Thanks Hunt, I will try that.  Only question on that is that I was able to program the address in the first time with no problem.  I will give it a try though.

Hi all,

I am having a problem with two of my 'DCC On Board' Bachmann loco's.  I know these are limited function decoders but they are not being deceted by my system when I try to reprogram them.  I wanted to change the address of one of them to run them together but I keep getting the no decoder detected message.  I check other locos with other decoders and no problem.  I know the decoders are in there, they took the address I programmed the first time and function fine off of those.  But now I can't seem to change anything or even get a readback.  I am using a Digitrax Zepher and have tried page, phys, ops all to no avail.  Can anyone help?

Thanks,
        Jim

I would like some opinions on the Symphony 77 also.  It sounds like a good way to at least get started with sound, can't jsut jump in and buy a bunch of sound decoders at once.  My concern is, I have the MRC Town and Country and am not overly impressed.  Most of the country sounds are OK; streams, crickets, etc.  but the traffic and wind sounds are, to put it mildly, PATHETIC!  Not sure I wan to invest the money if the sounds don't sound good.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi,

Can I ask where you got the book.  I see on the web site that it's supposed to be available now, but there is still no 'Order Online' link on the product page.  The other online retailers I use still show it as not in stock also.

Thanks,
       Jim

Hi,

I was wondering if we could get an update on when the EZ Track book might be available for purchase.  we are through May now, but it looks like it's still not available.  Any more info?
I've done a topic search and there doesn't seem to be anything new.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi,

   I saw that too.  But if you follow it through to the suppliers page that you actually order from, it's not there yet.

Jim

Hi,

   I am curious about your lights.  I installed a decoder in a Spectrum F40PH also.  I haven't had any problems with how it runs.  The head and back lights I replaced with LEDs.  (I think they came with the decoder if I remember right.)  Anyway,  I haven't been able to make the strobes work and I was wondering if those were the lights you were talking about. 

Anyone have any ideas on this?  Should I replace the bulbs in the strobes?  I am also wonding if I simply don't have them hooked up right or I am not programing them right.

Thanks,
Jim

From what I have found, the option to power the frog or not depends on whether or not you have probelms with short curcuits in DCC. If you are running DC I would say try it as it 'may' cut down on passenger car light flickering (but probably not).  As far as powering it.  As was stated, just plug it in, or, if you have multiple units you might need to run an AC accessory bus under the layout, cut off the plug and solder the wires to the bus.

Hi all,

I have had my problems with the EZ Track turnouts and crossovers as well.  Basicly hte switch points are too wide and need to be filed down.  Something I'm not crasy abut having to either and I would like to see an improvement in this.  In Bachmann's defense though, being relaively new to the hobby myself I've been doing alot of reading and it seems that having to file down switch points and fine tune things is a fairly common problem, not just to EZ track.

Jim

Any word yet?

Hi Bach-Mann,

I was just wondering if you had any updates on the EZ track book.  The last we heard it was at the printers.  I know that process can take awhile, I've had manauls printed for work.  Just wondering if you had any updates.

Thanks,
Jim

I too like the EZ track.  The biggest rpoblem I have found is that the roadbed can be unrealisticly high, especailly for yards and such where the roadbed isn't really built up.  As a father of three little kids, if I was laying conventional track I still wouldn't have trains up and running yet, would still be trying to find time to lay track.

The turnouts are also DCC friendly.  Leaving the frogs unpowered I can't 'make' my trains short-out, I have tried.

Hi all,

I put a couple of grain-of-wheat bulbs in two of the cars to try it out.  It works OK, the only problem now is that they are much brighter than the factory installed bulb. So, I guess I'll either have to replace that one too or find something else.

I tried the Easy Peasy lights but didn't like them.  They gave off a yellowish/green light and had to get the magnet wand in across it very close and could only seem to get it turned on in the observation car with any consistancy.

One other thought I had was to use the light sets that are made for other cars and just run a wire from it's connection to the pick ups in the Bachmann cars.  I am supposing they will fit, just have the connections in a different location.  Can anyone give me a yes or no they won't fit on that.

Thanks again,
Jim

Hi all,

  I am looking to improve the lighting in my passenger Bachmann passenger cars to make it more even throughout the car.  I have a set of Silver Series Amtrak cars and Spectrum PRR cars.  I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on the best way to do this.  I know there are some lighting kits available for certain cars but I haven't found any for Bachmann cars.  I am considering soldering in a couple of grain-of-rice bulbs to the Spectrum cars.  I'm not sure what to do with the Silver Series cars as the contacts are not as accessable.

I was hoping someone could give me some suggestions for the best way to do this or if anyone know of lighting kits made for Bachmann cars.

Thanks,
Jim

Thanks All!