i have a mth ho scale sd70-2.... had it in storage for a couple of years
put it on the track.... press func 3.... sound on.... horn.. bell..brakes.. voices etc all work...... no engine sound... mth booklet shows func 18 turns diesel engine sound on/ off.... use digitrax... no function higher than 12.... any ideas how to get the engine sound working..... thanks peter
Unless MTH allows the feature most call "function mapping", or rearranging what funtion number controls what on the locomotive, and I am no sure if they do, you may need to go with a throttle upgrade, or add in computer interface for JMRI. JMRI is a Java based program that helps with programming, but also comes with a built-in throttle, which, iirc, does go above 12 functions. Someone will jump in if I'm wrong at this. (I will also fire up my computer I use on my layout later to check if no one else beats me to it.....)
I also use Digitrax, and finally got tired of remapping functions, so I upgraded my throttle to the 402. Much easier with sound equipped now....
I am not familiar with MTH functions and programming compatibility, so that would be where I would start looking. Maybe something in their manual about this.......
Next cheapest would be upgrading you throttle, unless it's just a Zephyr, then it would go in order of my suggestion, Remapping (free!), JMRI (Program free, interface to connect layout to computer is not, I would suggest LocoBuffer II.), then upgrade system/throttle to be capable of running sound loco's over function 12.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
thanks for the info...... i use dt400 throttle..... i have had a dozen mth diesel locos on display...... special paint jobs.... decided to put piggy back decoders in them and fine tune the speeds..... i converted approx 8 locos all ok..... prior to conversion i test ran the locos.... one loco no horn when func 12 pressed..... ok i can live with that.......... however ..... loco 4141 does not have engine sound.... all other sounds except theengine sound... booklet ( verrrry basic ) that comes with loco shows func 18 turns engine sound on / off.... would jmri allow func 18 to be switched on.... dont need to change my dt 400 it functions ok..... have over 70 sound locos .... its just the mth locos that are very dificult to use / prog....
Yes, a JMRI throttle will access all functions. Wierd they use F18, my MTH FA uses F4 to turn the sounds on and off. That's the way it came. Function remapping - not sure they even support that.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
hello randy....... func 4 is the pfa sounds..... these are the drivers talking to the dispatcher...... func 3 is the sound start up / stop........ func 18 is engine ( only ) sound on / off.... its func 18 that i believe is the problem.... all other sound work fine......cannot find anything in my digitrax booklet or on web on how to change func 18 with dt400
You cannot, a DT400 only goes F0-F12. A DT402 (and you cna have the 400 upgraded to a 402 for a modest cost) goes all the way to F29.
My MTH FA has all that silly stuff on the high functions, the actual useful stuff is all within the first 12 functions. Guess they changed things around.
Hmm, the manual says the startup/shutdown is a double press of F3, and F18 is just to play an extended shutdown, so that the prime mover shuts down and then the crew chats about something as they climb off the engine. Usually when they talk about a 'double press" of a function, this really means you have to hit the F3 button FOUR times - on-off, on-off for the 'two' presses
thanks randy....... these mth locos are very strange creatures..... nothing matches any other dcc / loco.....however i dooooo like the func 12.... grade crossing sound....... i bought them because they looked good.... never liked the running... thats why they were on display.... if i cannot get it working i will replace with another sound decoder......nearest train shop to me is 12 hours drive ( in australia ).... so dont get much help.... thats why i asked on the forum
You CAN remap the functions, it's not the clearest set of instructions but at the end of the DCC section it expalins the 'function numbers' which are the internal sounds and what CV references what actual function button. FOr example, I think function 24 is the engine startup. That's internal decoder function, not F24 on the throttle. SO 24 would be the value to put in the CV that controls what happens when say F4 is pressed, and that would make F4 the startup instead of F18.
If you have JMRI set up and connected to your system - use that, much easier.
hello randy... which instructions are you talking about...... is it the booklet or on the web..... looking at page 19 of the booklet.... lists cv numbers / functions....
tried reset again ....no good.... also tried sound on ad 2 = 3 also add4 = 3333 still no engine sound,,,,,,,,, HOWEVER... i did find func 12....crossing horn..... its on function 11.... not 12 as it should be........ i suspect my loco may be a loco returned to the shop after someone has tried to change things.... and they passed it onto me
i just tested a KCS loco.... put a digitrax dh123 into it..... now perfect running.... only took 5 - 10 mins........... wish i could get the george bush loco running...it looks so nice............... peter
Yeah I'm referring to the instructions I downloaded. That's about the right page, it shows F3 as the startup/shutdown, F4 as the PFA, F11 as the grade crossing horn, etc.
The instructions I'm looking at show F11 as grade crossing, F12 is for smoke on/off. They list F25 as engine sounds on/off - maybe that's what got messed up, if you get horn and bell but no prime mover. Again, if you have JMRI connected, a JMRI throttle will access all functions. Once it's turned on, unless you should use a JMRI throttle and trigger F25, it should never turn off again.
Did the reset actually work? You could try it again. CV8=8 for a full factory reset. Try doing it on the main (make sure you have no other loco with that address on the track) and then select Po, and set CV8=8.
To move that F25 Engine Sounds to F4, and replace the PFA - set CV122 to 8. This will make the F4 button do what F25 did - which according to the manual is turn the prime mover sounds on and off.
mth is not cv8 to val 8........... for some crazy reason must make loco be number 55...... then cv55 to val 55.....its a crazy way of doing things..... because then the loco number is 3.... and this must then be put back to ad4 .... loco number4141..... in the instructions it even says do not have a loco with number 55.....
i will put this loco away ..... back in the display cabinet until i work it out...... the last loco i did only took 10 mins to put a decoder in and set the speeds.... cv 2..3..4..5..6 thanks for your help..... i will down load the jmri when i get back from thailand..... thanks peter
That's not what the manual I was reading says - CV55 to 55 to address 55 in Ops Mode is to reset the address only. It is the same as setting CV8=128. The other values for CV8 are other resets to reset the volumes, and the complete loco. The CV55 thing won;t reset the entire thing, according to the instructions.
This is what I have been reading:
mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/download/instruction/80dl15194i.pdf
RANDY.........thanks for the link...... i have a booklet in my hand...... it is different to the link...... from page 10 onwards the pages are not the same...... example the f11 is grade crossing on my loco and download.... f11 in my booklet is coupler slack...... there is also no reference to smoke....... and the only reset in my booklet is cv55......................... i will check the download and follow what it says......
just noticed...... the booklet i have is 2009....... the one in the pdf is 2011.....my booklet does not show any of the cv's....... also the speed vurves are not shown..... thanks peter
Well, they did update them, and add some features. Could be that yours is the older one. Still, trying some of those other resets can't hurt. They might have been in there but not documented. They can be updated, but you need someone with a DCS system to do it.
Putting in a normal DCC sound decoder that actually works is probably still the best course of action.