BLI E-6's have hit the shelves...

[rogergperkins]

Thanks, Mark.
Yes, I am considering matching BLI E-6 B DCC with Kato E-8 A DCC unit.
Not concerned about prototype, only want the sound features.   

[rogergperkins]

My second BLI B&O E-6 A/B arrived today. 
Have it on the layout.
With two of these I think I need more power in my basic NCE DCC system.
This is getting expensive.

[rogergperkins]

I like the E-6A/B very much and ordered the cousin version, E-7A with E-6B unit from BLI.
   I must admit that running three with sound in a 12x14' room makes on glad there is an off code for sound.
I like all these engines and am still fascinated by the sound features in DCC.

[rogergperkins]

/>B&O E-6A/B and E-7A/ E-6B with MTL heavy weight passenger cars.

[rogergperkins]

I am still learning how to set and run the various sound features on these 3 engines.
I have the F14 passenger train departure sounds operating on 2 of them, but have not determined why the 3rd one is not activating. 

[rogergperkins]

I have three B&O n-scale DCC engines: 2 E-6A/B and 1 E-7A/E-6B.  All purchased in the past few weeks.
I am new at DCC and especially with the sound function.  The sound function on two of them seems to work as listed.

I have finally concluded that one of the E-6A/B unit sound features are NOT working properly and in the case of the passenger sound (F14) not at all.   I think the proper course of action is to contact BLI; I registered on line for the extended warranty.

Wondering if there is something I should try before I contact the BLI.  Thanks.

[SkipGear]

Roger,
 There is a master reset function for the loco's. It will set all functions back to default. That is where I would start. The station call is a software function of the decoder and I really doubt that just that would not work while everything else in the decoder functions. I guess anything is possible but I think it is unlikely that it is more than just a programming issue.

First try cv8 = 8. If that doesn't fix it, there is a hard reset button on the decoder itself. You must remove the shell, set the loco on unpowered track, press and hold the reset button, and then power up the track while holding the button. It will audibly tell you that it is reset.

http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/Paragon2%20Reset.pdf

[rogergperkins]

Tony,
Thanks for you reply.  Resetting CV8 = 8 and selecting loco = 3 seems to have solved the problem(s).
I was able to toggle the horn with the engine. Will try the other sound functions.  Thanks again.

[rogergperkins]

All three of the BLI E-units has a F22 that toggles on a neat, two tone horn that I really like. 
Is there a way to reprogram to keep that as the default horn?  I set it on, but once I turn the engines off they revert back to the factor default horn. Thanks.  I do not see this addressed in the manual.

[spookshow]

It sounds like that's one of those functions that the decoder doesn't remember after being powered down (like mute). If I mute the sound, take the locomotive off the tracks, and then put it back on the tracks, the sound comes back even though F7 is still selected. I then have to hit F7 again to turn the sound back off.

This is all that the manual mentions on the subject -

"There are 3 whistles, selected by setting CV 224 to 0,1, or 2. There is an alternate whistle, which can be toggled in place of the main horn by pressing F22."

-Mark

[rogergperkins]

Thanks, Mark. It is no big deal to turn the alternate horn on, but would be nice if I could just set it as the default.  Very steep learning curve for me.

[rogergperkins]

Has anyone out there purchased the powered DCC E-6B BLI unit?
If yes, how well does it run? Does it run well in consist with its sister E-6A unit?

I cannot find any information to determine if it has all the sound features of the E-6A.
Thanks.

[spookshow]

The only difference between an E6A and a powered E6B is the shape of the front of the chassis (pointy on the A, squared-off on the B). In theory they should run (and sound) the same, although I've found that even my two E6A's don't run exactly the same and had to tweak the decoder CVs a bit to speed-match them.

Cheers,
-Mark

[rogergperkins]

Thanks, Mark.   I will be on the lookout for the E-6B unit at the railroad show in Galesburg, IL. 
I have tried two E-6A units in consist, but did not run them long enough to get any impression about whether they were matched for speed.

[rogergperkins]

I just put my two BLI E-6A/B units in consist using the NCE DCC system.
I think that the sound functions such as passenger announcement and maintainance are working from both units.  Is this what one should expect?   
I cannot tell if the horn function plays for both engines when they are in consist.