I was at my LHS not too long ago and during the discussion with the gentleman behind the counter he mentioned that he knew how to “unlock” the Soundtraxx Tsunami that came with my 2-8-0 Bachmann Spectrum loco. He asked that I bring it back and he’d be happy to show me how to do it. Yeah I know, what am I doing posting here when I should be driving my Connie right over there? Well I want to know if anyone out there has heard of this before. This is new to me and I’m not really ready to hand over my pride and joy just yet. Jay
Unlock it? To do what? Can you not program it? I’ve never heard of there being any extra features in them that you can program a CV or do the old “hold this button while pressing these other 3 in succession” trick.
–Randy
This is the first I have heard about “unlock” and I monitor the Bachmann forums. You can check the Bachmann forums. A Bachmann rep is there.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/
Rich
I think your local hobby shop guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The only secret to programming a Tsunami decoder is having a programming booster connected to the programming track or using Ops Mode programming on the main line to reset some of the Configuration Variables. A Tsunami is not “locked,” although I think you can lock it to prevent inadvertent programming if you desire to do so after you have all of the CVs set the way you like.
He’s talking about setting the chuff rate to match the speed, setting the horn and bell to go off at certain speed steps, etc. Maybe I don’t know what I am talking about?
That isnt unlocking, but rather adjusting CVs. Keep in mind that HE cannot do it because the chuff rate is dependant on the track voltage…
David B
And just when I thought that I was ahead of the learning curve…A curveball.
For example. If you adjust the Chuff CV on an MRC system, then try and use it on a Bachmann EZ command, then the chuff will be way off. It has to be done on the system it is going to be used on.
David B