I have an H0 Athearn Genesis Tsunami MP15AC. I program on my club's programming track accessed by JMRI. This is an Easy DCC system and the programming track is separate from the layout. You cannot program on the main, thus I have only the reduced voltage on the programming track. So far, I cannot program the engine at all. I presume this is because of the reduced voltage on the programming track. Has anyone else had this problem with this series of engine? BTW, it is Espee no. 2735. I am not sure when this engine was released. I hope to get the Power Track Booster if I can convince the club we need it. So: Anyone else have a similar experience? When was this engine released? Thanks for the help.
Why can you not use Ops mode programming ("program on the main"), my understanding is Easy DCC supports it.
Agreed, Easy DCC does support programming on the main but the club does not allow programming on the main. There is no wired capability for that. The members are afraid that someone will re-number all the other engines instead of their own. Spoke to the ghuru guy on electrons for the layout. He said that we could have the increased voltage on the programming track if we had the newest version of the thingy that allows us to program. I spent 30 minutes trying to remember the name last night. Anyway, if we had version 3 we could use the increased voltage. As soon as I can remember the name I am going to see how much it costs to get one for the club.
Well, there is no special wiring for it, if the layout is operational, and the command station supports ops mode programming, then it can be done. Of course, if the club does not allow it, that is a different issue. I actually don't think that is possible with Easy DCC (although I have never used it so I can't be certain). To do that, you would have to do ops mode programming with locomotive address '0' selected(some systems will let you do that and some system will not). Although not really important to your situation, the issue with the program track is current, not voltage. Sprog 3, maybe? If that is what you are thinking about, one thing to remember is it operates completely separately from the DCC system and requires JMRI, so you would have to use a computer to program;whereas, if you get a program track booster (DCCSpecialties PowerPax or Soundtraxx PTB-100) you can program straight from the command station. If you were to convince the club to let you program with ops mode, there are some issues to consider, so let me know if you want me to go over them.
Robert...you are so far ahead of me in all this. I don't have an H0 layout or even a DCC system; I just go to the club to do everything. I know that Sprog 3 is the term he used and we do have a computer and use JMRI to program. In fact, I don't know how to program any other way that to use JMRI. I'll ask about the Ops mode and also try to read up on it. I'm pretty sure that the club will be inflexible about changing their concept of programming. I certainly thank you for your time in answering these questions for me. None of it is very clear and I just learn by trying, typing, and seeing if that works. I will say that the MP15AC engine is programmed pretty well. I want to eventually match it with my other engines. Since I don't have a layout, I have all of my engines set on the same consist number and all are speed matched. This engine is just not set up for massive consist running yet.
