Mark,
Sorry, I should have given your their toll free number. It just slipped my mind.
For others you can find contact information here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/
I bit the bullet and called Soundtraxx (that'll be an expensive call in the middle of the day !). The service person there said the decoder is the same as I would purchase separately and that all four functions are available on the board whether Athearn uses them or not.
Pays to go to the source ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I would bet that SoundTraxx might be able to give you an answer.
Give them a call. You will have a good reliable answer. There number- 970-259-0690
Thanks guys, but I'm not looking for options.
I'll either get one with sound IF it supports four functions, or I will get one without sound and add my own Tsunami which I KNOW supports four functions.
Having it already installed saves a lot of time - which I would prefer. But I can't find any hard proof that the factory install is a full featured decoder or not.
I went through this with a factory installed QSI in a Proto 2000 engine. The factory engine only had front and rear lights, and even though the decoder physically had the extra function pins, they were not programmed to be active. I ended up having to flash the chip and re-install a completely new file that included the extra two functions I needed.
Knowing now, what I didn't know then, I don't want to have to go through that hassle again.
If the decoder doesn't support extra functions, there are two decoders offered by TCS that are Function Only types -- an FL2 and FL4, I believe Digitrax also has a Function Only decoder.
Alternatively, you could wire the ditch lights to the headlight and backup light functions as long as that doesn't exceed their current draw rating.
Many decoders sold to OEMs are stripped down versions (cost reduced, unneeded features removed) so it is possible that the OEM Tsunami lacks some features you want. Depends on what the buyer wants and is prepared to pay for.
Check the Soundtraxx website, there should be a manual for your specific decoder which would explain the features it has. If it lacks them, your choices are a new full feature Tsunami, or a second decoder. Off hand, I can't think of any, but there probably are decoders just for adding extra lighting effects out there. Someone else can probably enlighten us on that.
I have a couple of the athearn GP38-2's in BN and SP livery. Both have additional lighting effects operated by function six (beacon on the BN and flashing light on the SP). However, neither has any lights that I can find on function five so I believe you could wire ditch lights (non alternating) to the function five pad and common. Maybe one of the more expert DCC guys can verify that for you.
Marty C
Regarding the lastest release of Athearn's Genesis GP38-2 that comes with the factory installed Tsunami decoder. Would like to add front and rear ditch lights (non-alternating) and wondering if there are two open functions available on the decoder, or are they not configured to be functional like QSI has done in the past ?
Debating whether to go with the factory install, or would I need an "off the shelf" Tsunami to get the full functionality ?