Decoder Setting Lists

[cowman]

I recently made an ebay purchase of an Atlas RS-3 with a TCS sound decoder installed.  It runs beautifully and the sound is fine.  However, I think I'd like to change the horn and possibly other sounds.

No information sheet on the decoder came with the purchase.  I was looking for a copy of the sheet that would  come with the decoder to tell me what sounds and other features were available.  I tried Googling for the information, but couldn't find that information.

Any help on how to find such information would be appreciated.  Since I'm a bit behind on the learning curve of computers, don't be afraid to be a bit basic with your instructions.

Thank you,

Richard

[tstage]

Richard,

Did you try downloading the WowSound diesel manual from the TCS website?

https://tcsdcc.com/documentation

Here's also a link to their sound decoder sounds list that should help:

http://tcsdcc.com/dv4prime

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

Thank you for the reply.  I had gotten to the right section, just hadn't dug deep enough.  Now to figure out how to change things.  It's been awhile since I did any programming, not much done anyhow. 

I'll do some more digging when I have a little more time and am not so sleepy.

Thanks again,

Richard

[irishRR]

I had the same situation. I purchased a Kato n scale loco with factory installed decoder from a seller on ebay. Everything ran perfectly, but I too wanted to make adjustments and needed more specific info about my decoder. I emailed the TCS customer service and told them what I was looking for. By the time I woke up the next morning, I had a downloadable PDF file waiting for me in my inbox with all the information I was looking for. They have been very helpful. Perhaps you can contact them directly. I got the email link from their website. I hope this could help. Cheers!

[cowman]

Well,, my lack of computer knowledge seems to be showing.  I went to all the guides at the site above, but didn't find one listing the specific horns, bells, etc.  Time to take Irish's direct approach.  Now if I can only email properly.  (Don't ususallyhave a prolem there.)

Thanks for the help.

Richard

[tstage]

Richard,

Did you click the 2nd link in my post above?  The different sounds are all listed out with the names.

Here's also a link to TCS's handy Audio Assist Programming tree that's built into the firmware of every TCS sound decoder:

http://tcsdcc.com/sites/default/files/2018-05/Audio%20Assist%20Diesel%20V4.pdf

I can't recollect if each specific sound name is audibly mentioned or not.

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

Yes, I did look at your 2nd link.  Between the two I found that the prime mover and horn I want were there.  However, after that my lack of computereese put me flat on my face.  Bytes?? Might as well be Greek and the Audio Assist chart (which I'd seen somewhere in my recent searchng), no idea how to use it. (Told you initially that computers were over my head.)

What I remember about changing the sounds was CV _, set at such and such a number would make the sound I was looking for.  Guess it's time to go back to the NCE book and see if I can put 2+2 together and get something like 4.

If all else fails it will be time to make use of son coming home Wed night for the holiday.

Thanks again for the links, they will make life easier when I find someone who understands more than I do about computer language.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Richard

[tstage]

Richard,

Which prime mover and horn are you trying to change to?

Tom

[tstage]

To get to the prime mover settings using the Audio Assist Programming tree diagram:

• Press 8 4x in succession on your DCC throttle - This will enter you into Audio Assist.
• Press "1" (Here The Sound Programming Options)
• Press "3" (Select a Prime Mover)
• Press "1" (forward) or "2" (backward) to scroll through the various prime movers (See later post for correct info)
• Press "3" or "4" to choose between single or dual prime movers
• Press "8" to save your choice
• Press "0" to exit Audio Assist

That's it.  And if you follow along with the Audio Assist Programming tree diagram it will start making more sense.

Bottom line: Have fun with it, Richard.  If you back yourself into a corner, just press "0" (exit Audio Assist) to get out of it and try again...or, wait till your son gets home on Wednesday.

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

Lookng to change to Alco 244 prime mover and Leslie RS3 horn.

Had a rehearsal tonight, so didn't get to this very early.  Have a few days off for the holiday, so will try your suggestions for the Audio Assist when I get a chance.

Thanks so much for the information.

Richard

[tstage]

I have an Athearn F3 with a WowSound Diesel decoder.  I may try and play with the CVs tomorrow using Audio Assist to see if I can find those specific sounds you listed, Richard...

Tom

[tstage]

Richard,

I played around with Audio Assist this evening.  Choosing the prime mover is pretty straightforward.  Here's slightly altered sequence from the one I posted last night:

• Press "8" 4x in succession on your DCC throttle - You should hear "Welcome to Audio Assist"
• Press "1" for "Here The Sound Programming Options"
• Press "3" for "Select a Prime Mover"
• Press "1" to scroll through the prime mover manufacturers - Stop when you hear "Alco"
• Press "2" to scroll through the Alco prime mover options - Stop when you hear "244 Turbo"
• Press "4" to opt for one prime mover ("3" is for locomotives with two prime movers)
• Press "8" to save your choice
• Press "0" to exit Audio Assist

I'm still working on how to choose the horn types.  I'll report back when I've figured it out.

Tom

[tstage]

Richard,

I think this should work.  To select a different horn you'll need to change indexed CVs 201-204, in that order.  Enter programming mode on your DCC system and enter the following values to activate the "Leslie RS3 horn":

• CV 201 - 4 (Sound CV change)
• CV 202 - 8 (Horn set)
• CV 203 (High byte) - 1 (short horn) | 0 (long horn)
• CV 204 (Low byte) - 16 (short horn) | 140 (long horn)

For CV 203 & 204, I've given you the values for both the short horn and the long horn.  Make sure you go through the entire 4-step sequence for each horn.

And if someone sees something in error, please don't hesitate to chime in with the correct values.

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

Sorry to take so long, but Thanksgiving and life got in the way.

Thank you for the iformation, (son printed them out so I had them at the throttle) I think I have those two sounds set alright.  At the same time I found how to do some "let the decoder do it" for grade crossing.  It was  interesting working with the Audio Assist, took me a time or two to get it, partially as loss of high pitched ladies voices are what my hearing loss is most subject to.  (No, not just selective hearing loss of the wife's voice.)

However, the price of success in one area, goofed elsewhere.  I either pushed Enter at the wrong time or didn't push it when I should have.  Now when I push the bell button on my NCE handset, the light turns off and on (still does with the light button).  The bell will ring when I use "1".  Any thoughts on how to get the bell button to ring, not flicker?

Thank you so much for the information.  Where did you get the settings necessary to set those values.  There are some things I might/might not want to try.

Thanks again,

Richard

[cowman]

Got back down to the train room for a few minues tonight and, voilla, the bell button rang the bell, not turn the light on and off.  Must be the shutdown did the trick.

Thanks again for all the information.

Richard

[tstage]

cowman

Thank you so much for the information. Where did you get the settings necessary to set those values. There are some things I might/might not want to try.

Hi Richard,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.  I downloaded the WOWSound Diesel Programming Guide V4 Programming Guide from the TCS documentation webpage that I posted earlier.  On pg. 25 it lists the CVs for accessing the horn & bell sets.  Since I had done this before for one of my NYC F3As with a WowSound diesel decoder, it helped me to recollect which values I needed for CVs 201 & 202.  The Diesel V4 Prime Sound List webpage then gave me the values needed for CVs 203 (high byte) & 204 (low byte) for the specific sound set.

TCS decoders are different in that they have two modes: Light mode & Sound mode.  If you want to turn a headlight on or off you need to be in Light mode; to sound your horn you need to be in Sound mode.  Accessing is easy as it only requires double-pressing "8" (vs 4 presses for Audio Assist) to toggle between the two modes - even if the locomotive is in motion.  The Audio Assist lady will also tell you what mode you're in.  Your throttle, unfortunately, will not tell you.

As mentioned previously, if you are unsure you did something correctly while using Audio Assist, pressing "0" will exit you from it.  Programming in programming mode is also handy, as it allows you to be able to read CV values and write them down before changing them.  (You can then return a given CV to its previous value if what you entered doesn't yield the desired effect.)  Any lighting effects or sounds that use indexed CVs (e.g. CVs 201 & 201) will also require you to enter those CVs first before reading the nested CVs.

HTH,

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

Thanks for all the help.  I am still a bit confused as to why they use the same CV's for different functions, but as long as it works, i'll take it.

Thanks again,

Richard

[tstage]

cowman

I am still a bit confused as to why they use the same CV's for different functions, but as long as it works, i'll take it.

Richard,

It's kinda like having drawers in a locked cabinet: You need a specific "key" to get into the room and another specific "key" to get into the locked cabinet.  (We'll call those keys "201" & "202")  Once you're in the cabinet, you have a variety of drawers to choose from and each drawer has a number of dividers in it.  Each drawer divider holds something specific and you always know to find it there by its unique number.  But, in order to access any of those drawers and dividers, you need to have keys "201" & "202".

Does that analogy help?

Tom

[cowman]

Tom,

It appears you have quite a ring of keys.  Maybe you should write a 2 page explaination of how to use their 28 page guide.

Thanks again,

Richard