Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Tsunami - Dead on Arrival

1778 views
23 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Tsunami - Dead on Arrival
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 8:25 AM

Athearn sent me a new TSU-GN1000 decoder to replace a faulty one.

I connected the four pickup wires and the two motor wires of my Genesis F3A to the decoder and put it on the Programming Track.  My system is an NCE PH-Pro 5 amp system.  I have a DCC Specialties Power Pax signal booster in line to read sound decoders.

It cannot read any CVs on this decoder, not even the Mfg ID or Version No., although its sister engine can be programmed on the Programming Track.

So, in desperation, I put the loco on the main layout and tried to run it on the short address of 3.  Nothing.

Just to experiment, I put the loco back on the Programming Track and selected #3 option, the Register to see if anything would happen.  I could hear some clicks, perhaps meaning the decoder is alive.

Any ideas?  

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 8:53 AM

My problem at the moment is that I can not get any response on the Programming Track or on the main layout.

I cannot address the loco by its short address let alone the long address.  

Since Athearn sent a new decoder, I would not expect a long address, but Soundtraxx supposedly sets all of it short addresses to 3 as the default, but the loco does not respond to 3.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Thursday, December 26, 2013 8:57 AM
Do you see any red LED light up on the board? That would mean the decoder is getting power. If you can't get a read back I would expect you will not be able to do a reset. Is this a decoder from Athearn or SoundTraxx?
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, December 26, 2013 9:03 AM

woodone
Do you see any red LED light up on the board? That would mean the decoder is getting power. If you can't get a read back I would expect you will not be able to do a reset. Is this a decoder from Athearn or SoundTraxx?
 

 
The OP said it is a Tsunami from Athearn, so it is a SoundTraxx.  Athearn does not make decoders.
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 9:27 AM

It is a Soundtraxx Tsunami made for Athearn Genesis locos, TSU-GN1000.

Athearn sent it to me to replace a faulty decoder. 

The Repair Department at Athearn keeps a supply on hand.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Thursday, December 26, 2013 9:32 AM

Yes, I know that Athearn does not make decoders. I was just wondeing if the decoder was just a spare part removed from a other locomotive. ( NOT NEW)?  SoundTraxx does do a QC check on all decoders before shipping out.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Thursday, December 26, 2013 9:48 AM

Rich,

On the Programming track, you don't need to address a unit. It doesn't care. Just go in and hit CV 30 with a value of 2 (I think that's right for a full reset, but check just to be sure.) After that, then just walk through the standard steps on the Programming Track to get it going (hopefully).

On my very first Tsunami install, I had the decoder board in and out multiple times. Just when I got it going Big Smile the darn thing went dead Embarrassed

Thought I burned it, so sent back to Soundtraxx to repair. Turned out I'd managed to pull one of the leads loose under the shrink wrap where I couldn't see it. They fixed it at N/C by soldering lead back on and returned. Nothing at all wrong with the decoder itself.

Yes, look for the red light showing through the shrink like woodone advised to determine if the decoder is getting power.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:11 AM

Mike, that worked.  CV30=2 on the Programming Track.

Now she runs and the sound works, haven't yet rewired the lights.

Weird, though, the Bell Button and Function 1 are supposed to ring the bell, but they operate the horn.

The Horn Button and Function 2 are supposed to blast the horn, but they operate the bell.

I reversed the two speaker wires but that made no difference.

I need to look into this.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:17 AM

Odd about the horn and bell after a reset.  I don't have that specific decoder, but the sounds and the keys that operate them can be re-arranged.  You will have to program a couple of CVs.  Check the instructions.

The speaker wires would not have any effect on this.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:43 AM

OK, here is the latest.

First, my apologies to David.  He mentioned the reset first, but I missed that reply.

Second, when I reset CV8=8, that got the decoder going but the horn and bell were reversed.  For some reason, Soundtraxx has two factory reset procedures, CV8=8 and CV30=2.  Anyway, I did CV30=2, and the horn and bell worked correctly.

It is only 10:45 in the morning, and I need a stiff drink.

Thanks to all who responded.  

Next up, I have to test the lights.

Rich

Edit Note:  The Tsunami manual says that CV30=2 is used to re-configure the decoder for non-NMRA compliant options, whatever that means.

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:43 AM

Rich,

Cool!Cool Always good when I can outsmart a decoder first thing in the morning. Doesn't always happen...

Mr. B is right, you want to "remap" the function keys, baiscally swap what each controls. I don't have any diesel Tsunamis, so can't tell you what page it's on, but look for chapter in the user's guide that says "function mapping" and it'll have a table that allows you to make an easy choice of what is assigned to each F key.

EDIT: OK, see you got it. Congrats! Too early for stiff drink, but how about a beer?Beer

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:48 AM

Thanks, Mike.  I was actually looking in the Soundtraxx manual at function mapping when I came across that CV30=2 command once again and decided to try it.  Since that did the trick, I was spared the task of re-mapping.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:51 AM

richhotrain
Edit Note: The Tsunami manual says that CV30=2 is used to re-configure the decoder for non-NMRA compliant options, whatever that means.

Rich,

That means it's used for all the non-mandatory CVs, the ones that aren't required by the NMRA as part of the basic decoder standard. For instance, like which F key the horn and bell are assigned to. That's why it fixed them, as their assignment is not defined by the NMRA DCC standard, they can be wherever the mfg decides to put them, although their location is now relatively standardized. It's just not a NMRA requirement that F1 = Bell and F2 = horn.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 26, 2013 8:58 PM

Thanks again, Mike.

This project ended the day better than it started.  I had begun to fear that the decoder that Athearn sent to me was defective.

I will say this.  The Tsunami decoder is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to programming the decoder.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Thursday, December 26, 2013 9:30 PM

Geeeeeez! I missed all the excitement. Glad to hear you got it working Rich, I'm sure you've been waiting for that replaement decoder.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Friday, December 27, 2013 12:23 AM

richhotrain

Thanks again, Mike.

This project ended the day better than it started.  I had begun to fear that the decoder that Athearn sent to me was defective.

I will say this.  The Tsunami decoder is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to programming the decoder.

Rich

 

Rich,

Glad to help. I sorta know my way around Tsunamis, at least the steam version, anyway.

And I'll take a Tsunami over a QSI any day for ease of programming.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, December 27, 2013 4:08 AM

Rich:

Glad to see that you solved the problem.

Personally, I will take a Locsound Select over either the diesel Tsunami or the QSI any day of the week!

By the way, I'll also join you for that drinkSmile, Wink & GrinLaughLaugh

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, December 27, 2013 4:38 AM

From what I am hearing about TCS, I will take a WOW over a Loksound Select over a Tsunami over a QSI any day of the week.   Laugh

Here we go, Dave.   BeerBeer

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Friday, December 27, 2013 9:34 AM

The WOW definitely has my narrowgauge buddies abuzz. One's a beta tester for TCS and several others are TCS dealers and they've really been talking it up the last six months. I suspect Soundtraxx is probably getting close to the next generation Tsunami, we'll have to wait and see. The next couple of years will help convert another bunch of sound/DCC holdouts, as I'm told the audio improvements are quite noticeable with the WOW -- and I'd expect no less with a next gen Tsunami.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Friday, December 27, 2013 11:50 AM

Why doesn't the TCS WOW decoders have diesel sounds available? Why only steam? Do they have plans for diesels?

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, December 27, 2013 12:31 PM

 They are planning to do diesel at some point. Started with steam, because they can show off more of the capabilities that way, like the chuff changing dynamically with load as measured through the BEMF.

 All I can say about Soundtraxx is that they better not have all the delays with the Tsunami replacement like they did with the Tsunami. WHen first announced, the features of the Tsunami outdid anyone else on the market, but after allt he delays, by the time you could buy one, they weren't really so super awesome compared to what others had. With all the delays, some of their rivals had gone threw 2 or 3 updates and improvements.

                 --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Friday, December 27, 2013 5:13 PM

Steam sound decoders are much simpler than diesels.  Consider the options available with steam as compared to a diesel - light, medium, heavy, articulated, and non-articulated steam.

Diesels, several dozen manufacturers and literally close to 50 different prime mover sounds, plus all the different air horns.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, December 27, 2013 7:29 PM

 Well,. yes and no - there are many whistle variations for steam locos, and while they generally haven't gone to the lengths of actual chuffs (mainly because, for many - where would you get the sounds? There's plenty of old first gen diesels around to record the prime movers from), and there are the near infinite combinations of appliances - injectors, air pumps, water pumps, stokers, pop valves, bells, generator(s). If there was a source for the sounds - in many cases I think steam moderlers more or less settle for something reasonably close except in certain instances where you could get an actual recording, like one of the Rio Grande narrow guage locos, or TCS has done several from the tourist railroads areound here like Strasburg and New Hope & Ivyland. Until UP gets the Big Boy up and running, the only sounds from those are from various movies filmed over the years. Many modeled locos were gone before there was quality sound recording.

 I guess because you CAN, the diesel guys go nuts when the sound is a 567A when it's supposed to be a 567C - dunno, without hearing the real thing, or at least through a high quality stereo system, I can;t tell the difference. Maybe not even then.

                --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!