I got the new Paragon 2 HO 2020 4-6-4 w/DCC & sound to-day. The problem I am having is it won't move on the track or make any sounds. I have the Digitrax Zephyr operating system. The booklet I received with the locomotive says that the factory default address is 3. When I program the number 3 into the Zephry it does nothing. It says in the Paragon 2 operators manual to reset the address I set CV8=8. Do you think this need to be done?
Any help is greatly appreciated as I am getting frustrated.
Thanks Billy21
Gotta ask some basic questions, Billy:
Locomotives generally come with a default short address of "3". All you should need to do is to enter "3" into your Zephyr and away it goes. No programming is needed unless you want to give your locomotive a different address - i.e. either 2- or 4-digit.
It may be that your BLI Hudson is "asleep". If so, try quickly tapping F6 twice in succession. This will awake it up out of hibernation and you will hear your Hudson come alive. [Edit: Oops! The struckthrough sequence above would be for a QSI decoder. I'm not sure it would pertain to the newer Paragon2 decoders.]
Keep us posted...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
First, Have you run the system with any other engine before?
If yes then I would reset the engine to default. Should be CV8 = 8.
After that the address will be 3
The paragon's are single decoder engines and shouldn't be a problem.
Good Luk
Springfield PA
I have been working with the Zephyr for about 6 months. I double checked the wiring and then ran another loco on the track and it worked fine. I have both a dedicated program track as well as a layout track. Since I posted my question I put the loco on the program track to try and get a reading on the address but the reading came back d na which the manual says this meansthere is no aknowledgement from the decorder typically during decorder rewrites operation. Now what?
Thanks Billy
Billy,
It may be the age-old problem of your Zephyr trying to "read" a sound decoder. This has been a problem with other DCC systems in the past because sound decoders require more "oomph" to program. However, you should still be able to run it on your layout.
Is there a troubleshooting section in your Paragon2 manual that came with the Hudson? It would probably be in the back of the manual.
This may sound obvious, but if the decoder is a QSI, which I suspect a Paragon will have, the CV8 to a value of 8 is the incorrect procedure. A QSI requires three CV resets. Please consult your decoder documentation.
Secondly, if you are attempting to operate an extended address, and have not set CV 29 to a value of either 34 or 38, your engine will appear dead...lifeless...no sounds, no activity at all. Enter Ops mode with the new address active on the throttle and set that CV. Make sure it is on the programme track when you do this in case you mess it up. When you engage the throttle, it should now commence sounds. If it doesn't set the address to "03" and try the CV 29 value again by inputting the value you desire.
Function 9 is used to turn the Paragon 2 decoder on and off; startup and shutdown. If you still haven't gotten your engine to run, try pushing the "9" button a couple of times and see what that does for you. The locomotive should start up as soon as you crack the throttle, though, if you have the address set on 3.
No F9 unless he has a DT400/UT4, he's using a Zephyr. If it never worked, it's possible it was shut down by someone test running it in the shop, but if so he's out of luck until he can take it back or get a UT4.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Even so, F9 will simply be attempting to put the decoder into a deeper coma. You want to double-press F6 if you want to reverse the coma...assuming this is the issue.
-Crandell
If all else fails you can also try to manually reset the decoder. You'll need to remove the tender's body shell though to get to the decoder. Then use the tip of a pencil to hold down the reset button on the board while you turn on the track power.
Dana
I have the same Loco. Startup is F6 and shutdown is F9. Also make sure the address entered is 3 and not 03. I have made that mistake before.
Joe
joe27 I have the same Loco. Startup is F6 and shutdown is F9. Also make sure the address entered is 3 and not 03. I have made that mistake before. Joe
That should make no difference with Digitrax, 3 is 03 is 003 is a short address ALWAYS with Digitrax, 3 is short with NCE, 03 is long.
Step 1 would be the rest as above - nice feature, a little button instead of that pesky magnet - I never could get those to work without removing the shell so I could actually see the reed switch. AFter a reset it should run, because that clears even the F9 shutdown. If it fails to run on address 3 after the reset, it's tiem to contact BLI (if other locos run fine) or Digitrax (if nothing else will run either).