I recently finished superdetailing my Dash 9 and I was trying to program the ditch lights on the V4 with the program track side of my MRC Prodigy Advance Squared. I couldn’t get it to wookr and when i tried reading back the CVs I discovered that none of the lighting functions would program on the programming track. Am I missing something basic or do I need to drop 150 for a Lokprogrammer (with Black friday etc. now might not be a bad time except I am sort on cash). I have programmed sounds for my Loksound Select on the main and I can program the address on the V4, just none of the lighting changes. After programming a CV is still reads back to the original value - no change. Thanks in advance.
Have you tried programming on the main? Program track might not have the power to change CVs in the sound decoder. POM should work just fine.
Pete
You only need the Lokprogrammer if you want to load a different sound set on the decoder. Everything else is set via CVs.
–Randy
I’ve tried programming on the main and the program track. Currently I am trying to reprogram AUX 2 to F7. Following directions from tonys trains I try writing 183 value 8, 184 value 0 186 value 8 187 value 0. Whenever I read back the CV’s though, all of them are 0. I programmed the address ok and it responds to that. I have also tried resetting the decoder but that hasn’t helped either. Maybe there is a decoder lock CV somewhere although I didn’t lock anything. I called ESu twice today although I imagine they took the day off.
-9
You can download the manual here.
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/
I am not sure about the version 4 decoders but there may be some indexed CVs that have to be changed in order to change other CVs.
ESU has their own forum system that they monitor and answer questions on. There is also the Loksound ESU yahoo group that has very knowledgeable people on.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loksound/?yguid=270163699
I am sure there is someone who can walk you through the programing.
Pete
Can you read the values of other CVs, like 29?
Does the PA even program CVs higher than 127? This could be the problem. There are alternate methods to get tot he higher CV numbers on the Loksound V4 but it doesn;t appear these are in the Select yet, at least not mentioned in the latest version manual.
–Randy
The first question I think needs to be asked is exactly which Loksound decoder those Tony’s instructions apply to. I think I found the instructions you mentioned and they do talk about CVs 183, 184 186, and 187. But I looked at several of the Loksound decoder manuals and the only one that shows those CVs as having anything to do with changing key F7 is for the LokPilot V3. There’s a chart on page 64 of the LokPilot manual which you can download from http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/ if you want to take a look.
If you have a Loksound V4, then I think you need to look at the mapping information shown in the Loksound V4 manual (found at the same link) starting around page 51 or so. If that’s really where you need to look, good luck because I stared at the information on how to do it for about a half hour and still don’t have a clue. The only thing I will say is that it appears that the re-mapping CVs for the V4 appear to be different than those you mentioned.
For a Loksound Select to make F7 control the AUX2 physical output, it’s CV32 =2 and then CV394 to 8
–Randy
I thought he said he had a V4. Is the information the same for that?
V4’s different, I’m mixed up between this thread and the other one on programming a select.
To do the V4 you will almost certainly have to follow the instructions they give for programming witht he Digitrax Zephyr, as I doubt the MRC can select CVs above 255 either. It may not be able to do a CV above 127 .There is a special way to access the higher CVs via indexed CVs. For those systems that can select a CV number higher than 255, they can program the required CV directly, but ESU has a back door of sorts for other systems to be able to get to them. One if for systems that can go up to 255 but no higher, the other is for systems that can only go up to 127.
–Randy
I may have been wrong with the Tonys Trains CV’s although it does say Loksound and list the correct function assignments for the V4. My loksound select has 20 some f functions, not 11 like the Tonys trains and the V4. I will try and look at the manual again but it concerns me that I wrote values to the CV’s and the locomotive made a sound like it was starting to jerk forward like most decoders do when they recieve information but when i read back there is no change. Even if i had the wrong CV’s there should still be a change. I haven’t found the V4 manual to be near as helpful as the Select manual… last I saw there was only a British English Version and all 5 or so variants of the V4 were listed.
If anyone’s interested… these are the directions I was following.
The manual for Loksound V4 can be downlaoded here: http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/
Or if you can read German you can swith to the German version of the site and get the German language version - I understand enough to muddle throught he basics but not enough to read all the details.
I believe someone posted a step by step how to use the CV offsets in the Loksound group on Yahoo. Free to join and lots of info. Go to Groups on Yahoo and search for Loksound.
–Randy
It does not specify what version Loksound these instruction are for! The version 4 is a very unique decoder and the real instructions are free on the ESU web site that I and others have already given. While Tony’s is a leader in DCC sales and service they did not make the decoder you have. The manufacture has more information that you need.
Pete
After reading and re-reading the opening post, I’m wondering …
You say you can’t program it on the programming track, but it appears as though you can program it on the main - but you say it reads back 0. (?)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the only way you can read back CV’s is on the programming track - you can’t read back CV’s when on the main (I never program on the main, I just recall reading that).
Loksound 4.0 decoders draw considerably more current than the Selects when programming. I’ve recorded a current draw of just over 1 amp draw during the programming process of a 4.0 decoder. This is one of the reasons people were having issues with the ESU programmer and its supplied 500ma power supply … but that’s another topic.
With your set-up, you probably won’t be able to use your program track with the 4.0 decoder (unless you get a booster), which means you won’t be able to read back any CV’s. You should, however, be able to program on the main.
When you make a CV change on the main, does the change actually take effect ?
Mark.
Yeah I’ve tried programming both on the main and on the program track and when on the program track and trying to read back all i get is zero for any CV’s i have set. I CAN read back the address of the locomotive correctly. I’m not sure entirely about the specs of the MRC. I was under the impression that I wouldn’t need a booster on the program track. I have programmed Tsunami’s on it in the past. I do wonder, however, if the booster recommended for Tsunami decoders is only nessesary for changing sound functions because all the tsunamis I own were factory versions. I’ve only messed with speed matching and momentum on my two tsunamis. I’ll probably just give ESU a call on Monday but all of the sales I have been seeing end sunday so that’s kind of a bummer. If I need a programmer I would gladly take 10% off.
Reading through the V4 manual is a nightmare. I understand CV’c, bits, bytes, and binary. I have no idea what mapping lines or “CV A, B, C…” mean. I might just bit the bullet and buy a programmer. I’m not happy with the horn or air compressor anyway and I’m sure I will buy more Loksound decoders in the future. I just wish it was cheaper. I need the money for College and Heritage Units.
NS.
I got my programmer on E-bay for $50. The software is free from ESU at anytime. If you are in no hurry then the same course is advisable. Although I do not have any version 4 decoders of my own I have done 2 instals for club members. The programmer works OK at best. ESU has not released any instructions for the latest programmer software. The only programming I have done is simple CV changes on the version 4 decoders. I have considerably more experience with the Loksound Select decoders with the programmer.
I can understand the confusion about the tables in the ESU manuals. Just ignore the bits and bytes columns and concentrate on the CV and values columns.
Pete
I had downloaded the decoder version 4 manual and flipped through it quickly. The version 4 decoder in fact uses indexed CVs for function changes. It uses CV31 and 32 for indexes that have to be changed to some value before changing functions.
What exactly is it you want to accomplish? Maybe I can help in deciphering the tables for you.
Pete
I need the CV’s to set Aux 1 & Aux 2 as Ditch lights. I want them to flash alternately when the horn is sounded and I would prefer that I could turn them on and off with F4 (steady state).