Strange, I have had pretty good luck with the upgrade files, and I never found one that didn't have markers enabled or couplers working.
I think it's a Bantam thing, I tried an imperial sound file and it sounded good, everything worked very well, including the marker lights...except it ran about 1/2 speed. Tommor I use your idea and evrything will be well. That is the only non ps2 I have, for now. Next time I'll try something differnt.
The upgrade file is a conversion of the original 5V file. Since the Bantam did not have markers they may not have been turned on for that file.
You can try to find a PS-2 3V bantam file and try it The later file may have the markers turned on. The kit has the markers because it is a universal kit, but the soundfile drives the features. G
I thought I read that you weren't suposse to use anything but the upgrade files on the upgrade boards?
I believe you can "read" that statement, however it turns out that virtually any 3V file will work in the upgrade boards. I've loaded a number of "production" sound files into them and they work fine. If you find a production sound file with the right sounds and/or lighting options, it should work fine.
I should proof "read" more often and I will try that later today.
A PS-2 3V board is the same whether it comes in a kit or purchased as a repair part. The only issue is early versions had a 1Meg file memory and the newer boards have 2Meg. Any 3V file can load as long as the file size is not larger then the 1Meg memory on early boards.
The good news is the loader won't let you make a mistake.
There are a few other variances with Flash boards for some specialty trains, but soundfiles still load.
The point is probably you can't load the original PS-2 5V sound file in the new board. That is why you need to use the upgrade file.
PS-2 3V don't have upgrades listed, unless it was modified after original production.
Remember this all started out as replacement for PS-1 engines that did not have loadable sound files. Then the PS-2 5V became obsolete and upgrade files were required to support replacing those boards with PS-2 3V boards. Now folks use upgrade kit to repair 3V engines. G
john, since you have success with this. do you end up replacing the entire file like you would with a windows program? so the loader strips the entire file, then replaces with the new one? I wondered. so if I wanted one of those K4S euro whistle sounds, I need the entire replacement file then?
When you load a new sound file, it replaces the functionality of the controls as well. I suspect it would more correctly be called the sound/control file. The biggest thing I've seen is the lighting controls and the PFA announcements will change, depending on what sound file you load. So far, the basic control has worked the same for any sound file I've loaded. I have one locomotive I've loaded half a dozen different sound file into to see what I get. 
The biggest operational difference in sound files between dissimilar PS2 engines is the speed control parameters. These parameters, which include gear ratio and driver size, directly affect the actual speed of a locomotive at a specific set speed on the DCS Remote.
Interestingly, because PS3 engines don't have their speed parameters in their sound files as do PS2 engines, one can put a PS2 sound file into a PS3 engine without being concerned about the engine's speed being affected.
This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!
Barry, don't many (most?) of the RK stuff have similar characteristics? I know this will bite you if you use some Premier sound files in a RK locomotive.
Is there any cross-reference to the characteristics of the sound files?
John,
don't many (most?) of the RK stuff have similar characteristics?
It would depend primarily on the type of engine (diesel, electric or steam), and on the driver (wheel) size and gear ratio.
Is there any cross-reference to the characteristics of the sound files?
None of which I'm aware, other than a traction tire chart which would list teh wheel size by traction tire.
I think I heard that all of the diesels, RK and Premier, have the same driver size and gear ratio.
I know about the traction tire chart, one of the things I'd like to know is what lighting options and whether the sounds are passenger or freight for one. The gear ratio would certainly be nice, though I could do a custom tach tape if necessary to fix that.
