hon30critter There is no question that my locomotive has a QSI decoder because there is a label saying so right on the decoder. The exact version is marked as well. It is: ho110f33, which shows up on the QSI website as being correct for an FP7. Here is a previously posted picture of the locomotive with decoder: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/216872.aspx
There is no question that my locomotive has a QSI decoder because there is a label saying so right on the decoder. The exact version is marked as well. It is: ho110f33, which shows up on the QSI website as being correct for an FP7. Here is a previously posted picture of the locomotive with decoder:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/216872.aspx
Interesting. I looked at the Intermountain website and under the decoder section they sort of imply that the decoders they install are Soundtraxx: http://www.intermountain-railway.com/IRCDCCDecoderInformationV1.2-2012.htm.
And I looked at the Soundtraxx website and they have a section in the manuals section for factory installed decoders and they reference Intermountain: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/
But pictures don't lie, or at least they didn't before photoshop. Did you get that loco new, or did someone install that QSI decoder?
Anyway, if you follow the QSI decoder reset procedure that should reset all the functions to operate properly.
I have both sound and non-sound InterMountain locomotives, and I have communicated back and forth in the past with IM about decoder installations in the non-sound locos.
Prior to 2011, all HO scale IM locos were non-sound and included an NMRA 8-pin socket, which allowed for easy installation of a DCC decoder.
All InterMountain HO locomotives shipped after January 2011 are DCC equipped from the factory. Some units are equipped with non-sound decoders, while other units are equipped with sound decoders. The sound equipped locomotives utilize SoundTraxx decoders and sound systems.
My guess is that hon30critter's locomotive is equipped with an after-market QSI sound decoder system recommended by InterMountain.
Rich
Alton Junction
OK Rich:
Given the facts about Intermountain's use of Soundtraxx my decoder must be an aftermarket unit which IM has recommended, hence their reference to it on their website. I bought the locomotive used.
I have attempted the factory reset numerous times using both the magnetic switch (which is working - I tested it for on/off using a multimeter) and by resetting CVs. It would not reset to address 03. It went totally dead for a while until I used the previously mentioned CVs to set the address to'1234' whereupon it came back to life. I was then able to reset the long address to the engine number no problem. However the headlight, horn and bell are still messed up.
Dave
UPDATE:
I finally found instructions on the QSI website explaining how to reset the decoder both with the magnet and with CVs. My first mistake was attempting to do it on the programming track. Apparently there was neither enough power nor enough time to accomplish the reset.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter UPDATE: I finally found instructions on the QSI website explaining how to reset the decoder both with the magnet and with CVs. My first mistake was attempting to do it on the programming track. Apparently there was neither enough power nor enough time to accomplish the reset.
So, were you able to reset the decoder, and did that straighten out the headlight/bell/horn, or haven't you had the opportunity to try yet?
Hi Maxman:
Yes, I was able to reset the decoder, or at least the decoder said the word 'reset' which is obviously supposed to indicate that the decoder has been reset to its basic program.
No, it did not resolve the problems with the headlight/bell/horn. The headlight still acts like a mars light as soon as you give the engine any forward throttle, and the bell will sound very quietly but only after the decoder makes noises which I can't identify, but they sound like some sort of air pressure relief related to the engine. I am guessing at that.
Since I have ordered the QSI Programmer I have decided to wait until it arrives before doing any more experimentation with the decoder. I did spend a lot of time trying to decipher the QSI manual. It seems that the headlight is controlled by CV55, but CV55 uses tables set up by CVs 49 and 50 if I understand correctly, but I can't find an explanation of how the three CVs interact. Anyhow, the decoder will sit until I get the Programmer.
Dave,
CV 49 & CV 50 are the primary and secondary indexing CVs. They must be temporarily "activated" in order to access certain other CVs for programming purposes. Think of it as a interlocking tower. In order to throw a particular turnout, I have to also throw turnouts "49" and "50". Perhaps a somewhat weak analogy but you get the point.
Rich & Dave,
I finally received an e-mail response from BLI. I gave them my home address and they'll send me an RA for the Hudson to have it repaired.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Rich & Dave, I finally received an e-mail response from BLI. I gave them my home address and they'll send me an RA for the Hudson to have it repaired. Tom
Excellent.
Tom:
Glad to hear that BLI is willing to help you out.
Can you explain a little bit more about how CVs 49, 50 and 55 are input. The QSI manual refers to CVs with two decimals in the number. i.e. CV 55.76.1. I couldn't find any instructions in the manual about how to program a CV with the two decimals. I am kind of guessing that you would set CV40 to 76 and CV50 to 1 and then set CV55 to whatever value is determined by the change you want to make. I tried doing that but nothing seemed to change. Specifically I was trying to set the Mars light to constant bright in each of the four movement situations (i.e. Forward, Reverse, Neutral from Forward and Neutral from Reverse). If I understand the process I would set CV 49 to 76 and CV 50 to 1 and then CV55 to 2 which is Bit 1 on for constant bright, and then repeat that process three more times setting CV50 to 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Am I even close?
I apologise because I seem to have stolen your this thread. If you would rather have me start another thread I will do so.
Thanks again
hon30critterSpecifically I was trying to set the Mars light to constant bright in each of the four movement situations (i.e. Forward, Reverse, Neutral from Forward and Neutral from Reverse). If I understand the process I would set CV 49 to 76 and CV 50 to 1 and then CV55 to 2 which is Bit 1 on for constant bright, and then repeat that process three more times setting CV50 to 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
I think you're absolutely correct. I looked through the manual and they talk about the primary CV (49) on page 97 and the secondary CV (50) on page 98. And they talk about programming the mars light CV (55) starting around page 155. Page 157 is for the forward direction, and I came up with the same numbers you did.
You might have to do something with the Mars light initial state which is discussed on page 156.
I believe that you do not have to reset CV 49 every time so long as you are only dealing with the Mars light CVs, since its value does not change. But you do have to change CV 50 each time for the Mars light programming.
By the way, the manual I looked at is: http://www.qsisolutions.com/pdf/QuantumDCCRefManual_5_1_0.pdf.
Maxman:
We were referring to the same manual.
I have tried all the possible combinations that I can think of including OPs mode, program track and all of the CV55 settings related to headlight on/mars off, bright all the time ....NADA! Something is not working according to plan. I know that the locomotive is receiving all the commands because it moves each time I make a change.
This one goes to the back of the workbench until I get the QSI Programmer.
I will let you know what happens.
Thanks for your help.
I'm a bit rusty on this but your assumption in regards to the primary and secondary indexes is correct - i.e. they are "76" and "1", respectively. I looked through my older QSI Quantum manual (2005) but it doesn't list any specific values for CV55 for constant lighting.
Which DCC system are you using?
Hi Tom:
I am using an NCE Power Cab.
The manual that maxman referred to is the same as the one I have been using. It explains how to calculate the numbers for CV55. I have read the manual several times and unless I am missing something I have calculated the numbers correctly, or so I believe. As I said before, the decoder is receiving the information because the locomotive moves when the CV value is entered. Perhaps I am programming the wrong CVs. There are several other CVs which could conceivably affect the headlight but the manual gives specific examples of what values to input into CV55.76.xx and I have tried those.
I am going to wait until I have the QSI Programmer. I also have the bits on order to hook up JMRI so hopefully between the two of them I can sort this mess out. Otherwise I should have spent my money on a new (LokSound) decoder instead of the QSI Programmer!
As mentioned, my QSI manual is several years old (V3.0). You and Rich are using V5.
I did see mentioned in the V3.0 manual where CV51 was used in conjunction with CV49 rather than CV50 for the secondary index. Does the V5 manual specifically say CV50 for that?
tstage Dave, As mentioned, my QSI manual is several years old (V3.0). You and Rich are using V5. I did see mentioned in the V3.0 manual where CV51 was used in conjunction with CV49 rather than CV50 for the secondary index. Does the V5 manual specifically say CV50 for that? Tom
Yea, that sounds about right, maxman. IIRC, that's the section right before the lighting effects.
Tom, whatever happened with your BLI loco and the presumably faulty QSI decoder.
I ask because there is a currently running thread with the same address problem.
Rich,
I had to skim through the thread to remember the issue I was having at the time. FYI: Somewhere near the bottom of pg. 1 I discovered that my BLI Dreyfuss Hudson was actually outfitted with a Paragon2 decoder rather than a QSI decoder. I ended up sending my Dreyfuss Hudson into BLI for repair and, IIRC, they replaced the decoder free of charge. Although I haven't operated it in the last couple of years, the Hudson ran just fine after it returned from the BLI backshop with no hint of an addressing problem.
Tom, thanks for that reply.