I am having trouble programing my Athearn Genesis SD70M-2, I'm using a Digitrax Zephyr. Here are the steps that I have tried to program, I first tried programing it on the program track, I press the PROG key and us PAGE programming mode, press LOCO key and use AD4 for four digit address, then I press CV-RD and use # 2699 for the road number, then I press CV-WR to write, but when I do that I get a BUSY message. I have also tried the three other program modes DIR, OPS, and PHYS, I get to the end part were I press CV-WR and get a BUSY message.
Then I tired it on the main track, I either get a d nd message which is a open circuit, or d nA means there is no acknowledgement from the decorder. Before I tried to program a new address, it ran fine using the default 03 address, all sound features worked to. In the SD70M-2 manual there is no suggested steps into programming with the Digitrax Zephyr, it just gives me a online address get more information, but it's the same information that is in the manual.
And suggestions?
If you are not using the blast mode with your Zephyr, don't try to read the decoder. On the programming track write the address with CV-WR and don't forget to press Y to enable long address when prompted to. I suspect CV29 did not register the proper value to enable 4 digits addressing.
When programming on the main, it is impossible to read any CV, you can only write values.
Jack W.
Ok thanks Jack I will try that.
Daniel.
If the display goes to BUSY immediately on pressing CV-WR while ont he program track and using a program mode designed for the progrma track (only Page and Dir will likely work here, Phys is a leftover for really early DCC deocders that had limited options, and OPS is for programming ont he main, not the program track), then somethign else may be wrong besides a stubborn loco. Do you have any others to verify that the program track is working? Is that a newer Athearn model with a Tsunami, or an older one with an MRC sound decoder?
Verify that yoir program track is actually working, and/or also check the wiring to it. The program track termianls on the Zephyr are not next to one another - the Ground terminal is in the middle. So there should be a wire in PGM A, then an empty terminal (unless you have other components that need the ground wire) then the other wire to the program track in PGM B. Keep this wire short, and don't use thin wire liek telephone wire. I have some #18 speaker wire, about a foot and a half maybem and I can read Tsunami decoders without a problem. On the program track end, these wires are soldered to the rails - I just have a single piece of flex track, not connectect to anything. Make sure this track is clean. Mayke sure the loco wheels are clean.
SKip the CV-RD step, you don;t need to do this. If it's already reading the correct 4 digit address, try just setting CV29 to 34. You usually get a BUSY when the system hasn't completed the previous operation, so I suspect it's still trying to read the address when you press CV-WR, and so it responds as BUSY.
All else fails you cna reset it, if it's a Tsunami, set CV30=2. This shoudl get it back to address 3. On the main, you can select Ops Mode (make sure there are no other locos with address 3 on the track) and then set the deisred values in CV17 and CV18 using the calculator linked here. After that, set CV29 using the CV29 part of the calculator. 34 is common. You should no longer have control of the loco on address 3, instead select the long address and it should now work.
http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Dan the Man,
I have the same Loco (UP# 1483 in WP colors) and a Digitrax Zephyr Extra. After much research, I found that the following works (some steps maybe redundant, as I am actually new):
1. Put the Zephyr in Blast Mode- this is done through an option switch on the Zephyr, see instructions here: http://ikm.digitrax.com/questions/1458/Programming+Soundtraxx+Tsunami+Decoders+with+Digitrax+Zephyr+
You can not read any CVs in this mode.
2. Remove all but subject loco from your layout, put subject loco on Mainline
3. I use the PAGE mode to program, DIRECT works according to Link above but I actually dont know. Page works for me for changing address but from my other post you will see I am struggling with some other CVs.
4. When you send commands, the Loco should lurch forward (apply momentory motor current) and that's your only cue that it took the CV-WR, as you cant read it back.
5. If you end up resetting the decoder, then remember you have to turn off the track power and turn it on again. When you do this, the Loco will flash all its lights 16 times. This confirms your method worked.
6. Get out of Blast mode when you are done.
This should work.
Dan,
I had similar problems trying to program a long address into an Athearn Genesis GP15-1 with a Tsunami decoder. I was finally able to get it to work using the method that Randy has described using OPS mode and programming CVs 17,18 and 29 individually (and in that order). It seems that the Zephyr often has a problem setting Cv 29 when asked to do a long address with these decoders.
Joe
There does seem to be a differentce int he way the internal throttle handles the automatic CV29 and the way other throttles do - mine always works, but I never use the Zephyr console, I'm always using a DT400 or DT402. My Zephyr is my command station, but it's under the layout, I never touch the thing, hardly did ever since I got a DT400, which was liek my third purchase - first the Zephyr, then some decoders, then a DT400. Never went back.
This may not solve your problem, but I have found I have a lot fewer programming problems using two digit addresses. I use the first two or the last two digits of the loco, and have few programming problems. Keeping it simple seems to work.
Thanks for all those suggestions, happy to say I was able to program my Norfolk Southern #2699 SD70M-2. Do not know if that made a difference but I switched out, two 22' turns section for two 9" straight sections that soldered in the middle and used that as my programing track. I went with PAGE programming mode, selected Ad4, pressed CV-RD, put in 2699, and pressed CV-WR, and it gave me a busy message, I pushed the CV-WR and it cycled from busy to 2699, then I left it on 2699 when the numbers stopped flashing I heard a small sound come from the SD70M-2. I then exited out of the programming and placed the engine on the tracks, and sure enough the locomotive responds to address 2699.
So when it said busy I let it set for a minute, then I cycled it from busy to the address number.
Mine has a Tsunami sound decorder, I've heard that it needs a 2.0 watt speaker but the one the factory installed is either a 1.0 watt or 1.3 watt?
Thanks again for the suggestions.
Electronic stuff is full of gremlins. Sometimes just pushing the CV RW button again or a couple times does the trick.
Tonight I was programming an MRC decoder, and kept getting the d nr message in PAGE mode. I switched to Direct Mode and got all the CV readouts, with no problems.!
Yeah I had the same problem when programming my Broadway Limited Blue Line AC6000, hardest part was programming the sound decorder, could not program the motion and sound decorder together. I've seen d nd, d nA, d nr messages when trying to program, and d nH message is not in the book. Only have one throttle the UT4.