I just installed a Soundtrax TSU 1000 in my Badwin VO 1000 made by Stewart. I cannot get the decoder to accept any programming commands.
My hobby shop says I need a voltage booster in the programming track circuit which costs $90. Is there a cheaper way to program the Soundtrax Tsunami decoders? I am using a digitraxx DCS 100 Command Station and Digitraxx throttles.
Thanks for any thoughts.
motopac
Use Ops Mode and program it on the main. $90? Most online stores sell the Soundtraxx PTB-100 for under $50.
Ouch, and checking various locations I found yet another bunch of misinformation on the Litchfield STation site, the Zephyr DOES NOT need a program track booster, it has the funcitonality of higher current programming built-in. The DB-150 Super Empire Builder also should not need a booster. The DCS-100 in the Chief systems does though - unless youjust use Ops Mode. ALso it explains away the whole issue as the manufactures simply could not add keep alive and stay within the NMRA RP for program track current. Then they should talk to Digitrax and ESU and, at least in my one exposure, the new QSI Revolution, engineers because THEIR sound decoders have keep-alive AND program without special boosters. Or maybe talk to Mark Gurries and Marcus Ammann since they have both illustrated how the inrush problem largely goes away with the simple addition of 1 diode and 1 resistor to the power circuit. Lazy design to save a penny on the circuit is NOT 'ok' because hey, just buy $50-$100 worth of extra gear to overcome this. Oh and buy more expensive circuit breakers that have special programming to ignore the inrush. None of thise should be necessary, and aren't with other brands of sound decoders. The superior sound quality does not excuse this!
<rant off>
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Put a 1000 ohm resistor across the tracks. Put a alligator clip on each end of the resistor. Clip onto the track. Remove after programing. I have seen this fix in a couple other forums.
I have a couple VO-1000 with the TSU. I have the NCE Power Cab which has program track option so no issues with programing.
Again, no other DCC locos on the track. Quite a few people have managed to reprogram their fleet by forgetting this. They used the Main instead of the program track.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
The PowerCab does full power programming, as does the DB150. The Zephyr has an option to use either low power programming or full power. The DCS100 only has the low power program track output. The 1K resistor trick is not likely to work with a sound decoder, the problem solved by the 1K resistor are those decoders that don;t draw enough power for the acknowledgement pulse to be recognized, int he case of a sound decoder, it's the large capacitor never getting charged so it appears to be a short across the program track. Won't hurt anything to try. I really don't knwo how people reprogram everything when doing Ops Mode POM, the program commands only go to the selected address, NOT all locos - unless you select address 00 which is used for broadcasts. It's extremely painful to set up things like start voltage using the program track - you want the loco to start on speed step 1, put it on the main, set it to speed step one, and then use Ops Mode to adjust CV2 until it starts to move. If you have to keep taking it off the rails and moving ot the program track and back - no wonder people say DC is difficult. With most systems, once you haev selected CV2 to program, it stays that way and you can incremement the value 1 step at a time and keep sending the changed value to the loco until you get to the point where it moves liek you want. If you have a continuous loop of track it's also great for speed matching, just set the two you want to match running but a foot or so apart, and adjust the one that needs adjusting so they run together. WAY more convenient than trying to use the program track to make every change.
rrinker The PowerCab does full power programming,
The PowerCab does full power programming,
Unfortunately this doesn't work so well with MTH DCS engines.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
That's a whole other rant.
DigitalGriffin rrinker: The PowerCab does full power programming, Unfortunately this doesn't work so well with MTH DCS engines.
rrinker: The PowerCab does full power programming,
That is not part of the OP's question. Totally different subject..
MTH does not like playing with most other DCC controllers as some to their dismay have found out. They “assumed” MTH was the same as other DCC decoders.