Hello,
I just took delivery of an Intermountain N Scale SD40-2 with ESU LokSound Select sound decoder (road name NS / number 3399) and before I set it on the programming track I broke it in under it's default of #3. When I ran it at first, the ditch lights didn't work and the only sound I could get to work was the horn by pressing the function 2 button. No prime mover sounds, no startup sequence under the normal f5 or f6, etc.
I put it on the programming track, changed the decoder to #3399 and then took a look at the function map and got immediately scared because it makes no sense to me.
I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to post their exported DecoderPro file for this loco so I can get some sounds and lights to work (the headlight won't even come on) because my function map is totally blank.
I "read" the whole page and it's all blank. I don't know if it's supposed to be this way from the factory or not. I would've assumed there would be defaults at least for out of the box running, but apparently not.
I'm overwhelmed by the options on this decoder and was thinking if someone would be kind enough to share their settings that they're happy with, maybe I could use those to start and see how everything is laid out then make changes as I see fit and once I understand how things are set up better.
Would someone please kindly share their DecoderPro settings with me?
Thanks in advance,
--Jason
Just sent a NS/3394 version to Intermountain for repair because the decoder didn't work, had only poor motor control.
Maybe a batch of bad decoders.
Harold
Standard startup on Loksound decoders is F8 - that should start the prime mover.
I frankly do not trust JMRI to read all those function map CVs in a single go. There's just too many and all it takes is the loco to migrate over a piece of dirt ont h program track for it to miss a bunch of them.
I know a dozen people will reply that they use JMRI and it's perfectly finae, blah blah. Yes, I know all that JMRI does is the same thing you can do from your throttle - except it does it faster and no one would sit there at their throttle and hit CV 200, read, CV201 read, CV202 read over and over again. Downside fo the tremendous flexibility in these decoders is you need a lot of CVs to set it all. JMRI always worked great when, not counting the speed table, you had maybe 30 CVs total for the whole decoder. 30 CVs isn't even 3 F keys on a Loksound.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Didn't your engine even come with a basic list of what functions do what ?
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark R.Didn't your engine even come with a basic list of what functions do what ?
If it didn't, it's easy enough to find...
https://www.intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/instructions/N-SD40-2-Insert-Dec-2016.pdf
Right there in the third paragraph it states:
Upon placing your engine on the track you will not hear any sound...
(They even underscored it!)
Jason... Hope this information helps you out.
Good Luck, Ed
rrinker Standard startup on Loksound decoders is F8 - that should start the prime mover. I frankly do not trust JMRI to read all those function map CVs in a single go. There's just too many and all it takes is the loco to migrate over a piece of dirt ont h program track for it to miss a bunch of them.
That's not a JMRI issue, it's a programming track issue. If you DID sit there and read CV200, 201, 202, etc with your throttle, the loco would STILL migrate over that dirty spot so you'd STILL miss them and you'd STILL have to re-read them.
It's quicker to just go to the CV pane in JMRI, scroll through it, and re-read only those CV's that it's highlighted as not being read.
Of course, no matter how you read your CV's you could avoid all that by simply keeping your programming track clean.
rrinker I know a dozen people will reply that they use JMRI and it's perfectly finae, blah blah. Yes, I know all that JMRI does is the same thing you can do from your throttle - except it does it faster and no one would sit there at their throttle and hit CV 200, read, CV201 read, CV202 read over and over again. Downside fo the tremendous flexibility in these decoders is you need a lot of CVs to set it all. JMRI always worked great when, not counting the speed table, you had maybe 30 CVs total for the whole decoder. 30 CVs isn't even 3 F keys on a Loksound. --Randy
So having even more CV's to read and/or set to get the desired results somehow makes the faster and easier method less desirable? I'm not sure I follow that line of thought...
Well, since I settled on using ONLY Loksound for sound, I bought a Lokprogrammer. I can read the whole decoder in seconds. And it seems to work every time - even more interesting is that the power supply for the Lokprogrammer is only 12 volts.
I just don;t have enough things that need to be changed for a new motor-only decoder, it takes me longer to start JMRI and create a roster entry than it does to set up the decoder with my throttle. And the stuff I would want to fiddle with are best done in Ops Mode anyway - like volume adjustments, or start voltage. In that case, since I already have throttle in hand...
AFter you've set up dozens of locos with the same basic settings (and using the same decoders - I use TCS for non-sound, Loksound for sound - and those are the ONLY brands I buy), the basic settings CVs (and the address is easy with any common system, they are ALL automatic when it comes to CV17, 18, and 29) become fairly ingrained, at least they have for me. For something oddball that I don't normally modify, I'll look it up using JMRI.
gmpullman Thanks Ed, I purchased the model on eBay. It was supposed to be new, but there were no inserts. MB Klein didn't have it in stock and that's normally where I prefer to buy things. I've gotten it all figured out now, though. Thanks everyone, --J Mark R. Didn't your engine even come with a basic list of what functions do what ? If it didn't, it's easy enough to find... https://www.intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/instructions/N-SD40-2-Insert-Dec-2016.pdf Right there in the third paragraph it states: Upon placing your engine on the track you will not hear any sound... (They even underscored it!) Jason... Hope this information helps you out. Good Luck, Ed
Thanks Ed,
I purchased the model on eBay. It was supposed to be new, but there were no inserts. MB Klein didn't have it in stock and that's normally where I prefer to buy things.
I've gotten it all figured out now, though.
Thanks everyone,
--J
Mark R. Didn't your engine even come with a basic list of what functions do what ?
Stevert It's quicker to just go to the CV pane in JMRI, scroll through it, and re-read only those CV's that it's highlighted as not being read.
Quicker still is to 'Read Changes on Sheet' or 'Read Changes on All Sheets'. This will only read those missed reads (the ones in red). You can also use 'Write Changes' for any missed writes.
Peter
gmpullman Mark R. Didn't your engine even come with a basic list of what functions do what ? If it didn't, it's easy enough to find... https://www.intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/instructions/N-SD40-2-Insert-Dec-2016.pdf Right there in the third paragraph it states: Upon placing your engine on the track you will not hear any sound... (They even underscored it!)
Reviving a moderately old thread because I had the same problem . . .
Yes, Ed, they did state this in the third paragraph and they did even underscore it. But even if they underescored it, overscored it, highlighted it, bolded it, colored it, and had flying monkeys point to it with both hands . . . the decoder does not function as indicated. In fact, it functions as indicated only part of the time, and that is ten times worse than not functioning at all.
I have a Digitrax Evolution system with DT500D throttle. Pushing F8 powers up (and shuts down) the prime mover only when the throttle is plugged in, not during walk-around radio operations. Nowhere in any of the instructions (quick start or full manual) does it say that. Not for Intermountain, not for ESU, not for Digitrax. I only found out by some random accident. Now, it works that way all the time every time. But it was extremely annoying before I happened to come across it.
Not picking on Ed, of course. But I hope the OP reads this; I certainly have sympathy for him.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICKI have a Digitrax Evolution system with DT500D throttle. Pushing F8 powers up (and shuts down) the prime mover only when the throttle is plugged in, not during walk-around radio operations.
I have DT400D throttles. All my Loksound equipped Intermountain functions work fine in duplex radio mode, including the F8. Ditto for any other OEM or self installed Loksound decoder. Maybe something changed in the Evolution/DT500?
I don't know what might be causing the problems you are describing. I did have to add two additional UR92s because the radio signal was awful when I "upgraded" to Duplex throttles. It helped greatly when I downloaded new firmware for them.
gmpullman I have DT400D throttles. All my Loksound equipped Intermountain functions work fine in duplex radio mode, including the F8. Ditto for any other OEM or self installed Loksound decoder. Maybe something changed in the Evolution/DT500? I don't know what might be causing the problems you are describing. I did have to add two additional UR92s because the radio signal was awful when I "upgraded" to Duplex throttles. It helped greatly when I downloaded new firmware for them. Good Luck, Ed
Hey Ed,
First off, thanks for not being offended because I was a little harsh when quoting your post.
My UR92 appears to cover the layout room adequately. The F1 function (bell), F2 (horn), and F3 (coupler) all function normally whether plugged in or walk around radio. Only F8 (prime mover) acts like I described. I have no explanation. Like I said, annoying at first but issue resolved. Lots of these little fiddly bits in this hobby.
I agree, Robert, there are MANY variables you have to learn with this stuff. I have almost 200 DCC locomotives with decoders of all kinds — from my first QSI in a Broadway Limited GG1, to the latest Loksound FT and some of the WOWsound recent issues.
Seems like no two are the same and I have "cheat sheets" all over the layout room because it is nearly impossible to remember it all, especially with some of the newer locomotives say from Rapido that have dozens of options!
Even after remapping many of the functions there are still lots of variables in the operations from loco-to-loco.
As you described your problem it made me think of the battery in your DT500. Any Digitrax radio user learns quickly, you need a "robust" 9V battery.
Glad you got it sorted out,
Ed
gmpullman As you described your problem it made me think of the battery in your DT500. Any Digitrax radio user learns quickly, you need a "robust" 9V battery. Ed
Yes, I learned that the hard way. That valuable lesson cost me the low low price of only $16.99 plus free shipping. I bought two EBL High Volume 9V batteries together with plug-in recharger Model 840 from Amazing-dot-com. I found out later that that 840 means 8.40 volts, which is also a misnomer. Model 832 would be a little closer.
Anyway, have since purchased two 9.6V rechargable batteries that are actually 9.60 volts and seem to have a reasonably long life.
Education is what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don't.