Yesterday I had the opportunity to try the new QSI Programmer. The software was fairly easy to install. There are two installation files plus a drivers folder for the USB interface. One of the installation files installs the Q1a upgrade tool for the new version 7 chip. The other installation file installs the Quantum CV Manager. The USB drivers must be installed prior to installing the remaining software.
At first glance, the Quantum CV Manager is feature laden; the menus are comprehensive and it should not take long to master its capablilites.
You can choose between operations mode and service mode.
SERVICE MODE -You must choose a locomotive from a pre-populated list or choose Other and a screen with options and features appears. Here you can read-out the locomotives existing settings and save them to a configuration file with a .qcv extension. This is great for saving the changes you made (momentum, volume levels, address, etc) to either replicate to other locomotives of the same type or to reapply these settings after you upgrade your loco with the new chip since installing the new chip resets the loco to the default settings.
OPERATIONS MODE - this allows you to test the locomotive with an on-screen throttle; you can test the new sounds and run the loco to verify its operation.
I tested the Q1a upgrade software by upgrading on of my Intermountain FP7 units; mine is modeled for Atlantic Coast Line. I chose this locomotive because it would give me a chance to try the new EMD sounds with transistion and choose the proper horn as ACL units were equipped with Nathan M5 horns and not the WABCO single chime horns installed on the model and in the sound chip. Knowing the programmer was coming soon I had previously installed the proper M5 horn on the model.
To make things interesting, I did not use the chip for the Intermountain F7, part number ho110-2; instead I purchased the upgrade chip for the Walthers/Life-Like GP9, part number ho112-0. I wanted to jump right
Excellent information and great that you’re posting to benefit fellow modelers.
Good to see that this programmer is user friendly and is not “intimidating” to those of us that feel “technologcially challenged”. ( IMHO, most cases where people feel intimidated is from the simple reluctance to thoroughly read instructional manuals)
I especially appreciate that we can enjoy the EMD transition sounds plus the ability to choose and upload specific horns for particular diesel locomotives. One of my favorite QSI horn samples is the one used on the BLI C30-7. A very robust Nathan M-3 that would be prototypical on a wide variety of diesels from the 1950s thru today.
QSI, along with Lok Sound, and Digitrax deserve a salute for continuing to advance onboard sound technology to levels many of us did not expect to see for several years.
Thanks for taking the time to review the QSI Programmer! I haven’t had a chance to read it all the way through but I will later tonight. Personally, I like reviews and think they are beneficial to everyone - whether now or later down the road. I hope that this doesn’t quickly get buried to the forum abyss.
Carl, is there a chance that you can add a few pics to your review so that we can see what the QSI programmer looks like connected up. Pics really add clarity and may answer those questions that have already been posted.
Did you connect to your PC with a USB? And that connects to your track?
Yes, the interface is strictly USB; you must have Windows 2000 or higher. I used an isolated section of track; the Programmer cannot be connected while other command stations are connected; there is one cool feature for NCE users - the CVProgrammer software can be used with an NCE Powerhouse Pro as the command station, in this case you would use your regular NCE to PC interface instead of the QSI hardware.
How much was one of those products? At the moment I was not able to find a price for the programmer.
I believe the MSRP is $99.00; I got mine from my AHD distributor.
How long did it take for you to “Pull” or “Push” the re-program to the engine on the track?
The approximate time is 3 - 3.5 minutes per firmware.
Did you try it with regular non upgraded QSI units or just the ones that carry the upgrade chip?
You can use the CV Programmer module with any QSI unit to set addresses and CVs. If you use the Q1a Upgrade software with an non-upgradable unit, it will notify you if you attempt an upgrade or if you check the loco type in Step One.
Were you able to access all the sounds or just limited to the major ones like Horn etc.
Only engine, horn, bell, and the aforementioned sounds. I believe this is mainly for locomotive type verification.
How deep did the CV’s lie on the computer? Were you able to access all of them? Or just a few?
The CV Programmer will access all of the CV’s - NMRA and QSI specific. the API has tabs for categories of CVs; IMO they are easy to access as each tabbed window is detailed briefly describing each CV’s purpose.
How helpful is the QSI Programmer for redoing speed tables? This is one function where using a computer program would seem to be much quicker than doing it with a DCC throttle. Does the program come with any sample speed tables (i.e., a speed table for a switcher vs. one for a road passenger engine)?
I briefly glanced at the speed table area; it reminds me of the settings in JMRI’s Decoder Pro; it is graphical in nature; unfortunately, there are no preconfigured samples.
Yes, you can read in any of the decoder’s settings and either save them to a file or you can use the programmer to change any of the settings. The speed table screen is configured with a vertical power scale marked in 20 percent intervals from zero to 100 percent. The bottom of the graph lists each CV horizontally from 67 to 94. The default settings display the graph line in a straight line that starts at CV67 at the lower left and rises at 45 degrees to the top of the graph. A marker box sits on the line at each CV interval; clicking on the box gives you the value of the CV (0-255); you can bend or stretch the line to form the shape of the graph you desire.