SLI_Fallen So, it appears were going a bit off topic here. What I gather thus far is: A. Try to get JMRI to write a profile based on the cv's B. Select bachman sound value and likely be missing some functionality C. Select JMRI SD40 profile. I think at this point i'll go with "C" It's the closest choice I think as the SD40 profile is less than a year old. And I would bet the SD39 decoder is very similar, if not identical to the one used in the new tooling SD40. Not to mention the EMD "model" is only one digit difference, lol. I can certainly change it down the road if a specific profile comes out, but this looks to be the best bet for me to get the trains running now. Thanks.
So, it appears were going a bit off topic here.
What I gather thus far is:
A. Try to get JMRI to write a profile based on the cv's
B. Select bachman sound value and likely be missing some functionality
C. Select JMRI SD40 profile.
I think at this point i'll go with "C" It's the closest choice I think as the SD40 profile is less than a year old. And I would bet the SD39 decoder is very similar, if not identical to the one used in the new tooling SD40. Not to mention the EMD "model" is only one digit difference, lol.
I can certainly change it down the road if a specific profile comes out, but this looks to be the best bet for me to get the trains running now.
Thanks.
You're right, it is going off-topic. But to help move it back on:
I agree the Athearn RTR SD40 is probably your best bet. I typed my original reply before I was wide awake and to be honest, that thought never even occurred to me. But I'd have to think that even though the two locos have different prime mover sounds, the decoders in the RTR line are probably identical feature-wise.
faraway I am very happy with the Tsunami sound decoders. They tend to do a jump start out of the box but that can be cured very easy. The Bachmann "limited sound decoders" are just fine with me. The Loksound has a more serious problem. All kind of ESU decoders generate an exterem nasty humming noise with all not totally perfect drives at low speed. That and the fact that the sound starts with power up makes them virtually useless to me.
I am very happy with the Tsunami sound decoders. They tend to do a jump start out of the box but that can be cured very easy.
The Bachmann "limited sound decoders" are just fine with me.
The Loksound has a more serious problem. All kind of ESU decoders generate an exterem nasty humming noise with all not totally perfect drives at low speed. That and the fact that the sound starts with power up makes them virtually useless to me.
None of my Loksounds start up with the sound on, I have to hit F8 to turn them on when I power up.
Nor do I get a humming in the motors - but like most Eurpoean decoders they do have some suggested parameters for things like 3 pole pancake motors vs a 5 pole can motor. Lenz and CT have that, and in at least one of their manuals it lists some common makes of locos and suggested values (ie, Roco, Fleischman, Trix).
I was way more annoyed that the Tsunami didn;t start up until speed step 1 which usually means my locos are moving, or even if not, the startup sequence is still playing after it does move if I don't hold at step 1 until it completes. The F8 start on Loksound means I can run my locos silently if I want to. And no one can say with a straight face that the horns on Tsunami are actually good - evidenced in a recent Cody's Office where he had two of the same loco, one an MTH and one a Athearn with Tsunami and ran them back to back. It's just completely backwards no matter how much you adjust the mixer and equalizer - trackside or just hearing the trains go by 5 blocks from my house, the horn is WAY louder than any other sound the train makes.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Reinhard
With Intermountain, Atlas, and Bowser eating their lunch by including a full ESU Loksound, not a reduced feature version, I guess they had to do something. Hopefully they will also ditch the awful light bulbs and switch to LEDs like everyone else, even Bachmann, has done.
The Sound Value decoder is a SoundTraxx OEM Bachmann decoder. The Sound Value does not use the same technology as a Tsunami. In short, it is a misnomer to refer to a Sound Value as a Tsunami.
The decoder in the Athearn RTR is in the same SoundTraxx Product Family thus CV 7 = 82 as the Bachmann Sound Value but has a different Feature set.
The latest Athearn RTRs ads promote they will contain a SoundTraxx OEM Athearn Econami decoder.
RR Baron
The beefs I've read about all the Tsunami 1 based decoders is that folks aren't happy with the motor control. For that reason I've largely stuck with buying my Athearn diesels DCC ready and that way I can choose the decoder. For non-sound the TCS are quite good.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
One of my pet peeves with the Bachmann Sound Value Tsunami I got in my 2-6-0 was the inability to turn off the auto sounds on track power up. So every time I turned on the layout just this one loco would start making noise. I got tired of selecting loco #39 and hitting F8 to quiet it. Solved the problem by installing a LokSound Select.
I don't know if they continue that setup in the latest Sound Values or how the Atheran RTRs are set up. My Athearn Genesis GP9 and 3 Genesis steamers have normal Tsunamis, with the capability to turn off automatic noise on power up.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I had the same experience with my Athearn RTR SD40 with sound.
Even if it is a different decoder than the bachmann Sound Value, Soundtraxx/Athearn did not change the Mfr. ID or firmware version number, which is what JMRI uses to identify it. So, my Athearn SD40 was identified as a Bachmann by JMRI.
In my case, I asked about it on the JMRI list, and one of the guys who does a lot of decoder definitions said he'd build one if I sent him a list of the CV's (which I did). So now there's a definition for the Athearn RTR SD40 in JMRI.
You could go the same route, or you could use one of either a Bachmann Sound Value or even a Tsunami decoder definition, knowing it woun't be exactly right.
(As an aside, that's why I ALWAYS ask my JMRI technical questions on the JMRI Yahoo group - The developers who write the code hang out there, so you can always get an authoritative answer, and if something needs to be fixed/added/deleted in the code, you've got the attention of the folks who can actually do that.)
Just picked up a couple of Athearn RTR SD39's. These are my first Athearns with the sound already installed. I'm trying to set them up/create roster entries using JMRI and I am not sure what decoder I should select (there are at least 4 diesel tsunami's in the list)
I read elsewhere that they are specially built for Athearn by Soundtraxx, but that they are the same (essentally) as "Bachmann sound value" Tsunami's (which is one of the available selections if you let JMRI try to "discover" the board type)
Sure, Athearns web site gives you all the cv's and info for programming them, but there is not a word on what DECODER name/type your supposed to select (like in JMRI) in the first place!