Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Reseting a TCS WOW sound decoder

2995 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, August 17, 2020 7:02 PM

AFAIK, TCS, Sountraxx, Paragon, and LokSound decoders all require CV8 set to "08".  Track power should thereafter be removed, or lift the engine on one side, and then restore track power.  Acquire Add "03" on the throttle, and toot the horn. It should work.  If not, perhaps the system needs a resistor across the rails.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Posted by TheK4Kid on Monday, August 17, 2020 6:07 PM

Haven't had a chance to work on the problem. Spent the last two days on outside house projects.

A local train buddy of mine told me to call TCS while at the layout and see if they can diagnose it

This may be a good way to go.

I have a Proto 2000 2-8-8-2 I would like to put a TCS decoder into.

According to the tCS website it is a fairly easy task to complete, it just plugs into the board on the tender.

But I want to resolve this problem before spending any more money with TCS.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, August 17, 2020 5:37 PM

We're waiting to hear the course of success or progress with this!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 17, 2020 8:31 AM

Did that get you to the audio assist menu?

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, August 16, 2020 10:39 PM

TheK4Kid
No I do not have the TCS owners manuals, nor the MTH owners manuals.

 

https://tcsdcc.com/documentation

 

If the decoder is a WOW 101 steam you will find documentation here:

https://tcsdcc.com/1516

If the previous owner installed a different WOWsound steam decoder search the TCS site for the manuals. They are there.

Page 25 here has your reset options:

https://tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/2018-05/WOWSteam%20Sound%20Manual%20v4.pdf

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:52 PM

I'll give it a try,

Thx

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:51 PM

Actually, before doing anything else, enter the last known locomotive address.  Press button 8 four times.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:50 PM

TheK4Kid

They are definetly TCS WOW Sound decoders.

The former owner converted all of his locos to TCS WOW Sound. Money was no object for him.

He had somewhere around 30 locos that he converted to TCS WOW Sound.

I also purchased several very nice used and weathered PRR freight cars that look like they are brand new.

The former owner spared no expense on his layout.

Like I said, money was no object for him.

 

[quote user="TheK4Kid"]

They are definetly TCS WOW Sound decoders.

The former owner converted all of his locos to TCS WOW Sound. Money was no object for him.

He had somewhere around 30 locos that he converted to TCS WOW Sound.

I also purchased several very nice used and weathered PRR freight cars that look like they are brand new.

The former owner spared no expense on his layout.

Like I said, money was no object for him.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:49 PM

Do you have a programming track that is electrically separate from the layout?

 

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:42 PM

They are definetly TCS WOW Sound decoders.

The former owner converted all of his locos to TCS WOW Sound. Money was no object for him.

He had somewhere around 30 locos that he converted to TCS WOW Sound.

I also purchased several very nice used and weathered PRR freight cars that look like they are brand new.

The former owner spared no expense on his layout.

Like I said, money was no object for him.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:33 PM

If he actually has WOWsound someone has installed a TCS decoder.  (TCS is a company, not an initialism for 'train control system' in a context involving WOWsound).

An MTH locomotive would have been built with their proprietary DCS system, as noted.  If you do not KNOW you have WOWsound installed, DCS is probably what is installed.

I would proceed by finding and executing the DCS-appropriate reset procedure as your next step, with the proviso that some posters here report DCS can be somewhat prone to bricking that requires factory attention ... good luck now that the DCS division is being 'privatized'...

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:28 PM

Yes, the former owner replaced all of his locomotives with DCC sound deccoders with TCS WOW sound decoders.

No I do not have the TCS owners manuals, nor the MTH owners manuals.

These locos are in exceptionally mint like new condition, I bought three of them.

All three are like they just came brand new from the box

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:22 PM

Has the locomotive had an aftermarket TCS decoder installed in it?  MTH has a system called DCS, and their decoders are not the same as TCS (two completely unrelated companies).  

Do you have the owners manual from MTH (if the decoder has not been replaced)?

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1,177 posts
Reseting a TCS WOW sound decoder
Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, August 16, 2020 7:13 PM

I have an MTH HO scale DCC equippped 4-6-2 locomotive.

 I bought it used and it ran fine and all functions worked.

It has set for awhile on a storage shelf and now it just sets on the track when I apply power.

I can hear a slight noise as when power is on.

I tried resetting  the loco to "3" on the address, but nothing happens.

I watched a TCS video, but the guy on it was as clear as mud!

Can anyone help?

I am running a NCE DCC system

 

Thankyou,

 The K4Kid

Working on a PRR themed free lanced layout based in the midwest from mid 1940's to early 1960's.

My Uncle was a PRR steam locomotive engineer when I was young amd my Dad was a PRR brakeman.

Both were given exemptions  to military service during WW2 but my Uncle stayed with PRR hauling war materials, but my Dad decided to join the US Navy and returned to the PRR after the war.

 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!