Two trhings to do. Check and see if you have that Function Refresh Enable option turned on. If it's on, try turning it off and see how it bahaves. Or if off, turn it on. And just make sure the last thing you do before shutting down is make sure you shut down the loco since per your previous messages if you shut the loco down then power off, when you turn it back on it stays off.
I don't know what BLI means when they say NCE sends and F9 when you select a loco. I don't know any system that does that, or why it would be doing such a thing. It should only do that if F9 is already on for that loco (or any other function - so if you left the lights on, they should come back on).
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
So I'm better off NOT powering down?
Gary
And this answers all. It is as designed.
When I programmed command packets for the lenz xpressnet they worked in a similar fashion. The Function packets are sent out to the track once power is restored. So if your last command was power down, I can see why it is coming on as powered down on power back up the booster.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Here is the NCE response to the BLI information;
One of the posts above talked about an NCE SoftStart module. NCE did not know anything about it. Turns out it is a "Turn On" module from Litchfield Station not NCE. It intended use is to control the power DRAW from multiple decoders on a layout. If anyone was looking for it go to the link below. PS Tam Valley also has one.
http://www.litchfieldstation.net/product/turnon-module-soft-start-circuit/
Get this ... after all this I sent the last few posts to BLI. Here is what I got from Tech Support;
That does sound correct if you are completely powering down your NCE station and then powering it back up.
The reason for this is that when the NCE system "boots up" it sends the F9 command to the loco. Here in the service bay we leave our NCE system powered up, and then use a toggle switch to feed power on/off to the rails.
If you have a setup that does not completely shutdown your NCE system then the loco would not startup everytime - alternatively you could shutdown the loco via F9 after each session, or remove the loco from the rails and then power up your NCE system and then place it on the rails.
You could also try re-mapping startup/shutdown from F9 to another function key that NCE might not send a command to upon boot up (I don't know what NCE sends at boot up and what it doesn't other than F9 - you would have to experiment).
Hope this helps.WHY didn't they say that in the first place?
That may just be how it works. I don;t have any to test with a different DCC system, but there also are some slight differences in the way various systems refresh function status when a loco is running. It seems that as long as the last thing you do is F9 to shut off the sound, it then stays off through the next power cycle, but then starts all over again. Also F8 is supposed to mute all sounds except the horn and bell, that might work as well.
Well that's a new thought. So basically i should F9 ON then F9 off each time I run the loco So that the last thing I do each time is power off?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
Can you reset the decoder to factory default on the main line (POM)?
Rich
Alton Junction
Guess I need to re-open the tender and check. Smoke unit off, and I re-plugged the connector.
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.
Ok so they sent the new decoder and I installed it. Put it on the program track and it says can't read CV.
I changed the topic BACK to "Problems with a BLI Decoder" because there is no problem with the NCE system.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
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?
Mike
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.
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
BLI is sending abnew decoder for the SD7. If that works they will replace the 2-8-2.
tstage Rich, The OP stated in the beginning sentence that both locomotives are Paragon 3s... Tom
Rich,
The OP stated in the beginning sentence that both locomotives are Paragon 3s...
Tom