I haven't got any specific experience with your GP-30 model, but I do have several Tsunami-equipped locos on my roster.
From your description, it sounds like F9 is configured to act as the "brake" function. F5 and F6 are typically used for either of a Tsunami's extra function outputs. In your case, I would presume that F6 is set up to control your number boards lights, while F5 is probably simply a spare and is not needed. If you wished to, you could likely remap another function to this key.
Your train brake function could be set to function more realistically by setting CV61 according to the Tsunami manual you linked to.
Hope this helps!
Though made by Soundtraxx,these factory installed decoders are not full featured Tsunamis like the ones you and I could buy from suppliers.They're stripped down versions that lack both functions and CV available settings.
They are batch purchased decoders paid for likely a fraction of what you and I would pay for the real thing.
Walthers call theirs "Soundtraxx DCC" while Bachmann have the "Sound Value" ones,not making too much waves letting modelers know that they're quite different from a true Tsunami,preferring to let buyers assume they are.
Hi, I would be grateful for info from anyone with experience of the P2K GP30 w/Tsunami functions. I recently bought P2K #920-41852 Chessie C&O #3007, and the function keys puzzled me. F5 and F6 are both described on the instructions as "varies with model". F6 turns the lights behind the number boards on and off, but F5 does not seem to do anything I can detect. That seems odd as every key is precious. F9 is even stranger. The Walthers instruction sheet says "Brake Squeal", but if pressed whilst the loco is in motion it simply stops, and will not move again until F9 is pressed again. To be clear, it does not stop the sound or anything else like emergency stop, and if you advance the throttle the motor notches up, but the loco does not move until you release it by pressing F9 again. I thought these might be errors on this decoder but I just bought its sister, #920-41853 C&O #3010 and it is the same. Unfortunately my controller (MRC Prodigy Advance 2) does not have a function to read back CVs, so I cannot tell you more. The instructions refer users to www.walthers.com/tsunami or www.soundtraxx.com for further info. These do not really cast a light, except that I gather that Walthers have moved the most popular functions to the F0 - F10 keys for the benefit of users who have a limited number of keys - the default Tsunami settings would use F0 - F12, with F5 & F6 as lighting functions, and F9 as Radiator Fans. My GP30s do not seem to have a key that operates radiator fans at all. I don't want to start re-programming things without understanding where I am starting from.
For comparison, I also have a Genesis ATHG62735 Chessie B&O GP9 #6507 w/Tsunami and on that the instructions describe F9 as "Squeal/Release" and it really does operate as squeal, on a toggle basis, i.e. when in motion press once and the squeal starts, press again and it stops. I use squeal as flange squeal when running through turnouts during switching, maybe not entirely prototypically because of the low speeds, but it is entertaining! So I am partly wondering if there is a general error in the mapping of the P2K Tsunami decoders and they were intended to behave like the Genesis ones, albeit the Genesis Tsunami has fuctions F0 - F12 allocated, not just F0 - F10.
BTW whilst these are beautuful models I rather regret the much thinner documentation than Walthers provided in the QSI days, and the lack of the table that the old Life-Like locos had listing which of the add-on detailing parts were appropriate for each RR and specific placement guidance for the detailing parts. I also miss the entertaining QSI F6 startup and F9 shut-down routines. I think the issue that led Walthers to drop the QSI decoders was fewer lighting functions, as several P2K diesels of that era had non-working cab roof beacons, but as the smaller nose-lights on the Chessie GP30 are dummies and there are no beacons that would not really matter. I also have an older P2K GP30 with QSI sound which is very entertaining for the reasons stated above.
I would be grateful for any advice,
Thanks,
Bill.