I started a new thread on this as to not high jack Dan's question.
This is a continuation of Program Track Power Booster.
Randy, I am wondering if a had a bad Soundtraxx Decoder, As stated before I never had a problem programming with my DCS-51 on the program track until the Athearn SD-70Ace. The first two engines where from the first run. When I put the first engine on the layout I could not program anywhere, program or main. I took that engine back to LHS and it could not be programmed there either using the store's NCE system. The owner came right over took another unit off the shelf and returned the other one. Excellent customer service by the way. I still had trouble programming and just happened to run into the Soundtrax guy at the train show. He really didn't seem to want to listen and wanted to get rid of me so his solution was purchase the PB-100. I was thinking of doing this anyways because I could tinker with CV's while running trains. So Tony's Trains was at the show as well and had a good price.
I now have more of these engines from the second run and haven't tried those on the main. I'm going to check out all six of these Soundtrax equipped engines and report back.
I still like to hear more about people's problems programming with the DCS-51.
I'm mostly concerned witht he inability to program on the main. I only have one Tsunami, but it takes programming on the main with no problems.
Also not sure of what you mean by "tinker with CVs while running trains", in the context of getting a PTB-100. Or do you just mean so that you cna use the program track while running trains?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I meant the later use the program track while trains are running on the main.
It may be only one Tsunami out of 6 in may case. I'll have to try all of them one at a time on the main.
It may be that I have a decoder that is on the fritz.
and to further the discussion this quote from the other thread got my attention
Randy Rinker wrote "I'm starting to wonder if it's mass reads, or JMRI trying to read too fast, that causes some of these issues."
Now this does not solve the programming on the main, (that problem might be just 1 engine, I assumed that the other 5 would have the same trouble) but there was problems programming on the program track before the PB-100
I really Value your expertise Randy,
Regards, Derek
In theory I agree with that David, however if you follow the two threads the Tsunami won't program on the main. So I might have an issue with the decoder itself. Like I said I need to investigate this more.
I'd also like to run trains and programming at the same time, thus the need for a programming track.
Thanks Tyler. I'm tending to think along those lines as well that I have a bad processor.
I haven't had a chance to narrow this down further. This weekend I'll pull all my engines off the track and then see which of the SD70Ace's program on the main and which don't. I have a mix from the first and second runs.