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Tsunami Soundtraxx decoder WON'T program OR run. Please Help.

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Posted by GEORGE C CHRISTY on Friday, August 10, 2018 2:33 PM

Thanks very much! Soundtraxx's reset instructions did not work after

many attempts. Yours worked the first time!

Soundtraxx should modify their instructions.

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 2:02 PM

selector

Place only that one loco on your main track.

Dial in address "00" on your active throttle.

Enter 'programming on the main' mode, or what is called Ops Mode programming on that throttle.

Edit CV8 to have a value of '8', and hit enter...or complete the reset by entering that value.

SHUT OFF TRACK POWER!

Re-power the tracks, and acquire address '03'.  Try blowing the horn.

Your loco will work on that address if you have not inadvertently locked the decoder.   

What lock function?  Wow, I researched this issue and solved my problem. I started a new thread to explain what I did.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/261435.aspx

Rich

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 1:34 PM

 Test the loco on DC - it would be really great if you could disconnect the motor wires fromt he decoder and just power the motor directly. See if it runs normally or runs in slow motion - you could have a mechanical problem, or badly congealed grease rather than a decoder problem. I have no Genesis locos but I can;t iamgine the factory grease is all that different from what P2K locos and Bachmann locos have - and some of my P2K locos have been in boxes for years and they will never run right until I completely clear out all the old grease and repalce it with some quality stuff.

 Decoder reset would have cleared any oddball speed tables or any 'switching mode' option that would run the loco had half speed. So if it works fine with DC power but won't run on DCC, I'd suspect a faulty decoder.

                    --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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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 1:32 PM

richhotrain
I had not run this consist in months, but last night I fired up the consist and started backing out of the station.

First question is if you have browsed your consists to make sure that the loco in question does not appear in some other consist.

Second question is how do you know that a mechanical problem of some sort has not happened.  Can you unplug the Tsunami and just plug in a motor only decoder and see what happens?

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 10:06 AM

Thanks, Rich.  Here's the sequence you want to follow:

  1. Pull out and load your 12-gauge
  2. Shoot the Tsunami - without hitting your locomotives
  3. Install a Loksound Select in it's place
  4. Never look back...

That will fix your stubborn Soundtraxx issue. Angel

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 8:54 AM

tstage

Rich,

Is there a brake feature that is somehow only being applied to the A-unit?  Another thought is that momentum is at full-intensity on the A-unit and not the B-unit.

Perhaps try a complete reset of the A-unit and see what happens...

Tom

 

Tom, I have tried everything.  The resets are part of the "blast mode" feature, and I have done that.  Curiously, the Tsunami decoders reset to factory default with both CV8=8 and CV30=2, so I have tried both resets.  You also have to power off and then power back on to effect the reset, and I have done that as well.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 8:48 AM

Rich,

Is there a brake feature that is somehow only being applied to the A-unit?  Another thought is that momentum is at full-intensity on the A-unit and not the B-unit.

Perhaps try a complete reset of the A-unit and see what happens...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 8:15 AM

Sorry to revive an old thread. 

It is normally against my religion, LOL, but I had high hopes that the solution offered in this thread would solve my problem. It didn't.

Here is my problem. 

I operate with an NCE Power Pro 5 amp system.  I have a pair of Athearn Genesis F3 units, an AB consist, with factory installed Tsunami sound decoders.

I had not run this consist in months, but last night I fired up the consist and started backing out of the station. At first, all went well, but within a few seconds, the consist stopped. I realized that the B unit was operating properly, but the A unit was moving slowly, effectively bringing the consist to a halt.

So, I killed the consist and tried to run each loco independently of the other. The B unit performed fine, but the A unit had issues. I no longer had lights or horn or bell although the prime mover still made sounds.  

The A unit ran very slow even when I applied full speed (28 speed steps), and it would not stop on command or go into reverse.  However, left running, it eventually responded to the stop or reverse direction commands. If I lifted one side of the wheelsets off the rail and put the wheelset back on the rail, the loco would respond to the command immediately, but still run in slow motion. Still no lights, horn, or bell.

At that point, I came upstairs and found this thread on the forum. So, this morning, I removed all other locos from the layout and followed the blast mode procedure that Crandell offered up earlier in this thread.  That got the lights, horn and bell to respond, but the loco still ran in slow motion and failed to immediately respond to speed commands, stop commands and reverse direction commands.

I have tried this procedure several times. On a few occasions, I have been able to get the loco to run properly for a few seconds but then it reverts to slow motion and I lose the lights, horn, and bell.

Any suggestions other than taking a sledge hammer to it?

Rich

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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, October 8, 2016 1:54 PM

 The main issue is that when you program a 4 digit address, the Zephyr calculates CV29 for you, but it then sends it out too fast for many decoders to respond. I never had a problem after I added a DT400 throttle to my system and used that to program - the DT400 prompts you to confirm setting a 2 or 4 digit address and doesn;t send CV29 until you answer Yes to the prompt.

 You generally cannot change from one short address to another, or one long address to another, using Ops Mode. So if the decoder has reset and is controllable as address 3, the way around the whole CV29 thing is to use one of the many calculators available online or in the Digitrax Toolbox app they have for iOS and Android, and calculate some values for CV17, 18, and 29. Using Ops Mode with 3 selected, set CV17, then 18, and finally 29 to the values calculated. You should now lose control of the loco - select the long address you just programmed in and it should work. Now program the desired short address into CV1, and use the calculator to determine the proper value for CV29 and program that. Again, you should lose control of the loco. Select the new short address and you should be good to go.

 Once upon a time this was how it always was, systems didn't calculate CV17, 18, and 29 for you. And even further back, there WERE no long addresses so there was little need to ever change CV29, just plug the address you wanted into CV1.

                         --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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Posted by Scale Hogger on Saturday, October 8, 2016 12:36 PM

I've been in touch with Soundtraxx about the problem: "You will need to change to a long address and then back to a short (e.g. change to address 1000, then change to 44). You cannot change from a short address to a short address when programming on the main, this is a safety feature. You should be able to change from 3 to 44 on the program track, but that would require a PTB-100. Please feel free to contact us at the number below for further assistance, we are happy to help."

I still can't change the address from 03 to anything else (2- or 4-digit) -- whether on the main with OPS or on the programming track with DIR. Interesting thing: when I first got this loco I WAS easily able to change the address from 03 to 44 on the main, using my Digitrax Zephyr Xtra (DCS51).

I've also tried changing CV29's values per the posts I've found in this thread.

As my bro-in-law says, "Patience, Grasshopper." Good advice, as is my calling Soundtraxx next week.

Final thought: I hope you're not in part of SC being pounded by Hurricane Matthew.

JHF

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Posted by Balevre on Thursday, October 6, 2016 11:15 AM

My apologies, I should have read more thorough.

With that problem, I had to use a different DCC cab. For some reason, the decoder would not take any response in OPS mod, and my programming track wouldn't work to program even with the PTB.

This is why I had to use a differnet cab all together. Perhaps, if you can, try and use a different cab in programming mode to see if it will change. Eventualy, I am going ot invest in the equipment to edit my CVs on the computer.

Hope this little bit will help some. I had this problem with several Locos and the 00 reset did the trick. However, I had two instances where I couldn't change the address after reset (one with a Spectrum 44-ton switcher, without sound and the 4-4-0 with sound in reference), and in both instances I had to use a different cab to change the address. It is worth metioning that I have only had serious decoder issues with Bachman locos, despite the decoder being Tsunami.

Please let me know if you get a fix or have any other questions, I would love to get to the bottoms of the issue!

Brandon

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Posted by JoeinPA on Thursday, October 6, 2016 9:55 AM

Are you trying to set a 2 digit or 4 digit addres for your loco? If it is a 4 digit address the Zephyr has trouble reliably setting CV 29 to recognize the address and you won't get a responsonse on that address but will on address 3. I have found that the best way to handle this is to set CV 17 , 18 and then 29 while in the programming on the main mode. You can get the values from this handy CV calculator from Digitrax: http://www.digitrax.com/support/cv/calculators/ . THis calculator is also available as the Digitrax Toolbox app for your cellphone. Hope this helps.

Joe

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Posted by Scale Hogger on Thursday, October 6, 2016 8:21 AM
Hi, Brandon! So glad to hear back from you!
 
I didn't write clearly. I used the 00 trick and got the Bachmann 4-4-0 to reset the address to 03. I just can't get it to go from there to the number I really want. That's the problem you wrote about and I'm having now. I looked to the end of the thread and didn't spot a solution to it.
 
BTW, I'm using a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra (DCS51) to do all the programming. That's the one and only command station I have.
 
When you get a chance, any further light you can shed will be much appreciated.

J. Harry Feldman
Wilmington, DE
- - - - -
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Posted by Balevre on Thursday, October 6, 2016 7:53 AM

Good morning,

I am still here. Thank God for email notification! What fixed the problem for me was using Selectors advice of using 00 to reset and then cycling the power. Regarding he issue I had with the 4-4-0, I did the 00 trick, but then for some reason I had to use a different DCC cab to change the address. I believe after all of the issues I had that the programming track connector on my cab does not work. 

Below are what worked for me.

I would have have direct quotes the following but on my mobile device it will not let me.

"Dial in address "00" on your active throttle.

Enter 'programming on the main' mode, or what is called Ops Mode programming on that throttle.

Edit CV8 to have a value of '8', and hit enter...or complete the reset by entering that value.

SHUT OFF TRACK POWER!

Re-power the tracks, and acquire address '03'.  Try blowing the horn.

Your loco will work on that address if you have not inadvertently locked the decoder.  Most of these steps have been suggested, just not the adress '00'.  I have placed them in a convenient list for you.

Crandell  "

 

Brandon

 

 

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Posted by Scale Hogger on Thursday, October 6, 2016 7:25 AM

Brandon -- if you're still there --

Did you get a solution to not being able to change the address after using 00 to get it back to 03? I'm having this problem with my 4-4-0 w/ Tsunami. i didn't see a response to your paragraph with that issue.

Did I overlook something?

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Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, January 22, 2016 10:51 AM

According to NMRA standard 00 is broadcast to all trains...

So if a decoder sees this it responds as if it was directly addressed.  (Short or long)  This is great when you muck up CV1, CV17, CV18, CV19, or CV29 and don't want to transfer it back to a program track.  The only disadvantage is all your other trains have to be OFF the track.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, January 22, 2016 6:22 AM

Mark R.

Anyone notice this thread was created in 2012 ? .... then dredged back up in 2013, again in 2014 and finally again in 2016 ?

Mark.

 

Oh my.  I absolutely detest revived threads, but I missed this one when I made my reply.  LOL

I guess that the subject of the thread so interested me that I did not notice the older start date.

Oh well, at least I wasn't the one who revived the thread.

Rich

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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, January 21, 2016 8:06 PM

 Shows how long Tsunami decoders have gone on without update or replacement Devil

                   --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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Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, January 21, 2016 7:30 PM

Anyone notice this thread was created in 2012 ? .... then dredged back up in 2013, again in 2014 and finally again in 2016 ?

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 7:07 AM

 Ops mode programming only goes to the selected address. Which is fine if your decoder is configured to respond to address 3. But address 00, in addition to being the way to run a DC loco with Digitrax, is also a DCC broadcast address which per the RPs every decoder is supposed to respond to. So if you send Ops Mode programming commands to address 00, it's like the whole layout is the program track and all locos should respond. So if you have one you can;t read with a readback program track and have no idea what address it is set for, remove all other locos and use Ops Mode to address 00 and the unknown decoder should take the reset, as long as it has one and you are using the approriate reset for the decoder brand.

                             --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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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 4:23 AM

selector

To follow up on jacktal's advice about CV29, the two most typical values you SHOULD see in that decoder is a value of either 38 or 34.  All modern decoders are 'dual mode', meaning they should sense and switch to working on the type of power to the track, whether DCC or straight DC.  However, they will only do their own adaptation automatically if you have the correct value, and that is 38.  If you know you'll only ever use your locomotive on a DCC system, and want to prevent the surprising and inadvertent runaway locomotive that jumps off the layout (yes, it has been reported here several times), you must preclude the decoder from switching on its own.  In that case, use a value of 34 in your decoder.  With a value of 34 in CV29, your decoder will only obey signals and track power on strictly DCC-powered rails.

Crandell

For those forum members following this thread, but who are unfamiliar with the structure of CV29, CV29 is a multi-function CV. 

Every CV contains 8 bits (0 through 7), and each bit doubles in value from 1 in bit 0 to 128 in bit 7. If no bits are turned on in CV29, the total value is zero. If all 8 bits are turned on in CV29, the total value is 255.

Typically, however, only 4 of the 8 bits are utilized in CV29.

~ The long address is controlled in CV29 by turning on bit 5, a value of 32.

~ DC operation is permitted in CV29 by turning on bit 2, a value of 4.

~ 28/128 speed steps are activated in CV29 by turning on bit 1, a value of 2.

~ Reverse direction is the normal direction in CV29 by turning on bit 0, a value of 1.

~ Forward direction is the normal direction in CV29 by turning off bit 0, a value of 0.

When Crandell mentions a value of 34 in CV29, that means a long address is activated (32) and 28/128 speed steps are utilized (2) for a total value of 34.

When Crandell mentions a value of 38 in CV29, that means that DC operation is also permitted (4) for a total value of 38.

Rich

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 3:49 AM

selector

Place only that one loco on your main track.

Dial in address "00" on your active throttle.

Enter 'programming on the main' mode, or what is called Ops Mode programming on that throttle.

Edit CV8 to have a value of '8', and hit enter...or complete the reset by entering that value.

SHUT OFF TRACK POWER!

Re-power the tracks, and acquire address '03'.  Try blowing the horn.

Your loco will work on that address if you have not inadvertently locked the decoder.  Most of these steps have been suggested, just not the adress '00'.  I have placed them in a convenient list for you.

Crandell  

Crandell, I have never had to resort to seeting the address of a balky decoder to 00, but I am curious.  Why does the reset work on 00 and not on 03? Or is 00 used when you simply cannot recall the long or short address?

Rich

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Posted by duanestrains on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 1:41 AM

Selector, you are a legend, I had the same issue as the OP, could not get a dcc reset on a Tsunami sound decoder, saw you post and it did the trick. Funny thing is that when i selected 00 for the troublesome decoder and tried the horn every other horn blew on every other loco fitted with a Tsunami decoder.

thanks again

Duane

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Posted by cadman11 on Saturday, February 22, 2014 9:32 PM

Balevre

I am have an extremely irritating problem and need some advice from much experienced DCC programmers:

I have a Tsunami Soundtraxx decoder in an Athearn SD70MAC Alaska loco. I bought the loco in used-like new condition. It ran perfectly out of the box on with my MRC Prodigy Express DCC controller. However, I began to read in the manual about adjusting speed curves to speed match and ended up editing CV 29 to 18 then to 6 to allow for this adjustment and crashed my decoder ( So it feels.) The loco will NO LONGER respond to any command under any address I have given it whether 2 digit or 4 digit, BUT upon placing the loco on the powered MAIN line, the loco starts up and goes to idle. But I can not turn the lights on, move the loco, or sound the horn. 

So, I figured I needed to reset the decoder. I then went to place the loco on the program track and attempted to reset the decoder, and the loco did nothing and did not respond to the programming... I then read about needing a Program track booster. I purchased one and hooked it up to the command station and attempted to program the loco and the loco STILL did not accept the program command and still is not working with the command station. I tried to use some computer software to edit/read my CVs and could not figure out how to make the software and my DCC controller work. So my question is, can ANYONE help me? What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have ANY suggestions? Any and I mean any advice is welcomed with open arms.

I am not quite a newcomer to DCC but I am not quite advanced. I am in desperate need of help.

Thanks to anyone who replies!

Brandon (Gov. William JLePetomaine)

 

Uusing the program track and the MRC Prodigy set loco address to 00. After that it should come back to life and you can reset the address or do a reset 08=08. This happened to me not long ago and someone on another forum suggested this trick and it worked.

Thom Owen
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Posted by cjcrescent on Saturday, February 22, 2014 4:04 AM

ba&prr

I agree. Althjough I use a Digitrax PR3, a PTB-100 and Decoder Pro. Makes every thing EASY!!!!   Joe 

 

 

Me too! I don't even have to turn on the layout when using JMRI to program with.

Carey

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Posted by Don Rhoten on Friday, February 21, 2014 1:59 PM

Don Rhoten

Accidentally tipped my Soundtraxx tsunami while the decoder was running through the start-up sequence. Now it's dead as a door nail (works on straight DC). I can use a friend's PTB - 100 with a Zephyr DCS - 50, but need help with the wiring and setup. thank you! 

P.S.  I am NOT Don Rhoten! I'm  Herb. Apparenty, I can't use an iPad either.t
Don Rhoten

Accidentally tipped my Soundtraxx tsunami while the decoder was running through the start-up sequence. Now it's dead as a door nail (works on straight DC). I can use a friend's PTB - 100 with a Zephyr DCS - 50, but need help with the wiring and setup. thank you!

 

 

can't use an iPad either! I'm NOT Don Rhoten . . . My name is Herb

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Posted by JoeinPA on Friday, February 21, 2014 1:57 PM

Don:

This link shows the connection diagram for the PTB 100. I use one with a DCS 50 and it works very well.  http://www.soundtraxx.com/access/PTB-100%20Instructions.pdf

Joe

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Posted by Don Rhoten on Friday, February 21, 2014 1:42 PM

Accidentally tipped my Soundtraxx tsunami while the decoder was running through the start-up sequence. Now it's dead as a door nail (works on straight DC). I can use a friend's PTB - 100 with a Zephyr DCS - 50, but need help with the wiring and setup. thank you!

 

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Posted by Truck on Sunday, August 4, 2013 10:29 AM

Richard is right get a PTB 100 from Soundtrax  It will save you a lot of frustrations in the future.  Other wise do all your programming on the main, but when your done turn off power or tip loco so that one side of the wheels isn't contacting the track. If you don't the soundtrax decoder will not accept the programming.

                                                                           Truck

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