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Digitrax SFX 004 Soundbug NO SOUND

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, February 4, 2021 4:03 PM

Hawks Rule
Question is, if I reset the regular decoder first, then what?

My point was you had two decoders installed - a "sound only" decoder piggybacked on a non-sound motion-and-light decoder. If you put the engine on a programming track that way and tried to do a factory reset, it might re-set both decoders...or one, or the other...or neither.

For example, it might change the ID of one decoder back to 03, but not the other one. Same with programming the ID number into both, it might mess up one or both - might change one to the number you want and not change the other, or change one to a different number entirely.

If both decoders don't have the same ID, they won't both respond together. So let's say engine 1234 has a regular decoder programmed to ID 1234 and a sound decoder programmed to ID 0003. When you call up ID 1234 the engine will run and the lights will work etc., but you won't have any sound. 

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 3:51 PM

Ok,

I contacted Digitrax and explained the issue.

They told me most probably the amplier is damaged and I could send it back to them for another one at a minimal cost of around $20.00!

That is good enough for me.

Thank You to everyone for their input,

Cheers

 

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 2:20 PM

wjstix

When you did the factory re-set, did you separate the SoundBug from the regular decoder and do it separately? If not, you may have re-set the light and motion decoder but not the SoundBug. 

Of course, be sure both the regular decoder and the Soundbug have the same ID number. 

p.s. As it comes from the factory, CV60 has to be 0 or 1. That's the only two options. 

Also note you may have to send a command (like blow the horn) for the sound to start.

 

No, I did not seperate the soundbug from the regular decoder.

Question is, if I reset the regular decoder first, then what?

Do I plug the soundbug back into the regular decoder and then try it?

 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, February 4, 2021 1:44 PM

When you did the factory re-set, did you separate the SoundBug from the regular decoder and do it separately? If not, you may have re-set the light and motion decoder but not the SoundBug. 

Of course, be sure both the regular decoder and the Soundbug have the same ID number. 

p.s. As it comes from the factory, CV60 has to be 0 or 1. That's the only two options. 

Also note you may have to send a command (like blow the horn) for the sound to start.

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 1:18 PM

Mark R.

Don't know what to tell you. Electronic "rules" say that shouldn't work. Was a resistor added in series with the 8 ohm speaker to compensate for the ohm difference ? The results you experienced with the latest one are exactly what I would have expected. I don't understand how the other one is working.

Mark.

 

Well, as a precaution, I took your advice and removed the 8 Ohm speaker from the other loco and put back the 28 mm 32 ohm speaker and it works.

But the problem still remains with the first loco, sound not working.

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, February 4, 2021 12:39 PM

Don't know what to tell you. Electronic "rules" say that shouldn't work. Was a resistor added in series with the 8 ohm speaker to compensate for the ohm difference ? The results you experienced with the latest one are exactly what I would have expected. I don't understand how the other one is working.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:44 AM

Mark R.

Are your other Soundbugs the SFX004 or are they the newer SFX006 ? The 004 requires a 32 ohm speaker, whereas the 006 now uses an 8 ohm speaker.

As for testing it to verify, I think you already did that by re-installing the original 32 ohm speaker and finding it no longer works. You might be able to visibly see a tiny blister on the shrink wrap that would indicate the audio amp over heated .... maybe.

Mark.

 

They are both SFX004 decoders

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:35 AM

Are your other Soundbugs the SFX004 or are they the newer SFX006 ? The 004 requires a 32 ohm speaker, whereas the 006 now uses an 8 ohm speaker.

As for testing it to verify, I think you already did that by re-installing the original 32 ohm speaker and finding it no longer works. You might be able to visibly see a tiny blister on the shrink wrap that would indicate the audio amp over heated .... maybe.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:20 AM

Hi Mark,

I was always under the impression that it was ok to use an 8 ohm speaker because my other identical loco was installed with an 8 ohm sugar cube to replace the 32 ohm one for space in a tight area and have never had a problem with it running and sound, except that it was never loud enough for me.

So, if that is the case as you say " a fried audio amp", then how do I verify that?

Is there any way of testing since I do not have a Decoder tester.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:06 AM

According to the manual, that unit uses a 32 ohm speaker. If you tried using an 8 ohm speaker, chances are pretty good you fried the audio amp.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 10:52 AM

Sorry, I dont have a picture of the install

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Thursday, February 4, 2021 10:35 AM

Hawks Rule

 

 
MisterBeasley

I have a couple of Soundbug decoders.  They have always worked fine for me.  Their volume level is acceptable.

It sounds like the speaker rewiring broke a connection.  Look at those wires carefully.

Are you sure this is actually a Soundbug?  Digitrax makes another line of decoders, I believe called SFX.  These are more capable decoders, with lighting effects and the ability to load different sound projects.  Unfortunately, the sound volume, even when cranked up full, is unacceptably low

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is an SFX 004 Soundbug that plugs in to a Digitrax  DH165L0.

The wires that come from the decoder are all fine.

Like I said the loco and light work fine, but no sound.

 

 

 
 

Got a pic of the install, this soundbug is on my list, I have already installed the decoder but not bought the bugs yet.

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 9:38 AM

Joe,

I tried what you said and still no sound.

At first I thought that I might have fried the decoder, but when I reset it back to factory on my NCE, it went through all the right steps, numbers and clicking sounds to show that it worked.

It runs and lights work, no sound

 

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Thursday, February 4, 2021 9:25 AM

ba&prr

Did you use a PR3 to down load the sound file ? Or are you using the one from the factory? Try changing CV60. 0 to 5 changes the varios diesel engine sound file. CV140 is diesel volume. If you used the PR3 and checked the sounds, this lowers the volume for some reason.    Joe 

 

No, I did not download the file, am using the one from the factory.

I will try what you suggest.

Thanks

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • 409 posts
Posted by ba&prr on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 10:04 PM

Did you use a PR3 to down load the sound file ? Or are you using the one from the factory? Try changing CV60. 0 to 5 changes the varios diesel engine sound file. CV140 is diesel volume. If you used the PR3 and checked the sounds, this lowers the volume for some reason.    Joe 

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Posted by Hawks Rule on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 5:40 PM

MisterBeasley

I have a couple of Soundbug decoders.  They have always worked fine for me.  Their volume level is acceptable.

It sounds like the speaker rewiring broke a connection.  Look at those wires carefully.

Are you sure this is actually a Soundbug?  Digitrax makes another line of decoders, I believe called SFX.  These are more capable decoders, with lighting effects and the ability to load different sound projects.  Unfortunately, the sound volume, even when cranked up full, is unacceptably low

 

 

Yes, it is an SFX 004 Soundbug that plugs in to a Digitrax  DH165L0.

The wires that come from the decoder are all fine.

Like I said the loco and light work fine, but no sound.

 

 

 
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 5:15 PM

I have a couple of Soundbug decoders.  They have always worked fine for me.  Their volume level is acceptable.

It sounds like the speaker rewiring broke a connection.  Look at those wires carefully.

Are you sure this is actually a Soundbug?  Digitrax makes another line of decoders, I believe called SFX.  These are more capable decoders, with lighting effects and the ability to load different sound projects.  Unfortunately, the sound volume, even when cranked up full, is unacceptably low

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 255 posts
Digitrax SFX 004 Soundbug NO SOUND
Posted by Hawks Rule on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 3:59 PM

I have a Proto 2000 GP20 with a Digitrax 165L0 decoder and SFX004 soundbug.

I have had this loco for two years and it always worked fine, with the exception of the sound not being loud enough.

So I purchased another speaker to see if the sound was louder.

I de soldered the old speaker attached the new one and no sound.

Then, I re soldered the old one and still no sound.

I did a complete reset on the decoder, reprogramed the loco.

The train runs FWD/ BWD no problem and the lights work, but still no sound!

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

 

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