While testing a LV C420 at my LHS the owner and I both noted that the horn and bell sounds were way off on this unit. Are we alone or is there a problem?
Out of the box it sounds less like a horn and more like electronic noise. Additionally I would think that you shouldn't need to purchase proprietary software to correct a latent defect. Thanks
The sound you want is in the unit already, nothing more to buy, you just need to adjust it to your tastes.
The sound can be adjusted with CV settings, so many command stations that support a programming track can handle this. Sometimes you need a booster device with sound units, but the NCE Power Cab, for instance, has this capability already, as that is what I use. Most settings can even be adjusted on the main with Ops Mode programming, which is handy when adjusting sound as you get immediate feedback. I don't have the QSI programmer (maybe available for downlaod at QSI's website, though, David?) but I manage. Decoder Pro is another option to make these adjustments easier.
The QSI manual needs to be consulted and absorbed, though, if you don't have any of these above noted aids. It's somewhat complex, but worth doing if you want the best sound.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
prralcoAdditionally I would think that you shouldn't need to purchase proprietary software to correct a latent defect.
Do you have the volume turned up excessively? Is there something magnetic stuck to the speaker?
The programmer is not software. It is a hardware item. Its primary use would be if you wanted to download a new or different sound program to your decoder. It would probably make it easier to make changes to your existing decoder, but it is not necessary to have one to make those changes.
You can get a computer program called decoderpro free off the internet.
If you only want to make a change or two, that can be done with most DCC systems by reading the manual and changing a few CVs.
Perhaps if I had read the latest QSI manual I would have seen that by pressing the F11 key I could access an "alternative" horn sound, while not perfect, is 1000% better than the initial horn sound. Thanks for everyone's input.
Cool. You should be able to "remap" the Functions to move it to F2 or whichever F you prefer.