Some sound decoders (I've noticed it the most with WowSound) will cut out the sound if there's a brief loss of power - the enigne keeps moving, but the sound reboots itself. Using a "keep alive" or sometimes just a capacitor attachments seems to resolve it.
BTW some sound decoders have an option that when you first apply power (or when you first address the engine's ID on your DCC system), the engine can't move until the start up sound sequence is completed. Whether or not the decoder does that, and whether the sound starts whenever the track is powered or only when the engine's ID is addressed, are CVs you can easily set to your preference.
Yes, I believe that if you use the functions, the decoder can "forget" the command if there is a power gap (caused by things like dirty track). Some are worse than others, like MRC.
Simon
There are sound decoders out there that don't have a memory for any interuption of power, in fact some will make you start a whole startup sound sel before it moves the engine, had one of those, note had!
im using NCE power cab..running a broadway limited.and it happens all over the layout. i dont know the decoder but i see the number 038 on the power cab
SouthernPacific ButterBean Built a 12x6 layout DCC. Got most of the track laid and turnouts soldered together. My switcher with some cars around for about a month no problems. Run with the sound on and the sound off. One day I put it in silent to work on some models. It was running for about 30 minutes and it stopped real quick and started up again. I double checked everything clean the track put it back on ran good.. the next day it did it again. Put it back in silent mode was running it around the track and the horn went off and stayed blowing until I touched the horn button. Sometimes when I do chatter talking one plays on top of another chatter. Tried it with the sound on two And still does the same . Took the loco off reset the decoder to factory settings sometimes it will work sometimes all this happens again has anybody had any of these problems.
Built a 12x6 layout DCC. Got most of the track laid and turnouts soldered together. My switcher with some cars around for about a month no problems. Run with the sound on and the sound off. One day I put it in silent to work on some models. It was running for about 30 minutes and it stopped real quick and started up again. I double checked everything clean the track put it back on ran good.. the next day it did it again. Put it back in silent mode was running it around the track and the horn went off and stayed blowing until I touched the horn button. Sometimes when I do chatter talking one plays on top of another chatter. Tried it with the sound on two And still does the same . Took the loco off reset the decoder to factory settings sometimes it will work sometimes all this happens again has anybody had any of these problems.
Also, does this problem happen anywhere on layout, or only in one particular spot, or going in one particular direction?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Some more info would be helpful! What DCC system are you using? What brand/model engine are you running? What kind of decoder is in it (Loksound, Wowsound, Tsunami/Economi, etc.)?