I hadn't thought of trying  setting momentum using 28 speed steps. I tried numerous locomotives and
could not get any smooth repsonses setting while  on 128 steps. I  find it strange that the locomotives that came with sound from Bachmann and the two that I installed work great, while, all of the "DCC on Board" Bachmann locomotives, that I rried, gave problems. I will let you know tomorrow. Thanks.

Will

I've reached the limit of my knowledge.

Has any one found momentum settings that will work properly with Bachmann decoders?

I've tried everything that and I can think of and nothing works. The only Bachmann locomotives, I have,

that I have successfully set momentum in, have been those I have WITHOUT a Bachmann decoder. That is those that I

installed another brand in or those that came from Bachmann with other than a Bachmann decoder.

Will

My two cents worth.

The Spectrum 2-8-0 was and is an excellent locomotive, if you can find one.

My belief is that it would be a very wise business decision to offer it with sound.

Just as strongly as I believe that, I believe Yardmaster.

It likely will not happen.

Quote from: Jerrys HO on March 24, 2012, 10:38:41 PM
hawaii-

I don't believe you can change the pitch through cv's just the whistle type.
There is a possibility that your speaker is not sealed well enough. One other option is to try a speaker with a little more bass.

Jerry

Thank you, I have about decided to throw away the Bachmann decoder and replace it with a Tsunami heavy steam decoder. Lesson learned.

Quote from: florynow on March 23, 2012, 06:55:49 PM
What is an OEM recorder?  Does it have multiple whistles?  The N&W J's had deep-toned steamboat whistles.  The correct whistle is on the Tsunami Heavy Steam decoder.

PF

I think if you read what I posted, it is DECODER, NOT RECORDER. OEM means the decoder that was supplied and installed by Bachmann. and YES you are correct, the N & W 4-8-4 had deep "steamboat" like whistles. The ones that are supplied on the OEM Bachmann decoder is not the same whistle sounds that are on the Heavy Steam decoders by Tsunami.

I used two sources for EZ Track planning.


A program named AnyRail. The free version will handle a small layout and even the full
version is not all that costly.


http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html


Also, here is the URL for some EZ Track plans. There are some errors so check them carefully.



http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/bach_track.php

Some folks may have some other suggestions, but this will get you started.

Will


also in Hawaii

I have a N & W 4-8-4 Bachmann locomotive with the OEM sound decoder in it.

The pitch of the whistle is too high for my tastes.

Does anyone know how to lower the pitch, using CVs, etc. ?

Quote from: Coos Rail on March 10, 2012, 10:04:16 PM
YES YOU CAN!  Hi I have a prodigy wireless system and I all so killed three TSU-1000 Tsunamis and two that came in new Bachmanns after three months of Frustration I called MRC and Soundtraxx, they both said to purchase the MRC 829002 PTB programming track booster.
I got one from Model Train Stuff for less than $50.00....WOW now I can readback all my CVs and change all with ease, I was able to get all my DEAD ones back to LIFE,...on your address problem on your main track first set the add. to a high number like 400 ( make sure it worked ) then set it to the low add. number you want.....WORKS FOR ME !

Either I misread his posts, or he wants to set it to a high address----612. I don't how the Prodigy Express does that.

Quote from: DArrigo on March 08, 2012, 07:36:39 PM
Well, I achieved some level of success.  Up to this point nothing was working; even trying to reset the decoder (CV30 set to 2 & cycle power).  But then I thought about trying something that one normally would not do...Program on Main and not select a locomotive number or an address?  This would likely reprogram every locomotive on the track (not something you'd want to do).  So I did just that, and only changed CV30 to 2, and cycled power.  The decoder reset to baseline, and it's working fine again.  Phew!  Now if I could only figure out how to identify the locomotive as its side number (612).  Thanks for all the feedback.

I do not have the MRC system, SO, I can't address how to program the long address using the Prodigy Express.

I chose a system that allows the use of JMRI(MRC, unfortunately doesn't) JMRI allows for plain language programming of decoders. That is all I use with my Bachmann DCC locomotives,and I have quite a few including the N & W 4-8-4.     If you can locate someone who has JMRI, it is very simple.


For more information, see:


http://jmri.sourceforge.net/


Will

Quote from: nctrains on February 14, 2012, 07:11:45 PM
Thank you Jim! Very helpful information.

Just remember the new control switches do not require depressing the button, only sliding it back and
forth. The newer switches are also larger and a little tricky to hook up to the old ones.

Quote from: Doneldon on February 11, 2012, 10:40:14 PM
Unlike the rest of you, I DON'T miss the black boxes. I actually don't care what color the boxes are. What I DO miss is the foam packaging. Wrap a model in some slippery plastic to prevent paint mars, put it in foam and you can drop it off a bridge without damage. I have to say that I really don't believe that the newer hard plastic clamshells are better for the models. If they were, brass manufacturers would be using them. My guess is that they're less expensive than die cutting long-living resilient foam.
                                   -- D

I hardly think that ANY of us were referring to the color of the boxes.
The rest of your post is dead on correct including the relative cost of the new packing vs the old.

The newer Red and Blue boxes are FAR inferior to the Black Boxes.
I saved the Black Bachmann boxes, now I just throw away the newer  ones.

Will

I found the same thing. I must add, that this occurs mostly on the tighter radius track.
I have few problems on my 26"curve loop

Will.

Quote from: mdmeyers1982 on January 23, 2012, 03:10:27 PM
"Dynamis has one major limitation. The system as you are buying it will not read decoders, only program them. With that in mind, it becomes your choice."

Hmmmm I don't like the sound of that.... does this limit my use of other brand loco's turnouts etc? I have been comparing the NCE Power Cab system as well... there are videos for both systems on youtube and both seem pretty easy...

Decisions... decisions...

I only have Bachmann turnouts, so I couldn't tell you which turnouts it will operate.  Please don't misunderstand,  by read, I do not mean operate, I mean read the CV values in a decoder and display them.

Yes, it will provide you all you need to begin DCC ops. Using Atlas track, you will need track feeder connections for the Atlas track.

I have two layouts, one of which, I have been operating the Dynamis DCC system on for more than two years.

It has performed very exceptably.

Dynamis has one major limitation. The system as you are buying it will not read decoders, only program them.
With that in mind, it becomes your choice.

As to the distance between power feed points, I will leave that up to others. I have a 4 X 8 layout and have two feed points. I  have had no problems at all. I have run as many a three trains at a time.