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LOC VS Tsunami decoders

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, May 20, 2016 8:16 PM

Yes.  Now that Tsunami 2 is announced well have to see what it's all about.  I don't have much budget available for sound for the forsee able future but I will be watching from the sidelines with interst.

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, May 19, 2016 10:32 AM

It will be interesting to see how the TSU-1100 will compare. Same size as the Econami.

Rich

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, May 19, 2016 8:33 AM

Kind of a dead issue since Tsunamis have been discontinued, but after recently installing a couple of TCS WOW sound decoders, and buying an engine (Atlas C-425) with Loksound installed, I can't imagine I would ever want to buy or install a Tsunami again. Sound quality is good, but so many problems setting CV's and keeping them once set, down to outright failure of the decoder, it's just not worth it.

Ironically, I have some old Soundtraxx LC ("low cost") sound decoders from 10 years ago that are still working great.

Stix
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Posted by HejhogMarty on Thursday, May 19, 2016 5:58 AM
I will discuss this with Jack at Litchfield Station today. I always have him program my decoders. All but one of my ESU decoders is a select 73400 series one is a direct . This is my first shot at reprogramming, so I will keep plugging away at this.

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:34 PM

I see there is a new version of the V 4 programmer software that came out yesterday.  However that may not solve your problem

Reading thru this thread, I think you did not get a V 4 decoder so maybe the sound file is incompatible if it is a V 4.

Henry

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:02 PM
Actually I tried to load the #73440 file.

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:59 PM

Randy

It has been a few months since I have discussed ESU Loksound decoders. I bought the Lokprogrammer and wish to reprogram one of my select 8 pin decoder #73436 from the prime mover 567 to # 73404 (7FDL16). I tried loading the new file but it says I it is a V4 file , I pulled it from the select sound files. I am new at this so I may be doing something wrong.

Marty 

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Sunday, January 3, 2016 4:29 PM

Tom

I ran my Kato GP35 with the KT-1000 Tsunami decoder throught the same test as the SD40-2 with the ESU select decoder. Interesting enough there is notible jerking at the same speed (step001). The results was .91sMPH or 16 sec in 3 inches of travel. Now this could be the difference in mechanics of the motor and linkages or in electrical pulses are not as refined. Need a O-Scope to see that. At least that is my thinking. I will be getting another select decoder for this Loco and will see what happens ! I will evetually install it in my other Kato GP35 of the same exact model different road name.

I am very curious about this now!

I posted on you tube again.

Marty

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 6:27 PM

I am going to buy another select 6 aux for my Kato GP35 . I will try my Other Kato GP35 with the Tsunami KT1000, see how it compares. The only thing in common is Kato workmanship smaller loco but we will see.

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:59 PM

0.53sMPH is not too shabby, Marty. YesCool

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:56 PM

Here is what I calculated using my phones stop watch.

0.25'/27sec= .009ft/sec

.009/5,280 x 3,600 sec x 87.1

= .53sMPH

I bumped the throttle a little waited for response bumped again and so forth until the loco moved.

Marty

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:26 PM

I have the PR3 interface module and I am in the basic speed table according to JMRI. Should I put it in the 28 step pane? Then use the JMRI throttle?

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:17 PM

 Nope, just a throttle knob and a direction lever. The readout is only for selecting the address or displaying the CV numbers and values when programming. I don;t THINK the + and - buttons work to increment and decrement speed by a step at a time. I have the old original Zephyr, not the Xtra though. That's why the first thing I bought (other than some decoders) was a DT400 throttle. Encoders, and obvious speed step control.

                    --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:11 PM

Thanks for clearing that up, Randy.  So there's no digital readout on the Zephyr to indicate what speed step you are at?

Tom

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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 2, 2016 5:00 PM

 You're going to need a computer interface such as a PR3 or Locobuffer and use a JMRI throttle to actually get speed step 1. That's the problem with the potentiometer control of the Zephyr, there's no way to be sure you are at step 1 or not. Other option would be a DT402 throttle plugged in. Those have encoders and you can get a definite step 1 out of them. If your only throttles are the Zephyr and/or UT4's, the best you can do is an approximation where the loco starts to move when you just barely nudge the throttle. But good luck making the same 'nudge' each time.

                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 2, 2016 4:50 PM

Marty,

You can adjust CV2 (VStart) to where it just begins moving at speed step 001.  Instructions to do that should be in either your Zephyr manual and/or the Loksound Select manual - somewhere in the beginning.

On my Power Cab I have a button on the bottom row ("28/128") that allows me to instantly change speed steps (incriments) from 28 to 128 and vice versa.  The higher number allows more smaller incrimental changes in speed for each speed step.

For example, if my top speed for a locomotive is an arbitrary 100 MPH, it will take 28 steps (or clicks of the knob or speed button) to go from zero to 100 vs. 128 steps to accomplish the same task.  If you want to move your locomotive slowly throw the speed ranges then 128 speed steps is what you want.

Does that make sense?

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 4:29 PM

CV 2 is at 002 Vstart

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 4:25 PM

I just turned the throttle up until I saw loco start moving. You mentioned run at speed step 1. I never tried that before . How can I do that without jazzing up my CVs for speed. I am looking at my Zephyr manual and checked you tube but nothing specific to running in step 1.

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 4:21 PM

I just checked my CV 29, it is set according to my DCS51 Zephyr plus to 038 which is 28/128 4 digit address. Which is what was set up.

Marty

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 2, 2016 3:44 PM

I found the link, Marty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_hywt0mQaM

Googled "SD40-2 BNSF Swoosh!".

Do you have your locomotive set to 28 or 128 speed steps?  The remaining few seconds of the clip look like you were running more slowly than you were at the beginning of it.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 2:49 PM

Really I have to do math!!! Thanks I will try that. LOL You could not see video ? I will go back and see why.

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, January 2, 2016 2:44 PM

Marty,

The link seems to be incomplete, as posted.

FYI: Calculating scale MPH (sMPH) isn't that complicated.  All you need is:

  1. A predetermined length of track - 3" is quite sufficient for slow speed
  2. A timing device
  3. Your DCC locomotive
  4. Your DCC system set at speed step 001.

Time how long it takes your locomotive to travel from Point A to Point B and calculate the following:

  • Distance(ft)/Time(sec) = Rate (ft/sec)
  • Convert Rate to mi/hr and multiply by scale
  • End result: Rate in sMPH

Example: It takes 15 secs for my locomotive to travel 3" (or 0.25')

  • 0.25'/15 secs = 0.02 ft/sec
  • Convert ft/sec to mi/hr and multiply by scale (or, 0.02 divided by 5,280' x 3,600 sec x 87.1)
  • End result: 0.99 sMPH

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Saturday, January 2, 2016 1:31 PM

Hey Guys

I just created a little video and posted it on my YouTube channel. Tom wanted to know how slow I could get my loco to run, well I can't actually know in any measurement, so take a look at the video see what you think. 

You Tube/MartyHejhog1

I named it SD40-2 BNSF Swoosh! 

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

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Posted by Doughless on Friday, January 1, 2016 7:47 PM

The buzz I hear is pretty loud..at least I would call it loud.  I think I've tried the auto tuning and it didn't change.  It seems to be fairly common but I'm sure personal preferences dictate if its a real problem or not.  Its a very nice decoder otherwise.

- Douglas

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Posted by rrinker on Friday, January 1, 2016 4:10 PM

 Running the auto BEMF tuning will probably kill that. Or fine tuning the drive frequency - the default should be well above the hearing range for most people, but the motor may resonate at an even fraction of that. The default settings are pretty good for most cases, but aren't perfect for every motor. Some of the other Euro decoders like CT and Lenz Gold have similar adjustments to fine tune the drive for specific types and brands of motors.

                --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by tstage on Friday, January 1, 2016 1:56 PM

Yea, a little bit...but it isn't very loud.  Nothing like when you run a DCC locomotive on DC.  That's a very annoying buzz. Dead

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by Doughless on Friday, January 1, 2016 12:38 PM

tstage

Marty, have you figured out how slow your locomotive goes at speed step 001?  All of my Loksound decoders will do 1sMPH or less.  To me - that's more important than sound.

Tom

As it is for me Tom.  One question: When your Loksounds are traveling at such a slow speed, do you notice that old buzz (BEMF I assume) from the loco/decoder if you mute the sound?

- Douglas

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Posted by tstage on Friday, January 1, 2016 12:14 PM

1s[cale] mile per hour...oozing speed. Stick out tongue  I have an older Walthers SW1 switcher with a Lenz (non-sound) decoder that will actually do 1/3sMPH. Surprise

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by HejhogMarty on Friday, January 1, 2016 11:52 AM

I am sort of a fanatic with slow speed as well, but still have to become more educated on the speed tables. 1sMPH  meaning 1 step or second? 

Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog

you tube/martyHejhog1

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