LL heritage Berk w/Tsunami..Fantastic!

[mikebonellisr]

Just had to share...My LL heritage berkshire with a Tsunami sound decoder is my new favorite on my roster.The engine runs flawlesly and the Tsunami is everything they claim it to be.When you get someone like me,who knows ziltch about programing and DCC,able to get so much out of a system,I think they have something.I especially like the "short"whistle and the water fill sounds(i stop to fill up every chance I get)..The first chance I get,I'm going to tweek the sound unit..as soon as I can digest the 70 or so pages of directions in the manual.No I'm going to have to change my other 15 or so sound equipped engines to the Tsunami.The BLI engines I'll leave alone..They're good enough for now,but the others pale compared to tsunami...as you might tell,I'M THRILLED.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

Just had to share...My LL heritage berkshire with a Tsunami sound decoder is my new favorite on my roster.The engine runs flawlesly and the Tsunami is everything they claim it to be.When you get someone like me,who knows ziltch about programing and DCC,able to get so much out of a system,I think they have something.I especially like the "short"whistle and the water fill sounds(i stop to fill up every chance I get)..The first chance I get,I'm going to tweek the sound unit..as soon as I can digest the 70 or so pages of directions in the manual.No I'm going to have to change my other 15 or so sound equipped engines to the Tsunami.The BLI engines I'll leave alone..They're good enough for now,but the others pale compared to tsunami...as you might tell,I'M THRILLED.

What whistle did you choose for the Berkshire??? I am using the heavy Tsunami for other engines, but no available NKP chime whistle was on my units.

The Tsunami drive is excellent for sure and the other sounds are interesting. If you use momemtum start and stop, you will hear rod clank when you drift.

[mikebonellisr]

I have my Berk lettered for N Y C and I have not changed the pre-set whistle yet.I'm going to go through the whistles over the weekend and as you suggested,add a little momentum...I'm having a ball with this one!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

I have my Berk lettered for N Y C and I have not changed the pre-set whistle yet.I'm going to go through the whistles over the weekend and as you suggested,add a little momentum...I'm having a ball with this one!

The things this unit can do is really impresive to say the least.

Be sure and keep a running list of the changes in case you have to do a clear and reset back to default values.

Remember, there are 214 CV's that could be programmed, but you will probably end up changing about ten or so to tune it to your needs.

[Anonymous]

Which Tsunami decoder did you get, as there is more than one listed? I have the P2K Berk in NYC&StL (I hope that's yours too as the New York Central didn't own any) and put the MRC steam decoder in it which is totally unacceptable.

[WilmJunc]

How do they synchronize the chuff rate to the locomotive speed?

[Fergmiester]

I'm still waiting for my first Tsunami. It's been over a month on back order.

Fergie

[DigitalGriffin]

I had Tony's trains install a medium Tsunami into my Berk. There is some definite improvement in sound. When the engine is under load you can hear it chuffing harder. And when it's slowing down, the chuffing gets quieter. Very realistic IMHO.

I simply love it. The only issue I had was it's low speed action was a little rough till I reprogrammed the BEMF. I think one the drivers was so ever so slightly out of quarter and that's what was causing the problem.

I have two heavy Tsunami installations on the way back for my 4-8-2 Heavy with a Vandy Tendor, and 2-6-6-2. I'll let you know how they sound.

[mikebonellisr]

modlerbob.....My Berk came undecorated and I numbered and lettered it for NYC. The B&A ran a few classes of Berks,So I just had to push reality a little to let it run on my NYC layout.The Tsunami is a LCU(?) 1000,which I asume is for mid-size steam.Tony's Train Xchange installed it for me.
Wilmjunc...It's very easy to sync the sound to the drivers if you have a system that supports Op mode programming.I have a Digitrax Chief and a DT400 Throttle.Believe me,If I say it's easy then It's easy.I know squat about DCC and programing.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by WilmJunc

How do they synchronize the chuff rate to the locomotive speed?

In general terms, you can select the cam input, which I did on my Key engine with the cam on the axle, or you can program CV 116 to match your chuffing to the driver rotation. You can do a good job of doing this since it is enhanced by several CV's preset speed table, besides the CV116. CV 112 selects the type of engine, simple or articulated, and several variations of each to include the type of air pump, single or dual type exists for this table also.

If you use all of the 214 CV's, you would be the first.

[DigitalGriffin]

My 4-8-2 and 2-6-6-2 Bachmann's came back today with the Tsunami. They've been off my roster for 6 months now! I can't wait to go home and have some fun. *YEAH*

[rrinker]

Have you set your DT400 to enable the playable whistle feature? Unfortunately I don't have the setting in front of me, but search for Playable Whistle int he Yahoo group should turn up a message with the correct setting. It does not hurt anything to turn it on, BLI's without the feature work fine even though I turned it on in my throttle. The ESU LokSound decoder in my T-1 has it, although it really only controls volume. The Tsunami is supposed to fully support playable whistles.

--Randy

[mikebonellisr]

randy,thanks for the lead.I printed out the post by Ogden Lamont and I think I'll try it later tonight or tommorow.I'm a little nervous about messing with the throttle settings,but I always have you guys here to bail me out. If I enable Option #3 on the T400, will that only enable when I have the Tsunami equipped loco's address selected?How will it affect any of my other sound equipped engines.QSI,SoundTraxx,Trix?
I took a look at your T1,NYC did'nt run them,but they are great looking engines.I'm leaning towards getting one,undecorated,and lettering it for NYC.Heck,99.9% of the people that see my layout would'nt know the difference anyway.

[jondrd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

I especially like the "short"whistle and the water fill sounds(i stop to fill up every chance I get)..The first chance I get,I'm going to tweek the sound unit..as soon as I can digest the 70 or so pages of directions in the manual.No I'm going to have to change my other 15 or so sound equipped engines to the Tsunami.The BLI engines I'll leave alone..They're good enough for now,but the others pale compared to tsunami...as you might tell,I'M THRILLED.

Not a good idea to have those BLI engines running dry. Could be voiding your warranty let alone risk to life and limb of crew members. [swg]

A stationary Tsunami unit/speaker adjacent to water tank(s)? Or a recording of same playable at water tank?

Jon [:D]

[mikebonellisr]

jondrd....I thought about that awhile ago,but that would be $100 or so just for the sound of running water.If I could get a sound unit with water,coal fill,ash dumping & cleanout and whatever sounds that would be heard around a service area,...that would work.

[railroadyoshi]

The one thing that really annoyed me about this was that no New England Roadnames were offered!

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

randy,thanks for the lead.I printed out the post by Ogden Lamont and I think I'll try it later tonight or tommorow.I'm a little nervous about messing with the throttle settings,but I always have you guys here to bail me out. If I enable Option #3 on the T400, will that only enable when I have the Tsunami equipped loco's address selected?How will it affect any of my other sound equipped engines.QSI,SoundTraxx,Trix?
I took a look at your T1,NYC did'nt run them,but they are great looking engines.I'm leaning towards getting one,undecorated,and lettering it for NYC.Heck,99.9% of the people that see my layout would'nt know the difference anyway.

Like I said, nope, it won't mess anything else up. QSI decoders don't have playable whistles and horns and they still work fine. As does my lone Soundtraxx DSD.
Don't you DARE letter a T-1 for NYC! I'll have to come over and revoke your model railroad license for that! [:D][:D][:D][:D] It's bad enough that Chessie turned one into a clown car.

--Randy

[mikebonellisr]

Randy...Well,maybe it would be OK if I move some appliances around to follow NYC practices?Or the central may have borrowed one from the Reading to test on it's routes....yea,that's the ticket!

[rrinker]

You can borrow as many as you need to handle the traffic, as long as you return them in better condition than the PRR did with the ones they borrowed. [:D]

--Randy

[grayfox1119]

I bought my Tsunami at the BIG E Train Show in Springfield, Ma in January, and just this past Sunday, a vendor at a local MRR show here in Auburn, Ma had some for sale at $74. He had the model 1000's, which are for Medium size loco's.
He also had the recommeded programming amplifiers for $47.

I would recommend also that you guys visit the Soundtraxx website at http://www.soundtraxx.com and download the manuals. They are loaded with good info. I printed them all out and placed them in a 3-ring binder for reference.

Also note, there was a Mfg error on Tsunami manufactured between January 25th and I believe Feb15th. The gray and black wires were REVERSED, so check this out if you have bought one during this time period of manufacture.

[DigitalGriffin]

I finally got to test my Tsunami last night.

Low speed operation was extremely "rough" on the 4-8-2 with starts and stops at speed settings < 5. I'm going to try to engage the HyperDrive tonight and see how that works out. The smart firebox flicker was an interesting feature. I set fireman fred to randomly do some "coaling" while stopped. When he does shovel the coal, the firebox flicker increases as if the firebox door had been opened.

The 2-6-6-2 was excellent through and through. The drivers were set to go in an out of sync which just added to the realism. Operation was pretty smooth and silent at most speeds.

Another neat feature was the auto-whistle and bell when starting from stop, and below certain speeds (like traveling in a yard)

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grayfox1119

Also note, there was a Mfg error on Tsunami manufactured between January 25th and I believe Feb15th. The gray and black wires were REVERSED, so check this out if you have bought one during this time period of manufacture.

Same guy musta moonlighted at NCE as there is a posting on Tony's site about some miswired NCE D13SR decoders, same problem! This is very bad if you don't catch it, essentially the same as not having the motor properly isolated fromt he track, and will more than likely instantly release the entire supply of magic smoke in the decoder.

--Randy