If I understand correctly....5.5 is the beginning of Legacy and used in early Legacy engines. It can only be used in Legacy engines?
There are 2 chips on most boards. What does each chip do?
Thanks
Dave
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The chips are somewhat of a matched set. Truthfully, while I"m not 100% sure, since the smaller one is labeled with the sound ID, I'm pretty sure it's the sound files. The larger one with the same numbering is used with multiple sound file chips, so I suspect that's the logic that selects what sound file to play based on either the serial data (command) or track offset voltage (conventional)
Yes, while you may get some function in a TMCC locomotive with a RS 5.5 or 6.0 board, they will only work properly in a Legacy environment.
Thank You John
So if one suspected a problem with the sound chip, it seems you have to buy the entire board?
I've looked on Lionel's site and I could not find just the chips. Maybe I was not looking in the right place?
Dave
No chips for sale, if they go, you do have to buy the entire board. What are the symptoms?
Soo Line posted:If I understand correctly....5.5 is the beginning of Legacy and used in early Legacy engines. It can only be used in Legacy engines?
There are 2 chips on most boards. What does each chip do?
Thanks
Dave
RailSounds 5.5 is a 9-bit system for Legacy. As John mentioned above, you may get some sporadic function with a 5.5 board in the TMCC environment (and maybe conventional too), but basically, it's dedicated to Legacy.
The large PIC chip is the microprocessor that contains the instructions/code for operation. The smaller ROM chip holds the sound snippets.
Soo Line posted:Thank You John
So if one suspected a problem with the sound chip, it seems you have to buy the entire board?
I've looked on Lionel's site and I could not find just the chips. Maybe I was not looking in the right place?
Dave
The chips are usually good or bad, very rarely are they "problematic." What issues are you seeing, which engine are we talking about, and what are the labels on each chip?
TRW
Thanks John/TRW for your responses.
This is Lionel 6-28273 CSX - Cab 3329. It is from an Intermodal Set. I bought the engine a few months ago (not the set) brand new in the box. Circa 2007. Sorry, I don't have the set #.
It worked well briefly and very shortly thereafter, the radio board went and I replaced it. All was fine except I lost some sounds. Two for sure are the Brake release sounds when I use my Legacy controller to change direction and brake squeal is also gone. Runs and sounds great otherwise. I can live with this .....I am just curious as to why this happened. ? I've included pics as requested (the CS markings on the chips are mine). I did pull the chips (with chip puller) and reseated but to no avail. Early Legacy 5.5. I replaced the smoke resistor with an 8 ohm one. It also has that annoying issue of the smoke unit not shutting off when the engine is shut down....common as I understand it to this era of early Legacy units.
I did do a full reset, code AUX 1 - 2, also to no avail.
This unit is road specific and the boards are not available from Lionel. Be happy to buy a used one or another SD 40-2 board....road specific not necessary if anyone might have one.
Thanks Dave
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I think Rudy @Railsounds may be the guy to answer this question, what he doesn't know about the sound system probably isn't worth knowing. 
I find it difficult to believe that some sounds are gone and not others, I've never seen a failure like that.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I think Rudy @Railsounds may be the guy to answer this question, what he doesn't know about the sound system probably isn't worth knowing.
John, I purchased a used legacy/Bluetooth Long Island E6 Atlantic locomotive the other day. I knew the tender had sound issues before buying it. I have bell and whistle sounds, but no chugging and Tower com/crew talk. I placed a different, but same type of tender on the locomotive and all works great. Without anyway of really testing the rail sounds lite card, I can only assume that the card is bad.
Blake
try putting the suspect tender on the track without the locomotive in front of it. apply track power and see if you hear any background sounds. if yes, the previous owner intentionally or inadvertently used the blend feature and turned the background sounds down all the way off.
What's the "blend feature" Rudy? Are you talking about the AUX1-VOL keystrokes or something else?
Just bell and whistle sounds like the RS/SS switch is in the wrong position.
Railsounds posted:try putting the suspect tender on the track without the locomotive in front of it. apply track power and see if you hear any background sounds. if yes, the previous owner intentionally or inadvertently used the blend feature and turned the background sounds down all the way off.
Hi Rudy,
I tried that in conventional and nothing happened, however, I still can activate the bell and whistle from the transformer. Also Rudy, every now and then while running the loco in legacy mode, you’ll hear a quick burst of chugging followed by silence.
I think you missed that Rudy said put the tender on the tracks WITHOUT the locomotive.
regarding the missing brake sound, since the radio was replaced and then the problem started, this is most likely a system issue and mismatched firmware between radio and sound board. try setting up your cab2 and this engine as tmcc or cab1 mode and see if the brake plays then. legacy brake is a different command then tmcc brake. the radio may not be passing the correct command.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I think you missed that Rudy said put the tender on the tracks WITHOUT the locomotive.
Hi John,
i did that as well and the same thing happened.
Blake
Hmm... Never thought of mismatched chips, but that sounds like it could be a problem!
Thanks Rudy for your response.
The plot gets more interesting.
50% of the problem was solved with your advice. In TMCC and or CAB1....I got the air release sounds when changing directions. Back to Legacy....no sounds in this area.
However, no brake squeal sounds in TMCC - CAB 1 or Legacy.
Two pics attached...one is from Lionel's parts site for this engine (Radio Board), the second is the new one (Radio Board) I had on hand and installed......
Thanks Dave
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Well if the labels are correct it is the same firmware. Yet the behavior indicates a mismatch. Sorry, I am out of ideas.
Rudy, was there ever an index of which processor chips went with which sound chips for the older RS boards? I know that there isn't always a 1:1 match, at least for the RS4 stuff. I see the same processor chip used with a number of different sound chips. Just wondered what the difference is and how they were mapped.
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Soo Line posted:Thanks Rudy for your response.
The plot gets more interesting.
50% of the problem was solved with your advice. In TMCC and or CAB1....I got the air release sounds when changing directions. Back to Legacy....no sounds in this area.
However, no brake squeal sounds in TMCC - CAB 1 or Legacy.
Two pics attached...one is from Lionel's parts site for this engine (Radio Board), the second is the new one (Radio Board) I had on hand and installed......
Thanks Dave
I completed the same test with the same results (as per above info) using a different Lionel R4LC - SO3.
Thanks Gents for your help.....I guess for now it will remain a mystery.
Dave
Did not want to open a repetitive thread but have a RS5.5 question; doing an upgrade on a RK Proto 1 UP FEF; plan to use a RS 5.5 sound board from Lionel 11116; using an ERR Cruise Lite with a R4LC S03 (works fine). My question: should I use a RS5 railsounds motherboard for the sound and power boards? I ask this as I tested an RS 4 motherboard and does not work pure; asking to confirm what I suspect; also the difference between and S02 and S03 board. Thanks much for any help. Mr Rudy, can use your input; thank you; Falcon70
Sorry, I don't have any specific advice for you. I'd check with the Electric Railroad folks.
Mr Rudy; thanks for taking the time; will swap out to a RS5 MB from the RS4 MB and see if it makes difference in combo with the S03; take care; Falcon70
The RS5.5 board is a Legacy board, the RS4 board is obviously a TMCC board. If you want the coupler and taillight to work on the tender, you'll want the later motherboard. The RS4 board uses the AD-20 board to provide those functions, the RS5.5 board has the functions on-board.
Thanks so much John; as to sound functions, either board should be transparent as long as I use a Legacy R4LC (S02 or 3); keep me honest! Thanks again; Falcon
Actually, probably not. The RS4 or RS5 board won't recognize the the Legacy serial data, so if you attempt to run the R4LC-Sx in Legacy mode, you'll have audio issues, most sounds won't work. You have to have a Legacy RS 5.5 board to run it in Legacy mode. I have a RS4 board and an R4LC-S03 in my test rig, audio is MIA. The bell works, no horn. Startup doesn't work, but if you hit reverse you can get sounds. I have a diesel board in there now, no ramp up when I increase the speed, it remains at idle.
If you want to run in Legacy mode, you need a Legacy sound board.
Thanks again; just tested RS5.5 board and R4LCS3; using an ERR Cruise Lite; loaded as R100 in Legacy remote; good quill whistle and other sounds but as its not a Leg engine in the remote (R100) I do not get the Legacy icons (which I think would not fully function with ERR Crz Lite). Will try a RS5/6 motherboard for the RS5.5 and see if there is any difference (using an RS4 MB). My original issue was random sounds when running with the RS4 MB. Getting closer; thanks again; Falcon70
The RS6 sound motherboard is unique to the RS6 sound board, it's kinda' of an orphan that was only used in a handful of products before the Railsounds-Lite board was introduced. Don't mix the RS6 sound board with non-matching hardware, especially the motherboard, you'll risk letting the magic smoke out of the board!
RS5.5 and RS6 both use the RS4 and RS5 audio amp but as John says likely their motherboards are different. Cruise Lite is TMCC. I am surprised you get any sounds using it. In any event you can't use Legacy mode in the Cab2.
Pete
Pete, John; great info from you two! Bottom line, if I want to stay with the Cruise Lite, stay with TMCC railsounds (5 or less). To use Legacy railsounds I need a Leg MB/DCDS/R4S3/RS5.5; would involve motor mod (use DCDE?). Will stay with what I know! Great feedback and much appreciated; Falcon70
