Randy, I will need your assistance after all.

[selector]

I could not reset the J1 electronically, so I did a hard jumper reset. Everything is okay, but now I am unable to do the address change because the onboard software doesn't permit me to scroll down to CV 1 on the paddle. It turns as low as CV 2, and then to "Adv 2". When I encountered this before, and did what the small QSI manual that came with the loco said, well... the rest you know.

What gives?

-Crandell

[rrinker]

OK, try this, using Ops Mode programming. First, select the loco on the default address (03) and run it, just to verify you have it running. Make sure you don't have any other locos with address 03 on the track, or they will get messed up in VERY strange ways, possibly. To be doubly safe, take ALL locos off the track, although Ops Mode programming should NOT change any other locos but the addressed one.
I don't know which number you have, so I will use 5344 as an example.

Press the PROG key until the display says Po.
1. Dial CV 49 on the left dial. Dial 129 on the right dial. Press ENTER
2. Dial 50 on the left dial. Dial 17 on the right dial. Press ENTER
3. Dial 56 on the left dial. Dial 212 on the right dial. Press ENTER
4. Dial 50 on the left dial. Dial 18 on the right dial. Press ENTER
5. Dial 56 on the left dial. Dial 224 on the right dial. Press ENTER
6. Dial 29 on the left dial. Dial 34 on the right dial. Press ENTER
7. Press EXIT.
8. Now try to select 5344, it should run.

If the number you want is NOT 5344, here's how to calculate the numbers. Hopefully you have some version of Windows (I dunno if the Mac calculator applet has the same functions). Open up the Calculator program under Accessories. Click View, Scientific to put it into scientific mode (LOTS of buttons!). Put in your desired engine number, /, 256, =, Int, +, 192, =. This is the number to use in Step 3. Now clear the calculator, and put in your desired loco number, MOD, 256, =. This is the number to use in Step 5.
I've changed mine like this using Ops Mode, I know it works. If you are trying to program a short address (127 or less) then the procedure is slightly different (less steps).
Good Luck.

--Randy

[selector]

Randy, thanks so much. I was a clutz and forgot to tell you that my loco is 501. Could I impose on you one LAST time to talk me through a three digit address?

I hadn't downloaded the appendices dealing with Bits and stuff from the QSI site. I guess I'll have to do that and go to 'school'.

-Crandell

[rrinker]

Sure. Exact same math steps:

501 / 256=1.957 , take just the whole number part, which is 1. Add 192. So CV 17 gets 193.

And for CV18, 501 MOD 256 = 245, so CV18 gets 245.

Or in my steps: Step 3, use 193, and Step 5 use 245.

--Randy

Edit: This is probably one of those situations where you just 'use the formula'. To understand exactly WHY the numbers are as they are you need a bit of an understanding of exactly how the bits are mapped in specific CV's.

[selector]

Thanks millions, Randy. I have printed this and will keep it handy to get me out of trouble in the future.

Does anybody actually understand any of the CV stuff that the Manual contais? Sheesh.

[rrinker]

As much as anyone. Which is to say, if the manual says program CV99 with 215 to make the air release control as F6, then, that's what I do. The hows and whys of QSI's internal programing are known only to QSI's engineers.

The "index CV" things are pretty straightforward. Since there are far more options than there are CV's allowed, they had to do something. Think of it like using the card catalog in a library. Say you're looking for a book called "Classic Steam Whistles". So you go to the C section of the Title catalog. Look up the book's card. It gives you a number, which you then use to find the proper set of shelves in the library. The index CV's work the same way. First you program one with the 'group' you want to adjust. The next one is the item within that group, and finally you put in the value that gets assigned to that item.
No one memorizes all that stuff. After posting a bunch of messages on the subject, I might remember the sequence tonight, but if I don't program another QSI decoder for 6 months, I'll NEVER remember how to do it without reading hte manual again.

--Randy

[selector]

Randy, it's all programmed, addressed, and running like a top. You're #1 in my books, Dude.[tup]

Thanks, again.

[rrinker]

Glad I could help.

--Randy