I figured out that if I set JMRI to paged mode vs. direct mode I got it to work.

Evidently paged mode, which is for older decoders, has a longer wait period for decoder response.  The decoder was slow to respond and direct mode looked at it as a time-out error.

I have six of the ES44AC NS Heritage locomotives and although I am generally pleased with them I don't like that I am missing many of accessory sounds I get on my Genesis Tsunami decoders like compressors, pop offs, etc.

Is it easy to upgrade these decoders?  I have not removed any shells yet, but based on research I believe there is a light board with a 21 pin plug that the SoundValue decoder uses and that the SoundValue decoder could be removed and replaced with a Soundtraxx 885809 21plug in decider.

Is this correct? 

I am also looking at a Bachmann E7 with SoundValue.  Would the same plan as above work?

I haves submitted a repair request to Bachmann, but thought I would try the group for other input.

Brand new, right out of the box NS Heritage Southern ES44AC SoundValue locomotive will not read CVs.  I have tried both NCE Power Cab and JMRI.  I was able to write CVs from a duplicate JMRI file from a similar unit and get some functionality, but not all.  I tried resetting the decoder with both the NCE Power Cab and JMRI.... no luck.  Continues to not read CVs.  I did setup another new ES44AC after the fail on the Southern unit with no problem.

I have 13 Athearn Genesis Tsunami locomotives and this is my 4th Bachman SoundValue locomotive. So this unit is not my first rodeo on sound decoders, but that doesn't  make me an expert!

Appreciate any  thoughts on how to get this locomotive operational!

Thank you.

JMRI shows a sound volume adjustment slider for the subject locomotive (and my two other similar units) yet I hear no compressor sound effect, even when I turn all the other prime mover sound effect down or off.

Is this just a ghost capability that JMRI picks up or is there an on/off CV for the compressor sound effect?