upgrade chip for old Proto GP9

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have finally got DCC up and running (NCE) and am using it for my old Proto 2000 GP9 with QSI sound. This has software version 6.3, 9/10/2004, far earlier than any listed on the QSI website. I am wondering about upgrading the QSI chip. The description of the sound possiblities seems to be mainly what it already has, ‘Sound of Power’ , dynamic brakes, etc. It does not have the Back EMF feature, which sounds nice. And it can’t be upgraded online, which might be useful if I bought the $100+ upgrade controller and wanted more specifically prototype sounds. But this is the only QSI decoder loco that I have, or am likely to get.

So my question is, is the $32 upgrade chip something I should consider? Will it even work with this old a loco? What features will I use?

Ken Ziebarth

Boulder

2

Ken,

I have an older P2K MILW GP( that I put the upgrade chip in. You get BEMF(disabled athe time due to lawsuits), and you can order the correct bell/whistle for your engine. The overall motor control is better. I felt it was work it. I have also upgraded 2 BLE 2-8-2’s and the sound is much better.

Jim

3

If that’s the only P2K loco you have and if you are satisfied with the sound, forget about trying to upgrade.

I upgraded a Lionel 4-6-6-4 Challenger thinking that QSI would finally have gotten a prototypical whistle from an actual recording programmed into the chip, since the UP still runs a Challenger, but they are still way off the mark with what seems like a computer generated whistle.