Eric -  What happens when you

Eric - 

What happens when you reset the decoder? I would do that before going through work of replacing a decoder. 

GS

Thanks, GS

I'll give that a try this afternoon and post the results.

Lok sound

Could be power pickup

It works on some engines, but fails on others, seems like something I also faced. Loksound decoders, unlike Tsunamis or MRC decoders, don't have a built in capacitor to power the sound engine during power interruptions. These still get the "jerk movement problem", but the sound doesn't restart and sound a bit better.

The actual issue is either (1) dirt tracks, (2) dirt engine wheels, (3) problems on track power (dead turnout frogs, small segments that are isolated, etc) or (4) broken/disconnected wires from trucks to the decoder. Issues 1 to 3 are also more likely to happen with 4 axles engines, as they have 1/3 less contact surface to pick up power than 6 axles engines. Also, by being shorter, it's easier for them to to find issues on tracks that seem to be clean and not failing other engines (I have that on some of my engines as well).

Besides solving any (or all) of the 4 issues above, my suggestion is to use a keep alive unit in your engines, to minimize that these issue take away your model railroading fun. With a keep alive unit (2000uF capacitor + 100 ohms resistor) you can run the engine for a couple of seconds, and work around smaller issues.

Actually, LokSound does have a capacitor

Actually, they do - ESU offers two styles of capactor (they call them "Power Packs"):

http://www.esu.eu/en/products/accessories/powerpacks/

These have three wires, and are designed to shut off when using a LokProgrammer so they don't corrupt the data when programming decoders or loading sound files, so they're recommended. Instructions for adding them are found in the PowerPack manual.

One can also use two-wire capacitors, such as the Keep Alive from TCS or Current Keeper from Soundtraxx. But it's recommended that you add a cut-out switch in an easily accessible place (like on the tender floor of a steam locomotive), or a plug you can disconnect, to remove them from the decoder when programming.

- Trevor

Capacitors

Hi Trevor, you're right, ESU does have a power pack (basically a keep alive capacitor) available for purchase. What I meant, however, is that they don't have them built in the decoder as Tsunami and MRD do for the sound system (I corrected it in the above post, good catch).

On stock Tsunami's, is there's a power failure, like Eric is having, the audio will resume playing from where it stopped. If the flywheel momentum is enough to get the models back on powered/clean track, the audio won't restart, which sounds better (even though it IS irritating to have it cut). Loksound's V4 ans Soundselect decoder  will always restart because they need us to install a keep alive (more $$$ for ESU, or the corner electronic pieces store).

As for your word of warning, this doesn't apply only to Loksound's decoders with regular passive keep alives (e.g., capacitor+resistor), it goes for all decoders we install such keep alives. To successfully program them, either on track, with JRMI or the Lokprogrammer, we need to disconnect the capacitor. This can be accomplished by using a small connector in one of the wire, or by removing it with a soldering iron.

Memory Setting

Section 8.13 in the LokProgrammer Manual says this -

"8.13.2 Memory settings
This option allows you to choose how you wish the decoder to
behave after a power interruption, such as a dirty track or
system shut down. Checking these options determines if the
decoder resumes operation with the previous function key
settings and / or with the previous speed. In most cases
smoothest operation is found by checking the boxes as in figure
49."

I have these boxes checked when I program my decoders. Now, my track is relativly clean, and I don't get long interruptions, but after short interruptions the speed, sound, etc. picks up right where it left off.  The decoders don't do a restart on the sound.

There is also an option to delay movement until after the startup sequence is complete.  When I'm running models on the Ntrak modules I usually turn this off. The priority there is to keep things moving.  That's described in section 8.5.

"8.5.9 Starting delay (CV124.2)
Usually, when the LokSound V4.0 sound is idling and you turn up
the throttle, the locomotive begins to move only after the Diesel
engine has reached notch 1. A steam loco will even release its
brakes first and fill the cylinders. Although this behavior is very
prototypical, one might not like it because it causes some delay.
You can control this startup delay by simply not checking this
option. This will cause the LokSound V4.0 decoder to immediately
start moving when the throttle is turned up. However, the start up
sound will not be synchronized with the motion anymore."

There is a lot of configurability in the ESU decoders. Every now and then I re-read the LokProgrammer and V4 manuals. I also seem to find something new.

gs

Figure 49

Hi GS,

I'll check home fot the CV and value we're talking about in Figure 49, section 8.13.2. This can definitely solve the issue of sound restarting, which is the most distracting.

However, the starting delay is not a feature to mess around lightly, because it takes away momentum when starting to run the engine as well. No easy solution without making compromises.

As for re-reading the manuals, I can't agree more. There are many features in them and it takes some time to get them all processed.

LokProgrammer Manual version ??

GS,

What version of the Manual are you referring to, as the latest version (March 2009) on the ESU website does not have a section 8.13.

Cheers,

Unofficial Sept, 2014 version

The most recent manual is "unofficial."  The date on the cover is Sept-2014.  Go to the English forum. If it's not in a topic title a search should turn it up pretty quick.  I don't know why it's not published. The one on the manual page looks like it's for an older version of the software.  

GS

Unofficial Sept, 2014 version

The most recent manual is "unofficial."  The date on the cover is Sept-2014.  Go to the English forum. If it's not in a topic title a search should turn it up pretty quick.  I don't know why it's not published. The one on the manual page looks like it's for an older version of the software.  

GS

Unofficial Sept, 2014 version - cannot locate

GS,

I have just searched through the forums and there are multiple topics on the LokProgrammer manual but I still can't locate where anyone has mentioned the Sept 2014 version.  Can you provide a link?

Cheers.

Manual Link

Sorry - I had to get back to my other computer.

Here's the link  I don't know if you have to be logged into the forum to make it work.

If that link doesn't work for some reason, it's in the english Lokprogrammer Support forum under the topic titled "Instruction manual for lokprogrammer 4."  

The date on the post is 1/11/2017

It won't directly open. You'll have to download and unzip it. The extracted file will be a pdf.

gs

Registration is required

Yep, you need to be logged in to download the file from ESU's forums (couldn't access the link). Weird thing is that, besides an email activation, they have someone manually looking into our registration request (1 to 3 business days). This is, well, unusual .

Hopefully I'll see the file tomorrow. Thanks for sharing the link with us, GS.

LokSound Unofficial Manual

The LokSound "Unofficial" Manual was not written by ESU, but rather by Phil Dunlop, an avid LokSound expert.  It was proofed by many other LokSound experts, and endorsed by Matt Herman.

It can be found and downloaded on the LokSound Yahoo Groups under the files section.

It's a good book and I recommend it.

V4 Manual - all good now...

Thanks GS.