I am trying to figure out how to use the manual notching on a Kato SD 40-2 equipped with an ESU Lok Sound decoder. The manual is not exactly clear on how to activate this feature. This rig has a switching function...F7 i think...that reduces the top speed when only shunting cars. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Bryan B.
If you haven't already, Bryan, you may want to just go ahead and download the Loksound decoder manual from the ESU site. It has a lot of this kind of info in it. I printed mine out and have it in a 3-ring binder for convenience.
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Which Loksound decoder is it? If it's a V4, the manual notching feature was recently added, you need access to the Lokprogrammer hardware to update the firmware with the new features.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Tom,
I have the download and initially read about notching and using the Lok Programmer to set up a sound project and/or decoder to operate notching on F9 & 10. I'm assuming that this is only compatible for PC op system and not Mac. I did find that I had overlooked the F12 function that is set to automatically increase or decrease two notches. This seems to work well and adds to the operation of the loco. Seems like most of the railroading software is PC only...so I may be out of luck on that issue.
Randy,
did a bit of reading re: Lokprogrammer. That sure seems like the way to go in setting up and tweaking a decoder. Right now, the hang up is that I'm on Mac. Pretty sure this loco has the v4 Select. Was a factory install by Kato. Maybe i can budget in a laptop to use for this purpose in the future. I think these decoders sound great compared to my mrc equipped rigs.
I believe the Select decoders have notching already, it was the V4 that originally didn;t have it. I guess Loksound was figuring on the Select for North AMerican models and the V4 more for European models, although they made an extensive library of sound files available for the V4 with North American steam, diesel, adn other locos. B4's seemed to take off, because you cna change individual sounds and even alter the 'script' for what plays when. You can;t do that in a Select, with Select you cna only change out the entire sound set, but each sound set includes multiple horns and so forth, set with a CV (like QSI - or Soundtraxx, if you take away the ability to change the soudn sets). Select is the 'easy' one - if you are happy wih the sound program they onclude but want the correct prime mover and horn, Select will work just fine. If you want finer control over how the decoder works, then V4 is the better choice.
For the software, if you have a Mac, you migh want to see if the software will run under Parallels of Fusion. For the Lokprogrammer - if you cna borrow a Keyspan-made USB to serial adapter, and if that cna be recognized as a COM port in Windows under Parallels - the Loksound stuff should all work.
Unless you don;t have a more recent vintage Intel Mac, then all bets are off. But if Parallels or Fusion fail, there's always Bootcamp and installing Windows right ont he Mac hardware.