I can’t program my BLI EMD F7A/B on the program track using my MRC Prodigy Advance. When I go through the MRC programming procedure I get sound and lights from the loco but it will not respond to any of the function keys. If I bypass the programming process the loco works fine and I use a loco address of “3” on my controller, which is maybe OK unless I add another BLI loco. (Note: I have no problem programming my Proto steam loco). The QSI manual (on page 143) kind of refers to this problem. I don’t think I should be running an “unprogrammed” loco (both the A&B units have the “3” address). Do I need to get a Programming Booster that DCC Specialities makes or is there another way to overcome this problem?
Try “Operations Mode” programming on the mainline if your DCC system supports that. QSI decoders require a power booster connected to the programming track with some, but not all, DCC systems, but can usually be programmed in Ops mode.
dadret, I have a few BLI & Proto 2K w/snd and I’ve programmed all of mine on the main. I use NCE and am not familiar with MRC, however, this is what I found works for me.
The BLI sound loco’s all have verbal feedback. If I leave this feature on, the NCE Power Pro will go through the steps of programming the address but the last step is missed because of the verbal feedback. For QSI chips, I turned off the verbal feedback, CV62=0, and then programming the address on the main with NCE worked just fine. I believe this is also stated in the manual.
Check your manual with the loco for the correct CV.
Regards,
I think I can probably program on the Main Track but what is the disadvantage or risk to programming on the Main Tack? I’m still pretty new at this. The QSI manual says that MRC does not support programming in the “Service Mode” (i.e.Program Track) but does in the "Ops Mode (main track). I’m just a little unsure of programming on the main track primarily due to my inexperience.
The disadvantage or risk of programming on the main is that there is a possibility that you could accidently program ALL your locos to the same address, etc.
For example, you mentioned that your A and B units both still have the default address of “3”. If you have them both on the main, and attempt to program one of them, which one is going to get programmed? Yup, BOTH of them.
If you know all the gotchas and possibilities, you can work around that. Lots of folks do it all the time.
However, if you’re not sure about it, the best option is to remove all locos from the layout, other than the one you want to program.
HTH,
Steve
Steve is absolutely correct. In fact, programming on the main in Ops mode is the best way to go if your decoders and programming system will allow it. Just ensure that the address you want to manipulate is the one active on your paddle, and that you really are in Ops Mode.
It is Paged Mode, using either the main or a programming track, that becomes problematic because that mode broadcasts the inputs to all listening decoders, no matter if they are active on the throttle or not. If they can hear the signal, no matter where they are in your train room, they will alter their CV’s as you input the changes.
If your system supports programming on the main, you should try it, but ensure that only the one loco is selected for programming. Otherwise, try placing the one loco on the segregated programming track and use Ops Mode there! It may make a difference.
Edit-I almost forgot - after you program the new address, if it is an extended one, you must afterwards alter CV 29 to a value of 38, and I do it in ops mode, but only to the affected loco. I do my re-addressing on a separate track just 'cuz I don’t want to have to correct a mistake in all my locos. So, while it is still there, exit your re-addressing sequence, enter Ops Mode, dial CV 29, and input “38”. Even then, on exiting, your QSI decoder may seem to be a dud…no sound, no reaction. You must actually acquire the new address on your paddle and engage the loco to active status. At that point only, it seems for some QSI decoders, it will light up and start noise and responding to your commands.
Dadret,
I have successfully programmed my BLI EMD F7 A/B using the MRC Prodigy Advance system, on both the main track and program track. I didn’t do anything special; the Prodigy’s “easy address programming” feature, where you don’t have to touch CVs directly, worked on both the main track and the programming track.
One of my locos (a Bachmann) will only program on the program track, even though it claims to support main track programming.
Re. the “easy address programming” feature, the Prodigy Advance manual warns that this feature may not work on older decoders and on some newer QSI decoders, in which case you will need to program the address using CVs.
The BLI manual warned that some command stations may not supply sufficient power to the “program track” and the QSI decoder may not respond; in this case, the loco would need to be programmed on the main track.
-tom
FYI - I got a 14 page (too long to put here) Word document from MRC titled "PRODIGY ADVANCE, ADVANCE SQUARED, AND EXPRESS TIPS AND TRICKS’ which has a lot of good info on setting up the system, info not included in the instruction manual. You can get it by calling or e-mailing MRC.
Keep in mind Ops Mode programming is completely different from what those systems that do not have a seperate programming track do when you use one of the other programming modes (like paged, direct, or physical register). In true ops mode programming, the programming commands are only sent to the selected address (now, if you have 5 locos ont he trak all set to address 3, and you program to address 3…). Other locos at different addresses can sit on the track and be completely unaffected. I’ve got at least 6 locos sitting on powered track and they are still programmed the way I set them even though I’ve been running a sound decoder and changing the volumes in ops mode. However - if you are using a system that does not have a seperate program track connection, and dial up Page Mode programming, it WILL change every loco sitting on the track. With such a system be VERY sure you are using Ops Mode. On systems with a dedicated program track, selecting a mode other than Ops Mode will result in exactly nothing happening to the loco on the main.
–Randy