Odd audio issue with 3V PS/2 Locomotives

Try a different sound file.

Barry, is this a known issue with some of these models?  I thought about doing that.  What would you suggest for a good test file for one of these?

John,

What would you suggest for a good test file for one of these?

Any engine that you have that doesn't exhibit this behavior. It's almost certainly an issue with the sound file, not the engine's hardware.

I believe those are the two 3V models I have. 

WAIT!  I did an upgrade of a A-A Reading F7 units, I guess I can try loading that one.  

The SD-45 is somewhat generic, so I could use a different sound file.  I'd hate to lose the functionality of the Amtrak AEM-7, it has all the station stop stuff that I'd like to retain. 

I can't believe this would be recorded into multiple sound sets, I did download replacements from MTH each time to reprogram them.

I may have a similar problem.

I just installed a PS-2 upgrade kit straight out of the sealed package into a K-line Pacific and loaded a premier USRA Heavy Pacific sound file.

After the file finished loading, the lights, sounds, smoke came on normally. I selected forward and the sound turned into a regular clicking ( 4 clicks/Rev). Operating the whistle produces another click and the bell doesn't seem to do anything. The coupler/coupler sound works normally and the fwd/Reverse/xing whistle sounds work fine.

I put the PS-2 upgrade unit into a 3v 4-8-4 - same result. The board from the 4-8-4 works fine in the Pacific.

Does this seem like a sound file problem? If not, can anyone tell me if the PS-2 board can be repaired?

John, The simple way to test is to load the offending sound file into an different engine and see if the symptom follows the soundfile.  If it doesn't, then board, wiring, speaker would be suspect.  G

Try reloading the soundfile. G

GGG,

Loaded a premier GS-4 soundfile in the suspect PS-2 unit and everything now works normally.

Looks like the 4-6-2 soundfile was corrupted in some way.

Thanks for your help.

Gunrunner - sorry for hijacking your thread!

No apology necessary, that gives me hope.  I'm going to load a different sound file today and see if that's what the issue is.  I can't believe I have not one, but two corrupt sound files, but who knows.

Well, I loaded a different sound file into the SD-45, it was an F7 file.  No static in that one, so I guess the files are corrupt on the MTH site!  That's a total bummer, I hope I can find a suitable replacement sound file.

This is pretty disappointing to me, with all the discussion about sound quality, how do they keep multiple sound files with pretty obvious defects on the site?

John,

Now that you've identified one or more defective sound files, callMTH and report it to tech support. They should be made aware of the defective sound files so that they can correct them.

 I don't know how often this happens? It happened to me a while back where the soundsets were all mixed up. Like 2 soundsets or more were mixed together. I waited a while and when I tried again everything was fine. It might have been my old computer as it was always struggling with issues.

 Would it ever be possible to get soundsets loaded onto disks like master files direct from MTH? Are these online ones hackable?? Seems like it would be something for big repair shops to have?? Just wondering....

John, if you go to the service link, then files and documents, you can type sd-45 and search.  The engines with files can be viewed.  When you open, read the file name and see if there is a newer sd45 file that works.  It would be nice to know which one has an issue.  G

Barry, I was going to give them a call, I'm going to first verify the other sound file in the same fashion so that I'm sure of what I'm talking about. 

I see there are two different files for the Premier Amtrak AEM-7, so I'm going to try the other one first in that one. 

I was working with the CAT SD-45 first.  I searched all the SD-45 models and they all seem to use the same sound file, so it's somewhat surprising to me that this topic hasn't come up before!  I'm wondering if there's something specific about the sound file and perhaps an oddity in my specific SD-45 that combine to create the issue.  I'm planning on loading that file into what is now a working locomotive to see if the static follows the file that way.

Joe, I can't see that there's any way to tinker with the sound files, short of binary patching.  Since I'm almost sure they have some checksum for the loads, you'd have to know the structure and adjust the checksum.  Having done patches on other products firmware, I can tell you that can get complicated at times.

GGG, I did search for the SD-45, and all the PS/2 3V files I found had the exact same file name, so I assumed that they were the same.  I'd like to find a different sound file to see if that changes the symptoms.

Well, I have verified that both of the files freshly downloaded for these to locomotives are defective.  I loaded a different sound file into each of these locomotives and no problems with the engine sounds ramping up/down.  I then loaded each of these problem files into a perfectly working locomotive and both exhibit the problem.  So, at this point, it seem pretty clear that the sound files are simply bad.

Contacting MTH seems harder than it should.  I've been sitting here for the better part of an hour listening to their really loud and horribly distorted hold music.  After 15-20 minutes I suddenly just get disconnected.  It's happened three times so far, so I have little hope in contacting them.  They don't list an email address, and I suspect mailing them a letter is a total waste of time since they can't even answer the phone!

I have to say, give me Lionel service any time, I've never had this kind of issue calling them.  Just hanging up on a customer after an extended hold time is REALLY lame.  Doing it repeatedly is even worse!

Well, I sent an email off over the weekend, so far no reply.  It's looking like once you have this stuff, they're not all that interested in getting it to run correctly.  

Anyone want to buy a bunch of DCS locomotives and control systems.   They mostly work...

..how big a box?

Where's Alan when ya need him...I bet he'd make a phone call and get them straightened out to help you. That's a hokey a__ way of doing business....

I'm a little disappointed that it seems to be impossible to reach anyone at MTH to even discuss the issue.  Maybe they have my number blocked.

Is it possible that the file became corrupted during the down load 

John, while I prefer MTH to Lionel overall,  I have to agree with you Lionel's Customer Service today is not just head and shoulders better than MTH, but Mountains and Peaks above!

Were I just starting out acquiring locomotives today, I'd probably go Lionel this time. But then again, I went MTH 15 years ago because they were providing better overall service than Lionel at the time!

But I agree, your gripe with their accessability is not unfounded. Poor CS will turn the crowd quickly.MTH needs to regroup and get the CS Department back on a level with  the competition.

Right now, the only good CS from MTH is Barry!

I've downloaded the same files three times with two different computers.  So, the answer to that question is no.

Just tried calling MTH service again, same response.  Waited 15 minutes on hold with the horrible distorted music and an occasional announcement that I was waiting (Duh, no kidding!) and then a dead line, soon followed by the phone company asking me if I wanted to make a call.

It's like there is nobody in the service department, surely they can't be so busy all the time that they can't at least answer the phone!  If they are, they desperately need more help, or perhaps better quality control so they service guys weren't in such demand!

I have tried repeatedly to get through to them, and I never get an answer.  The most maddening part is when they just hang up after about 15 minutes of waiting for an answer!  That is NOT customer service, it's an insult!  I'd at least like to know if there is a sound file that will function properly, it's hard to believe that other people with these products are not badgering them for a fix as well!

I'll post it right here.  Actually, I believe there are three.  I tried both of the AEM-7 files and they had the same issue.  I looked at a few SD-45 engines on the MTH site, and all seemed to have the same file, at least it had the same name.

rks061pf3_sd45_all061024afin.mth

p082pp3aem7_24_amt090710aFIN.mth

p082pp3aem7_23_amt090710aFIN.mth