Greetings! Sorry, this is going to be lengthy.. TL;DR - JMRI gives error code 308 through PR4 on a programming track when trying to read CVs from a SDN136PS decoder. How can I reprogram the sounds on these decoders? I started with one DCC set, and two DC sets from Bachmann. I'm still using the EX Command for control. I converted one of the DC locos to DCC with an SDN136PS. I like the low-speed performance, and I think the sounds are fun, but the ones loaded on the decoder are terrible. So is the documentation for most of their products. The sound is not the most important thing, but it is a nice feature, so I'd like to make it work properly. So, I bought the same encoder for the others, and I converted the rest as well. They're all different types, and the performance is there, but they all have the same terrible sound. I bought the Digitrax PR4 because they say that's what you use to reprogram the sounds on the things. I followed the instructions on my PC, assigned the port, updated java, downloaded SoundLoader and set up my programming track. Soundloader keeps giving me errors, or "Waiting for decoder" - no matter what I tried, it never changed the sounds on the decoder. I tried switching to JMRI, and got no satisfactory results there either. I switched to my mac, and tried JMRI, and I keep getting 308 errors, and nothing is changing. Is there something I'm doing wrong? How do I get some not-terrible sounds onto these decoders? There's other things I would like to do with these decoders as well once I'm able to connect to them. Digitrax just assumes I'm using their whole system, and that I should send my brand new PR4 back to them for refurbishment. Help?
This is a Digitraxx decoder ? As far as I know the only decoders that you can change the basic sounds is the Loksound decoders . The sdn136 you can change sound volumes and such but not the fundimental sound "core" of the decoder . .Mike
I've seen evidence elsewhere that you can in fact reprogram sounds on this decoder. Yes, it's Digitrax. But whether I can reprogram sounds or not notwithstanding, I can't even get the PR4 to communicate with the locomotive, so I can't even change volumes.
Apparently, you can with this version. Please see the following link and the PDF manual vers. 2 on this link's right-hand side. https://www.digitrax.com/products/sound-decoders/sdn136ps/
Right, but whether I can change sounds or not doesn't resolve why I get the 308 error in JMRI, and "unknown decoder" in SoundLoader.
You might not have enough juice from the PR4 to reprogram the decoders. I don't remember the error number I got but JMRI reported that it couldn't communicate with the engine. I was advised to get a programming track booster. I now have a SPROG 2 and a LokProgrammer (still need to figure out how to change the horn on my Kato E8s.) I don't have any experience with the JMRI Sound Loader. Good luck! Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
I mean... Hard to imagine leads get shorter than this. I'm using the power supply from Digitrax. None of these locomotives have run any appreciable distance. My track is brand new.
Is the 'OPS' LED on? Not to clear in the photo if it is on or off. The yellow power button in JMRI is an indication that is has problems communicating with your PR4. Could be a wrong set up setting in JMRI or a fault on the PR4, etc. Green/Red power button indicates no connection problems. Maybe delete the PR4 driver completely and re-install it.
I've tried it both ways. I've tried it on two different operating systems. I can try removing the driver, and installing it again, but on my windows 7 box, I did repair the driver install once because I couldn't see any evidence that it was working. A point of clarification though - the PR4 seems to be slightly different from the PR3 in that the behavior described in the documentation with the green and red power button isn't coming from one LED element, but rather both of the LED elements at the same time. If I press the OPS button, then they alternate. Again, the documentation from Digitrax on this unit is terrible.
From the manual and KB articles sounds straight forward. Install driver, software, plug in PR4 using USB, and plug in power only for sound programming. From KB1057 & KB1061 and p3 of manual, it seems only the blue LED is on on power up and blinking during programming and the rest off. They should have covered the LED functions and buttons much better. Also check if there isn't any dead spots (soldering/ broken wires) between the PR4 and rail itself.
I get 15V at the rail through PR4. So, maybe I should send it back to Digitrax - I followed all of the instructions, and it's not doing what it claims. This is incredibly frustrating, and quite discouraging.
Someone asked about the light sequence on the PR4, and I really don't think it behaves like the PR3 is described in the documentation.
