The first DCC loco I bought was Bachmann's Spectrum 4-4-0. It ran fine with my new NCE system as I started work on a layout. I acquired a Walthers Proto 0-8-0 and a BLI Decapod and they worked fine, too. Finally I got up the nerve to try tweaking a few CVs, and suddenly the 4-4-0 wouldn't run--wouldn't do anything, in fact, except "pant," and I couldn't even reset it. (I have yet to hook up DecoderPro.)
I sent in the engine to Bachmann. They just called and nicely explained that it runs fine with their house brand DCC system and they're sending it back to me. The problem, they say, develops when you start to mess with speed controls on an NCE system. So I'm looking for a service bulletin or the like on how to deal with this. A Google search hasn't turned up much, so I'm asking here: is there a fix or a workaround for this, or should I just limit myself to factory settings on this loco from now on? I'm asking NCE, too, but sometimes this is faster.
Your problem has nothing to do with the NCE system, but is related directly to a messed up CV setting in the decoder. If this happens again, try a decoder factory reset, for which you do not need a programming track. My guess is that Bachmann performed a factory reset before they tried anything else.
Thanks for the fix. Can you be more specific about how to do the factory reset? The NCE manual says to set CV8 to 8 for Tsunami decoders (which Spectrum uses), but when I tried it before, there was no response.
You may not have recycled the power after resetting. See page 12 of http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/usersguide_diesel.pdf for the resetting procedure.
erosebudThe problem, they say, develops when you start to mess with speed controls on an NCE system.
Not true. I too have an NCE system and adjusted my Bachmann 2-6-0s speed settings and it works just fine. Try programming again when you get it back and see what you get.
Mike
erosebud .... The problem, they say, develops when you start to mess with speed controls on an NCE system. ....
....
The problem, they say, develops when you start to mess with speed controls on an NCE system.
I have the Bachmann with on board sound and Tsunami sound I have installed myself. CV8, enter 8, recycle power, works with my NCE Power Cab and the clubs NCE 5 amp Power Pro.
Bachmann website has the CV list for their on board non sound and Tsunamji decoders. A Bachmann rep in the forums has told users more than once, CV 8, enter 8.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Uhh, does "recycle power" mean anything other than "turn everything off and then back on"?
cacole Your problem has nothing to do with the NCE system, but is related directly to a messed up CV setting in the decoder. If this happens again, try a decoder factory reset, for which you do not need a programming track. My guess is that Bachmann performed a factory reset before they tried anything else.
Alton Junction
erosebud Uhh, does "recycle power" mean anything other than "turn everything off and then back on"?
Well, ten days and $65 (Bachmann's fee and postage) later, I opened the box, set the loco on the track, and it behaved exactly as before; i.e., it sits and responds to no other commands from my NCE ProCab. I tried programming CV8 to 8 on the program track and got "Cannot read CV" and trying it on the main got no response at all. (Yes, now that you've told me how, I recycle power in between all these attemmpts.) I'll call Bachmann, of course, but if you have further ideas or instructions, I'd be happy to hear them. The maddening thing is that it worked fine for months.
What address do you have programmed into the loco now?
If you did a reset, it may be at the default address, 3.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike, you're a genius! The reset did obviously put the address back to 3. I'm up and running again. Thanks for the help.
Good to hear
DCC can be complex and frustrating. It's often something simple that's the problem, though. I've seen some basic DCC troubleshooting flow charts somewhere before, but where escapes me now. Anyone recall, as those would be handy for reference in cases like this?