First, let me state for the record that my old PCM Y6b is an absolutely GREAT locomotive! BUT, after all these years, I still can’t get right with that WHISTLE! Since many years have gone by since it’s introduction, have there been any new avenues, or “advancements” made available to change that whistle? Aside from changing the whole decoder? I remember reading about the “Loksound Programmer”, but I really don’t want to get into all that, just for a whistle. Is there possibly a replaceable “chip” (like QSI), or can the board be sent somewhere to be re-programmed at a reasonable price? Anybody done this? Or am I the only one with issues regarding the “anemic” whistle??
Without knowing exactly which version of LokSound decoder is in your locomotive, it’s hard to provide advice, but on some of the newer ones there are several whistle files loaded which can simply be changed by programming the value in CV58, which can be done with any DCC system.
If you can tell us the value that is in CV7, which tells us the decoder version number, we can hopefully provide more precise information.
If it’s the original PCM Y6B, then it’s a Loksound 3.5. There MAY be a second whistle already programmed in, if so it will be on the F4 key, and the sounds can be remapped to make the secondary whistle the F2 sound.
If not, if there is a different whistle available, it’s very easy to swap the sounds with the Loksound Programmer. The decoders are fully updateable, no chip swaps or anything like that. The entire library of sounds can be downloaded and played witht he Programmer softwarewithout any extra hardware, to see if there is one you like. In the case of my PCM Reading T1’s, another modeler had his own recordings of 2102 and he edited the correct whistle, bell, and air pump sounds so they could be loaded in the 3.5 decoder.
That’s the beauty of Loksound, there is no sending it back for updates like Tsunami, no chip swaps like the original QSI. Any given decoder is the same as any other, you cna load any sound into any decoder. You CAN customize the complete script of sounds, but you can also just swap out the sound clip that plays for a given event, like the whistle. I did this for an RS-3, the horn included in the sound set was a 5 chime, my RS-3’s have 3 chimes. Loksound has the correct sound in their library, it was a very simple matter to make the switch.
Having 3 locos that came with Loksound, and buying another decoder to install myself, I’ve decided to standardize on Loksound, since they are the most flexible, have a complete library of sounds for everything I run, are quite affordablke, and have better motor control than any of the other sound decoders. Thus the hardware, the Lokprogrammer box, was a worthwhile investment.
–Randy
Chances are, if you say you had it for a few years, your decoder is probably an out of production 3.5 version decoder. The file for the Y6b has been updated for the Select line of decoders. Check this page for a sound example of the current Y6b and see what you think of that whistle …
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/loksound-select/loksound-select-usa/
If your current decoder is in fact a 3.5, it can be upgraded to the new whistle by anyone who is adept with using the LokProgrammer. The original 3.5 file can be imported into the version 4 software. You then just extract the new whistle from the 4.0 file and replace the 3.5 whistle with the new one. You can even write to the 3.5 decoders using the latest update of the 4.0 software … did just that last night !
Mark.
I always thought the LokSound hooter was pretty good, all things considered. The QSI Titan Universal has a great hooter. My PCM Y6b LokSound packed it in on me three months ago out of the blue. Lights and motion, no sound. I had a Titan installed and I have not looked back.
-Crandell
Yeah, watch some videos of a real Y6b, the hooter whistle actually is right. Sounds wierd compared to what most think of as steam loco whistles, but it IS the right one.
–Randy
Yes, it is the original PCM with Loksound 3.5. You guys have steered me to some research. It appears that if I want to change the whistle, I have two options: 1. Buy a Loksound Programmer, or 2. Send it to Tony’s Train Exchange, and they will re-program it for me. If I understand correctly from their website, they charge $14.95 for this service, plus freight. Problem is, I really don’t want to send my “prized” Y6 anywhere. Looks like it’s gonna cost about $160 for the programmer. Just a little too rich for me right now.
Is the decoder hardwired in the engine, or is it plugged in ? I wouldn’t be too keen on sending my engine either, but if the decoder was easily removable, I’d send in just the decoder no problem.
Mark.
Hmm,. didn’t see any listed but I paid less than half that for mine, got it on ebay.
–Randy
Just send in the decoder rather than your entire Y6b. It’s pretty straightforward to disconnect it from the rest of the locomotive. If Tony’s won’t take and program it that way, Steve @ Ulrich Models will. He might be a little cheaper, too.
Tom