I have several diesel and steam locomotives (HO) with Tsunami 1000 decoders. Some of them, but not all, if they are sitting on the layout when the power is turned on, begin to offer at rest or idiling sounds. The layout is built in a power block system, so I can turn off the block, but I'd rather have their default setting be 'off' until the address is called. I can find nothing in the instructions that speaks to this question.
I think I've read this question here before but can't locate the discussion. Is there a function or CV that will do this?
Mike
You know, two of mine do exactly that- but then if I select the address with throttle at zero, they quit idling. When I move the throttle, they go through their startup sequence ... but that's at Speed Step 1 so that the loco might have already started moving by then. This is unrealistic. Also, when I stop at a station they will go dead. Thats not fun either.
I just wish there was a way to "shut off" and "turn on" the "engine" ... and I am not talking about the mute button.
Ok, so that makes two of us waiting for some advice.
I am not sure on the steam version, but on the diesel version, set CV 115 to 7. There are other numbers you can plug into to control the engine sounds.
This is where Decoder Pro is really helpful.
Will
If you change CV 113 to a number other than "0" it will cause the engine to not make sound, even when you select it, until you send it a command like a quick forward direction "flick" of the controller. The higher the number you choose, the longer it will wait until turning the sound back off.
wjstix If you change CV 113 to a number other than "0" it will cause the engine to not make sound, even when you select it, until you send it a command like a quick forward direction "flick" of the controller. The higher the number you choose, the longer it will wait until turning the sound back off.
I believe that wjstix is correct. See the information for CV 113 on page 65 of the Tsunami Diesel Technical Reference, http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/Tsunami%20Diesel%20Technical%20Reference_1.13.pdf
However, reading the instruction it does say "when the locomotive has stopped and all functions have been turned off. My interpretation of this statement is that if you stop the loco but don't turn off the headlight, the loco sounds will continue even though you have a time out value set. And I also believe that any command sent to the loco will make the sounds re-start. So in addition to the forward/reverse controller flick, turning on the headlight should accomplish the same thing.
Mike, yes there is a couple of CV settings for this.
The following is how I have all of mine set up: When the layout is turned on, all the loco's stay silent. When I select speed step one on a loco, it goes through the engine start sound sequence. Also, the loco doesn't move at speed step one. (I have them set up to start moving at speed step two.) After about 30 seconds of the loco not being used, the sound shuts off. That way I don't have to listen to all of the loco's on the layout making noise when I am only operating one.
I am using JMRI Decoder Pro to set up my locomotive programming. These settings can also be set up manually by programming each CV. To do that, you will need to read the manual for the decoder to find all the CV's involved. The manual is very large and can be down loaded from the Soundtraxx web site.
I didn't say it was easy, just that it can be done.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Here is where the DC or analog "old boys" that have converted to DCC have a bit of a leg up. They probably still have block controls in place and have several isolated engine "ready" or service tracks where a flick of a block switch kills power to those engine rails.
Still, I have printed out the above suggestions for DCC control of the Tsunami and placed it in the rear notes section in the binder I have the Tsunami manual in. These are the only sound controllers I use and my layout doesn't have block control. Good stuff here, as usual. Thanks to all who have solved this issue and responded.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
It can be changed as can the notching. We use Decoder Pro which is a GUI interface and there are selection boxes on how you want the prime mover to behave. It makes programming all types of decoders more intuitive.
narrow gauge nuclear Thanks to all who have solved this issue and responded. Richard
Thanks to all who have solved this issue and responded.
So, it is now working in a manner acceptable to you?
At the layout programing track this morning to re-set CV113, one of the offending diesels took a belly flop about 6 inches to a shelf below the track. Damage was limited to a couple of dislodged, but not broken, details. Easy fix, but haven't gotten back to the p-track. I have asked Mr. Fumblefingers to please stay out of the train room. We'll see if that works.
CV 113 is called "Quiet Timeout Period" every value # from 1-255 = 0.25 seconds.
So if you set CV 113 to a value of 240 the loco will shut down completly if all functions are off in 60 seconds (1minute) . Also when you power up the layout or blocks the loco's are sitting on they will stay silent until to call on their addressand throttel up or turn on one of their functions.
All of my Tsunami decoders are set to shut down at one minute. Except for the Bachmann Alco 2-6-0 that Soundtrax decoder does not offer that feature. nor do the DSD's
Truck.
mreagant At the layout programing track this morning to re-set CV113, one of the offending diesels took a belly flop about 6 inches to a shelf below the track. Mike
At the layout programing track this morning to re-set CV113, one of the offending diesels took a belly flop about 6 inches to a shelf below the track.
We knew you wanted the sound off, but that method is probably a little extreme.
Yep. Shuting off the blocks on the layout seems a better option now that I assess the repairs needing to be done :)
This particular diesel is likely a one-of-a-kind. Hallmark E-5 brass plated A-B set up for the Texas Zephyr. A great guy I met through this site turned what was a beautiful, but almost non-functional piece of offal, into a re-motored Tsunami equiped smooth running jewel. What he did, and what he went through to do it, is worthy of a MR feature.
The damage is minimal and not permanent. It will be running--and silent until addressed-- by this weekend.
maxman And I also believe that any command sent to the loco will make the sounds re-start. So in addition to the forward/reverse controller flick, turning on the headlight should accomplish the same thing.
And I also believe that any command sent to the loco will make the sounds re-start. So in addition to the forward/reverse controller flick, turning on the headlight should accomplish the same thing.
As I read the instructions, that is correct...however in my experience, the only thing that actually makes the engine sound start up is doing something with the throttle.
Even in DCC, it's still a good idea to have some blocks set up, like for a roundhouse or enginehouse IMHO.
All,
Thanks for the advise (I am not OP but as you see from post #2 I am piggybacking). Indeed CV113 according to the Soundtraxx manual. I changed it to 120 (= 30 seconds delay till the sound stops). But the sound still stopped as soon as I turned the throttle to 0.
1. Digitrax Zephyr Extra
2. Programming with Burst ON, PAGE mode, all but subject loco removed.
3. I got the three jerks on the motor, confirming it worked.
Don't know what I am missing :-(
NP01 All, Thanks for the advise (I am not OP but as you see from post #2 I am piggybacking). Indeed CV113 according to the Soundtraxx manual. I changed it to 120 (= 30 seconds delay till the sound stops). But the sound still stopped as soon as I turned the throttle to 0. 1. Digitrax Zephyr Extra 2. Programming with Burst ON, PAGE mode, all but subject loco removed. 3. I got the three jerks on the motor, confirming it worked. Don't know what I am missing :-(
I'm not familiar with the Zephyr. Did you do that programming on a programming track, or "on the main" (ops mode)?
Might also want to check that you really set CV 113 at 120, and not at 12.
Some additional information in case it applies.
I am programming a Bachmann FA2 for a friend. This loco comes with a Tsunami. I thought that I'd try to duplicate some of what has been discussed.
I tried changing CV113 using ops mode with my NCE system. I selected CV 113 and entered a value of 12. The engine moved as though it had accepted the change. But the sound never cut out.
So I called Soundtraxx and the tech told me that the engine in question was what Bachmann called a SoundValue locomotive and that the decoder in it did not support CV 113. He further informed me that the engine would act as though it had accepted a CV change, but since the decoder software did not support that CV one could change that particular CV value all day long and not get anywhere.
Therefore, if the decoders in question are in locos that came with them one needs to go to the Soundtraxx site, get to the factory installed section (http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/), find the manufacturer of their loco, and then pick their particular loco from the list. As an example, here is the list for Bachmann units: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM%20pages/bachmann/bachmann.php
Well, this situation has taken a turn for the worse. The offending diesel was put on the layout this afternoon, and was alive and well. It was transfered to the programing track, CV 113 was reset to 1 and when returned to the lay out it dead shorted the DCC system. When put back on the programing track, it will not read back address, accept a new address or anything else. The only positive is that when returned to the layout, it does not shut the system down. It simply sits there unresponsive. I've downloaded the Tsunami AT1000 manuel and can;t find any information to reset factory defaults. Repeated attempts to read the address result in a ERR message. DCC system is MRC Prodigy Wireless.
Surely, one can't fry a decoder by changing the value of one of the sound configuration CVs.
Help! This is crazy.
Help
Maxman,
Programing in PAGE Mode which I understand is done on the mainline but is not loco specific so you need to remove other locos. I also set option switch for burst mode to ON. I think of page as something that turns your whole layout into program track. To me direct and ops never worked for Tsunami Decoders and I found this method from this and the digitrax forum. This has programmed many other CVs well, including just yesterday Loco address and bell ring rate.
CV113 is available for my loco, which is an Athearn Genesis GP15.
Still perplexed. I guess a call to Soundtraxx is in order.
Mreagent, set CV30 to 02 to reset your Tsunami.
Thanks. It did not work, but I think i've found the problem. It's not the decoder at all, but a short from the locomotive to the track/programing track that is intermitent. It is a plated brass loco with plated brass truck side frames and I think that there is occasional contact--somewhere-- that caused the problem. I got it on the layout for a minute or so and all functions worked--sound, lights, fwd/rev-- after checking clearences. Later, it shur down, so I've got to just do some electrical troubleshooting. Then, I'll redo CV 113 and see what happens.
Stay tuned.
mike
NP01 Maxman, Programing in PAGE Mode which I understand is done on the mainline but is not loco specific so you need to remove other locos. I also set option switch for burst mode to ON. I think of page as something that turns your whole layout into program track. To me direct and ops never worked for Tsunami Decoders and I found this method from this and the digitrax forum. This has programmed many other CVs well, including just yesterday Loco address and bell ring rate. CV113 is available for my loco, which is an Athearn Genesis GP15. Still perplexed. I guess a call to Soundtraxx is in order.
Just as a matter of curiosity, if you turn on the headlight and bell and then run the speed to zero, does the sound still mute?
If/when you do call Soundtraxx, please let us know what the solution is.
Regards
Still haven't called But did confirm that leaving a function on does not help.