Postby ke4tts » Sun May 23, 2021 10:49 am
rogruth: Glad you enjoyed the videos. I don't have any more in the works right now but may start shooting a new one next week.
Peter: Yes, I use the Quantum Programmer and I do use it with Win 10. As you know, every time Win 10 updates, the Silabs drivers get squashed, requiring removal and re-installation using a special procedure. I have a Win 10 laptop dedicated to decoder programming (QSI software and JMRI) that never goes on-line. Since it is never connected to the internet there are no security issues and Microslop never screws it up with their updates. I would like to see your friend's procedure. It might work better than the one I use should I ever need to re-install the Silabs drivers.
All of my large steam locos have QSI Titan Magnum decoders, any loco large enough to have a speaker in the boiler in addition to a speaker in the tender. The small steam have SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 where the only speaker is in the tender . All of my locos have their original motors or an equivalent replacement (large Pittman) and so need the high current decoders (8 amp Magnum, 4 amp Tsunami). I was fortunate to be able to purchase the Magnums while they were still available. I have used a couple of the FX-DO decoders. They are not cheap - over $200. The only significant difference between the Magnum (hardware FX-LS) and the FX-DO is the pinout for the lighting functions. The sound files available are all for the FX-LS hardware so the programmer flags an incompatibility when a sound file load is attempted. An FX-LS sound file can be loaded into an FX-DO using the programmer and the output ports can be remapped using CV Manger. I can send you a chart that shows the remapping should you ever need it. Up to and including the new GP7/9s, Sunset used FX-DO decoders in their 2-rail locos with sound, including a couple of steam. Scott has said that subsequent releases will use ESU decoders.
Jerry
Jerry Davis