The Loksound 3.5 in my PCM Reading T1's had F2 as the passenger whistle used when in Ramble and AFT service, and F3 was the freight whistle fromw ehnt he locos were in general freight service. Since my two are both freight units (I model before the Rambles took place), I swapped the functions so momentary F2 was the freight whistle. A quick tap is a short toot.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
In theory, a 'tap' of F2 should produce a short honk or toot of the horn or whistle. However, some sound decoders seem to have like a minimum honk time. No matter how briefly you touch F2, the horn goes for like a second. This means a grade crossing sounds like four longs rather than two longs - one short - one long.
Now that I think of it....IIRC, the early ESU Loksound decoders had a set length of horn or whistle sound that couldn't be varied, no matter how short or long a time you held F2 down. Apparently this was because European railroads use their horn or whistle differently than we do in North America - they don't use it to signal things, just as a general "get out of the way" sound like we'd use a car horn. I believe they later added the 'short' horn or whistle sound at F3 on their sound decoders made for North American engines.
If you have a recording of one (there may be one in the Loksound library, they are close to the peanut whistles used on some logging locos), it's super easy to plug on in on a Loksound v4.
7j43kI was wondering why having both a whistle and a horn sounded so familiar.
It is a neat feature on some "modern" steam. Somewhere I have on-board recordings of the S-P Daylight's which had air horns as well.
Even the stuffy PRR had an air horn on their S1 6100:
http://www.billspennsyphotos.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=60290243
Tucked away just to the right of the two steps on the engineer's side.
There were a few other examples, too. We should try to compile a complete list.
Not to hi-jack the thread but in regards to sound functions, I have always wanted to have the "peanut whistle" communicating signal whistle located in the cab of passenger engines for my sound decoders.
Anyone who has stood on the station platform near the head-end of a departing passenger train has probably heard it, in the pre-radio days. If they can find room for clucking chickens or singing hobos surely they could include the sound of the communicating whistle.
I have emailed Matt Herman and the folks at TCS but obviously, my suggestion fell on deaf ears
Regards, Ed
gmpullman I replaced the chips in my Niagaras some years ago and realised that they took away the Leslie air horn! I was pretty disappointed with that. In most of the recordings and documentation I've read about their operation is that they used the air horn quite a bit. Much more economical than wasting the steam.
I replaced the chips in my Niagaras some years ago and realised that they took away the Leslie air horn! I was pretty disappointed with that. In most of the recordings and documentation I've read about their operation is that they used the air horn quite a bit. Much more economical than wasting the steam.
I was wondering why having both a whistle and a horn sounded so familiar. Then I recalled that I have an Intermountain cab forward tucked away, waiting to someday come out and play. When I bought it at the shop, they demonstrated both.
Ed
Paul3Why the short horn and the long horn? Because the long horns can be ridiculously long.
I like having the short horn option for that very reason. It is a different recording, without the attack—sustain—delay of the "road" horn.
Two (or as required) quick, sharp blasts sound much more realistic at yard speeds or when switching. The longer sounding horn is better at speed.
One day I have to sit down and come up with a function re-mapping scheme. For now I have copies of the different function maps tacked to the walls in a few places. I have decoders from just about every manufacturer.
One thing I really like about using an Android device as a throttle (tied to JMRI) is that it spells out exactly what action is assigned to a function.
selectorOne other, and that is the original QSI decoders in BLI's initial Paragon Niagara had a F9 or one of those higher ones where you could switch F2 between the steam whistle and the Niagara's air horn
"Coal shoveling, toilet flush, nose blowing, all aboard, radio chatter...uuuuuhhhh......no. Thanks."
LOL
Am i ever gonna be able to lay any track???
tstage rrinker Want a short blast? Tap F2. Want a long blast? Hold down F2. And of course we need to have 29 total functions so one of them can be assigned to automatically play a grade crossing sequence. Have we become that lazy? --Randy Apparently we have, Randy. Most-to-all sound functions higher than F9 or F10 are totally worthless - to me. Lights, horn, and bell are primarily all the functions I use on a regular basis. The one other thing might be prime mover accelerating/decelerating notching, which is different with each decoder manufacturer. Tom
rrinker Want a short blast? Tap F2. Want a long blast? Hold down F2. And of course we need to have 29 total functions so one of them can be assigned to automatically play a grade crossing sequence. Have we become that lazy? --Randy
Want a short blast? Tap F2. Want a long blast? Hold down F2. And of course we need to have 29 total functions so one of them can be assigned to automatically play a grade crossing sequence. Have we become that lazy?
Apparently we have, Randy. Most-to-all sound functions higher than F9 or F10 are totally worthless - to me. Lights, horn, and bell are primarily all the functions I use on a regular basis. The one other thing might be prime mover accelerating/decelerating notching, which is different with each decoder manufacturer.
Tom
Tom, I agree...mostly...but I have found two F buttons useful at times with the Tsunami and Paragon II decoders. In the first instance, I think F4 is a steam hiss, and sometimes that is a nice feature as a train gets underway as there isn't an auto-cylinder cock pulsing hiss as their is on the QSI's and others. In the case of the Paragon II decoders, I think F4 is the compressor pump, the cross compound, that one finds so commonly on modern steamers. I think BLI did a good job of that sound file.
One other, and that is the original QSI decoders in BLI's initial Paragon Niagara had a F9 or one of those higher ones where you could switch F2 between the steam whistle and the Niagara's air horn (BLLLAAAAAAAAAAAATTT!).
Coal shoveling, toilet flush, nose blowing, all aboard, radio chatter...uuuuuhhhh......no. Thanks.
passenger1955,No, it doesn't. When you press the F3 button, it sends an updated DCC packet (which includes F0-F8 functions, speed, and direction) with "F3=On" to the address in question. The decoder does whatever it's programmed to do (short whistle, coupler clank, lighting effect, etc.). The system continues to send the F3=On command with the rest of the DCC packet to the address with every throttle signal sent.
When you hit F3 again, it changes the DCC packet to "F3=Off". The decoder gets this new packet and does whatever it's designed to do. With some, the short horn sounds again or does nothing. With others, the coupler fires the air hose disconnect effect or the mars light shuts off.
The only button that normally sends an off command when released is F2, which can be changed to act like the rest of the functions if you want in the throttle's programming.
Randy,Why the short horn and the long horn? Because the long horns can be ridiculously long. First there's the gradual build up to the full whistle volume, then the steady sound of the whistle, then there's the gradual ending of the sound with some having a fancy whistle ending. It can sound great; however, when one is sitting on the mainline and signals a back up move with three quick toots, doing it with the F2 is way too long and completely unrealistic. No engineer would play with the whistle like that when signalling a back up move.
As for the grade crossing sound, that's also explainable. With many DCC systems, there is a lag when playing the whistle and getting it to stop when you want it to. Doing "0 0 - 0" can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to time the last blast to coincide with hitting the grade crossing. With 8 commands, the lag can build up quickly and you miss the crossing. I have tried to do this with F2 on my club layout with mixed success. I have found that if I travel at a known speed each time around the layout (say 60 mph), I can hit the grade crossing sequence function button when passing a certain point and have the whistle last right to the crossing like it should. It's just one command and not 8 commands as normal. The lag is hardly noticable.
Tom,Well, yes, higher functions can be worthless, but it depends on your loco and what you're doing. With my Rapido FL9's, I like to put them in 3rd rail mode using F14. I get some nice traction motor sound effects without having to listen to the prime mover droning along. I also like to startle people with the Mighty Mouse theme song on F15.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Not unless it's configured for momentary. You'll get an F3-off the next press of F3.
Another 'feature' I am dubious of. Why 2 horns like that? F2 is by default momentary on at least all US DCC systems (or the horn button, if NCE). Want a short blast? Tap F2. Want a long blast? Hold down F2. And of course we need to have 29 total functions so one of them can be assigned to automatically play a grade crossing sequence. Have we become that lazy?
When you press F3 on cab controller and an F3-On command is sent (generally playing the short horn sound), does the cab controller send a follow-up F3-Off command?