My friend has a Walthers Fairbanks-Morse H10-44 with a SoundTraxx decoder. He says when it comes to a stop, the prime mover sounds like it shuts down (rather than idling). Is this normal? Is there a CV that can be adjusted that can prevent this from happening?
Probably yes (maybe CV112 or 114) but you or he would have to look up the exact CV instructions for whichever specific Soundtraxx decoder he has. It could be that it's set to go silent when the throttle is reduced to zero, or it could be there's a CV for idle sound(s) volume that is set too low. Some decoders have a setting where the sound shuts off after so many seconds of inactivity, could be it has a CV for that and it's set for too short a time.
If you or your friend can put it on Decoder Pro, that might make it easier to find. Otherwise maybe just do a factory re-set; I'm pretty sure the default sound would not be for the sound to shut off when idling.
wjstixI'm pretty sure the default sound would not be for the sound to shut off when idling.
I agree with stix that there is likely a distinctive 'idle' sound file that has become corrupted or its setting turned down.
I believe Soundtraxx decoders have a setting / option where when you first call up an engine, the diesel motor sound doesn't start until you move to speed step 1. Could it be it's set so that whenever the speed step is 0, the sound stops? Maybe try having the engine moving and set it to speed step 1 and see if the sound stops or not.
If it's playing a distinctive shutdown sequence - you hear the diesel clatter to a stop - then it's whatever CV controls that whole 'startup on step 1' thing. If it just goes silent - it could be a mixer volume too low, but idle to wide open is usually all on the same sound channel, not the "prime mover while running" on one channel and "prime mover at idle" on another.
I know you can change it, but I always thought that was a silly default. Getting exactly speed step 1 on a potentiometer throttle is not easy, and any higher and the loco starts moving while playing the sequence of starting up the engine. That's just wrong.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Maybe check that CV113 is zero; that's the CV that controls how long the engine can sit at speed step zero before the sound shuts down. The higher the number, the longer it waits. However making it zero turns that feature off so the sound doesn't stop.
All these posts, all this time, and now the OP posts in General Discussion that his problem only occurs when he changes direction, not when he stops it.
I suspect we only need one of these two threads... or a clear explanation why the second one has been started as it has.
And he confirmed CV113 was 0 in the other thread, too - so in a way it was a reply to the ongoing discussion here. Just confused?