OK, another thread prompted me to attempt to fix my BLI sound problems:
First let me begin by saying I use the MRC Tech 6 (Sound Controller 2.0) to operate dual mode sound and dcc equipped locomotives along with plain jane good ole' DC brass steamers (of course not at the same time--but one or the other). It should be pointed out that BLI wants you to use their proprietary DC Master for operating anything sound equipped in plain DC mode.
So, I cleaned the track and cleaned the engine and tender wheels thoroughly. I then re-inserted the wire harness in the (brass hybrid 4-12-2) locomotive and made sure it was tight.
The sound dropouts continued when operating in DCC mode. At low speeds the chuff sounds good and the offbeat 3-cylinder exhaust sounds pretty correct. As soon as speed increases the chuff drops out--often--to where there is more total sound silence than chuff, and the brakes squeal repeatedly while the engine is running at a good clip.
Fine: Reset the loco to factory default setting in accordance with the MRC manual. No change. Read BLI manual and reset CV8 to 8 in accordance with Paragon 2 instructions (this is BLI factory reset). Still No Change.
Here's the perplexing part: I then ran the engine (without having touched it or doing anything to it other than twice resetting to factory default settings as described above) in plain DC. The sound worked perfectly. The chuff worked perfectly--did not cut out until very high speed at which point the motor noise starts to drown it out so I can't really be sure the chuff isn't working.
So apparently the problem is not actually with the decoder or chuff sensor, as the engine appears to work just fine in DC mode.
I must conclude that there is something built into the Paragon 2 sound system that does not like the DCC side of the MRC Tech 6. I am willing to bet that this engine would work fine on a regular "real" full-blown DCC system. Of course BLI would want me to purchase the DC Master for operating their models in plain DC mode, rather than for me to use somebody else's system. The problem with that is if I do that then I cannot run somebody else's sound equipped engines...
Also, my son has a BLI GN S-2 4-8-4, and if I recall correctly, the chuff on it drops out while running, too, but again not at lower speeds. Normally, I just turn the sound off, anyway.
Though I'm at a point where I pretty much don't need sound, or smoke, at all, but I do want the lights and class lights...
Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations they wish to share? I'm all ears.
Thank you very much.
And Happy Model Railroading to all!
John