I have a horrible feeling that I have found a dirty little secret regarding this decoder. It has 6 light outputs, which is a good thing. For my installation I want a front head light, rear headlight, front Mars light, number boards and cab light, so I should have plenty of outputs,
But.... and a BIG BUT.....
it seems that the 6 functions are factory set to
1 Front headlight (good)
2 Rear light (good)
3 left ditch (don't want ditch lights)
4 right ditch (don't want ditch lights)
5 Mars (good)
6 Front OHBL (over head beacon, not wanted)
Unlike every other decoder I own, it appears that you can not change these functions using CV's
According to QSI web site http://www.qsisolutions.com/products/techinfo/revolution/q-revo_cfg_light_ports.html the only way to change them is with the Quantum Programmer, which I don't own and don't particularly want to own. $100 extra to allow custom use of the light functions seems a bit steep.
Have I missed something here, or is this really the case?
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
I see no reason why you can't use the ditch light connections for the cab light and number boards if they can be made to not flash when you blow the horn, which should be possible.
An alternative solution, which would still be much cheaper than the QSI Programmer, is to use an add-on TCS Function Only decoder.
http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Products/Decoders/HO-Scale/FunctionOnly/Function%20Only.htm
I had thought of that, but at first blush with Decoder Pro it does not look like I can just set the ditch lights to solid. I will tinker around with it to see.
I have to say that the idea of adding an additional function only decoder to a $100 top of the line decoder sticks in the craw. I still can't quite belive that control of lighting function output is not a simple CV. I live in hope that an expert in QSI will post to point out some really obvious mistake I have made!!
The answer may be in QSI DCC Reference Manual version 4.4.0, pages 142-163, which covers ditch lights in detail as QSI CV55.84.SI
I don't think Decoder Pro adequately supports the QSI Indexed CVs 55 and 56, so you'll probably have to resort to your DCC system's Ops Mode programming feature and perform manual configuration of the ditch light function.
Thanks Cacole, I seem to have my ditch lights now functioning the way I want them to as number board lights.
David, thanks for the response, I figured that sooner or later you might give me that kind of an answer, thus confirming my suspicion that the QSI has a serious weakness! My research into this consisted of looking for a decoder that had the right Fairbanks Morse Trainmaster sound scheme.
Anyway, at this point I am awfully close to having things work the way I want them to. Just the Mars light, which does not want to flash. Reading your note about LED's makes me suspicious that it might be the culprit!
I guess it is back to Tsunami for me from now on. I had high hopes for this decoder and am a bit disappointed at this point.
The more I bang my head on this, the more I realize what a very poorly implemented light output function solution the Revolution actually has.
So much for the default output settings, but I now know with certainty that light function 5 is not a Mars light per the default settings. I don't yet know what it is, as there is apparently no way to find out, other than to use the Quantum programmer, which I don;t have, or by trial and error trying to address all the lighting effects. This thing is an absolute headache.! You can not define output 5 with CV's, you can't reset it, you can't interrogate it to find out what it is. So I have 4 light outputs that could be any of 14 different functions!
Simon, you might give Ulrich Models a call, Steve is the one that up downloaded my Big Boy sound files to my decoder.
I am 95% sure he can program QSI decoders as well.
http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront
Hum, for some reason Fire Fox will not make a live link?
Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront Hum, for some reason Fire Fox will not make a live link? Ken
Ken,
Getting slightly off topic here, but you need to get a Firefox plug-in or add-on, whatever they call them. I was using Firefox for a while and discovered the same problem of being unable to activate a link, so I went with IE8. I found a Firefox 'linker' but it was cumbersome to use.
When I typed this response, IE8 automatically activated your link.
I was using IE 7 till Thursday. Fire Fox is some much quicker, but has little quirks that I am still figuring out. Missed the site spell check, for some reason it does not show up now?
Cuda Ken
I have been able to map out the functions that are programmed to the light outputs and with what has been setup
Output 3 Front Marker
Output 4 Front ditch
Output 5 Front number boards
Output 6 Rear Cab
I can at least get this locomotive to sort of do what I want it to do. I can mess with the ditch light setting and get a pseudo Mars light effect and the cab and number boards can be handled with the other outputs.
So thanks to all the help and suggestions.
In conclusion, my advice would be that if you are going to order a QSI Revolution Decoder with a sound file installed by your vendor, make sure you take the time to specify the functions that you want to have programmed to the different lighting outputs. As I painfully discovered, once set, they can not be changed via normal CV's they can only be changed with the Quantum Programmer.
Simon, when you get the furthest you can go, would you post a video for us...of the engine doing its thing?
-Crandell
An update here in the spirit of credit-where-credit-is-due.
This bugged me enough that I decided to write a note to QSI Solutions, the company that handles after market QSI decoders. Well QSI solutions happens to be part of American Hobby Distributors, which in turn is closely affiliated with Tony's Train Exchange. I wrote them a very nice note explaining my frustration and incredulity about the situation.
I received a very nice reply from Tony indicating that they are in the process of releasing an updated decoder to take care of this issue and a choice of several solutions to take care of my specific situation. The upshot is that they are sending me the Quantum Programmer to borrow, at their expense, to allow me to re-configure the light outputs to my satisfaction.
Credit is very much due to a vendor that recognizes a problem, seeks to fix the problem, and takes care of the customer. I have to say I am impressed with the response.
Simon:
I would be interested in hearing your experiences with the Quantum programmer. Please post your results and impressions when you get a chance.
Joe
Well done QSI and Tony Train Exchange! That effort, level of trust and customer services rates right up there with my experience with Ulrich Models.
Simon, after you get the set up and figured out how it works. Would you mind down loading some new sound files to my QSI sound decoders? I have 1 horn and 3 whistles I cannot stand!
By the way, thanks for dropping by Sunday, I enjoyed your and Chirpy's company.
Yes! Steve is the guy to talk too. He did my Big Boy with the Qsi Rev. You can see it on you tube.