Digitrax and InterMountian Programing Help Needed

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I am really really new to this so please bare with me.

One of the first things I did when I decided to recently get into Model Railroading was to build a program track. I did this for sort of a practice run an roadbed ballast and track. Now that I am to the point of my layout construction of laying roadbed then soon track I decided to get a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra and an InterMountian ES44DC BNSF locomotive with sound.

I have been all over the internet trying to get some sort of instructions on how to change the address from 03 to the number on the locomotive (7724). I looked at and tried to follow the directions of some how to instructions. But really could not find anything that pertained to my make and model. So it is still set to address 03.

Sorry for the NooB questions but I really want to learn this.

Thank you So Much For Your Help

Duane

2

The proceedure is really simple. 1. press ‘Prog’ button lower left corner. 2. Press ‘LOCO’ button until it displays AD4 3. Enter 4 digit address - 7724 4. Press CV-WR button. Being a sound decoder you may have trouble reading the decoder but that should really affect a write. If it does you may want to get a ‘programming track booster’ such as a Soundtraxx PTB-100 or try the Zephyr in Blast Mode. Peter

3

I hate to say this but the instructions you were looking for could be found easily on pages 21 to 24 of the manual.

4

Maybe I’m mistaken, but were you under the impression that you needed instructions specific to either the Digitrax decoder or the Intermountain loco to change the long address? If so, that’s not the case. The instructions in your DCC system operator’s manual should apply without regard for the decoder or the loco manufacturer.

5

I was concerned that the extra numbers from numbering the steps might confuse him.

6

And I’m confused because this new forum format didn’t format my message as I made it. Peter

7

I did the what the manual instructed but it wouldn’t take.

8

Try programming a value of 34 into CV29.

If this doesn’t work program the following CV17=222, CV18=44, CV29=34

9

No matter what direction I go I get a flashing code[ d nr ]

Is there anyone in the Des Moines , Iowa area that could show me hands on just what is going on?

You all are giving me great pointers and direction i am thinking maybe hands on would be good too.

Thanks

Duane

10

If I am not mistaken this is a Soundtraxx sound decoder that is installed in your loco. These are not easily readable in a standard programming track. To do so you need a programming track booster or use the blast mode on your DCS51. However even with blast mode it may fail reading sometime due to poor electrical contact.

In your case don’t waste anytime trying to read the decoder simply write the value without reading first and make sure your have good contact between your loco and the programming track…

11

Damigg

Try the bolded procedure above using programming on the main. Be sure to follow the order exactly. This has worked for me with Tsunami decoders. The Zephyr doesn’t seem to like to program sound decoders on the program track.

Joe

12

And if this still doesn’t work,unplug your prog. track from the prog. terminals and connect it to the A & B terminals and use “OPS” mode.The prog. track terminals may still not have enough power,your main track leads should.

13

I have lost all function to the locomotive. All I have is engine sound. no other functions work. No forword no reverse, bell, horn, lights nothing works. I think I just screwed up bad.

14

Nah, you probably need to reset the decoder to factory defaults and then start over.

Rich

15

You may have mistyped a number and given it some weird adress that you can’t read so you’re lost.Connect your test track to your A & B track leads to make it a temporary main.Then set your command station to “ops” mode.If “ops” mode doesn’t see the decoder,you can toggle between three other modes til you get one that works.Then give CV8 a value of 8…it should reset the loco to original settings.

Then give CV29 a value of 34,then,as said earlier,CV17=222 and CV18=44.It should then respond to the desired adress.

16

Now it just says Busy

17

A quick search of the Digitrax web site support section produces this

Programming Soundtraxx Tsunami Decoders with Digitrax Zephyr

Article Details

Last Updated 17th of May, 2012

Thank you for rating this answer.

Zephyr Xtra (DCS51) and Zephyr (DCS50) systems can program Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders using Blast Mode Programming on the Mainline. Blast Programming will program EVERYTHING sitting on the main line track so, you MUST remove everything from the track that you are not programming or use an isolated programming track.

You will not be able to read back CVs using Blast Mode Programming.

To use Blast Mode Programming with Zephyr, close Option Switch 7.

1. Press the “PROG” key.

2. Press the “SWCH” key.

3. Press “7”.

4. Press the “c” key (located just below the “9” key).

5. Press the “EXIT” key.

6. Program the Tsunami decoder using Direct (dir) mode. Be sure that ONLY the loco with the Tsunami decoder is on the track during programming!!

When you are finished programming, you must reset Option Switch 7 to “t” to disable Blast Mode Programming as follows:

18

Now i get StLo flashing . I am getting close to giving up and going to tharapy.

19

http://ikm.digitrax.com/questions/1452/DCS51+(Zephyr+Xtra)+Operating+Cheat+Sheets

Read these. It means that somehow with all the key pounding you have assigned the loco to another throttle, who knows maybe the jump throttle.

It is asking you if you want to Steal control. Hit the Loco key to say yes.

20

Thank You Simon

The link is great and I printed it out. But alas I still have dead locomotive.

But I promise I will get this figured out and I know it will be something simple.

I am just disappointed on how difficult I have made this and that I am bombarding all of you with these sill questions.

Later

Duane