Well, my BLI Hudson arrived, and today the ladies were away, so I took the opportunity to pull it out if its box and give it a try.
I couldn’t get the engine to respond on the programming track. On my Lenz system, it said ERR 01, which translates to a short or other decoder problem. Then engine runs fine as #3 on the main line, but what’s wrong with the programming track?
I recall some earlier posts about some BLI sound engines, and the need for a resistor in the circuit somewhere. All I was trying to do was read the address.
The engine is beautiful, by the way, and its big, full whistle puts everything else to shame. I’ve got a bit of minor trackwork to do at one turnout, but mostly it handles the 18-inch curves just fine.
QSI decoders require a power booster with some DCC systems to program them on a programming track, but can supposedly be programmed without a booster if you program on the main line (Ops mode) if your DCC system can do that.
To change the address, you would first have to tell your Lenz system to program the locomotive with address 3 on the main, and then change to your new address.
You’ll also have to change CV29 in order for your system to recognize the new address. Normally, CV29 needs to have a value of 38 to operate on a long address.
Be careful that there are no other locomotives on your main line anywhere or they may also get changed.
Thanks. The Lenz can program on the main, so I’ll have to give that a try. I’ll check the value of CV29, too. Normally, I haven’t had to change that CV for long addresses, but that may be one of the little things that Lenz automated. My other QSI-equipped engine had a 2-digit cab number.
Don’t be surprised if the loco remains silent when you power it up after altering the CV 39 value. Sometimes the QSI’s won’t respond, even with sound, until you actually dial in the new address and engage it…in the DT 400’s that would be clicking the encoder once. Then, away she will go.
You can not program the address for any BLI engines on the main or on the programing track without a Power Pax, you can purchase one from Tony’s Trains. You attach it to your programing track and the leads coming out of the Lenz going to the programing track. As far as I know thats the only way to program the address.
This is simply not true. Programming on the main NEVER requires a program track booster - how would it connect, anyway? And my Digitrax Zephyr programs them on the program track, WITHOUT a booster. Some systems can, some systems need a booster.
You are going to love your Hudson. I am thrilled with mine. It navigates the 18-inch radius turns on my reverse loop without problems too.
I had no problem programming mine with a Digitrax Zephyr, but I have heard that others have had problems. Try turning off the sound and the lights on the mainline before you put the loco on the programming track. That will reduce the load on the programmer.
If that doesn’t fix the problem, try putting a 1/4 watt, 1K ohm resistor across the programming track. It should fool the programmer into increasing its signal to the programming track. At least it works with a Zephyr.
If all else fails, try programming on the mainline. Both of my BLI locos respond to OPS mode programming. You can even have the loco call out the CV value if you want it to!
There are two methods for programming short and long addresses in OPS mode, pages 12 & 13, in the BLI booklet that came with your loco.