I run my MTH Class J on DCC using MRC Prodigy Advanced, it runs great, no problems.
However one thing that I don't understand is, is there a way to turn the crew chatter completely off on DCC, because after reading MTH's manual, I couldn't really find it, there are so many functions in fact that many DCC systems don't even have enough numbers on the controller to allow one to use these functions.
So my question is, does DCS have an option to turn off crew chatter entirely? If so, I will buy DCS, I also would love to be able to access the other functions like grade crossing whistle, etc.
The crew chatter on my Class J don't really bother me, considering it is an engine designed for passenger service.
But take the Mowhawk, wouldn't be absurd to hear passenger announcments while I would be running it as a freight train (even though it is dual purpose). Is there any way to just shut down these sounds once and for all on DCC or DCS?
Are you saying the loco is talking all the time? Or do you have to hit a function button to control it?
If crew chatter is controlled by a function than don't call it up. Maybe you can remap the functions?
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
rjake4454So my question is, does DCS have an option to turn off crew chatter entirely? If so, I will buy DCS, I also would love to be able to access the other functions like grade crossing whistle, etc.
That would be what MTH wants you to do Personally, I have no interest in owning a loco that requires a proprietary operating system to function fully.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
If you do, you will need to keep the DCC system as a pass-thru so you can run other brands of locos with DCC - you can't put DCS in any locos, only buy MTH locos with DCS already in. So, it's stick with all one brand locos and a proprietary control system, OR use a system that has industry wide compatibility. This is also why I could care less about 28 functions in DCC - crew chatter? station announcements? who needs that? Crossing whistles - well, you can do those yourself with the regular whistle function (usually F2 in DCC). All the 'crossing whistle' function does is blow the pattern automatically, it's not a different whistle sound or anything. Several DCC sound decoders have this ability as well anyway.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
locoi1sa Are you saying the loco is talking all the time? Or do you have to hit a function button to control it? If crew chatter is controlled by a function than don't call it up. Maybe you can remap the functions? Pete
No, its not talking all the time luckily. The passenger station announcements only turn on when pressing F4, I never turn these on.
However, the crew chatter, like the engineer and fireman talking (after shoveling some coal) comes on automatically sometimes when the loco is sitting idly. Usually if its sitting there for 1-2 minutes, they start talking. Again, its not that annoying, and it doesn't really bother me, because they don't say anything stupid (actually it can sound impressive sometimes), but it would be nice to figure out how to keep it from going automatically.
After looking on MTH's website, it appears that with DCS you can turn it off permanently I think, supposedly you can theoretically on DCC as well but the function keys on most of our controllers only go up to about 9.
Your Prodigy Advanced goes to F28. All the major brands of DCC now support F0-F28.
rrinker Your Prodigy Advanced goes to F28. All the major brands of DCC now support F0-F28. --Randy
Really? Thats great. How do I access these functions on the controller though? I lost my manual for the prodigy advanced system.
Or do I have to send my system in to MRC for an upgrade. Is this expensive?
Hi rjake,
I own both DCS and an NCE DCC system. Sorry, I can't help you with specifics about your Prodigy Advance system but I do recall seeing there is an upgrade for F28 support. IIRC, the systems shipped with F28 support before the NMRA had finalized the RP's and wound up needing an update to work properly.
To answer your question, yes, you can turn off the cab chatter with either DCC or DCS. On DCC you press F27 and it will turn off cab chatter. (note - there is a discrepancy between the MTH website and the owners manual for J. I believe the manual's F list is correct)
The default setting on all MTH engines is to have cab chatter turned on. That makes it automatic for DC operators. Personally, I like to turn off the automatic cab chatter and select specific sequences manually. On DCC you can select 4 seperate idle sounds sequences using F22, 23, 24, and 25. When I pull my K-4's onto an engine service track I can trigger one sequence that has the crew top off the water level in the tender while sitting next to a water column. When I pull over an ash pit there's another for shaking out the ash pans and trimming the fire. A third sequence has the crew lubricating the side rods. The sound for lubricating the side rods is an actual recording of the UP #844 crew using an pneumatic Alumite gun to grease the rods. When you do it deliberatly it adds a lot of realism, but when they randomly fill the tender while sitting in front of the station it's a spoiler.
BTW, many of the grade crossing whistle sequences (F12 on the J) are subtly different from what you can produce manually with F2. There's a little extra variation in the chimes as the valve opens that's caught in the grade crossing sequence.
If you do get DCS someday there are about 10 more "engine sounds" that can be manually triggered as well as the playable whistle.
dave hikel Hi rjake, I own both DCS and an NCE DCC system. Sorry, I can't help you with specifics about your Prodigy Advance system but I do recall seeing there is an upgrade for F28 support. IIRC, the systems shipped with F28 support before the NMRA had finalized the RP's and wound up needing an update to work properly. To answer your question, yes, you can turn off the cab chatter with either DCC or DCS. On DCC you press F27 and it will turn off cab chatter. (note - there is a discrepancy between the MTH website and the owners manual for J. I believe the manual's F list is correct) The default setting on all MTH engines is to have cab chatter turned on. That makes it automatic for DC operators. Personally, I like to turn off the automatic cab chatter and select specific sequences manually. On DCC you can select 4 seperate idle sounds sequences using F22, 23, 24, and 25. When I pull my K-4's onto an engine service track I can trigger one sequence that has the crew top off the water level in the tender while sitting next to a water column. When I pull over an ash pit there's another for shaking out the ash pans and trimming the fire. A third sequence has the crew lubricating the side rods. The sound for lubricating the side rods is an actual recording of the UP #844 crew using an pneumatic Alumite gun to grease the rods. When you do it deliberatly it adds a lot of realism, but when they randomly fill the tender while sitting in front of the station it's a spoiler. BTW, many of the grade crossing whistle sequences (F12 on the J) are subtly different from what you can produce manually with F2. There's a little extra variation in the chimes as the valve opens that's caught in the grade crossing sequence. If you do get DCS someday there are about 10 more "engine sounds" that can be manually triggered as well as the playable whistle.
Thanks so much for your response. Apparently I just figured out how to access f10 - f28, there was a shift button on my controller that I never noticed.
You are correct about the manual for the J, the function list is bogus, after a lot of problems in the last few minutes, I finally figured this out and got back to factory reset button which is f21 (f20 according to the manual). Those function keys can really mess you up if you don't know what you are doing (like me)!
I just tried out the grade crossing whistle, its awesome. I'm really tempted to try the 'clickety clack' feature but I don't want to screw up the functions again.
I may very well go for DCS in the near future, because I love quilling whistles.
Ah, there's another feature missing from MRC systems. Both Digitrax and NCE support playable whistles, and Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders have the functionality. Loksound decoders also support it to some extent. On Digitrax, there is a pressure-sensitive switch on the F2 key, so it responds to how hard you press the button. On NCE you hit F2 and scroll the throttle wheel.