I was thrilled to see the Digitrax announcement for the new SDH164D and SDN144PS full function sound decoders with an MSRP of only $49.95! Great motor control including BEMF, lots of functions and effects, plus several preloaded generic diesel and steam sounds. Finally! Has anyone purchased/installed one of these yet?
Hornblower
It will certainly be nice if the Digitrax decoders live up to their advertised claims. Competition does wonders for we purchasers.
I don't think these decoders have even been released yet and may not be for a few months. Until they do hit the market I wouldn't stick my neck out and call them a "Premium" decoder. I've removed Digitrax Sound FX decoders from Tower 55 models because they were too weak sounding compared to a QSI Revolution or Tsunami.
hornblowerI was thrilled to see the Digitrax announcement for the new SDH164D and SDN144PS full function sound decoders with an MSRP of only $49.95! ... Has anyone purchased/installed one of these yet?
I'll go out on a limb and predict that these will sell like $.99 hamburgers at a county fair. Digitrax makes darned good products, in my limited experience (including reading about its various products in forums here and there), and this sound decoder is sure to restore the adjective "Brilliance" to its rightful meaning.....right, David?
-Crandell
selectorand this sound decoder is sure to restore the adjective "Brilliance" to its rightful meaning.....right, David?
I believe that Mr. David has already said that this decoder has outdated sound technology in the following thread: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/forums/thread.aspx?ThreadID=168225
Or are we speaking of another Mr. David?
Texas Zepher hornblowerI was thrilled to see the Digitrax announcement for the new SDH164D and SDN144PS full function sound decoders with an MSRP of only $49.95! ... Has anyone purchased/installed one of these yet? The "catch" with Digitrax sound processors is that they use "high" ohm speakers (32 ohms to be exact). While not as limiting as the 100 ohm things that Loksound use, it still limits what 3rd party options are available to work with. No, but I have one sitting in a box I've not yet had time to install. I'm reserving judgment until I get it installed, since the installation of the speaker is often much more important than the quality of the sound processor itself.
FALSE. I have an SFX-004 Soundbug and the speaker that came attached to it is 8 ohms. You can use 8 ohm speakers. Yes the description on the Digitrax site says 32 ohms but it's definitely an 8 ohm speaker, says so right on the magnet. It seems they randomly throw speakers on the decoders when they ship them - would be nice if they just shipped them with no speaker at all. The one that came with the Soundbug might fit in an HO steam loco tender but it's too big for a diesel.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As for the usefulness of these decoders - they REALLY need to get more sound sets available. Designing new sound projects for the Digitrax decoders is harder than most because you need to know how to program the processor as well as carve up sound samples and do the audio editing. Most of the projects available for download in the Sound Depot are sub-par. One o the standouts is Fred Miller's Peter Witt trolley car - part of this is because Fred wrote a 'helper' program for some of that complex programming. There's actually a lot of capability in those decoders - accessing it is the hard part. Digitrax supposedly has hired a consultant to create additional sound projects, but per the Digitrax SOund Yahoo group he was down for some time undegoing back surgery plus the Digitrax work is not his primary employment. I wish they would either fully commit or just stop trying with a half-baked product that will only turn peopel off to the brand.
No, you have it correct. But, when compared to David's favourite kicking post...."brilliance" belongs somewhere else. A step at rehabilitating that term could just as well be when it is assigned to the new Digitrax sound decoder. It can be moved again later once we pass judgement here.
LowER quality since it's only 8 bit, yes. But quiet and distorted? Not at the same time. Crank up to max volume and it's distorted liek every other sound decoder. Kick it down a few notches, and it's not distorted any more than the input source, and PLENTY loud.
I really don't understand all these people complaining that the Digitax decoders have no volume. The must all install them with no enclosures or something, but the volume level from the Soundbug I have is MORE than adequate as it can be heard in the next room even WITHOUT an enclosure.
You can get a a good idea of the difference between what the provide as the default sounds vs what the decoder is capable of by looking at the videos on the Digitrax site. The bottom one is just the default sound. The top one (SD40-2) is a completely custom one. Most of the options in the Sound Depot are like the bottom one, but a few, in a particular Fred Miller's, are not. Problem is, Fred's a traction modeler so unless you need trolley sounds...
rrinker As for the usefulness of these decoders - they REALLY need to get more sound sets available. Designing new sound projects for the Digitrax decoders is harder than most because you need to know how to program the processor as well as carve up sound samples and do the audio editing. Most of the projects available for download in the Sound Depot are sub-par. One o the standouts is Fred Miller's Peter Witt trolley car - part of this is because Fred wrote a 'helper' program for some of that complex programming. There's actually a lot of capability in those decoders - accessing it is the hard part. Digitrax supposedly has hired a consultant to create additional sound projects, but per the Digitrax SOund Yahoo group he was down for some time undegoing back surgery plus the Digitrax work is not his primary employment. I wish they would either fully commit or just stop trying with a half-baked product that will only turn peopel off to the brand. --Randy
If they are anything like the 165 series/soundbug combo, I have to agree with the above post and David B.
A while back, I ordered a couple of those combos, plus a PR3 specifically for programming them.
To say the least, the experiece was frustrating. They actually had a good quality of sound, but as stated, the preloaded soundset selection was just short of non-existant, and difficult to navigate to boot. Support documentation in general was bad on the site as well.
Programming was altogether horrid, as the closest thing I can equate it with is writing VB (Visual Basic) script code.
Additionally, I wasn't even impressed with the motor control. While good, it was nowhere near the level of ESU Loksound 3.5 units, no matter how I configured start voltage, speed curve, ACC/Dec, etc.
I sold all of that equipment and standardized on ESU and QSI, although I have a pair of Tsunami 567's on order.
If you have a fleet of GP38-2's (and nothing else), and are die hard Digitrax (I know smoe people are), then this may be for you (or if you have access to a locomotive sound library and actually ENJOY writing VB scripts).
Dim this and Dim that!
Texas ZepherhornblowerI was thrilled to see the Digitrax announcement for the new SDH164D and SDN144PS full function sound decoders with an MSRP of only $49.95! ... Has anyone purchased/installed one of these yet? The "catch" with Digitrax sound processors is that they use "high" ohm speakers (32 ohms to be exact). While not as limiting as the 100 ohm things that Loksound use, it still limits what 3rd party options are available to work with. No, but I have one sitting in a box I've not yet had time to install. I'm reserving judgment until I get it installed, since the installation of the speaker is often much more important than the quality of the sound processor itself.
Where did you buy you SDN144PS? here's a copy of an email I got from Digitrax a few days a go?
Digitrax2443Transmitter RdPanama City, FL 32404850 872-9890Fax 850 872-9557email: techsupport@digitrax.comWEB: www.digitrax.com
-----Original Message-----From: Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 11:23 PMTo: techsupport@digitrax.comSubject: SDN144PS question
Is the SDN144PS decoder a full function sound motor control and fucntion decoder? Reason for asking is if you check out Acculites add for the SDN144PS it mentions the SFX64D in the add saying "Note: The SFX064D has no motor functions and is to be used in conjunction with a standard mobile decoder such as a DH123D "
I think we need to realize is that this is a low end or maybe a better term is entry level sound decoder. I find it hard to believe the Digitrax intended this decoder to go up against top of the line sound decoders Like Tsunami or QSI etc. For a guy with a large number of locomotives with a tight budget who isn't all that discriminating when it comes to sound it looks like an affordable alternative.
LitchfieldStation.com sells the SDH164D for $39.89. But right now there out of stock. Still for somebody trying to get into sound might be the way to go.
davidmbedard When someone is getting into ANYTHING for the first time, quality is always the way to go. Low quality tends to put people off. David B
When someone is getting into ANYTHING for the first time, quality is always the way to go. Low quality tends to put people off.
David B
Very true. It is the same in other hobbies, and in my experience with astronomy, those purchasing the department store Christmas telescopes are almost always soon quite disappointed. The lack of engineering and poor performance due to many shortcomings soon has the item collecting dust.
Some people are not rich and have to start on the low end and work their way up. Remember that those high end decoders now will end up in the cheap section on e-bay in 5 years, You know what your old computers are worth verses what you paid for them, same thing!
This is Digitrax, not MRC. The sound may not be as good as the decoders that cost 2-3x as much, but within the limitations of tiny speakers and not large enough enclosures the difference is NOT that great. Again it comes down to source quality - Digitrax DOES need to get better quality sounds in their Sound Depot or people will start getting turned off. There are some examples with better sounds but many are not available because the sound files are copywrite. Public domain QUALITY sound files are hard to come by, and I don't see Digitrax sending people out to make recordings.
Actually, the sound quality was fine, even very good, if a decent soundset was loaded.
However, the selection of soundsets was pitiful, the support documentation seriuosly lacking, and the programming interface learning curve and (lack of) ease of use was horrific (and I'm an IT analyst).
On top of all of that, I ran into decoder address sharing issues almost every time I tried to do aything with it, because it was two seperate decoders. These usually happened at 99% of a 5 minute sound update, and almost always required a complete reload from scratch after resetting the address. Perhaps at lease that will not be an issue on the new one.
There should be no issue programming IF you use a Digitrax motor decoder and the SOundbug, or one of the other Digitrax sound decders - the ONLY CV overlap is for common elements like the address. None of the sound CVs are the same as any used by the motor decoders, either for function effects or motor control like BEMF. This is another advantage they have over other dual decoder solutions such as plugging just about any brand motor decoder into a Blueline sound loco.
selector davidmbedard When someone is getting into ANYTHING for the first time, quality is always the way to go. Low quality tends to put people off. David B Very true. It is the same in other hobbies, and in my experience with astronomy, those purchasing the department store Christmas telescopes are almost always soon quite disappointed. The lack of engineering and poor performance due to many shortcomings soon has the item collecting dust. -Crandell
I found that the only way to go is with top quality. The cheaper stuff is always looking good on the short term, but, the long term goal suffers hugely.
If you cannot afford the thing now, learn some patience, save the $$$ and then, when you have money, get the better decoders.
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
davidmbedard rrebell Some people are not rich and have to start on the low end and work their way up. Remember that those high end decoders now will end up in the cheap section on e-bay in 5 years, You know what your old computers are worth verses what you paid for them, same thing! I am far from rich, however I do make choices that I will love in the long run. If you want a 3 minute joy, get an MRC decoder.......the Digitrax SFX will amount to about 30 minutes........a Tsunami gives countless hours of fun. David B
rrebell Some people are not rich and have to start on the low end and work their way up. Remember that those high end decoders now will end up in the cheap section on e-bay in 5 years, You know what your old computers are worth verses what you paid for them, same thing!
I am far from rich, however I do make choices that I will love in the long run. If you want a 3 minute joy, get an MRC decoder.......the Digitrax SFX will amount to about 30 minutes........a Tsunami gives countless hours of fun.
Dave, I can tell you favor the Tsunami sound decoders, based upon uour posts but I question the day when you get one and you aren't happy with the sound recording that comes with it from the factory ? At least with Digitrax and QSI we can download new sound files. Just wondering ? It would seem to me that a high end decoder should have the ability to download new sounds. I would expect that Soundtraxx is going to fix this over time.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
In my experience, there is very few that ever reprogram their decoders regular CV´s, so I guess that the "need" to download sound into the decoders caters for even fewer users!
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
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2 things about this. First, the ability to load sounds makes it FAR FAR easier for retailers - there is only 1 SKU to stock for decoder form factor. Not 20 different ones. Customer comes in and wants a GE C30-7, load that sound set. Next customer wants an Alco RS3, got it.
Second, the pre-programmed, non-loadable method is fine as long as you cna get the combination of prime mover and horn you actually want.
I would agree that the ability to actually customize the sounds individually (QSI doesn;t really do this, like Loksound and Digitrax) probably appeals to a relative few who have the ability to do the required sound gathering and editing. However, having all combinations avaialble as free downloads and the decoder shipping from the factor all the same makes a LOT of sense.
rrinker 2 things about this. First, the ability to load sounds makes it FAR FAR easier for retailers - there is only 1 SKU to stock for decoder form factor. Not 20 different ones. Customer comes in and wants a GE C30-7, load that sound set. Next customer wants an Alco RS3, got it. Second, the pre-programmed, non-loadable method is fine as long as you cna get the combination of prime mover and horn you actually want. I would agree that the ability to actually customize the sounds individually (QSI doesn;t really do this, like Loksound and Digitrax) probably appeals to a relative few who have the ability to do the required sound gathering and editing. However, having all combinations avaialble as free downloads and the decoder shipping from the factor all the same makes a LOT of sense. --Randy
Randy,
You hit on my point. I agree, that I have no plans to record my own sound files but I certianly enjoy the option of being able to download a new one. Also, if something happens and I want to move the decoder to another unit, I can download a new sound file for that locomotive. I also have purchased a few QSI revolution decoders. There are two main models and then I download any number of sound files depending upon what locomotive it is going into.
Don't take any of this that I am trashing Tsunami decoders. I have one and think it's great but I think the flexibility of being able to download new sound files is a plus for other decoders.
I bought one(SDN144PS), it arrived 2 days ago.
I do not care for it. It is far, far from premium!!!
I intend to return it for a refund, not a replacement. Read on...
1). Crap manual - only 22 cvs explaned. The old "go online and search our inadequate, outdated, slow, website in the hopes you may find your answer" is what the manual tells you. No data on the motor control cvs at all. Go ahead, go to digitraxx, and put the part # in the search box - ZIPPO. Could not even find a page for the product itself, let alone tech info. More on why this is so important later. It should be against the law to sell a decoder without COMPLETE info on EVERY cv. I mean, give the user - the range, the default value, and an understandable explanation of what the cv does. Charge me, raise the price, sell a manual, hire a web site manager(or one that does his job), whatever, but GIVE ME THE INFO!!!!!!!!!
2). The product advertisements have a connected(wired) cap, with a 13x18 oval speaker - yet mine has a 13mm round speaker(differnet colors on the wires also) and an unattached capacitor that is supposed to be optional. I can assure you, that is misleading - YOU MUST USE THE CAP, PERIOD! It is a big, cheap, old style(un-solid) cap - YUCK.
3). On the default settings, the loco will only go very slow. Changing the volt settings only helps a little - max volts at the motor leads is a paultry 7 volts at step 28. I could easily probe the leads as the loco ran on the track, since it is moving so SLOW!
4). Playing the horn, or when/if the unit plays a random sound - the loco will slow to crawling. When the sound stops, it will speed back up.
5) When in the steam sound scheme, the loco is really slow - change only the sound scheme(to deisel) and the top speed is doubles for some reason!!!
6) There are only 3 sound channels - only three sounds can be played together at any one time.
7) I wanted the steam sounds, but they are very poor in quality. Note that I admit the volume is adequate, it is just the poor quality of the sound file.
8) I cannot program the cvs "on the main", let alone read them back. Using a Power cab. Note - the only decoder that I have been able to "program on the main" is my one loco with an NCE decoder. Go figure.
9) Complicated chuff rate set up as it appeared in the manual - I am not stupid, yet cannot figure out even after 4 hours of trying different things.
So, here I am, GUESSING on how to configure a technical electrical product because the manufactuer was too cheap to provide one piece of paper with info(complete cv info). It like selling me a mixing machine to mix any color paint with, while only giving me the formula to mix white or black.
Notes:I do not have a voltage drop problem on my layout! I model in n scale.
For comparison: People in this forum have knocked MRC sound decoders pretty hard. Know that I am not a big fan of them, but I do have something to add to the argument. I have an MRC1636 and a 1637. The 1637 is in an old Bachmann J Class(classic, refurbed nicely by myself and is a TRULY flawless unit now) . The sound is very very LOUD! I had to set the chuff volume down a notch because it was too loud!!! The sound is of high quality with 16(i think) different schemes to choose from. It has at least 200 hours of usage. While in use last week, the loco fell off the track and took a 3 foot plunge to a hardwood floor! Still works. I can hear it running right now, in the train room, 50 feet away and down the hall. Short circuit on/off cycles? It has endured at least 100 cycles - I do not run any kind of protection - no light bulbs, no EB1, no EB2, ect... Lets face it, the Power Cab is only 2amp anyway. It has crossed from dcc to dc track without going poof. I will be buying more and recommend them without hesitation. The 1636 lives in an unpowered LifeLike E8B with a harness to the A unit. I bought it a year ago from Tony's - it is the first run with the extremely delicate single strand wires for the speaker. Those were a pain to deal with, and I believe the later runs have used a better speaker that does not rely on the leads providing resistance(IOW a higher ohm rating for the speaker itself). I made a nice enclosure for it, but the sound volume is a little low. I believe a better speaker will help). The quality of the sounds is excellant though, with a good selection of default sounds to choose from. Neither MRC decoders have capacitors, yet they NEVER stall out! In addition, the 1636 gave me two LEDs - the digitraxx does not. The MRCs have no fancy motor controls(no BEMF, silent running, ect), but they work fine, even in locos built before 1999.
My opinion is that the MRC 1637 is a FINE decoder. I bet all their "Sheer Brilliance" decoders are going to be simular in sound. If you are not happy with the sound from your MRC1637 - you screwed up the speaker install or did not set up the cvs right!!!!!!!!!
The MRC 1636 is just OK(you see, it IS NOT a member of the "Brilliance" line). Not really good, but OK for the budget minded. Avoid the ones with single strand speaker leads. I am going to try a newer version soon, and will post the results at that time.
BTW - the Power Cab powers 18 tortouis machines, 2 switch eights, two classic three pole power hogs, a classic LifeLike 5 pole, a late model Atlas GP9, a Bach Hvy Mtn, and one more(the one this digitraxx decoder was for) with no problem. Even at full throttle. I even manually stalled one loco and the breaker did not cycle!
The bottom line - both MRCs run, this particular Digitraxx has been all trouble.
Tom Jones1). Crap manual - only 22 cvs explaned. The old "go online and search our inadequate, outdated, slow, website in the hopes you may find your answer" is what the manual tells you. No data on the motor control cvs at all. Go ahead, go to digitraxx, and put the part # in the search box - ZIPPO. Could not even find a page for the product itself, let alone tech info. More on why this is so important later. It should be against the law to sell a decoder without COMPLETE info on EVERY cv. I mean, give the user - the range, the default value, and an understandable explanation of what the cv does. Charge me, raise the price, sell a manual, hire a web site manager(or one that does his job), whatever, but GIVE ME THE INFO!!!!!!!!!
I think the instructions for the decoder you bought can be found on the Digitrax website. I believe the link to it is : http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/SDN144PS.pdf
From what I can tell, Digitrax seems to have some common decoder instructions that they claim you can find in their decoder manual, assuming you can figure out from their website which of the manuals that might be. In any case, I think the link to the manual you need is: http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/decodermanual.pdf
Hope this information is helpful.
Oh, by the way, don't bother saying anything good about those other decoders you mentioned here. You will either not be believed, or you will be called a "ringer".
Regards!!
As of now I'm all QSI or Tsunami. The Sole MRC went in the parts bin within a week.
Springfield PA
maxman I think the instructions for the decoder you bought can be found on the Digitrax website. I believe the link to it is : http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/SDN144PS.pdf From what I can tell, Digitrax seems to have some common decoder instructions that they claim you can find in their decoder manual, assuming you can figure out from their website which of the manuals that might be. In any case, I think the link to the manual you need is: http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/decodermanual.pdf Hope this information is helpful. Oh, by the way, don't bother saying anything good about those other decoders you mentioned here. You will either not be believed, or you will be called a "ringer".
Thanks for the links, but I have already been there. The download for the file on my specific decoder is the digital version used to print the paper manual I recieved with the decoder. Again, it is inadequate. The other link to the "Decoder Manual" is good and all, but when you download and read it - it says "Last updated on 09/08". Simply put, when the manual was written, my decoder did not even exist yet. Don't try to tell me that the CVs should be the same! I AM TIRED OF GUESSING! I demand current specs, for my specific decoder, period.
I mentioned the "other" decoders because they are in the same class as the one this thread is about. I also would like to convey that I, in fact, do believe that MRC decoders cannot possibly be as bad as portrayed in this forum - that they run five minutes then poof. Come on. One guy said that five of six were DOA. Please. If their quality were actually that bad, they would be outta biz. I am not saying MRC decoders in general are great, or really good. I am saying that the 1637 is really good and anyone saying otherwise has never owned one, or screwed up the speaker install. I can say that because I own/operate on a a daily basis.
This forum's general attitude towards MRC decoders reminds me of how I poorly misjudged a certain car company back in '72. I said many times, "Honda can make motorcycles, but their cars will never be worth buying". I have grown fat eating those words over the years. Things change. If Bachmann can go from joke to spectrum, so can MRC.
Sounds like you should have followed common advice for ANY decoder - mainly, RESET it first before programming. I have never seen any Digitrax decoder with that poor a motor control to run at a fraction of top speed out of the box with factory settings. Sounds more like it had a speed table, or was operating as if it had a speed table.
ALL of the regualr function and motor control CVs are exactly like other DH/DN series decoders. No need to rehash all that
As for the cap - I have yet to see a sound decoder that comes with a solid cap as the keep-alive. QSI's don't, and unless they changed Tsunamis don't either. There is nothing 'yucky' about a 'regular' electrolytic capacitor - you clearly have been swayed by a PC motherboard issue caused by an unscupulous Asian manufacturer selling essentially counterfeited component to motherboard makers - and that only lasted for a very short time. Of course now some people see a 'regular' metal can electrolytic capacitor as some sort of inferior part now - they aren't.
As for the programming on the main - well with Ops Mode you can NOT EVER read back CVs unless you have Digitrax and a Transponding set up or Railcomm. If you got a readback from an NCE decoder you most have accidently used soemthign other than programming on the main. It would have worked since the PowerCab has no seperate program track output, your main line turns into the progrm track unless you installed NCE's Autoswitch device to direct power to a seperate program track. I've had no problems with any brand decoders with my Zephyr, even stubborn sound decoders program fine with Ops Mode.
What IS acking with the Digitrax sound decoders is consistency. Some come with 8 ohm speakers and some with 32 ohm. They can all use 8 ohm safely. The included speaker is not meant to be the end-all of speakers - it would probably be better if they didn;t include a speaker because if you cna actually fit the supplied speaker it's a rare occurence. And you NEED an enclosure for ANY sound decoder's speakers - no enclosure = REALLY poor sound. ANd speaking of sounds, they REALLY need to get some better quality recordings for people to use. Relying on the aftermarket is not working for several reason, one being to truly use the sound features you need know how to program at the controller level - it's not just a mater of cutting and pasting in sound smples to a predefined script, because the supplied predefined script pretty much stinks. Second, because you need to include proprietary Digitrax code in a sound project, you aren't aloowed to sell them - not too many peopel are going to go through the effort to get permission to record a loco, edit the sound files, AND do all that complex PIC programming and then give it away for free. There are a few - if you happen to be a traction fan. Fred Milelr has some really great trolley sounds, one complements his article in RMC a few months ago about adding sound to a Bachmann Peter Witt trolley. Fred recorded an actual car for the counds, and also made major changes to the underlying programming to get all sorts of extra sounds and make the decoder do things the stock out of the package version simply cannot come close to. it IS possible - like other Digitrax products liek the DS-54, it's got the whole kitchen sink thrown in - there just needs to be more guidance on how to get the most out of them. If they are goign to keep being half-hearted about sound I'd sooner see them stop working on sound decoders and move on to the next big thing. A half-hearted support for sound decoders is only goign to hurt their reputation. Supposedly they hired a consultant to build more and better sound files - well that was more than 6 months ago and still nothing new.
I am not trying to be rude, but...
this thread is about low priced premium sound decoders. You may consider QSI or Tsunami to be low priced, but I assure you that the OP, nor I, would agree.
I only mentioned MRC because they are in the same class, and because I disagree with those in here that think all MRC decoders can be rubber stamped as junk.
I want to say again, I own/operate an MRC 1637 every day, and it has exceeded my expectations.
I will not say that MRC is good or bad based on my experience with just one decoder. That would be like the Chevette owner saying "Chevys are junk", while the Corvette owner says "Chevy is the cat's meow".
When you find a $60 QSI or Tsunami, come back and we will talk about comparing it to the $60 MRC, or the $45 Digitraxx.
MLB
rrinker Sounds like you should have followed common advice for ANY decoder - mainly, RESET it first before programming.
I did. Set CV8 to 8. Thanks anyway.
rrinker ALL of the regualr function and motor control CVs are exactly like other DH/DN series decoders. No need to rehash all that
I believe Digitraxx mentioned that this decoder had newer, more simplied setup for the BEMF settings on this decoder. I can't say that for sure, because there is nothing about this decoder at thier site, I read it in an ad last week, and I looked at a lot of decoders. But, those ads are all based on info released by Digitraxx.
rrinker As for the cap - I have yet to see a sound decoder that comes with a solid cap as the keep-alive.
The competition(MRC) for this decoder does not need a cap at all, yet mine run fine. Moreover, I just saw a pic in another thread on this forum with a Tsunami which had two solid caps onboard. Either they are not for keep alive, or you are mistaken. The thread was on MRC decoders and the guy was boasting how much more beautiful the Tsunami was as compared to the MRC. Swayed? Hardly, I own an nVidia vid card and two budget mobos that fell victim to that ploy. Cost me big, in time especially. The problem was not, and never was limited to mobos. It is simply that they bought a much higher percentage of them. The problem was that the oil in them boiled at a lower temp, and leaked out. Solid caps can be had that will do more then the one provided, using less room.
rrinker As for the programming on the main - well with Ops Mode you can NOT EVER read back CVs unless you have Digitrax and a Transponding set up or Railcomm. If you got a readback from an NCE decoder
You misread or misunderstood me. In simple terms, I said - "I cannot program on the main, let alone read cvs back". I know we cannot read back cvs in that mode. My point is, I cannot program on the main at all - volts, address, ect..
How can you possibly think the motor control is related to a speed table when:
1). I did not load one, never activated one, and have reset the decoder(many times BTW).
2). How could a speed table being in use cause the loco to slow down when a sound is played?
3). Why does changing from the default steam scheme to the default deisel scheme result in twice the voltage supplied to the motor.
On the speaker deal - I wanted to convey the fact that the ad says one thing, but the product says another. I found the sound volume to be good, but I agree with you, the quality of the sound file is poor at best. All my speakers have home brewed enclosures, installed airtight. This is one of the things that upset me about this deal - I spent many hours to installing this in a small tender. Enclosure, harness, ect.. I thought, this is a Digitraxx, it will be nice, spend the time to do a nice install. Then the thing won't even control the motor correctly. Then I thought, try it in a new loco. Brand new Proto 2000 E8 - just held on the chassis by tape with the 4 mandatory wires - no change. It's not just a downer, I am flat out angry. My time is every bit as important as anyone working at Digitraxx.
rrinkerIf they are goign to keep being half-hearted about sound I'd sooner see them stop working on sound decoders and move on to the next big thing. A half-hearted support for sound decoders is only goign to hurt their reputation.
You could not be more correct. I have purchased my first two Digitraxx products ever, just this month, and they have lost me already - unless something really turns things around in a hurry. Not to mention readers of this thread.
Tom JonesI am not trying to be rude, but... this thread is about low priced premium sound decoders. You may consider QSI or Tsunami to be low priced, but I assure you that the OP, nor I, would agree. I only mentioned MRC because they are in the same class, and because I disagree with those in here that think all MRC decoders can be rubber stamped as junk. I want to say again, I own/operate an MRC 1637 every day, and it has exceeded my expectations. I will not say that MRC is good or bad based on my experience with just one decoder. That would be like the Chevette owner saying "Chevys are junk", while the Corvette owner says "Chevy is the cat's meow". When you find a $60 QSI or Tsunami, come back and we will talk about comparing it to the $60 MRC, or the $45 Digitraxx. MLB
Compared to a Zero1 decoder, a Tsunami is a bargain!