Programming BLI Locos

[Anonymous]

Has anybody had trouble programming the BLI locos in DCC? I have a NCE system and cannot program my new BLI SD40 diesels.

[NZRMac]

No programming at all or just somethings
I use the Lenz system and it's programming is not powerful enough to programme BLI's I bought a powerpax from Tony's

http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm

Ken.

[cacole]

I have two BLI locomotives, a steamer and an E7 A-B set, and have had no problems programming either with EasyDCC.

[Anonymous]

Didn't have any problems programming on my brothers NCE system. I programmed a 2-8-2 Heavy Mike.

[nfmisso]

As Ken suggests:

http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm

[rrinker]

I have had no problems programmign them with my Digitrax Zephyr. Ops mode programming is the best, because then you can have it set to talk to you - it SAYS the CV and value as you program. Pretty cool. No power issues with Ops Mode programming. Personally, I don;t think this PowerPax thing is needed. Nor is the mod I've seen floating around for NCE to boost programming track power. The whole point of the programming track is to have reduced current since the loco is not supposed to run on the programming track, plus if you first put a new decoder on the programming track and something is wrong, the current is insufficient to damage the decoder. Sort of gives you a 'second chance' if you shorted something out. Hit the main first time out and you just fried a decoder.
Atlas is probably the best documented out of the box of all the locos with QSi decoders. Onthe Trainmaster they give EXACT programming sequences to set the address for EVERY road number they offered the loco in.
The included documentation from BLI is kind of weak, just the basics. You can download the REAL manual from them or from the QSI web site. It's over 140 pages long!


--Randy

[NZRMac]

Randy
I couldn't programme my BLI's without the powerpax, my Lenz compact is low powered and only programmes on the programme track, the main line goes dead when I'm in programme mode.

Ken.

[rrinker]

Interesting. I think NCE also kills the main while running the programming track, although they do offer an option to program on the main.
What I don't get is why they do this. The Zephyr and Super Chief (DCS100) both allow you to program on the programming track while others continue to run trains normally on the main.
Totally different subject.

Back on topic - there was mention on the QSI Yahoo group about turning off certain things in the QSI decoder which allows it to work on the regular program track. Of course, if you can't program it in the first place.... [%-)]

--Randy

[WilmJunc]

I have the Digitrax Zephyr and could only program my BLI E6 in the ops mode. There was not enough power on the program track.

[selector]

I have a BLI J1e, and had no difficulty in DC. Then I bought an EZ Command and was unable to effect programming, on or off the main. I got no help from Bachmann, either. So, I have a Digitrax Emprie Builder on order, and it should (should) have no difficulty.

I've read, elsewhere in this series of forums, that the older BLIs need a lot of programming power due to a heavy protective capacitor that absorbs weaker programming signals. My J1e is one fo the earlier steamers produced by BLI.

So, the answer is to get that needed power, either by booster, or by another more powerful system.