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Bachmann Spectrum with on-board DCC

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Elyria, OH
  • 2,586 posts
Posted by BRVRR on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 8:52 AM

The Bachmann DCC on Board , as well as Atlas non-sound decoders are a low end Lenz decoders in disguise. If you are using a Zephyr for programming you will need to put a 1K 1/4 Watt resistor across (in parallel) the programming tracks. This fools the Zephyr into increasing the programming voltage.

I have never had a problem programming Lenz, Atlas or Bachmann decoders after I learned the little resistor trick mentioned above.

As far as the listing of CVs, check with the Bachmann website. They have a listing under DCC on Board I believe.

Good luck.

Remember its your railroad

Allan

  Track to the BRVRR Website:  http://www.brvrr.com/

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 10:28 PM

Athearn factory equipped Tsunami documents are at the Athearn site.

http://www.athearn.com/

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 5 posts
Posted by NoDCCin_73 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 7:58 PM

Thanks rock...they still look like a good choice!

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Morris, Illinois USA
  • 283 posts
Posted by rockislandnut on Sunday, April 3, 2011 7:53 PM

NoDCCin_73

Good to know.  Regarding the Tsunami with less features...I wonder if the "yet to be released" Athearn Genesis SD70M-2 with Tsunami sound will have less features than the 1000 (for example) you install yourself?  What features are missing from these?  Thanks!!  RB

Probably be something like or the same as this factory installed Tsunami decoder for the Athearn SD70ACe.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/athearn/SD70%20ACe.pdf

You'll find all this at: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/

I just got embarrassed with a subject similar to this so I've been all over Soundtraxx. Whistling

Hope this helps. Yes

Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.

  • Member since
    March 2011
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Posted by NoDCCin_73 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 1:24 PM

Good to know.  Regarding the Tsunami with less features...I wonder if the "yet to be released" Athearn Genesis SD70M-2 with Tsunami sound will have less features than the 1000 (for example) you install yourself?  What features are missing from these?  Thanks!!  RB

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 11:00 AM

 The non sound decoders in factory equipped are low end Lenz.

The sound decoders are, Tsunami with less features than the Tsunami you install yourself.

The SoundTraxx site has all the documents for both.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 5 posts
Posted by NoDCCin_73 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 10:06 AM

Turns out these "DCC on-board" Spectrums are a bit of a strange beast.  I was also having trouble changing CVs.  I received this from Bachmann..."We have determined that in order to program some Bachmann locomotives with Zephyr, you must place a 1000 ohm 1/4 or 1/2 watt resistor between the rails of the program track in order for the Zephyr to see the Bachmann decoder.  Use either page or dir functionality of the Zephyr."

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    February 2008
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Posted by maxman on Sunday, March 13, 2011 9:37 PM

NoDCCin_73

I can't find a CV list for the Bachmann Spectrum locos I purchased recently.  None of them are the sound type.  Very little info came in the box about the decoders.  Anyone have this info?  Thanks!  RB

Is the following link helpful?: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ez_content/1_Amp_Decoder_Instr.pdf

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 5 posts
Bachmann Spectrum with on-board DCC
Posted by NoDCCin_73 on Sunday, March 13, 2011 8:35 PM

I can't find a CV list for the Bachmann Spectrum locos I purchased recently.  None of them are the sound type.  Very little info came in the box about the decoders.  Anyone have this info?  Thanks!  RB

Tags: Bachmann , DCC , DCC - CV's

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