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Success! Finished updating my program/test track

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Success! Finished updating my program/test track
Posted by rrinker on Monday, June 4, 2012 3:34 PM

PR3 works fine, reads/writes decoders in JMRI. Flip switch the other way, Lokprogrammer programs and test runs Loksound decoders. New version of Lokprogrammer works for my Loksound Select, old version works for my Loksound 3.5 PCM locos. I even replaced the factory sound sets with Nick Kulp's real Reading T-1 sounds.

 Pics coming.

                          --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, June 4, 2012 3:57 PM

Pics. First the business end with the electronics:

 

And the opposite end, with car weight markings:

 

          --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Monday, June 4, 2012 5:09 PM

Looks good Randy.

 Have you figured out the Lokprogramer 4.X.X software yet? I tried to instal a new sound set in a Select and got all kinds of error messages. The problem was the latest update and a driver issue. I had to uninstall the version 4 program and driver and re-download the software and drivers. I still get a Prolific USB error message but it still works after hitting OK. ESU has an updated USB cable for $30 plus shipping. For $45 I can live with pushing OK on the error message for a long time. The Heavy Steam Select sounds are much better than the Steam loco collection sound set. I can't wait for the PRR steamer sound set. I need the Banshee for the freight locos.

         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!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, June 4, 2012 6:06 PM

The cable that comes with it won;t work on Windows 7. I have a USB to serial cable from Radio Shack that I used for my Locobuffer, that works just fine. ANd the Prolific cable works fine on my Linux box with the Locobuffer, so all is good.

 As for loadign the sounds, you have to select the right decoder type, it seems. It took me a few tries, but I got the Alco sounds loaded in mine and it works. I think it woudl work better if hooked up with a motor.

                        --Randy

 

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 4:44 PM

Randy.

 I only have the old laptop that is running Vista. I never had any error messages before the latest update. As soon as the update finished is when the error messages started. I bought this programer from Ebay for $50 over a year ago. It is one of the older blue box covered. I even get the message when I program older version 3.5 decoders using the 2.6.2 version of the programer. It still works though.  I changed an EMD 567 decoder to a Mogul 2-6-0 sound set last night in a version 3.5 decoder.

  On the Select and Version 4 decoders the programer reads them and sets the parameters for the decoders by itself. I wish they would update the manual for the version 4.x.x software.

  I can understand that I probably should get the updated cable but yours is brand new and should have come with the updated cable or at least they should send you one. Maybe an Email to ESU would get you one.

          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!

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 4:53 PM

locoi1sa

  On the Select and Version 4 decoders the programer reads them and sets the parameters for the decoders by itself. I wish they would update the manual for the version 4.x.x software.

ESU released a new V4.0 manual on May 29 ....

http://www.esu.eu/en/news/news/article/new-loksound-v40-manual-online/57/

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 5:24 PM

 Well, I lucked out that the cable ESU sent works with Linux, so I just swapped cabled and it all works fine, all my equipment is functional, so I'm not goign to worry abotu getting a different cable from ESU. It's just a similar cable to the Radio Shack one with an FTDI chipset. How the heck that cna even matter is beyond me, especially as the manufacturer of the old ESU cable DOES have Windows 7 drivers for it! That install and work fine. Just that they check for the presence of that specific cable and hte program will nto work with it. Totally random Radio Shack cable, that it will accept.

 It definitely works better to have the decoder hooked up to something, rather than just some clip leads tot he speaker. WHen I reprogrammed my T-1 (granted, this requires the older Lokprogrammer software, 4.x.x won't work with Loksound 3.5 decoders) it read the CVs nearly isntantly, and it only took a minute to upload the sounds. It even retained my settings - including address and the fact that I had swapped whistle sounds to use the secondary whistle they put on F4 as my F2 whistle. The trick there is to laod the soudn project, then do a Read Decoder Settings. It asks if you want to apply those settings to the current project. Say yes, then upload the project to the decoder. New sounds, but all other settings retained.

                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 7:02 PM

Mark.

 The manual is for the version 4 decoders not the programmer software. Funny how the newest decoders have the same version number as the software that programs them.

      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!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 7:18 PM

SOrt of, the one that works up to Loksound 3.5 is version 2.7.9.

v4 and Select decoders need version 4.x.x. I think they skipped a version 3 software.

The operation fo the software is much the same regardless. Remember if you have a Select decoder you can't change individual sounds, just load entire sound sets and then use CVs to select which of multipel horns/whistles is used, and which specific prime mover. One thing I checked first, I need an M3 horn for my RS3's, and the Select Alco sounds has that horn. If it didn't, I would have gone with a v4 decoder, the ESU sound library does have an M3 horn in it.

 There's lots of information in the ESU Yahoo Group. One reason for the bunch of recent updates to the 4.x software is feature requests from North American modelers - and ESU listens. v4 decoders didn't originally have manual notching - they do now. The software updates usually also include a firmware update for th edecoder to add these additional features. Just reinforces my decision to standardize on Loksound for all sound decoders going forward.

                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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