sound file name change?

It loaded with the title PRR NW2?

Loading a sound file won't change the engine name. 

 I thought it was a new board. I guess it was used. I made a mistake, I now think the sound file is OK. I was having problems with it. After loading the soundfile the board shut down.

 I believe I shorted out the lighting functions somehow. No lights work. The board operates the motors and has full sounds. I disconnected all the lights and tried a single MTH bulb in a socket, it does not light. I can't find any shorts. I believe I may have added too many lights? I tried resets and even a new sound file with no change. Can the board's lighting be fixed?

Dave and Joe, thanks I think I'm getting it. I switched out the boards and noticed only the interior light came on. I then put the original board in and the interior light and the ditch lights came on? Some of the lights are now working? I'm going to test each lead one at a time. Seems like it's in the head, tail, NB or combination. I've run LEDs w/ resistors and must have crossed something. Or the board reset itself? Whew!! Joe  

Hi Joe,

It could also be that the sound file you are using doesn't support all the lighting features you are adding.  Generally, a feature reset will turn on all the lighting FET's (get a little weird with ditch lights) on the board.  However, you might not have softkeys for all the features.  Even if you do have softkeys, they may not operate the FET you expect.  Usually I like to use a Premier sound file whenever possible because they tend to have more lighting softkeys.

There are even a few engines out there that came from the factory with lighting features that were left out of their sound files.  For instance, the WP GS-2 uses different FET's for the number boards on the boiler front, the number boards in the middle of the boiler, and the marker lights.  However, none of them has a softkey in the sound file.  We have been able to correct mishaps like this with the computer interface on a case by case basis.

 Dave, that program would be welcome here! Sometimes I wished there was a way to know what functions were active on these PS2 boards in the soundsets. I have had to load soundfiles as a shot in the dark sometimes to get the correct lights to work. It would be great to go to a page where the soundfile would be broken down as a list of function assignments. And I left DCC for this!

 I think that your new program will help keep MTH's system current. Some users are leaving to be state of the art with QSI's new Titan series. It has a lot of things going for it. WIth the new PS3 boards coming out and the move to LED lighting, a program like your's, would help out in a lot of ways.

 Now, when can I get one???

Just drop me an e-mail and we can figure out what hardware would be required for your setup.

Joe,  I have call MTH service and have had the sound engineer turn on light features and repost the sound file.  If there is a specific file you want changed it is worth asking.  G

 G, that is a cool thing because there are some sound files that I really like. If I remember, a few I had to skip just because there were no flashing beacons or ditch lights that I needed.

 Dave, I will contact you soon. Maybe we could start with something that's expandable?Both of my RRs, inside and out are in construction mode. I spend a lot of time testing to see which direction I will go and how equipment can be used. I was warned that two rail would be picky and it's not. DCS makes it easy. I've run 75 cars with head end, mid train and pushers with no derails and smooth running. I would prefer you to build me a whole RR when I get the money and you get the time!

 Dave, sent email.

 Got the board to work with all the lights. It came back after unplugging it. Some original LEDs were wired backwards. Now everything's lighting. The trucks seem to struggle at low speed starting off. One seems faster than the other? I will check for binding.

I have several PS/2 locomotives that don't do that well until you get to three-four scale MPH, they run a bit jerky at the slower speeds.

Dave, replacing a FET is not on my list of fun things to do.

Working on surface mount stuff is never that much fun, but it come with the territory.

Joe, Glad to hear it works after a restart.  If one is out, it can be a fet or the bulb, all out is usually a blown trace on the Positive voltage, or an issue with the chip that controls the logic for the lighting/coupler fets.

Marty, I am starting to get into a groove with SMD work, beats greasy fingers from the Post war stuff! Have fixed 4 PS-2 5V sound systems, but that is thru hole stuff and much harder/time consuming with these thick boards.  :-)  G