When I first began to acquire sound equipped locos, I discovered I needed to purchase a PowerPax from Tony's Train Exchange just so I could assign addresses to each. Someone explained that the newer sound decoders were more sophisticated then the original decoder specs and that the basic DCC systems were not capable of processing them as is. I don't pretend to understand the electronics involved and what exactly the PowerPax does but it worked. Recently, I am starting to run into the same problem. Last year, I bought an Athearn Genesis F7 A/B set and discovered that even with the PowerPax, I was unable to re-address it. Someone explained the issue to me but it went right over my head. I worked around it by allowing that set to keep its factory 0003 address. Since that was the only one, I was OK. Yesterday, I went to assign addresses to all the new locos Santa brought me and I ran into the same problem. I successfully programmed 3 Walthers E units, an F7 A/B set, and Spectrum 4-8-2. I ran into a problem when I tried to assign a new address to my Spectrum 2-6-6-2 and Spectrum 4-6-0. The new address just didn't take despite about five tries. My DCC system is a Lenz 100 system and the it displays an error code of 02 but this is of little help since the documentation is very vague. I do remember that this is the error code I used to get before I bought the PowerPax. Is the PowerPax unable to process some of the newer locomotives or is there another explaination. What baffles me is the Spectrum 4-8-2 and 2-6-6-2 both have identical tenders and they sound the same to my ear which indicates they have the same decoder but I was able to process the one but not the other. Any ideas?
If you bought your original PowerPax from Tony's, I'd call them and ask for help. They have a good reputation for being helpful.
Good luck,
John,
All the Power-Pax does is boost the level of the programming track power. Most DCC system put out very low power to the program track(so you do not blow your new decoder). I bought an Athearn MP15AC with sound last year and could not program it with my Digitrax Chief. Even with a Power-Pax, I could not program the address in the engine. The only way to program the address was 'on the main' programming. There was enough power there to do it. Thise MRC sound decoders are really poor at programming. Many of the QSI sound decoders(like in your P2K) engines draw a lot of juice and are hard to program on any programming track. I just do the hex calculation and manually program them if all else fails. This is where Decoder Pro on a computer comes in handy - it will calculate the CV's for you.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I also have a Lenz 100 system. With the newer Lenz software, you should not need to use the PowerPax any more. I haven't used mine in several years.
To prevent the 02 error, use a 10-ohm resistor between the Lenz system and the programming track when you are programming a locomotive with sound.
-- Steve
Steve,
I wasn't even aware the software in the Lenz 100 could be updated. How do I go about doing that?
Thanks,
John
There have been reports that the PowerPax has toruble with Tsunami sound decoders, which is what Athearn is switching too, and what Bachmann is using int he new Spectrum sound equipped steamers. Your Athearn though probably still has an MRC if it's a year old, which have issues of their own.
Most people have reporte the PTB-100 from Soundtraxx works better - it gets the QSI decoders as well as Tsunami. However, I have never had to use such a device and quite frankly have no need to spend the money. I'm programmed everything but a Tsunami wiht my Digitrax Zephyr, and I just don't have anything with a Tsunami to try. For anythign that is stubborn ont he program track, it's easier and cheaper to just program on the main. Use a calculator like this one: http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm to get the values for CV17, 18. and 29, and then follow your system's instructions for programming on the main. Simple and quick.
FYI, QSI appears to have fixed up the Revolution-A and Revolution-U decoders, vs the ones that came in Broadway Limited and Atlas locos. The OEM ones would not always program on the program track and I had to use Ops Mode. The Revolution decoder worked perfectly on the program track. It IS possible for the manufacturers to fix this and stop playign the "well there's no NMRA standard for program tracks" blame game. I don't do sound anyway on my locos, but if I did right now it would be all QSI because their decoders now WORK without a booster. Digitrax sound decoders all work fine on a regular program track with no booster. Tsunami is out until they too resolve the issue, which isn't really complicated.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Since I'm just atrting track laying, all I have is one section of flex track on my bench hooked to my Zephyr. Now, I can unscrew the connectors and switch the wires to the program track connection, or I can use Ops Mode.
I'm lazy, and ops mode works for all the decoders I use.