Not really a layout, yet, this Old West station will be part of a layout someday. (Rebuilding the house first).  For now it's just a test-loop...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5uCbCFoUM

Thanks. I'm not really an expert on the DCC subject, but I wanted something to reprogram some basic CVs, and, importantly: was affordable.  The only dislike I have (so far) is the fact that dynamis does not read CV values from the unit. They have an extra add-on box for that, but I'm not spendeing all that extra cash for that...

My 'workaround' for that - if I need the have a starting point - is to just look up the information on the decorder manufacturer's website. For my Loksound controlled GM-NOHAB, for example, I downloaded the programmming software and the decoder project data, available at their website. Even though I can't connect it to my track, I can use it to see all factory settings, which is a great starting point to start fiddling with the settings. QSI's website has helped me for the 2 engines mentioned earlier.

I would have gone for a more elaborate controller, allowing hookup to PC and change sounds & stuff ; if it wasn't al so expensive... wow! ;-)   Dynamis is good enough for what I need, controlling my DCC engines and changing the occasional CV setting now & then, and I do like the controls on it. If I ever actually want to change a sound file, it'll be cheaper to go to model train shop

What are the MRC's advantages regarding programming?

Bingo!

Very weird: I noticed all the sound functions did work correctly (for example: diesel engine sound revs up, functions keys do control lights, bells, etc...).  Just the "high track voltage alarm" sounding the horn and preventing it from moving.
Exactly the same thing happened, with my old DC power pack, which - when turned all the way up - produced too much voltage: more then 12 V, more like 16 or 17.

That got me thinking: try to lower track voltage just a little bit, by adding some load, and see what happens. So I placed a second locomotive on the track.  And it all suddenly worked perfectly. Horn alarm stopped and engines ran fine.

Please note the "track" is just a small test loop for the moment, just to test the controller and locomotives.  Maybe it will be solved automatically on a larger track with more voltage drop. Either that or the 2 locomotives with the QSI cards are going into high voltage alarm way to soon, at 15-16 V instead of 21.

I'll measure the actual track voltage tomorrow, my voltage meter is out in the garage and it's freezing, I'm not going outside now, haha ;-)

But at least its working; if all else fails I'll just remember to put an extra locomotive on the track somewhere, when using these locomotives.
Now I can get back to programming my preferences, since I just reset about everything I have, to factory defaults ;-) haha

Thanks for the advice, and I hope this explanation may help others someday.

Cheers,
Werner

Hi,

Can someone please assist?

I have two DC + DCC locomotives (Atlas gold series GP40 10 000 624 and Walthers proto 2000 E7A 920-40548) Both have factory fitted QSI quantum Q1a sound decoder.

Previously they ran on an analog track controlled by QARC DC Quantum Engineer, it worked great, also the sounds.

But when I place them on a DCC layout (Bachmann Dynamis ez command), they immediately start giving the high-voltage alarm (repeated horn blowing), and won't move.
I did a decoder reset on both, with the magic wand. Are they stuck in analog thereby misreading the continuous dcc track voltage?  What am I doing wrong?

The bachmann dynamis works fine, because if I place a Roco dcc locomotive with a ESU Loksound 4 decoder on the track, all works fine.

Is the problem that I used the 2 other loc's analog first? If so, what do I do so they "know" they are now on a DCC track?

Thanks,
Wekke