isolated section of track that happens to be my lead to the turntable. There is no need to change wiring, no flipping switches... just entering Paged Mode, programming the AD4 for the long address, pressing enter, having the base station beep and lock out the power to the whole shebang. I restore track power by pressing "power" and then "Y" on the DT 400, and get nothing out of the engine. I change to Ops Mode (carefully and deliberately), dial in CV 29, press for 38, and hit enter. Then, I hold down one of the encoder knobs until "recall" flashes, at which point I press the number keys for the new address. When I click that encoder to engage the new address, then, and only then, will the QSI come to life by making any sounds.
You must have a problem with circuitry, unless, as David suggests, your particular base station puts out much less power upon programming than my DB 150 does.
I recommend a programming track booster, either the PTB100 from Soundtraxx or the PowerPax available from AHD dealers. I can get Tsunami's to hit or miss on the programming without the booster, but it will work 100% of the time with a programming track booster.
Mike
I hope it works for you because I also have a DCS100, DT400(R) and the PowerPAX and dammed if I can get this setup to read/write on the program track in PAGE or DIRECT mode to the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders I run in a few IHC 2-6-0. The locos nudge forward but do not accept CV changes. I can fire off OPS mode CV changes to the same decoders, but that rules out add2/add4 changes. The engines work fine even thow.
But... this setup works perfectly with my 2 BACHMANN 2-8-0 Tsunami equiped (manufacturer) locos. Go figure. Probably has something to do with less Amps being pulled on program track.
If I move all these engines to my workbench test/maintenance track that runs off a Digitrax Zephyr (no PowerPax), I can program all the locos without problems thru the Zephyr or via JMRI in PAGE, DIR or OPS (DPDT, center-off switch used).
I gave up on finding out what was wrong with the DCS100/PowerPax after a day of trouble shooting and not finding a reason. I tried everything I could think of and more.