A friend has wanted to get into the wonderful world of speed matching. He's contacted me, read my blog post on speed matching and wound up sending me two of his Bachmann GP7's that are DCC equipped so I can see what if any CV's are modifyable. I got them in the mail today and after work I ran down stairs to the laboratory. Placed them on the programming track and did a "READ" on them with DecoderPro3. One was advanced consisted, the other ran fine. So I setup JMRI with a "New Loco" to read the chip, filled out the roster page and saved the file. Next I tried to change CV19 to "0" to clear out consisting and ............NOTHING! So I tried setting the program type to all of the other types one at a time with no luck. Even the one that runs I cannot seem to change any of the CV's Period? I should mention this, I am trying to program them with my Digitrax Super Chief and he uses an NCE system. Has anyone ever used JMRI to program Bachmann's factory decoders?
Please let us know how you make out with this Allen. I also have a Digitrax Super Chief system, and I'd like to get a pair of these GP7s in that pretty RI scheme. I've just got to think up a plausible reason for running them on my layout Regards, Ron
Will do Ron! I've had others tell me on other forums that I need to use the light bulb or Resistor across the programming rails trick to program these chips and others have said there are very few CV's that can be adjusted? I would, IMHO, save your money and find one of the Atlas versions. While my buddy really likes these Botchmann locos. I think the Atlas versions are much better in looks and have more options regarding DCC conversions. I've read where someone installed a DZ125 in one and with good results though.
Bachmann on board DCC are low end Lenz. Many replace them them a quality decoder. If you need the CV list, the list is at the Bachmann site. NCE went as far as making a Bach DSL lightboard decoder replacement there were so many complaints about Bachmann non sound. Bachmann uses SoundTraxx stripped down decoders for sound. At least much better running characteristics. Rich
Thanks Rich. I know when I checked them with the read command, it showed the MFG as 101, which I thought was a Soundtraxx chip number? I found a list of Bachmann CV's, but not very documented. Can you give me an idea where to find these NCE DSL lightboard? Are these DC boards? Do they have lights on them I presume? Maybe get one of these and then wire a DZ125/6 or similar chip to it. They are not bad running mechanisms, truth be told.
Yes, Bachmann on board non sound is low end. Go the the NCE website. Some old timers here complain about posting stuff like websites here. It is call bach-dsl. Google it just like I typed it. You will get many links with You Tube videos also. Comes with LED's attached. There are users at the Bachmann HO scale forum who still use the low end Lenz who might advise. Bachmann reps do not like anyone mentioning the NCE decoder and remove any messages about it. I suspect eventually Bachmann may switch over to the SoundTraxx non sound decoders in the future but that is only a guess. They must have a long time contract with Lenz. Rich
For those who found the NCE website, there is a PDF showing how to install the decoder the last time I looked. Rich
OK, A couple of things: 1- I stand corrected on the MFG ID number, 101 is Bachmann 2- I tried both the bulb and the resistor trick on the programming track using JMRI with my Super Chief, no luck. I believe that JMRI has the pages for the full speed table but the cheap a$$ decoders do not make use of them? Last night after messing around some options, I did a little tinkering and then some grinding and filing and was able to get both an Atlas DC and DCC ready GP7/9 chassis to fit under the Bachmann shell. I need to do a little more grinding and filing as the shell has a slight bulge along the sills. But it fits well enough that the body mount couplers line up perfectly. The other option was to Rip out the old POS decoder and hardwire a new one in place. I think the new chassis will work the best in this case. The reason for keeping the Bachmann shells is that they are custom painted and he wants to keep them for sentimental reasons. Thanks for the input.
Well I felt I should report the outcome of this Capital Rebuilding Program that was done in the shops of The Little Rock Line. I did manage to get both Bachmann shells to slip over the newer Atlas DCC ready chassis, and get them running just fine as well as speed matched. Over the weekend we had and dry ops session on the layout testing a new car forwarding system and decided to put these two units on a shakedown run. Happy to report that they both worked as expected and ran smooth as glass. Here's a few shots of them in action: Sitting at the house awaiting assignment Pulling at 15:15pm Spotting some empty hoppers at Riceland
Here's how I modified the Atlas chassis so the Bachmann shells would fit: Ground off the angled surfaces until the shells slipped over them. Be careful not to remove these small tabs as they keep the shell from sitting to low. Removed the four nubs that hold the Atlas shells on. Ground off some on the top edge of the chassis and along the upper side. Even with these mods, the shells sit very tightly on the chassis.
Yes. I use JMRI DecoderPro. Yes I have Bachmann GP7 and GP9's with factory decoders. I coupled them in consist a and run separately without any problem.
Since I replaced the entire chassis with a Atlas DCC ready chassis and installed a DN163A0, they sure do. But to answer your question, if the chip you replace the original board with has something like Digitrax's SuperSonic Drive or TCS's Quite Drive then yes to a certain degree. But this only helps with the motor noise and not with a mechanical noise.
OK, but I was asking if anyone was able to program them with some sort of a speed table so they could be run in a consist with other locos that I have speed matched. I wasn't even able to change ANY of the CV with JMRI. My solution, although somewhat drastic, was to replace the entire Bachmann chassis with an Atlas chassis and use a drop in decoder. My friend has since sold all of his Bachmann chassis.
Bendtracker1, thanks. Makes me wonder if I should just give this locomotive to my kid for his layout.
I don't know. Guess it depends on what you plan to do with it in your big scheme of things. I will admit after Steven told me how well they run I was curious to see for myself, know full well the reputation of Bachmann has always been. I was quite surprised when I got a chance to play with them. They did run smooth and wasn't all that noisy like I had imagined. Their reputation has improved over the last ten years or so in the quality: The RS3's, GP7's, S-4's and not diesels, their steam has been fantastic as well. I have one of their 2-8-0's and 2-10-2's and their running ability rivels some of the KATO 2-8-2's I've played with. But as for their decoder, meh. If all you want to do is turn the lights on and off and run in both directions and change the number....... they work. However with a little amount of work, one can install......say a Digitrax DZ126 or 126T decoder with relative ease and have a decent running loco. After posting the question here I did a little more digging on the subject and seen where some have replaced the decoders and they had excellent results with after market decoders. There is plenty of room inside the shell as the frame is much lower than the Atlas version, and the wires are sticking up through the frame for the motor leads! The hardest part for some would be to install the lights as there is no specific mounting for them. You'd have Jerry rig something to hold them in place. The lighting issue is why I just swapped the entire chassis. Call me lazy!
by move No. decoders do not make a noise. Noise is being produced by moving parts, such like motor or commonly chassis.
1. The same. I could not make any changes in the speed table. It takes changes just in the simple mod. Vmin, Vmax and Vmed (I guess) 2. A couple of CV's were acceptable for changing, such like lights, consist, V's, accel and deccel. 3. If you want to replace your chassis and decoder, do you want to keep just shell? does it make a point?
Non-sound decoders do not directly make noise, but, like you said, the motors that they control do. The decoder controls the motor using pulse width modulation, and those pulses can make the motor produce an audible buzz. The stock decoders in many Bachmann locos cause this buzz. Better decoders use a higher frequency outside our range of hearing for the pulse width modulation, resulting in quieter motors. In short, just replacing the decoder can make a Bachmann loco run significantly quieter.
I have three Bachmanns. GP7 and two GP9's. Gp7 UP is very quiet. GP9 Canadian causes the buzz on slow speed. GP9 PRR doesn't but it is more noisy than GP7 but a little bit. Commonly you are right, the quality depends on the cost. I payed for them about $50 each one. But I suppose the problem is not in the decoder only. Motor could be defective too.
