I just purchased a Broadway Limited Pentagon locomotive with sound. The locomotive has a digitrax decoder installed as well. The locomotive only moves on throttle 3 but no sound lights, etc... The locomotives sound and lights only work using the road number, no movement. I tried reprogramming it numerous times, same result. I have the Prodigy Express unit and here is how I am trying to program it.
1. Loco I enter 0003
2. Address I enter road number
3. Skip all CV, SV, ACC, etc...
and the result is above. I have also tried to enter the loco and address as loco 3, as well as the road number with the same result. What am I doing wrong?
This is just a guess (I'm no expert), but there is no such animal as a "Pentagon" from BLI. Paragon, yes, BlueLine yes, but Pentagon no.
I suspect, because you seem sure of the make of the decoder, that you have a BlueLine engine. That means it has a DC sound decoder from the factory, but nothing else. If you are sure the decoder is a Digitrax, it suggests that you may have only the actual BlueLine sound decoder, or you have that decoder from the factory installation PLUS a motive decoder which is a Digitrax motive decoder.
If I am right, your sound decoder has one address, the road number, and the Digitrax has another address, apparently 03. You need to reset both of them using programming on the main, and then set both of them to a single address of your choosing. They will then both respond to that one address and work in concert with each other. At least, that is my understanding from reading a few posts about BlueLine locomotives to which motive decoders have been added.
Crandell
Maybe you got an evil possessed 'Pentagram' unit?lol
That's an interesting problem...I agree with Selector: two decoders need to have the same address, but what if there are two motor control decoders (maybe the original installer didn't exactly know what they were doing?). You should definitely check to see what decoders you have first. I don't know what might happen if there are two motor controller decoders in one engine...probably be ok, but I could also see two decoders going up in smoke. Better safe than sorry.
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You are right, paragon and you are also correct that the factory engine has the sound and that a digitrax decoder has been installed. How do I reprogram them to work together? Like I said the sound and lights are the road number, I would like to continue to use that, how do I reprogram the 003 decoder to that number?
MP/BNSF.
If the loco has 2 decoders it is not a Paragon it is a Blueline. Here is the users manual. http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/Final%20BlueLine%20Diesel%20Manual%207.17.08.pdf
Here is the tech manual.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/BlueLine%20Diesel%20Technical%20Reference%20Manual%20Revision%202.00.pdf
Support documents can be found here.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/supportdocumentation.aspx
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
If the decoders have the same reset code (doubtful) you can program it in and reset both decoders at the same time then program an appropriate address. If they don't have the same reset code (likely) but you know what the codes are then you can enter the codes individually and the decoders will be reset individually. I've used this approach on several locos I have that have two decoders from different manufacturers. After both decoders are reset program the loco with an appropriate address. Both decoders will be programmed at the same time.
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Missouri Pacific BNSF I have the Prodigy Express unit
Would the Prodigy Express DCC unit have enough power to program these decoders?
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
G Paine Missouri Pacific BNSF I have the Prodigy Express unit Would the Prodigy Express DCC unit have enough power to program these decoders?
If it has a factory installed sound decoder, and an after-market Digitrax motive decoder, it is a Blueline.
Diesel or steam?
Rich
Alton Junction
Diesel, can you help? That is exactly the case.
Try "programming on the main" on your MRC prodigy. Both decoders have to be reset to factory default settings. Usually this is done by setting CV 8 to a value of 8, or CV 30 to a value of 2; it varies from decoder manufacturer. Once you get the decoders reset to factory default settings (you will know you are successful when you have both sound and motion on address 3), again program the loco using "Programming on the Main." Your system will address all decoders w the same address, in this case address 3, so put in your desired address.i recommend the cab#. Again, you know your are successful when you have both sound and motion under the desired address.
If you ever enter a blue line locomotive in a consist, enter the consist address into CV 19 and the sound will work. Conversely, when clearing it from a consist, make CV 19 to a value of 0 and you will revert to normal operation; otherwise you'll be stumped again.
Just spend some time reading your Dcc system manual, your loco manual, and your decoders' manual.
Have fun.
Thanks
tallcapt is heading you in the right direction.
Here are some issues to consider.
First, Blueline locos are complicated in the sense that there are two decoders, a factory installed sound decoder and an after-market motive decoder. This raises all kinds of potential conflicts. Contrary to BLI's early advice in this regard, turn off the LOCK feature on the decoders. Locking the decoders is at the heart of a lot of Blueline problems.
Second, Program on the Main (POM) using the Ops Mode. Referencing the long address, reset the decoder to factory default. I use NCE decoders so CV8=8, but your factory default CV may be different. The loco should lurch. Then, activate the short address. Mine is 003. Yours may be different. That should get the sound going and the headlights working. Now, activate the long address. That should get everything working.
Take a look at the following thread. Although it deals with consisting in part, it focuses on your problem.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/202111.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=2