Garbled Sound on Premiere GP-38

Product number?

Trainlover9943 posted:

Product number?

20-2341-1

Get a look at the speaker. You may see flaking around the magnet. It is most likely bad.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Get a look at the speaker. You may see flaking around the magnet. It is most likely bad.

You mean like this?  What is it supposed to look like?  And it still does not explain why it won't remember it's name?  

Engineer-Joe posted:

Get a look at the speaker. You may see flaking around the magnet. It is most likely bad.

I'm with Joe, first thing I'd do is not run it anymore and then check the speaker.

Replace the speaker and put a MTH green battery in it (50-1008) 

Hi Jim,

I have had a few speakers flake like that. Replace the speaker, make sure no flakes are on the board, and retry. I bought my last replacement from GGG. The speaker particles took out the board on my friends Big Boy.

Bob

CP BOB posted:

Hi Jim,

I have had a few speakers flake like that. Replace the speaker, make sure no flakes are on the board, and retry. I bought my last replacement from GGG. The speaker particles took out the board on my friends Big Boy.

Bob

Who is GGG, and was the speaker of better quality than I can get from Midge at MTH?

Jim,

The speaker is almost certainly the cause of the garbled/low volume/staticky sounds. Replace it with the correct speaker for a 5 volt PS2 engine. Just get the replacement speaker from MTH.

By the engine "not remembering its name", I expect that what you mean is that you have to keep re-adding it to the DCS Remote after you've turned off track power. If so, it's most likely either a dead/weak battery or a disconnected wire between the battery and the PS2 board. Less likely is that the board's battery charging circuit has become defective.

Place the engine on a powered track and start it up making sounds. Turn off track power. If sounds don't persist for 6-7 seconds, first ensure that the wires have continuity between the battery and the board. If so, replace the battery with a new 8.4 volt NiCad or NMH.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 1st Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store! Get the free TMCC & Legacy Addendum here!

The speaker is almost certainly the cause of the garbled/low volume/staticky sounds. Replace it with the correct speaker for a 5 volt PS2 engine. Just get the replacement speaker from MTH.   These are out of stock at MTH and they don't really know when they are going to get them.

By the engine "not remembering its name", I expect that what you mean is that you have to keep re-adding it to the DCS Remote after you've turned off track power.  No.  It stays in the remote through a power cycle.  It is only when you do a Feature Reset or Factory Reset that you lose the name.  You would not normally do a reset, but it is strange behavior and somewhat worrisome.  If so, it's most likely either a dead/weak battery or a disconnected wire between the battery and the PS2 board. Less likely is that the board's battery charging circuit has become defective. 

Place the engine on a powered track and start it up making sounds. Turn off track power. If sounds don't persist for 6-7 seconds, first ensure that the wires have continuity between the battery and the board. If so, replace the battery with a new 8.4 volt NiCad or NMH.  Using the 9volt alkaline battery temporarily, the sound continues for 7 seconds after turning off the power.

I hope I have responded to your suggestions.

Jim

Jim,

No.  It stays in the remote through a power cycle.  It is only when you do a Feature Reset or Factory Reset that you lose the name.  You would not normally do a reset, but it is strange behavior and somewhat worrisome.

That's because the engine has a board in which a permanent name was never entered. The name that goes away is a Custom Name and it should go away whenever you Factory Reset the engine. A Feature Reset will not remove the name.

A permanent name may be entered using the Dealer (Service) version of the DCS Loader Program.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 1st Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store! Get the free TMCC & Legacy Addendum here!

Thanks.  Then I won't worry.  Seems strange never noticed that in 15 years.

Unfortunately now  A feature reset also removes the "custom name" but the engine retains   it's  ID number...

Gregg,

 It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

Is this going to help Jim.... nope.

Gregg,

It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it

I stated "post - DCS 5.0" which means I believe that it was corrected in the latest release, DCS 6.1.

.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

If you were using DCS 6.1, you might not have the issue.

Gregg posted:

 It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

Is this going to help Jim.... nope.

A pain in the butt, is by definition, a big deal.  Easier to do on the iPad, but I don't run my trains with the iPad all the time, I much prefer the original remote.  And upgrading to 6.2 is no help either.  This is a "feature" I can do without.

Anyone know another source for a speaker for my GP-38 5 volt?

I have them.  GGG

Gregg,

Well, guess what? I just now confirmed thatthe bug is still in DCS 6.1, in the DCS Remote code. It was corrected, however, only in the DCS App and the TIU.

I've reported it to MTH.

Thank you Barry... I  appreciate the fact that you took the time and tested the reset.   good stuff.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Gregg,

Well, guess what? I just now confirmed thatthe bug is still in DCS 6.1, in the DCS Remote code. It was corrected, however, only in the DCS App and the TIU.

I've reported it to MTH.

I don't just cause trouble.  Sometimes there really is a wolf.

I have an NS geep from the same page in the catolog. The engine is about 17 years old (2001 issue) and my geep had the same issue. I believe i have replaced the speaker twice since it was new. Its a common issue (for me atleast) on bad speakers. The issue comes from when theres metal particles on the ground or near the tracks, such as from cutting rail etc. the speakers magnets normally pick the metal shavings up due to it hanging so low in the fuel tank of the locomotive. Turn over your locomotive and see if you see shavings near the speaker holes on the belly of the fuel tank. Hope this helps.

Jim, one of the folks who advertise on the forum will hopefully be able to help you.  Recently, MTH did not show them.  If you get stuck and none of the sponsors can help you, I am sitting on many of them.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Jim, one of the folks who advertise on the forum will hopefully be able to help you.  Recently, MTH did not show them.  If you get stuck and none of the sponsors can help you, I am sitting on many of them.

Marty,  I am waiting for GGG to see what he can do.   He helped me out with my last one.  If he cannot provide I will give you a shout.  Thanks,  Jim.