Are all the BLI Paragon 4 SW/NWs "weird"?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So I've been playing around with my Broadway NW2 and, after becoming accustomed to the great Loksound stuff, it's just "weird".

It does odd stuff like have the prime mover sound just shut off. Or sometimes play the horn randomly. Or just not "notch" well.

Is this the stuff that people complain about Broadway stuff for? Or am I just "lucky" enough to have a weird specimen?

[tehachapifan]

As far as notching goes, these units do have a feature where the amount of load will either increase or decrease RPM's. Is this what you're hearing?

[djconway]

On my BLI locos I found that I had to set the horn and coupler - functions to non-latching.  This prevents them from sounding off every time power is interrupted. 

[peteski]

On my BLI locos I found that I had to set the horn and coupler - functions to non-latching.  This prevents them from sounding off every time power is interrupted.

Many DCC systems do not allow for configuring functions (other than F2) to be non-latching.  What system do you have?

[djconway]

Many DCC systems do not allow for configuring functions (other than F2) to be non-latching.  What system do you have?

I'm running a Digitrax Super Chief system.

[peteski]

I'm running a Digitrax Super Chief system.

Horn (F2) is I believe non-latchgin by default on all American DCC systems, but what function key is the coupler assigned to?

[djconway]

Horn (F2) is I believe non-latchgin by default on all American DCC systems, but what function key is the coupler assigned to?

By BLI default the coupler is F3. Since I'm running an older (2003) system, I also moved the grade crossing function (default F14) to function 7, which i also set to non latching.
My thinking is that the latching of functions is dependent on the decoder not the system.

[peteski]

My thinking is that the latching of functions is dependent on the decoder not the system.

No.  The function states are sent from the command station, think the rails, to the decoder.  Decoder just sees what state the function is (on or off) in the packets it receives from command station.  The latching or non-latching feature could only be defined in the command station.

I wonder if you just think they are non latching?   But some functions on some decoders seem to be triggered by a state change of the function, while others will only work if the function is active.

Does your throttle's display show the state of the functions?  If it does, then you could positively see whether a function is latching or non-latching.  Or do you actually recall how you configured functions on the command station/throttle to be either latching or non-latching?

I don't recall seeing this type of a feature in the Digitrax manuals, but I have not read them for several years.  I know that the  NCE system does not feature configuring function keys to be latching or non-latching.

[bbussey]

I swapped out the stock decoder in my SW8 to a LokSound decoder and uploaded the SW8 sound package. I’m much happier. Smoother operation, standard programming options and functionality.

[Mark5]

I don't have any SW's but I do have some SD40-2s - the decoders are enjoyable but in the long run I will swap out for ESU (the BLI decoder does not have correct horn sounds for one  ).

[djconway]

No.  The function states are sent from the command station, think the rails, to the decoder.  Decoder just sees what state the function is (on or off) in the packets it receives from command station.  The latching or non-latching feature could only be defined in the command station.

I wonder if you just think they are non latching?   But some functions on some decoders seem to be triggered by a state change of the function, while others will only work if the function is active.

Does your throttle's display show the state of the functions?  If it does, then you could positively see whether a function is latching or non-latching.  Or do you actually recall how you configured functions on the command station/throttle to be either latching or non-latching?

I don't recall seeing this type of a feature in the Digitrax manuals, but I have not read them for several years.  I know that the  NCE system does not feature configuring function keys to be latching or non-latching.

Well my memory is not what it once was -- I am setting the latch/non-latch in JMRI, and it only works for JMRI throttles.   OOPS my bad.

[peteski]

Well my memory is not what it once was -- I am setting the latch/non-latch in JMRI, and it only works for JMRI throttles.   OOPS my bad.

That's ok.  I learned something new here (about JMRI throttles) I have not used them very much.   That is a nice feature which I wish other DCC manufacturers would include in their DCC systems.