I have 2 (one brand new) BLI Paragon 3 locomotives. An SD-7 and 2-8-2 Mikado. As soon as I power up the NCE Power Pro w/Radio system both start up. I have communicated with BLI via emails and phone, BLI says the P2 locos lights come on and P3 nothing should happen until I start-up or initiate speed step 1. Yet that's not what happens.
The locos are on two separate power districts which does not seem to matter.
Any Ideas.
Gary
For starters, change the title to your thread from BLI Is Stumped to something like Problems with NCE Power Pro Radio Wireless. That will draw more immediate attention to your issue.
Then, edit your post. I am not sure that I fully understand your issue and whether BLI was involved in either examing your locos or simply advising you by phone or email.
Rich
Alton Junction
By start up do you mean lights and "idling" sounds, or they take off down the tracks?
Mike
Lights and start engin/idling sounds. No movement
gdelmoro I have 2 (one brand new) BLI Paragon 3 locomotives. An SD-7 and 2-8-2 Mikado. As soon as I power up the NCE Power Pro w/Radio system both start up. I have communicated with BLI via emails and phone, BLI says the P2 locos lights come on and P3 nothing should happen until I start-up or initiate speed step 1. Yet that's not what happens. The locos are on two separate power districts which does not seem to matter. Any Ideas.
P3 meaning Paragon 3?
Are both decoders Paragon 3?
Have you reset the decoders to factory default?
Rich,
The OP stated in the beginning sentence that both locomotives are Paragon 3s...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Ok I think I fixed it, but I don't know if it is supposed to work this way.
I had been using the F9 function to start-up and shut down the locomotives. When I was done operating I would bring the locos to speed step 0 and just shut the power supply. Everytime I turned on the power the two Paragonh 3 Locos would start up lights come on and Oh YEA the horn sounded too. I have a CV set to blow the horn when the loco starts and stops.
This time I made sure to select each loco and power it down using function 9. Then I shut the power supply. Ive tested three times so far and when I power up No sound no lights until I select the loco.
Is that supposed to work that way?
Disregard. Back to original problems. [Explicative removed]
In all likelihood, yes, if you don't shut the loco down, next time it powers on it will come back to whatever the previous state was. That behavior is usually configurable by some CV setting, but the main reason for returning to whatever hte previous state was is that if there is a power interruption whiel the loco is operating it goes back to running rather than goes through the whole startup sequence in an already moving train.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
tstage Rich, The OP stated in the beginning sentence that both locomotives are Paragon 3s... Tom
BLI is sending abnew decoder for the SD7. If that works they will replace the 2-8-2.
I have exactly the same problem with an MTH diesel loco. I also have an NCE wireless cab. F3 is supposed to be start up and shut down but the shutdown does not work. I have to use F8 to mute the sound. I would also be interested in possible solutions. Cheers P
Ok they (BLI) say Paragon 3's are not supposed to come on at all. No light either like the 2's do. For my SD7 they are sending me a new decoder because there are known problems with the early P3 decoders. For the 2-8-2 they want me to try a reset, so, that's the next step.
Interesting. My Paragon 2 locomotives don't act this way. If the sound is powered up and they go through a power interruption (like the gap in the split ring of the turntable), they don't sound off right away, rather waiting for a signal from the throttle to power up sound and move.
Good to see BLI is working with you on your issue. I have momentum issues with all 4 of my BLI locomotives (all Paragon 2) and the best I could get out of BLI was that they knew there was an issue and they would try not to let it get repeated in the Paragon 3 decoders. Makes me wish they still had the blueline loco's that were simply dcc ready.
My only other thought is if they could be called up on another active throttle? A wired cab06p maybe?
UPDATE
I have Reset the NCE Cab, Reset the Locomotive Decoders and I move the Speed Step to 0 and use Function 9 to shut down. Then I shut the power supply.
About 50% of the time it all works and no locos power up. The other 50% as soon as I turn on teh power the locos start with sound.
BLI is still working with me.
So, BLI sent a new decoder. Hopefully that fixes it.
ALSO, on one of David Pops Ask MRVP videos he uses CV 113 to resolve this very issue on a Sunami decoder. CV 113 on a BLI controls something called Proportional Gain. Is that the same thing?
Porkster F3 is supposed to be start up and shut down but the shutdown does not work.
On the DCS controller Function 6 is shutdown, I would try that.
gdelmoro So, BLI sent a new decoder. Hopefully that fixes it. ALSO, on one of David Pops Ask MRVP videos he uses CV 113 to resolve this very issue on a Sunami decoder. CV 113 on a BLI controls something called Proportional Gain. Is that the same thing?
No. The NMRA left that CV to be manufacturer designated.
See page 2 for the DCC CV specification. http://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/s-9.2.2_decoder_cvs_2012.07.pdf
Thanks BMMECNYC. Seems a good option to have. Guess they (BLI) did not include it because the sound is NOT supposed to start until speed step 1 or F9.
I changed the topic BACK to "Problems with a BLI Decoder" because there is no problem with the NCE system.
Ok so they sent the new decoder and I installed it. Put it on the program track and it says can't read CV.
Do you have all the wires hooked up properly, including the cable from the tender to the loco? And switch off the smoke unit with the slide switch.
Guess I need to re-open the tender and check. Smoke unit off, and I re-plugged the connector.
Can you reset the decoder to factory default on the main line (POM)?
The decoder is New from BLI. it's a replacement for the one that came with the new loco. I'm not sure I should put it on the main until I talk to BL. I'm going to open the tender and recheck the connections tomorrow.
All decoder and pin connector from tender to loco checked and tight. Same result. Put another loco on the programming track and the NCE System read the decoder fine.
Wqiting to hear from BLI
I received the P3 SD7 back from BLI today. if you refer to the original post it too came on with power. They sent me a new decoder and when I installed it there was no sound so they had me return it to the factory and they installed another decoder. When it came back it was damaged and they sent me a label to send it back and they repaired the damage. Got it back today. STILL comes on when power is applied to the tracks. None of the 4 Paragon 2's have this problem. Frustrating. Still waiting to hear about the P3 Mikado the one that has the new decoder that the system cant read.
Wait, you at one point said if you hit F9 before turning the power off, it worked three times. Then you basically deleted a post which said back to the original problem - do you mean the F9 shutdown worked 3 times and aftr that it went back to just automatically starting up without having to hit F9 first?
There are no CVs to control the startup, as described in the manual they should always start up silent and wake up if you hit F9 or else start moving. That's how it is supposed to wkr. ANd if powered off with the sounds on they will probbaly be on when poweing up, so you definitely need to shut it down first. The one they sent back that had no sound - did you try F9 to turn it on?
You are correct Randy. Prior to me sending it back to BLI after the new decoder the sent me did not work they installed another decoder and returned it to me. It arrived damaged so back it went and they repaired it. Just got it back today. It's behaving the same. when it came on I used F9 to shut down then waited a few minutes and powered up and it was silent. Tried again in a few minutes and it started up again.
So the sequence was:
Power on -> sounds started up -> F9, sounds go off -> power off -> power on, no sounds -> power off -> power on, sounds start up?
That is probably how it will work. If the last thing before power off was not F9 turning the sounds off, it will probably start the sounds on the next power up.
If you want a silent roundhouse or engine facility, best way is to switch the power off on the engine tracks until needed. Not only does that keep things quiet, it prevents things like picking the wrong address by accident and running a loco into the turntable pit.