Another DCC Dilemma......

[Patrick Davey]

I have two 121s - 125 with a sound decoder, and 132 with a standard decoder.

Last night I had a friend in, and I was all set to show off the amazing sound capabilities of 125, but she didn't come to life - boo.

So I had a closer look today and in short:

* 125's sound decoder won't respond - it's not the loco, because she runs when I put 132's standard chip in

* No movement, no sound and no lighting

* I reset the decoder using CV8 etc, and still nothing

* The decoder doesn't work in 132 either

* The decoder and my NCE PowerCab are definitely speaking because the loco makes those weird noises during the reset and renumbering

* All other DCC locos work fine

Have I just had my first deceased sound chip?  Hoping the knowledgeable folk here can suggest a solution!

 

 

 

Edited March 20 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

**UPDATE**

I paid a visit to Kieran Lagan earlier, and Kieran kindly tested the misbehaving sound decoder for me in his decoder test setup.  Interestingly, it passed all the tests!!  I won’t be able to check it again in its ‘resident’ loco until Tuesday, but at least I know the - expensive - sound decoder is fine.  It’s still a mystery how the loco hasn’t been recognising it, yet she was fine with a standard decoder…… standby for a further update on Tuesday!!  

[Mol_PMB]

I’m no expert but just a thought. One of my friends using NCE had a problem like this when he consisted a loco with another. Then when he tried to use the loco on its own (without disbanding the consist) it misbehaved. 

[irishthump]

1 hour ago, Mol_PMB said:

I’m no expert but just a thought. One of my friends using NCE had a problem like this when he consisted a loco with another. Then when he tried to use the loco on its own (without disbanding the consist) it misbehaved. 

That's a good shout. NCE controllers can be a but prickly if you don't clear the consist, that usually stems from functions that are selected to work when the loco is operating in a consist.

You could also try setting CV19 to 0 which will make sure the decoder isn't assigned to operate in a consist.

[Patrick Davey]

Good advice folks thanks and yes the consist issue had arisen previously so I had made sure to delete the consist prior to all this.

[irishthump]

2 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Good advice folks thanks and yes the consist issue had arisen previously so I had made sure to delete the consist prior to all this.

Did you reprogramme CV19 to a value of 0 on the loco? I'd do that just to be sure.

[Patrick Davey]

55 minutes ago, irishthump said:

Did you reprogramme CV19 to a value of 0 on the loco? I'd do that just to be sure.

No but that'll be on the list when I get back to the layout - cheers!

[Georgeconna]

dumping the NCE was the best thing I ever did. Dunno how people use that Archaic yoke. 

[Tullygrainey]

8 hours ago, Georgeconna said:

dumping the NCE was the best thing I ever did. Dunno how people use that Archaic yoke. 

Out of interest, what have you replaced it with?

[irishthump]

2 hours ago, Tullygrainey said:

Out of interest, what have you replaced it with?

For what it’s worth…. When I was getting into DCC I was choosing between the NCE Powercab and the Gaugemaster Prodigy 2. I went with the Gaugemaster and have no reason to change. It’s never given me problems. I’ve actually acquired a couple of extra controllers so I should be set for life!
NCE are known for not playing nicely with Loksound decoders, and I also found the programming features clunky as hell.

However, if I were replacing everything I’d go for a Lenz system.

-

[Georgeconna]

36 minutes ago, irishthump said:

For what it’s worth…. When I was getting into DCC I was choosing between the NCE Powercab and the Gaugemaster Prodigy 2. I went with the Gaugemaster and have no reason to change. It’s never given me problems. I’ve actually acquired a couple of extra controllers so I should be set for life!
NCE are known for not playing nicely with Loksound decoders, and I also found the programming features clunky as hell.

However, if I were replacing everything I’d go for a Lenz system.

-

its a pretty basic system really, 20 years old. Switched to a Z21, option to use handset and tablet. will never change. So simple a 10 year old kid can use it. 

[irishthump]

22 minutes ago, Georgeconna said:

its a pretty basic system really, 20 years old. Switched to a Z21, option to use handset and tablet. will never change. So simple a 10 year old kid can use it. 

Yeah, Z21 is good setup. I just prefer the Lenz handeld. But you cant go wrong with any of the German manufacturers.

[irishthump]

22 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I’m no expert but just a thought. One of my friends using NCE had a problem like this when he consisted a loco with another. Then when he tried to use the loco on its own (without disbanding the consist) it misbehaved. 

That will happen with pretty much any controller. When you consist a loco you’re basically telling it to respond only to the consist address and ignore its regular address.

[Patrick Davey]

Pleased to report that 125 is now fully functional again after the chip went for testing by Kieran Lagan - thanks Kieran!

[irishthump]

16 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Pleased to report that 125 is now fully functional again after the chip went for testing by Kieran Lagan - thanks Kieran!

Great news! Did he reprogramme it in any way?

[Patrick Davey]

2 hours ago, irishthump said:

Great news! Did he reprogramme it in any way?

Thanks!!

Yes I think so - he worked on it for a while, trying various things.