BLI P3 PRR J1 light off with first whistle, direction change sound, acceleration chuff volume

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Just thought I’d provide some info on Paragon3 PRR J1 features that I learned with the help of BLI Technical Support. The items are 1) lights go out with first whistle after startup, 2) loud direction change sound, and 3) acceleration chuff volume increase.

  1. With some systems (e.g. NCE and MRC, but not Digitrax) when you blow the whistle for the first time after startup the lights go out – here’s how to make them stay ON.

Toggle power to tracks OFF

Power up DCC system

Press Select Loco, enter loco #, press Enter (even if loco number was already in the display)

Select F0 (see “L" appear in cab display)

Toggle power to tracks ON

Press F9 (startup sequence)

Light should have come on near the end of startup

Sound the whistle — whether standing still or moving, it should not go off

  1. The change of direction sound is in my opinion way to loud and you can not address its volume level independently nor is it affected by Master Volume adjustments.

You can turn the change in direction sound off by setting CV246=129 (page 208 of the Technical Reference Guide, see link below).

  1. To reduce the chuff sound volume increase when accelerating:

The technical reference manual can be found here: https://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/techSteam1.00.pdf (More information on Chuff Control can be found on pages 14 and 15).

Try adjusting CV’s 199 and 200 until it is to your liking. Read more on those on pages 158 and 159.

Those three measures worked for me. I hope they do for you as well.

2

Yes - this is great!

3

I just thought it as another P3 decoder problem!

thanksfor posting

4

Pretty much is, isn’t it? Only this decoder has the issue.

5
6

Sure they will. Same way the fixed the issues with the P2 decoders. They’ll replace it with a P4 that has it’s own set of issues. Just different issues.

7

**why do they still have the sound files from 2006 in their paraliyzer 3 decoder ???[soapbox]

**

8

so far i have replaced the motherboard the smoke unit & the light unit

other then that its the best big boy i ever owned { sarcasm off}

9

Because there is no running J-1 to get actual recordings from, so why bother?

Now if you want a model of something that is running - there are some decoders with fairly recent recordings of operating steam locos such as those on the Strasburg Railroad, and they did or are doing recordings of the CNJ 0-6-0 that was recently returned to service in Minersville PA. Most steam locos are ‘make do’ sounds because the real thing isn’t running.

–Randy