new BLI not working

[propmeup1]

Just received a new N scale BLI 4-6-2. I have plenty of BLI engines and I know the drill but this time it's different.   I put it on the program track to do its thing. First number up is 038 and she jitters as usual. The 041 and same jitter as usual. Went through all the steps to change to the cab number vs factory 03.   All seemed well till I put it on the mainline and hit #9 to fire her up. I get nothing.   So it will move a tad during programing but not a peep on the layout.      Any ideas ???  BTW I haven't had this particular issue till now with BLI. I've had other issues but this one is new.       
 I tried reset CV8 and V8.

Thank you, KTB

[peteski]

So this one has one of the BLI Paragon 4 decoders? Isn't it function 8 (not 9) to start the prime mower (or unmute sound)?
What is the cab address you program in the decoder?  I assume you tried the default address of 3 with no luck?  Does your DCC system allow for addresses <128 to exist in short and long address space?  What is 038 and 041? Sorry for the basic questions but I don't recall what DCC system you use.

[propmeup1]

I have NCE.  the 038 and 041 is the decoder numbers that shows up when it's put on the program track. they're just stating the decoder type.     I do know it will move due to the jitters it has. All BLI engines do that. As far as I know all BLI decoders start with 9 and 8 is their mute.   As I mentioned I've done this plenty but this one just won't start.   Head scratching now and agrevation setting in. Maybe I'll make dinner.   I also tried 03.    I also addressed it as loco 118.

[peteski]

I have NCE.  the 038 and 041 is the decoder numbers that shows up when it's put on the program track. they're just stating the decoder type.     I do know it will move due to the jitters it has. All BLI engines do that. As far as I know all BLI decoders start with 9 and 8 is their mute.   As I mentioned I've done this plenty but this one just won't start.   Head scratching now and agrevation setting in. Maybe I'll make dinner.   I also tried 03.    I also addressed it as loco 118.

Ah, so those are manufacturer and version values. Got it!

NCE can have the lower addresses as short or long, so make sure that for 3 you are using short (not long) address on the throttle. That is the throttle shows 0003 and not *03. I'm sure you already know that but I mentioned it just in case.

I also like to troubleshoot this type of problem with short address 3 (as usually it is set when decoder is reset). Since you can read and write CVs,the decoder is alive. And the motor and the motor driver on the decoder work. My NCE Power Cab has a love/hate relationship with BLI Paragon decoders. I can read some CVs but not others. I haven't spent much time trying to figure it out.

So with short address 3 (or 03 if you prefer calling it), the model is dead on track?  No movement, no sound.  Can you at least control the headligths?

[propmeup1]

I got her going. After you mentioned address 128 I tried that. I have around 40 BLI locos and none have has a cab number below 128 or even less then four numbers.  I was trying to put in 118 for one of the two Reading Crusaders.   So now I'm either stuck with 128 or 0003.   I can live with that.
Thanks for the info once again.

KTB

[peteski]

Keith, regardless of the brand of command station used and any decoder brand, you should not have any problems using full range of addresses 1-9999.  You just have to remember (with NCE system) that address 1-127 can exist in either short or long addresses space. Yes, this is a bit confusing.  BTW, 128 only exists as a long address.

Some brands of command  stations (like Digitrax) force using short addresses for those addresses, but with NCE you are free to use them in either way. All you have to do is to specify which address space (short or long) to choose while you programming the decoder. The choice is shown while you are going go through the standard decoder programming sequence.

My suggestion is to make those low-number addresses short addresses while you are setting up the decoder. Why?  Because by default, when you select a loco on the Power Cab or Pro Cab throttle, for address 1-127, if you do not first type in a leading zero, it will default to sending short  address commands to the model.

So if you press SELECT LOCO and then type in just "3" and ENTER, the throttle will be sending short address "3" to the decoder. Notice that the address shown on the display is "0003"
If you  press SELECT LOCO and then type in "03" and ENTER, the throttle will be sending long address "3" commands to the decoder. Now notice that the display will show "*003" (not 0003) to tell you that the address being used is a long address.

BTW, the leading zeros displayed are not really there. The decoder does not actually use those.  There is no "03" or "0521".  Actual addresses in the decoder have no leading zeros. If the loco is set up for short address "3", it will ignore commands for long address "3" and vice versa.

And when selecting a loco's address on the NCE throttle you never have to type in any leading zeros except for when you want to specifically address some decoder which has a long address active for the range of 1-127.  That is why I recommend programming decoders with address 1-127 as short addresses and never typing in any leading zeros when selecting an address on a throttle. That way you can easily control any loco with addresses 1-9999.

[haasmarc]

I was trying to put in 118 for one of the two Reading Crusaders.

Tell me more please.  Do you have a shell?  I have had this engine on my list to do for years.  Have you done the cars too?

[Maletrain]

A few more thoughts on using short or long addresses with NCE in the 1 to 127 range:

NCE is able to access long addresses from 1 to 127, but Digitrax cannot.  So, if you think you might want to take your locos to another layout with a Digitrax command station, it is best to use only short addresses in that range.

On the other hand, consist addresses have to be short addresses.  And NCE automatically starts numbering consists with short address 127 for the first one and goes lower for as many consists as the command station version can handle, unless the user intervenes to provide a specific short address number for a consist.  By using the long address in the range from 1 to 127, there will be no conflict potential between individual loco addresses and consist addresses.

One other minor point about Digitrax command station address limits: 9983 is the highest number they will accept - NOT 9999.  The numbers above 9983 are reserved for some internal functions for some Digitrax "features".

[propmeup1]

I got it going by using 0118 for the cab which in reality is 118 Crusader.  Problem solved. I'm glad for all the input which is thing stored.

KTB

[skytop35]

Keith, regardless of the brand of command station used and any decoder brand, you should not have any problems using full range of addresses 1-9999. 

Just a note that Digitrax Command stations only allow addresses to 9983.

[peteski]

I got it going by using 0118 for the cab which in reality is 118 Crusader.  Problem solved. I'm glad for all the input which is thing stored.

KTB

Well Keith, if you read my lengthy writeup you realize that if you LOCO SELECT then 0118 then ENTER then you are controlling a model which is addressed with a long 118 address.  You must have configured it that way when you initially programmed it.

As I mentioned, that is nothing wrong when using NCE system, but this model could not be used with this address on Digitrax and some other systems.  Do you care? Probably not.  On  your DCC system you can program all your models which use addresses from 1 to 127 set as a long address and they will work just fine as long as you use the leading zero when selecting them on the throttle.

[propmeup1]

Yes. This is why I went back and put a 0 before the 118.  In all my years with this system and my only system I never had to program a 3 digit cab number. Always been 4.   Again hats why I was ripping what’s left of my hair out.  To a ks again 👍

[peteski]

Yes. This is why I went back and put a 0 before the 118.  In all my years with this system and my only system I never had to program a 3 digit cab number. Always been 4.   Again hats why I was ripping what’s left of my hair out.  To a ks again 👍

Well, that explains things.  But I'm curious how you test newly purchased models where the default address is short address "3"?  Or you go right into reprogramming the address on programming track without testing it at its default address?

[haasmarc]

I got it going by using 0118 for the cab which in reality is 118 Crusader.

I want to know more about the Crusader!

[propmeup1]

I never test them with factory set 3. I always go with the cab number. I just haven't had a loco till now with a three digit number.   All set now.