rrinker 3, 03, 003, 0003, do not matter with Digitrax. 3 is a short address, period. There is no with or without leading 0 confusion. Now if the loco were previously owned by an NCE user who set it to long address 3 - it would not be accessible to Digitrax until reset. --Randy
3, 03, 003, 0003, do not matter with Digitrax. 3 is a short address, period. There is no with or without leading 0 confusion. Now if the loco were previously owned by an NCE user who set it to long address 3 - it would not be accessible to Digitrax until reset.
--Randy
Ad2 is the 2-digit address and Ad4 is the 4-digit address.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain OK, BLI #773 was part of the original Paragon run with QSI decoders. Of course, since BLI supposedly replaced the decoder, we do not know for sure if the replacement decoder was a QSI or a Paragon 2. But that can eventually be found out.
OK, BLI #773 was part of the original Paragon run with QSI decoders. Of course, since BLI supposedly replaced the decoder, we do not know for sure if the replacement decoder was a QSI or a Paragon 2. But that can eventually be found out.
Rich I tried what you said to no avail but listen to this,I put a new address in (#75) & it came on and ran normally,then I cut it off ten seconds & turned it on & it would not respond. so I reprogramed 75 back into it and again it worked,so here is the deal,everytime I want to run this engine I am going to have to reprogram the address in it.Any suggestions?
the old train man Rich I tried what you said to no avail but listen to this,I put a new address in (#75) & it came on and ran normally,then I cut it off ten seconds & turned it on & it would not respond. so I reprogramed 75 back into it and again it worked,so here is the deal,everytime I want to run this engine I am going to have to reprogram the address in it.Any suggestions?
Let me suggest this. Instead of 75 which is a 2-digit address (Ad2), change AD4 which is a 4-digit address to 750, the cab number.
Run it on the main line for a moment. Then, put it back on the programming track and reset it, using this procedure.
Put the loco back on the programming track and change three CV values as follows:
CV49 = 128
CV50 = 255
CV56 = 113
This is the 3-step sequence to reset the original series of QSI decoders.
Then place the loco back on the main line and see if it will respond and how it responds.
Rich.
Also, when you put the loco on the programming track, read the value of CV8.
Is it 113? Is it 38?
Hi,
If I understand this correctly, BLI had the loco twice and said there is nothing wrong with it. Yet, it won't run on the OP's layout.
I may have missed this in previous posts, but it seems a help would be to take the loco to another person's layout or the LHS and see if it works there.
If it does, the problem is with the OP's system/layout. If it doesn't, then it is very likely the loco itself.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Rich,I did what you suggested & it tooted the horn 3 times. When I tried to run it it would not move & did the same old thing so I reprogamed the address to 750 again & it worked fine til I turned power off,then I had to program the address then it worked fine until I turned the power off again.
Let's find out who the decoder manufacturer is.
Put it on the programming track and read the value in CV8.
Then come back and tell us the value in CV8.
Rich I tried that & it said d-na
According to the Digitrax manual, d na means there is no acknowledgement from the decoder typically during write operations.
You need to read the CV, not write the CV.
Read Section 16.6 - Reading Back CV Values Programmed
You want to read the value of CV8.
Rich,I did try to put 8 in ,it said dnr which means cant read the decoder
It may be that the Digitrax DCS50 cannot read a sound decoder without a programming track booster. If that is the case, then we will need to identify the manufacturer ID some other way.
Meanwhile, I called BLI to inquire about repairing a Paragon loco with a QSI decoder. They indicated that they still have replacement QSI decoders on hand, and that they would not have upgraded to a Paragon 2 decoder. So, there is every likelihood that the replacement decoder in your loco is a QSI. If you call BLI, they will check their repair record for your loco and tell you the manufacturer of your replacement decoder.
Ok thanks
I am trying to rationalize what is now happening with your loco. Give me some time to think this over. Meanwhile, maybe others have some thoughts.
the old train man Rich,I did what you suggested & it tooted the horn 3 times. When I tried to run it it would not move & did the same old thing so I reprogamed the address to 750 again & it worked fine til I turned power off,then I had to program the address then it worked fine until I turned the power off again.
Aha, those three toots of the horn are an audible acknowledgement that the decoder was reset to factory default. So, definitely a QSI decoder, because those three toots of the horn are unique to the QSI decoder series.
The reason that you had to re-program the 4-digit address the first time after the reset to factory default is that a reset to factory default clears the 4-digit address. However, the 4-digit address should not be lost after each power down/power up. How are you writing the 4-digit address? On the programming track or on the main?
Do you have the box and small reddish colored manual that comes with the loco? I am wondering if this unit includes a wand to do a hard reset. Sometimes, that is the only way to keep these QSI decoders awake.
Edit Note: Forget about a wand, your loco comes with a jumper on the circuit board. See my next reply.
Your loco is actually an E6A. I have the identical locomotive in the C&NW road name.
Here is what the Operator's Manual has to say about returning the loco to factory default values using the "Quantum Reset Jumper".
In case your engine's sound and control system misbehaves and turning the power off for 15 seconds does not return it to normal operation, you can reset your locomotive to factory default values.
This is the so-called "hard reset".
Give it a try.
It almost sounds liek it's stuck in reset - to be losing the address after every power cycle. Does this one have a jumper, or the reed switch and the "magic wand'? The reed switches are notorious for getting stuck. A good thump with a finger flick might unstick it, or you cna just cut it right off - that just means that to reset it in the future it will require the CV procedure.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Rich,I tried that a week ago and it said reset then the next time I turned it on ,the same old problem.
the old train man Rich,I tried that a week ago and it said reset then the next time I turned it on ,the same old problem.
I just recalled an older thread where this same addressing issue was encountered on a QSI decoder.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/216687.aspx?page=1
Stay tuned.
I did the reset again ,it said reset and then worked until I shut power off then the same problem occured.
rrinkerthat just means that to reset it in the future it will require the CV procedure.
Randy,
Me thinks this doesn't always work with QSI decoders.
I just went through a procedure on an early GG1 where I was always getting a jack-rabbit start on speed step 1. I went in and found CV2 was 25. I reset it to 1, put the engine on the track and it would take off at about 30 SMPH.
Re-reading CV2 it was back at 25!
I used Decoder Pro to do a factory reset, ran the engine on address 3. Again it took off at high speed, CV 2 was back to 25
THEN I remembered the hard-reset jumper under a roof hatch. In the case of the GG1 you remove the jumper which opens a circuit rather than closing it like the reed switch does, anyway—after the hard reset and the horn sounding to confirm it, the CV2 problem went away.
I agree with your diagnosis that maybe the switch is stuck in "reset" mode but if "The Old Train Man" cuts out the switch he still may have to jumper the two leads to do a hard reset in the future. He should leave a little of the wire going to the switch to attach a test lead to for doing the reset.
I wish BLI/QSI would have come up with a standard method for the reset switch.
On some of my steam engines, the reed switch is so far under the tender deck that the provided magnet is useless to trip it. I found a magnet that I removed from a computer hard drive that IS strong enough to actuate the switch. You still have to remove the shell sometimes. On others you can access a switch under the water hatch. I don't have a BLI E unit so I don't know how they set it up on those.
Ed
I had similar issues with my BLI cab forwards - to me this sounds like a bad decoder (despite what QSI says) however -
Crazy suggestion that worked for me...you might try setting the address manually by using hex values to program it - Randy and the others can give you the correct values and CVs. I used this to solve wonkiness in my Cab Forward QSIs....They still run fine.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
trainnut1250 I had similar issues with my BLI cab forwards - to me this sounds like a bad decoder (despite what QSI says)
I had similar issues with my BLI cab forwards - to me this sounds like a bad decoder (despite what QSI says)
My Atlas Trainmaster is a reed switch reset QSI - and I can never get it to reset without taking the shell off. The magnet is strong enough, it's getting it at the right place that's nearly impossible. Luckily I have not actually had to reset it yet, it's held its address and just keeps on working.
The decoder in the OP's loco has a jumper to do a hard reset.
Well, make sure it is in the proper position for operation and that there are no solder bridges or wire hairs (use a magnifier).
Randy,I checked & no shorts from wires etc.
At this point, I see no alternative except to send it in again to BLI.
Or, send it to me and i will see if I can get it running correctly for you.
Rich,I appreciate all your help,thanks again May God Bless.