Simple question what does the up grade chip do driffrent than the normal chip?
Cuda Ken
You can read about it here:
[link]http://www.qsisolutions.com/products/q-chip-upgrade.html[/link]
Scroll down to ‘Features and Changes Included in the Quantum Upgrade Chip’
Or watch a video of my “Up-Chipped” M1a; it’s not much of a video but showcases the different sounds of one particular chip I bought for it out of three total availible ones.
http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x173/fallsvalleyrr/?action=view¤t=UpgradedM1aFinal.flv
I purchased the Alternate Chuff for that particular engine that was identified as a October of 2003 run. This engine has the original sounds with the new upgrades and the alternate sounds as well.
You can download a program and preview the sound files before you buy.
Here is my thread on the M1a I upgraded
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1137017/ShowPost.aspx
You see there is more links and other goodies in it.
Bottom line, this upgrade allows me to start the locomotive using just one click of the DT400 throttle instead of 15-35 clicks. It also restores features that were disabled during the MTH-Broadway lawsuit vs Back EMF and other things that should have been included from the very beginning.
The number one thing I must warn you about is that you are dealing with a electronic part sensitive to static electricity. You basically are replacing a small computer with that chip and need to work on a static-free area. Also, you want to use a very small screwdriver that does not carry any properties of sparking or carry a magnetic charge of itself.
Another thing, if your nervous system is not up to par with gentle and precise work, invest in the chip removal tool, It is only a few bucks and potentially protect your old chip.
Least but not last, double check and check again before you buy. Stock number, type of reset switch - POT, -Reed etc, type of sounds you are buying and match the new chip to the old engine. You dont want that steam engine to sound like a Desiel one now do ya?
Tony’s Trai
One of the main things I would be looking for is Radom sounds. That is one of the things I miss from the gone Athearn Big Boys. I love the radom sounds there picky decoders made when they felt like working right.
Will check out a up grade for my Proto 2000 E-7. I hate the sound of it! I have not ran it for 2 to 4 months now.
Safty from what I heard yours still sounds a lot like my M1a. As far as tearing it a part not a problem. If I can pull apart the engine, the tender should be easy.
By the way Safty did your M1a have the shorting out problems when the tender was hooked to the tender? I tried the Tony Train world fix but did not work. I have used a plactic screw and electial tape on the tender edge to stop the shorting problem.
Cuda Ken
I’ve upgraded my N&W 2-8-8-2 and my Class J, two PK2 SW8 switchers, and I love them all even more the slow speed is incredible. And the whistle on the J is neat lovely reverb kinda sound.
Tony’s have shipped two SD40-2 chips and I’m waiting on a C30-7 can’t wait much longer!!
Ken.
One thing it does not correct is the too-slow gearing of a Broadway Limited E7 locomotive. I and another club member have four of these engines, and their top speed cannot be adjusted because the fault is obviously in the mechanical gearing ratio.
I thought the upgrade chip may correct the problem electronically, but it makes no difference at all in the available top speed setting.
Some of the sounds are improved, but other than that I can tell no difference between the origiinal chip and the upgrade.
Insulated couplers should take care of the short when you hook multipule engines.
I had my J1 hooked to the M1a once and the results were awesome in a bad way to see them fight in DCC.
The Chip Upgrade will provide you with the ability to get a engine moving on one click of the throttle or nearly so. The old chips were the lawsuit-nuetered ones and did not provide Back EMF etc.
There is a program availible where you can preview sound files, the chips equippted with the alternate sounds may provide you with something you like.
Safty, the short was when I hook the tender to the M1a with the metal draw bar not to another engine.
As far as the E-7 yep that sucker is slow! Wide open it maybe moves 50 sMPH is that. Pulls pretty good but not what I was hoping for.
Thanks Again Cuda Ken
You may have a compromised Drawbar or it’s associated securement. I dont know. I examined my own M1a to see if there are insulating rings etc and I dont see anything special other than the peg on the tender and the spring under the cab.
I just installed the version 7 upgrade in my BLI F7. The new one is as like night and day from the old one. I was disapointed with the sound on the other.This one will notch through the throttle from idle to run 8. At about 22 mph it makes transition. I worked on Santa Fe geeps and F units for 42 years. This is the closest thing to a real EMD I have heard yet.Also I now have a chime whistle in my Passenger F7 instead of the blatt-blatt horn that came with the loco.
Gordon Locke
ATSF Retired