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Sound Decoder Mainline Programming Question

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  • Member since
    December 2008
  • 182 posts
Sound Decoder Mainline Programming Question
Posted by willjayna on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 10:45 AM

Hey guys,

I have 2 sound engines, 1 is a BLI AC6000 w/ Paragon 2 sound and the other is a Intermountain Gevo with Tsunami sound. Both are HO Scale and I am using a DCS51 digitrax Zephyr system. I am having trouble programming these 2 engines on my programming track and I have read that I need a resistor on that track to program sound decoders. So the first question is how and where do I install the resistor on the program track and the second question is about programming on my mainline. Is it easier to just program on the mainline and skip the program track all together and would I still need a resistor in order to program on the mainline.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Will

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Trois-Rivieres Quebec Canada
  • 1,063 posts
Posted by jalajoie on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 11:28 AM

Resistors are for low resistance Lenz decoders, what you need is a programming track booster such as the Power Pax or the Soundtraxx one. However with your Zephyr, using the blast mode, there is no need for any attachements to program sound decoders. At least this is the case with my first generation Zephyr DCS50 

Jack W.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,847 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 11:49 AM

  The 'problem' is not the Zephyr - It's the current hungry sound decoders overloading the programming track output.  You can try the resistor thing across the tracks, but it is 'hit & miss'.

  The Zephyr has a 'Blast Mode' internal CV that you can use to send all programming commands to the mainline(just make sure there are no other engines on the main - They will all get programmed!)  To enable this, plug a throttle into the Zephyr and in program mode, set CV7 to 'closed'.  I have a Zephyr on my workbench and use it for programming/testing.  I have been able to set addresses(the hard part) on various sound decoders with no problem when doing this.  Just make sure that you set CV7 back to 'thrown' when you are done.

  If you are using JMRI Decoder Pro, this is quite simple.  Just click on the 'LocoNet' tab, then  'Configure Command Station' and the CV's are presented to you!

Note - 'Blast Mode' is available on both the Zephyr and the Zephyr Xtra systems

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: South Carolina
  • 1,719 posts
Posted by Train Modeler on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 1:24 PM

Programming on the main can work too,  you  may want to get other locos off of the track section that is powered at the time you program on the main--at least that's my opinion for various reasons. 

Richard

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