RMweb Gold 46444 Posted April 9, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 Hi there, Been having some problems programming some of my Bachmann '8 Pin' decoders. These are a mixture of the standard and the EMF varieties. Basically I've tried to reset the address to a four figure one on the 'programme track' as well as on the 'main'. I've also tried a factory reset on the chip to see if that helps to no avail. All wheels and track are clean and I'm using a Prodigy 2 controller. What does puzzle me is some of the '8 pin' chips I have, have been reprogrammed ok so I don't think it's the controller. Before this lot is consigned to the spares box is there anything that can be done? Cheers. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted April 9, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 Some of the Bachmann decoders do not support 4-digit addresses. So try programming a 2-digit address and see if that works. I have a couple of Bachmann decoders where this is the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted April 9, 2010 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 Some of the Bachmann decoders do not support 4-digit addresses. So try programming a 2-digit address and see if that works. I have a couple of Bachmann decoders where this is the case. Hi RFS, Thanks for the info. Hadn't thought of that one. I'll try later on today. Cheers. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy LMRG Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I had the same problem with a Bachman decoder. I had to manually set the CV which says it is in 4 digit address mode. I had to set CV29 to tell it that it was a four digit address. This CV can take many values depending on what direction of travel you want, how many speed steps, etc. A value of 34 should be OK but anything of 32 and above sets 4 digit addressing. Or at least it did with me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted April 9, 2010 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 I had the same problem with a Bachman decoder. I had to manually set the CV which says it is in 4 digit address mode. I had to set CV29 to tell it that it was a four digit address. This CV can take many values depending on what direction of travel you want, how many speed steps, etc. A value of 34 should be OK but anything of 32 and above sets 4 digit addressing. Or at least it did with me! Hi Andy, Thanks for the info as well. Something else to try if the 2 digit address doesn't work. Thanks. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 838rapid Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Hi Mark. Here is the link to the cv29 Calculator. Tick the relevent boxes and input the total(Value) Hope this helps http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted April 9, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 It probably depends on the type of Bachmann decoder. The "DCC on-board" decoder does not support 4-digit addresses: http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/DCC_onboard_general.pdf But the 3-function decoder 36-553 does: http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/3-function_decoder.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted April 9, 2010 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 9, 2010 Thanks for that. I've used this table once before but the problem was with the controller and not the chip. Hopefully this should work and I'll have 4 digit addresses. Thanks once again. I'll let you know the outcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin1985 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I had trouble with a Bachmann 6-pin (N gauge) chip that I simply wasn't able to programme at all using my Lenz Compact controller. Eventually I emailed Bachmann and they said that the Lenz uses a non-standard, but still NMRA compliant, programming technique which Soundtraxx (who Bachmann re-brand the chip from) admitted they hadn't included support for in the chip. i.e. they admitted that the chip isn't fully NMRA compliant, and I should return it for a refund. I wonder if the 8-pin one has the same issues? Are you using a Lenz Compact? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nickey Line Posted September 30, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2010 I'm having similar issues with a pair of 36-552 decoders. According to all the documentation, these should support 4 digit addressing but I cannot seem to get this to work. I have a value of 38 entered in CV29 and the correct values for the address I want in CVs 17 and 18, but the loco still only recognises the default address of 3. Is Bachmann's own documentation incorrect? Can anybody can shed any light on this issue? I'm using Lenz Digital Plus by the way. Must confess I made an error with the purchase in the first place, meant to buy 36-553s, oops. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 I had trouble with a Bachmann 6-pin (N gauge) chip that I simply wasn't able to programme at all using my Lenz Compact controller. Eventually I emailed Bachmann and they said that the Lenz uses a non-standard, but still NMRA compliant, programming technique which Soundtraxx (who Bachmann re-brand the chip from) admitted they hadn't included support for in the chip. i.e. they admitted that the chip isn't fully NMRA compliant, and I should return it for a refund. I wonder if the 8-pin one has the same issues? Are you using a Lenz Compact? The issue is a mixture of "ancient design of Lenz Compact" and "different interpretation of rules from Soundtraxx". The Lenz Compact is a very old design and hasn't been updated over the years. It can only program chips using one of the earliest programming formats. That format is very limited, only allowing a handful of values to be set. The Soundtraxx decoder does not support that basic format, instead uses the later ones which allows a much wider range of values. ( Look up Register, Paged, Direct if wanting chapter and verse on the details ). - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 The Lenz Compact is a very old design and hasn't been updated over the years. It can only program chips using one of the earliest programming formats. That format is very limited, only allowing a handful of values to be set. Not strictly correct. While the Compact originally only supported register-mode programming, the firmware was later upgraded to allow direct-mode CV programming. Both of the AltasMaster units I have support this. You do have to do a register-mode read of the decoder to allow the AtlasMaster/Compact to enter direct-mode programming, though. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nickey Line Posted October 5, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 5, 2010 I'm having similar issues with a pair of 36-552 decoders. According to all the documentation, these should support 4 digit addressing but I cannot seem to get this to work. I have a value of 38 entered in CV29 and the correct values for the address I want in CVs 17 and 18, but the loco still only recognises the default address of 3. Is Bachmann's own documentation incorrect? Can anybody can shed any light on this issue? I'm using Lenz Digital Plus by the way. I'm guessing nobody knows the answer to this! I've emailed the retailer (well-known internet outlet) but I've had no reply as yet... will post here if and when I do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I'm guessing nobody knows the answer to this! I've emailed the retailer (well-known internet outlet) but I've had no reply as yet... will post here if and when I do. I think those are Lenz decoders (1014s?) which means they almost certainly won't accept address changes on the main - you would have to use a programming track. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nickey Line Posted October 5, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 5, 2010 I think those are Lenz decoders (1014s?) which means they almost certainly won't accept address changes on the main - you would have to use a programming track. Adrian Well yes, indeed I would, and I have... but thanks anyway! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well yes, indeed I would, and I have... but thanks anyway! One never knows. I don't do a lot of programming on the programming track these days (my N-scale stock mostly has Digitrax decoders that will happily accept a new address on the main). Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nickey Line Posted October 5, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 5, 2010 I've now had a reply from the 'well known internet retailer' as follows... Thank you for your query, and apologies for the time it has taken to get back to you. I have rang Bachmann and as far as they are concerned, you are going through the correct programming procedure. As long as you have the original packaging, there is no problem in you returning the decoders and we will replace them with 36-553s, as those may offer some improvement in performance. Inconclusive but may indicate there's a problem with some batches of these decoders. Anyway, problem solved as far as I'm concerned! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted October 5, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have had the odd problem with Bachmann decoders, and I should add with Hornby. Although I only use 2 digit addresses, I have had the odd one that will not reprogramme on my MultiMaus, yet it does on my basic Hornby Select and just to confuse things, I have had some that refuse to on the Select and are OK on the Maus. Once programmed they work fine on either system. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super D Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I have been programming my locos to accept 4 figure addresses only to find that my few decoder fitted Bachmann locos will not allow changes to CV29,17 or 18. All other of my locos respond. Pity that Bachmann choose to fit the cheapest decoder to save pennies on a loco costing between £70 - £100! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 ....Pity that Bachmann choose to fit the cheapest decoder to save pennies on a loco costing between £70 - £100! ...and a pity that Hornby also chose to fit an equally cheap, but far worst decoder to it's locos costing £70 -£120 ! I agree; it's really poor show from both of these manufacturers, IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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