I recently purchased a Bachmann FA-1 and an FB unit with sound. They both came with a Quick Start guide. Nothing more. Everything else seems to be a well kept secret. I need to know what CVs are supported. Things like changeing the various sound volumes, speed matching, etc. The quick start guide says for more info go to either Bachmann or Soundtraxx websites. Good luck with that. Bachmanns website simply provides the Quick Start guide in PDF form. I already have that on paper. It came with the loco! Soundtraxx website makes no mention of the Sound Value decoders, and there is no search function. Soundtraxx site is everything you could possible want to know about Tsunamis, and that’s about all.
Also, can anyone tell me if the Sound Value decoders that come in Bachmann diesels are basically Tsunamis, without some of the sounds. That would be helpful.
Where or how can I find a little more detailed info about the Sound Value decoders that come pre installed in Bachmann diesels. Things like what CVs are supported, and what they control.
I just came from the Bachmann site. It links directly to the Tsunami Technical Reference. But it makes no mention of the Sound Value decoders, which I think are basically Tsunamis, but lacking some of the Tsunami features.
For example the B unit only has the diesel rumble. No horn or bell. I would like to know if there is no horn or bell in the B unit decoder, or if it is just turned down or off.
The Tsunami Technical reference makes no reference whatsoever to the Sound Value series, which is different from the Tsunamis.
Sound Value decoders are short legged versions of Tsunami decoders that are missing some CVs indeed.And some of the CVs that are there are lacking some of the configuration posibilities true Tsunami decoders CVs have.Soundtraxx program them to the loco manufacturer’s (their customer here) requested parameters.
Let us know what you’d like to do…may be we can help…
I’ve just gotten used to going online for stuff like this. I’ve bookmarked the NMRA DCC Standards page, too, and Google takes me to pretty much everything else.
For me, the option is that or “Where did I put that CV list they gave me?” I’m better off with having it online.
You apparently haven’t purchased much in the way of new locomotives or anything else technical such as computer software recently – no one includes documentation anymore.
Saves them a lot of paper and printing cost when the end user is required to download and print their own instruction manual.
ANd then there’s the rest of us - my printer ran out of ink (well, actually, it all dried up due to non-use - I will NEVER buy an inkjet printer ever again) almost 2 years ago, and I haven’t missed it. With a large screen, the text can be far BIGGER than it appears on the printed page - even on not such a large screen, although it means more scrolling. So, I just read these things on my computer after I download them, I don;t waste trees and print things. ANd since the most common format is the ubiquitous PDF format, I can transfer them to my tablet if I need a portable copy. Back when I was first getting in to DCC, I printed out various DIgitrax manuals as well as the various NMRA DCC standards and RPs, and other technical data. My iPad weighs a mere fraction of that HUGE thick 3-ring binder full of manuals, yet contains all f those documents plus tons of other newer ones plus many issues of magazines and many, many books.
See, the key to modifying people’s behavior (in this cas, waste less paper, saving tress, and all that flows from that) is to provide a more convenient alternative. If the alternative is a PITA to use, no one will use it.
Actually, I think the OP has a valid point. It’s gradually come out on various forums that not all the CVs listed in the Sound Value documentation are actually installed on Sound Value decoders, so even the on line documentation that people are pointing to is not correct. The problem is that people are having to find this out via trial and error, and in fact neither Bachmann nor Soundtraxx is supporting the product as it’s sold.
For instance, although the on line documentation refers to speed curve support, this apparently isn’t actually available. I’ve seen reference to this in forums, and my own experiments seem to bear this out.
I’m sorry there’s no central exchange for this kind of thing, and those who want to shame the folks who are actually correct in pointing this out aren’t doing anyone any favors.
Not to interject myself unnecessarily, but the documentation for the FA2 unit, found here on the Soundtraxx website: http://soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/ho_fa2_sv.pdf, indicates that the CVs necessary for speed table support, CVs 67 through 94, are supported by the Soundvalue decoder.
If you have references to where it has been found that these are not supported, it probably would be helpful to supply a link. Also, I don’t know what experimention you have done, but it would probably be helpful if you described that.
And if all else failed, I had a question regarding a Soundvalue decoder and it was answered with a call to Soundtraxx.
The point I was making above was that the Soundtraxx doc is incorrect or completely unclear in several cases. The most recent example of this is at http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/20046 – the list of CVs in the GG1 doc at http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/ho_gg1_sv.pdf lists variables like “exhaust volume control” that pretty clearly don’t correspond to any Soundtraxx GG1 sounds, and the doc doesn’t provide any clear answer to the poster’s question as to whether the motor sounds are included or not. I’ve seen references on other forums, possibly the Bachmann, to the fact that the FA2 doc includes a reference to CV 132, air compressor volume, when trial and error by various users has shown that the Sound Value package does not include any air compressor sounds.
My own experiments have shown that trying to adjust CVs 5 and 6 on the Sound Value F7 (vmin and vmid) produces no effect, although these values are listed on the F7 doc at http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/ho_f7a_sv.pdf I discussed this on the former Whistle Post forum, which is now gone. I may have made some sort of mistake in this, and my point is that there so far is no good central point for resolving these issues.
Calling or e-mailing the supplier has inconsistent or unpredictable results. I’ve gotten two different answers from two different people (or even the same guy on different days) when trying to do this. But even if I get a right answer, there’s no good central point for reporting it. That’s my point.
Well, your original comment was that the Soundvalue did not support speed tables. That is a little different than not supporting CVs 5 and 6.
The full blown Tsunami does not support CVs 5 and 6, so I would be surprised that a Soundvalue would. If you look at the Tsunami diesel decoder manual starting around page 4 you’ll see that it goes from CV 4 to CV 7: http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/tsunami_diesel_technical_reference_0213.pdf I understand that the new Soundtraxx motor-only decoders do support CVs 5 and 6, but that is a different animal.
I have too. But as I said, it would only cost them a penny or two to add a page to the user manual with the CVs. Not everyone has Internet access, or is computer savvy. I finally found what I was looking for, but a lot of the links were dead ends at the “store” or general descriptions. Several Google hits just took me to the Soundtraxx website, but nothing Bachmann specific. I was curious about the bell and horn in the B unit, if I ever wanted to switch the shell for an A unit. I found the bell and horn were just turned down to 0 volume on the B unit FYI. Anyway, thanks for the replies!
While I typically do check mfg’s websites for docs, updates and other product info, I agree with you that such basic info as the CV list should be included in the package. While the web is a great resource, it’s notoriuosly fickle. And it’s gotten rather trackless. Search is a game of chance as much as skill anymore. Websites go dark, pages get lost or delinked, and companies go out of business. Doubt the last will be an issue for Bachmann, but it’s just a good idea to have a handy copy around. And if the accountant needs a justification to spend the penny on extra printing, the consumer is much more likely to keep a printed sheet or other product with such info AND a GREAT BIG LOGO within reach and in easy sight if needed than they are a box, etc,. It’s just good marketing.
Except that Soundtraxx lists a lot of CVs in the Sound Value doc that aren’t supported. If you have special knowledge that tells you certain ones aren’t supported even though they’re listed, great, you can one-up lots of guys. However, my point continues to be that a number of CVs – and it’s never been made clear which, anywhere – on the Sound Value docs aren’t supported. Even if a company spends, or doesn’t spend, money to put hard copy doc in with the product, it doesn’t help if the doc is inaccurate.
I was just programming a couple Athearn Genesis locos, and guess what. The Athearn Genesis locos come with a 22 page instructional manual, listing all the CVs, including the various sounds, the equalizer, etc, in a glossy color booklet. A big THANK YOU to Athearn!