Revolution or devolution?

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Been having a bad time with Revolution A decoders.

I’d done maybe 15 sound installs without problems until I got around to trying an A. It had no sound. It took two plus months to gat a replacement for it, as they were out of stock. Put in the replacement today in an SD40-2 Kato and updated both my Q2Upgrade to version 15.03 and USB driver to the latest. Found out the decoder was shipped with a steam file in it, which seemed odd for an A.

I uploaded file 333, which appeared to go in fine. But although the sounds were good and the engine started forward as expected, it would not reverse. If I kill the power, I can start it in either direction, but cannot reverse it except by killing the power again. With DC, the engine runs OK. I tried some other diesel files. 331 is broken and will not load at all. I tried 332, and also Alco and GE files, with the same result as 333. Then a steam file; which surprised me by working fine. Back to diesels - no luck.

I was having other problems. My computer has been pretty trouble-free, but Q2Upgrade seems sometimes to cause it to crash. I’m wondering if any of you guys are having problems like this with QSI? Is their stuff just plain buggy?

Hal

2

I have six of them installed in various models and have had no problems with any of them. You have possibly messed it up when you tried to load new sound files. If I were you, I’d contact the seller and send it back for a replacement or contact a dealer who can reprogram it for you. Tony’s Train Exchange, Litchfield Station, Ulrich Hobby Shop, or Empire Northern Models should be able to unscramble it for you (for a fee, unless you purchased it from one of them).

3

Word of caution with Rev A decoders…do NOT flex them. This will result would be sparatic operation…as you have mentioned above.

David B

4

Yeah, Josh told me that the first run boards were so weak that any flexure could break internal lines. Since I never bent mine, I have no guilt. Anyway, a third board is on its way.

Hal