I have not had to reset a Blue line decoder for years, I have to now. Sound decoder has stopped working. Can I set the sound decoder to default with out the DC jumper plug? Like I said, it has been over two years.
Ken
I hate Rust
Ken,
Here's what I did the last time that happened.
Using my NCE Pro Cab, I Programmed on the Main in the Ops Mode.
First, referencing the long address (381 in my case), I reset the decoder to factory default (CV8=8). The loco lurched. Then I activated the short address (003). That got the sound going and the headlights working. Then, I activated the long address (381). That procedure got everything working.
Rich
Alton Junction
davidmbedard Oh, if you are not familiar with my terminologies, that would read HAMMER, SMASH, REPLACE. David B
Oh, if you are not familiar with my terminologies, that would read HAMMER, SMASH, REPLACE.
David B
David, thanks for that clarification.
Before posting to ask what HSR meant, I tried every nasty combination of words that I could think of.
LOL
You, like me, detest QSI decoders, but I have too many at this point to go the HSR approach so I use the CST approach.
Blueline <> QSI
And I will continue to say it, my QSI Atlas Trainmaster is superior in every way to my Tsunamu Stewart FT. Someday Soundtraxx will get rid of the need to use speed tables for basic speed matching, make horns that you can actually hear, and maybe even get the prime mover to load BEFORE the loco starts moving. Until they can do that, sorry, QSI wins in every way possible. SOME of their sounds might be played at faster speeds to simulate higher notches, but they aren't all. The Trainmaster sounds like videos of FM locos to me.
ANd I love complaints about indexed CVs - Tsunamis do the same thing, they just don;t call it that! Set a CV to oen value, the next 8 control sound volumes. Set it to a different volume, the next 8 control the equalizer settings, etc. That's pretty much the same thing as indexed CVs. All a moot point if you use JMRI.
Only downside os QSI semes to be the lack of a 'micro' version for smalelr locos, so instead I will probably use nothign but Loksound, invenst in one programming system and be done. Oh yeah, no user changeable sounds in Tsunami, all the others do. ANd I don;t mean actually going out and recording your own sounds, but using what the manufacturer already has. QSI has like 3 decoders, not 33, because any of their sounds can be loaded on any decoder. Ditto Loksound. Fewer SKUs for the dealer, ALWAYS have the desired decoder in stock. If the shelf is empty of Tsunamu Alco 251's, well, too bad. Can't happen with QSI or Loksound.
Really, the Tsunami diesel does nothing special that would make it superior to others at the same price point. Steam seems to be a different story - in fact the BEMF interacts with the steam sounds so that you can have coasting and rod clank - why don't they use this in the diesel versions to get prime mover loading? Based on actual load the loco is pulling, like their steam decoders do. Then you might really have something. The difference is amazing, it's almost liek the diesel decoders are an afterthought and just are cleaned up versions of the old DSX and DSD decoders - my Tsunami isn't THAT much better than the DSD-LC I have in a dummy F unit. The steam ones can simulate loaded and unloaded conditions, and do it well. Why not the diesel ones?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Granted, this has been a very interesting discussion on the pluses and minuses of QSI and Tsunami decoders. However, Ken's inquiry is about neither. The BlueLine decoder is not QSI but BLI's proprietary (precursor to Paragon2?) sound decoder.
I actually really like the the concept of separate sound and motion decoders and wish other locomotive manufacturers would do this, as well. I was able to install a Lenz Silver MP decoder in a BlueLine Niagara and she crawls on speed step one at ~0.5 sMPH. And NO problem with programming the two decoders simultaneously.
I do like the newer "Q2" decoders. Their low-speed response is right up there with Lenz.and Loksound.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hum.
Guess I will give it a shoot later. Reason I ask about a reset with out the DC plug is because I program the motor drive out of the engine. I have no idea where the DC plug is at this point. Two years with no problems, not a bad run.
I thought with the BlueLine system you're supposed to program the sound and motion decoder simultaneously?
Ken yea I used to curse them BLI decoders too, I only have 3 but I had all the problems with getting them to work. I went to Tony's Trains and bought the PowerPax, under $30.00 even though I had PR3/JMRI on a program track I still couldn't get it right, added the PowerPax and never looked back. Works like a charm even Tsunumi decoders are much easier to program. Jim
Did you try my earlier suggestion?
tstage Ken, I thought with the BlueLine system you're supposed to program the sound and motion decoder simultaneously? Tom
FOr a reset though that depends on what deocder is used for a motor decoder. The Blueline resets with CV8=8, which also resets a Digitrax motor decoder and some others, but other decoders that can be plugged in use different CVs for the reset, the other common one being CV30=2.
If one resets and the other is not reset, it gets fun, the sounds will be on one address, and the motor on another.
One thing to make sure of - the manual says Direct Mode programming, so on DIgitrax make sure the option selected is Pd, not Pg.
Here is an earlier discussion that i initiated on the same issue:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/202111/2208849.aspx#2208849
rrinker tstage: Ken, I thought with the BlueLine system you're supposed to program the sound and motion decoder simultaneously? Tom FOr a reset though that depends on what deocder is used for a motor decoder. The Blueline resets with CV8=8, which also resets a Digitrax motor decoder and some others, but other decoders that can be plugged in use different CVs for the reset, the other common one being CV30=2. If one resets and the other is not reset, it gets fun, the sounds will be on one address, and the motor on another.
tstage: Ken, I thought with the BlueLine system you're supposed to program the sound and motion decoder simultaneously? Tom
I understand that, Randy. Ken said that he programs "the motor drive out of the engine". That I took as Ken addressing the motor decoder separate from the sound decoder; hence, the reason for the question.
Hey, thanks guys
Far as need a booster to use my PR 3 So far I have not need one. I have been able to program all of my QSI , Blue Line and Loksound sound decoders.
As I stated earlier I will give a try to setting the sound decoder with out the plug.
After I get that straighten out, it will be time to get the headlight working. Sometime ago I bent the front LED and I think I broke the contact on the board. I did try moving the plug so the motor decoder controlled the lights, but still no headlight.