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I have an Atlas Gold Dash 8-40CW with QSI sound in it.
I don't like how the headlight is dimmed when the engine is not moving. Is there a way to change that?
I also don't like how the ditch lights do not light up unless the locomotive is moving. I want to reprogram them so that they stay on with the front headlight while not moving, but will still flash when the horn is blown, and have them turn off while the engine is running in reverse.
Is it possible to program these changes into a stock QSI decoder?
I read the QSI manual and I couldn't understand the jargon. (I need clear instructions like "input value of xx into CV xx")
The manual also said that the engine runs on Regulated Throttle Control out of the box on DC and DCC.
It does say that there is a way to change it back to standard control but I have to read the other manual, the one with the technical jargon that I don't understand.
I've emailed Josh. but I was hoping someone could help me here as well.
Do you have the QSI manual? It's about 250 pages.
It takes some reading to understand since QSI uses indexing. Your headlight programming is on page 106 under cv 55.70.SI
By setting it to automatic control you set feature 70 bit 0 to prevent automatic control. default is set at 1. to turn the headlight on bright set 55.70.0 to a 2. Page 111 has examples on the different settings.
Likewise the ditch light section starts on page 143. Page 152 has examples of different settings.
If you have any problems figuring the indexing out post again and we'll get it figured out.
If you know what an excel spreadsheet is then you know the basics of indexing.. Think of the primary index as being the X column or top of the spreadsheet and the Y as being the side. So an index of 25.70 would be the box that intersects on row 25 and column 70.
What QSI had to do is give you a way to point the the box you want to program so they assigned 2 CV Values. CV49 and CV50
CV49 is what you use to set the row or or on a spreadsheet the left side. They call it the primary index.
CV 50 is what you use to set the column or the top on a spreadsheet. They call it the secondary index.
Now at the same time there are more than one "Spreadsheet" in the decoder. They each have a number.
There are CV numbers that are basically just the "Name" of the spreadsheet.
For instance CV55 is simply a spreadsheet that holds the information for features
Putting it all together you see a number like 55.70.1. This is basically Spreadsheet number 55. row 70. column 1.
To program you first set the row (Primary index) then you set the column (Secondary index) then set the name which is the CV. (55) The first 2 point to where the information goes and the name (CV 55) is what is used to put the information in the spot.
So here we go. using the first example in the book page 111.
Example 1. I want the automatic headlight to be bright in all four motive states. NFF, REV, and NFR as well as FWD.
Solution: Set CV 55.70.1 to 170 decimal.
Remember the first number is the spreadsheet name, the second is the primary index (CV49) and the third is the secondary index (CV50)
Enter programming mode.
Set CV49 to 70
Set CV 50 to 1
You now have the finger pointed at row 70 column 1.
Now enter the data using CV55
Set CV55 to 170.
Now for your ditch lights.
Page 152 Example 1:
I want the automatic ditch lights to be bright(not strobing) in all four motive states NFF, REV, and NFR as well as FWD. I want the ditch lights to strobe when the horn blows in both FWD and REV (Sound Familiar?)
Solution: Set CV 55.84.1 and CV55.84.3 to 6. Set CV 55.84.2 and CV 55.84.4 to 2.
Here we go.
Set CV49 to 84
Set CV50 to 1
Set CV 55 to 6
Set CV49 to 84
SET CV50 to 3
Set CV55 to 6
Set CV49 to 84
Set CV50 to 2
Set CV55 to 2
Set CV49 to 84
Set CV50 to 4
Set CV55 to 2
exit programming.
Test to see if it works.
Using the pages in the manual you can fine tune the features. It involves adding bitts in binary.
This includes changing individual sound volumes and just about any other feature.
So here we go. using the first example in the book page 111.
Example 1. I want the automatic headlight to be bright in all four motive states. NFF, REV, and NFR as well as FWD.
Solution: Set CV 55.70.1 to 170 decimal.
Remember the first number is the spreadsheet name, the second is the primary index (CV49) and the third is the secondary index (CV50)
Enter programming mode.
Set CV49 to 70
Set CV 50 to 1
You now have the finger pointed at row 70 column 1.
Now enter the data using CV55
Set CV55 to 170.
The second example is close, but the ditch light still stay on and strobe even when travelling in reverse.
I am looking at the manual version 3.0 and it's kind of different from the second one which is for Q1A and Q2. I am not sure which version of the QSI decoder I have. All I know is that my engine was made in the June 2006 run.
Bit 0 and 1 is Fwd intensity
Bit 2 adn 3 is Neutral From Forward intensity NFF
Bit 4 and 5 is Reverse intensity
Bit 6 and 7 is Neutral From Reverse intensity
Example for FWD bit 1 and 0 it's same for the others
0 0 Off
0 1 Dim
1 0 Bright
So in the example of 170 they had 10101010 which when added is 170. Do yo see that?
