I have about eight various BLI sound locomotives. Some I run rather infrequently and I’m having a recurring problem in that they will “forget” their respective DCC address and revert back to 03 address.
Some I used the Digitrax throttle to program and others I’ve programmed using JMRI. Last night I selected 03 on a throttle and FOUR of my Broadway engines started running!!!
My question is if they seem to program OK and accept the new address why do they “forget” them over time?
Will using a DCC specialties “Power-Pax” help in programming these BLI engines?
Has anyone used the newest version of JMRI with expanded BLI programming? I have 1.6.1 (I think) the new version is a Beta.
Thanks, Ed
I wouldn’t think the Power Pax would help with BLI engines losing their minds. It’s a thing to boost the signal to the programming track. It should have no effect on what happens after the engine is already programmed.
I do have a Power Pax but I got it because I have a couple Tsunamis and they supposedly need the extra power to program on the programming track. I programmed BLI and QSI equipped engines before I got the Power Pax on the programming track and it worked fine. I have a Digitrax Chief.
The ‘forgetting’ has been mentioned a lot on the QSI and BLI/PCM Yahoo groups. I don’t know that an actual solution has ever been reached. Note that some BLI models that use the jumper reset came shipped with the jumper in the reset position - this causes the loco to lose all programming whenever power is removed. And I suppose it could be possible for a strong magnet to affect the newer ones that use the magnetic wand for resetting. I don’t think a normal Kadee uncoupling magnet would be strong enough but perhaps it is.
If you can already program your locos, then the PowerPax won’t help. If you can only program on the main using Ops Mode, but not on the program track, then the PowrPax would help. Which Digitrax system do you have? I have been able to program everything I have with my Zephyr - various BLIs, PCM with Loksound, and a Soundtraxx LC
–Randy
Thanks Guys…
I’m using a fairly recent DCS 200 and another DCS 200 set up as a booster. I’ve always been able to program BLI engines right out of the box with no problem.
It may be related but I was recently running a 4 unit lashup of Stewart (Kato) F-7s and discovered that one of the engines was causing some real headaches for me (similar to some of the problems the fellow was having with his Bachman [2-8-0 ?] and this was causing several command station shutdowns even though I have PS4 power shields installed. Seems like one of the Fs has a huge current draw (not a dead short cause it would still run) but once I removed it from the layout the shutdowns ceased and everything is back to normal…
Would this have caused some kind of stray signal that would wipe out an address?
All of my other decoder equipped engines sit for months without running and they have no problem keeping their address. Only the BLI’s lose theirs… I’m stumped??
I did all the programming on the programming track and some I did using Decoder Pro with no problems.
Thanks again!
It seems to be a known issue with QSI decoders. The power interruptions are probably what scrambled them, especially if it was the sort where the power ‘blinked’ on and off repeatedly.
–Randy