Decoded ESU V4 LokSound 73199, 73100, LokPilot 54650 and Atlas S2 decoders

[trainforfun]

Hi
just installed a 73100 in an ATLAS C630 or 628 , I don't remember ..

It went well but I burned 2 other decoders before that were replaced at no charge at ESU , I installed a rectangular speaker on the rear of the decoder , there will be no headlight on the rear .
That cab is made in a way that you can remove the rear radiator grill on the roof . A bit easier to re-arrange the wires if they are in the way .

I was able to change the road number , and it's about it .... 

The loco is wrong direction , and so is the front headlight that light up when it's going backward .... I already did these modification with DIGITRAX decoders many times , it was a no brainer but with ESU ????

I don't want to resolder any wire in there , it's more difficult than doing a brain surgery , well that's what I think anyway !

For now it works but I can't change any sound , would have like to change the horn sound that sound like a weak clarinet , and also would have like to have a real ALCO sound , the only thing about right is the bell .....

Maybe there is a CV to change to unlock ?

[carlso]

ESU has excellent Alco sound files. Which sound file did you load onto the 73100 ? ?

[peteski]

Louis,  the truly best way to resolve your reversed motor/headlights problem (well the problem really is mis-wired motor) would be to bite the bullet and connect the motor properly.

There is a software solution. You can set the "reverse bit" in CV29, but that reverses motor *AND* headlights, so while the loco will now run in the proper direction (same as shown in the throttle), the headlights will still be reversed. This is true of all decoders (including Digitrax). So the other step will be to remap the front and back headlights.  That will require several CV changes. This also applies to other decoders (like Digitrax).  The problem with that solution is that if the decoder is ever reset (or its settings are blown  by a voltage spike on the track), everything will revert to being wrong.  Unless you document all the "software" changes you made, you will be back to square one.

I'm not sure what you mean by "unlock".  Decoders are not normally locked.  If you are able to  change the address, the decoder is not locked.

What sound project is uploaded to the decoder, ans what exactly are you trying to change the sounds?  Tell us what CVs you are modifying (and are you doing it on main or programming track)?

[trainforfun]

Thanks Pete
I will invert the motor wires then ...
I will need to buy an ESU lockprogrammer to change the sound as per my research .
The new decoder came back from ESU with that file and it's not the kind of sound I was expecting , it's probably a generic sound and users have to use a lockprogrammer and download a file that is appropriate .
It's not cheap , around $140 , so I will wait a bit ...

[trainforfun]

ESU has excellent Alco sound files. Which sound file did you load onto the 73100 ? ?

Thanks I don't know which is in but to get the sound I want , I will have to use an ESU Lockprogrammer to be able to download one fine ALCO M630 file .

[trainforfun]

T

[Jbub]

Hey Louis, check with your local hobby shops and train clubs to see if someone has a lokprogrammer and could possibly load the file you want onto the decoder. You're right that they are expensive but they can be hard to find as well.

[trainforfun]

Hey Louis, check with your local hobby shops and train clubs to see if someone has a lokprogrammer and could possibly load the file you want onto the decoder. You're right that they are expensive but they can be hard to find as well.

Good idea will check that !

[peteski]

Louis,  you are likely correct that the decoder you got back from ESU had the default sound file installed.  That file has a strange single-chime horn that does sound like a sick clarinet, and if you turn on the engine sound, it sounds like a small engine idling (the rpms do not change with the speed).

That brings up another question.  What sound file you had installed on the decoder you originally sent out to ESU for repair/replacement?  I would have thought that ESU would upload the same file to the replacement decoder (as not every ESU user has access to the Lokprogrammer).

Looking for someone near you for getting a sound file uploaded to the decoder is a good suggestion. But if you can't find anybody, few of us here on TRW have Lokprogrammer and  one of us should be able to help out.

If you want to buy a Lokprogrammer, a fresh batch should be arriving in USA sometime in October (according to Matt at ESU).

[trainforfun]

Pete you sum it up perfectly , this is exactly the case !
A sick clarinet , ha ha ha !!!!