I tried programming it as the booklet says, but when I lift it off the programming track to the layout, it loses the DCC programming.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Which DCC system are you using?
Rich
Alton Junction
PH-Pro or PowerCab?
OK, tell us a little more here.
Is this the first locomotive you have tried to program on the system, or have you successfully programmed other locos on the Power Cab?
What type of programming did you do? Just basic stuff like cab address, speed steps, direction, etc?
Why do you think that it loses the programmed values when you place it on the layout?
We need a little more information.
OK, good, so it retained its programmed values on the Programming Track when you switched to Run mode.
But, nothing, when you put it on the main layout. Did you try to run it on the short address? On the long address?
Can you check the value in CV29?
Jimmy_Braum Oh yes. At least once I had to reprogram it after taking from layout back to. Programming track. It didn't recognize it after putting back on programming track. So I did reset CV8 as per BLI instructions. The same exact thing happened again.
Oh yes. At least once I had to reprogram it after taking from layout back to. Programming track. It didn't recognize it after putting back on programming track. So I did reset CV8 as per BLI instructions. The same exact thing happened again.
When you say, "It didn't recognize it after putting it back on programming track", could it read the Manufacturer ID and the Decoder Version Number?
Under the hatch in the tender is the reset jumper, if this unit has one. It may be in the reset position, which would account for it losing programming every time power is removed. If it's one of the models with the magnetic wand, the reed switch that the magnet operates is probably stuck.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Under the hatch in the tender is the reset jumper, if this unit has one. It may be in the reset position, which would account for it losing programming every time power is removed. If it's one of the models with the magnetic wand, the reed switch that the magnet operates is probably stuck. --Randy
It's a Paragon 2, so there is no magnetic wand.
Here are the two options to reset the Paragon 2:
1. On the Programming Track, reset CV8 to 8, or
2. Locate the manual reset button on the main circuit board. Place the model on unpowered track. Press and hold the button. While holding the button, apply power to the track. After you hear confirmation that the reset was successful, release the button.
This is a rather obvious question, but have you actually applied power by dialing in speed steps? The Paragon 2 decoders do remain silent....dead...no activity, until you actually acquire the address on the throttle, and then actually dial in some speed. As soon as you dial in speed, they light up and make sounds. As long as you leave the rails powered during that session, they'll now sit and idle as you expect. Turn off the track power, go for dinner, come back, power up, and all other decoders will begin their activites. Not the Paragons.
-Crandell
As Crandell says, you actually have to dial in at least speed step 1 to get any activity out of a Paragon 2 steam engine. I have had quite a few instances where a BLI locomotive will "go dead" on me especially after sitting for some time. As I recall, I would get whistle and bell but absolutely nothing else!
Then the dummy lightbulb lights up over my head and I remember to do 2 quick taps of F9 (some BLI manuals say F6, try both!) For some reason the locos will put themselves in shutdown mode.
From the BLI Paragon2 Steam manual:
Startup/Shutdown Steam Engine
The sound system powers up with all sound effects off.
The startup sound effect is played by throttling up or by
pressing F9. If the locomotive is already playing sound
effects, pressing F9 initiates the shutdown locomotive
sound effect. If the engine is not idling, F9 is ignored.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/Paragon2%20Steam%20Manual%20(2.11.09).pdf
That MAY help out in your case... got nuthin' to lose if you try it! Good Luck, ED
I think that something else is going on here. I have to believe that the OP knows enough to apply some speed to the programmed loco when he returns it from the programming track to the mainline.
He is indicating that when nothing happens, he returns it to the programming track and the decoder cannot be read properly. He recalls that the message was Decoder Not Found, but it probably reads Cannot Read CV.
Something else is going on here, just not sure what it is. A reset to factory defaults may solve the problem, either CV8=8 or a hard reset with the circuit board button.
We still need more info from the OP.
richhotrain rrinker Under the hatch in the tender is the reset jumper, if this unit has one. It may be in the reset position, which would account for it losing programming every time power is removed. If it's one of the models with the magnetic wand, the reed switch that the magnet operates is probably stuck. --Randy It's a Paragon 2, so there is no magnetic wand. Here are the two options to reset the Paragon 2: 1. On the Programming Track, reset CV8 to 8, or 2. Locate the manual reset button on the main circuit board. Place the model on unpowered track. Press and hold the button. While holding the button, apply power to the track. After you hear confirmation that the reset was successful, release the button. Rich
OP didn't state vintage - I had one of the original PRR T-1's, it was the QSI decoder. Current release is, of course, Paragon II.
Still - the button could be stuck. Same symptom.
---Randy
Yes. It is the 2011 Broadway Limited T1 with the Paragon 2.
T1 works now. Had to reset and then forgot to hit the F9 button the second time (DOH!!!) anyway, locomotive works perfectly now.
Glad that did the trick, Jimmy. I really don't know why decoders need a "shutdown" when all I ever want to do is mute the sound but that "double tap F9" should be something every BLI owner should memorize!
Take care, Ed