Pretty simple queston coming from me. No problems with it knock on wood. All decoder pro can tell me is it a Lok something. It is HO scale and has sound and factory decoder.
Thanks Again Ken
I hate Rust
Ken,
I believe it was a Loksound V2.0.
What DCC system are using? If I go to programming track mode using my NCE Power Cab, it will give me both the decoder's manufacturer's ID # and decoder version:
Ex. The TCS LL8-LED decoder that I just installed in my Proto 2000 0-8-0 switch has a manufacturer ID # of 153 and a decoder version 088
Once you have those number you can look it up on line. I'll see if I can find a link for that for you.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Here's a .pdf file for the manufacturer's ID #s:
http://00200530.pdl.pscdn.net/002/00530/MRH04/DCC%20Shortcuts%20Card.pdf
ESU is 151. Haven't been able to find the list for the specific decoder versions on the ESU site. You could always email them and ask them directly. My guess is that it's V2.0; the same decoder that came with my two Trix 2-8-2 Mikes but with different sound files.
According to my post in this thread, http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/115147.aspx our Trix Mikes have 3.2 in them and the Y6b has 3.5. Looking back, years after this post, those numbers seem high, but I figure I must have gone and looked before I posted, Tom. ??
Edit...found this, Ken: http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/LokSoundUniversal%20Manual.pdf
Should be the Loksound 3.5, same as in my PCM Reading T1's.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I believe my PCM F3 A/B in lash up mode was v3.5. Been a few years since I looked at it.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
selector According to my post in this thread, http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/115147.aspx our Trix Mikes have 3.2 in them and the Y6b has 3.5. Looking back, years after this post, those numbers seem high, but I figure I must have gone and looked before I posted, Tom. ??
Crandell,
I know for sure that the original Trix Mikes came with the V2.0 decoder. With V.2.0 you couldn't sound the whistle AND the bell simultaneously. I eventually replaced one of my two Mike decoders with a newer Loksound V3.5 and that version would allow you to do that. That's one of the ways to tell them apart.
And, AFIAR, the sequential upgrade from V2.0 was V.3.5 and there was no in-between.
I do think ESU made a 3.0 decoder but it wasn't around long (and maybe never sold in the US) before it got upgraded to the 3.5. If you go under their downloads section under Former products there is a manual available for a Loksound 3.0 - but only in German or British English. The Loksound 3.5 manual above it is listed as US English.
The number of sound channels did increase - but the 3.5 is limited to 3 (better than the 2.0's 2) - that way you have chuff, bell, and whistle at the same time, but you won't get an air pump or brake squeal if you have the bell on and sound the whistle. In practice I find this is not noticeable.
Not sure about actual hardware introduction dates, but the 3.0 and 3.5 manuals are only dated a few months apart - ESU does seem to move fast with innovations. The 2.0 was bot very good - even the Soundtraxx LC series could do the whistle and bell and chuff at the same time, but they quickly progressed to the 3.0 then 3.5 - by the time PCM folded back into BLI, the 4.0 was out, and soon after the Select series. They've been making the 4.0 and Select for quite a while now, but keep adding features via firmware updates. They also seem to be getting into loco production - they have pictures of a beautiful T16.1 0-10-0 loco which is every bit as detailed as the museum quality UP turbine that just came out, and has many of the same features like the auto-squal over switch frogs. And also a nice C-C electric loco with the same level of detail, including DCC controlled pantographs. Both German prototypes of course, so far no announcement of any US pieces.
Hey Thanks for the answers folks! If you had asked me last week I would have swore it was a 2.0 version. Some how I lost the roster entry on the computer. I was fine with that till I started running more than one sound engine. Using the F8 fuction just could not get the sound down to where I wanted it, could not even hear the 3 F7's.
Tom I am running a Digitrax Super Emprier Bulider, Digitrax PR3 and decoder pro software. I do find it odd that Decoder Pro cannot tell me which decoder is in the engine? It can tell me who made it and what faimly but not the decoder it self? Cannot tell me if the decoder is a DH121 or DH166?
Thanks again, Ken
cudaken I do find it odd that Decoder Pro cannot tell me which decoder is in the engine? It can tell me who made it and what faimly but not the decoder it self? Cannot tell me if the decoder is a DH121 or DH166?
I do find it odd that Decoder Pro cannot tell me which decoder is in the engine? It can tell me who made it and what faimly but not the decoder it self? Cannot tell me if the decoder is a DH121 or DH166?
Yea, I've had that happen with Decoder Pro on a few of my decoders. It would be nice if the software allowed you to edit the entry. Out of habit I write the locomotive and road number on the decoder manual, which I keep on file - just in case I might I need to refer to it at a later date.
That's just kinf og the way it is. There are only 2 CVs for the information, a manufacturer ID in CV8, which is mandated by the NMRA - and if you want to make a decoder you need to apply and get assigned an ID, and there is a version CV7 that the manufacuter can place a revision number. When used, this usually is the firmware version, not specific decoder model. It's the same deal with form factor - most manufacturers used the same code base across all decoders, regardless if they are 8 pin, 9 pin, board repalcement, 21 pin, or whatever. You will always know you have a Brand X decoder by reading CV8, but you will never know the physical style of the decoder without opening the loco up.
For programming purposes, it doesn't really matter. For example TCS has a lot of different decoders. Apart fromt he sound settings on the WOW decoders, all the CVs are the same, be is a T1, a A4X, an MC2, whatever. And obviously if it's a 2 function decoder the CVs for setting function 5 won't do anything.
There are other CVs that are outside the normal range of NMRA specified CVs that manufcatures put info in, but in many cases that is not public information that JMARI can use. Loksound definitely has additional identifiers since the Lokprogrammer software can tell if you have a 2.0, a 3.5, a 4.0, or a Select.
tstage Crandell, I know for sure that the original Trix Mikes came with the V2.0 decoder. With V.2.0 you couldn't sound the whistle AND the bell simultaneously. I eventually replaced one of my two Mike decoders with a newer Loksound V3.5 and that version would allow you to do that. That's one of the ways to tell them apart. And, AFIAR, the sequential upgrade from V2.0 was V.3.5 and there was no in-between. Tom
I hate coming back to an old post and finding I was wrong, Tom, even if only part of the information I supplied. I think I still have the smallish pamphlet somewhere for the Trix Mike. I also have a Trix GG1 marketed about the same time, maybe a couple of years earlier, also with an early LokSound. I wonder which version it is.
I haven't played with my locomotives for two years, and even when I run them I don't run more than a couple or three at a time...the rest are in their boxes. It gets complicated remembering which brand and version of decoder is in each locomotive. And...how to run them. And where the manual is...digital or analog.
No bother, Crandell. I didn't know about the V3.0 decoder and Randy enlightened me on that one.
As mentioned here or in another post, I write down the locomotive and road number on the outside of the installed decoder manual and store them in a folder. That way I can refer back to them - just in case I forget which decoder and decoder version is in a particular locomotive.