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Post by steveturner on Sept 26, 2012 18:46:32 GMT -8
Guys each of the years 2004 to 2007 year releases of the Atlas Trainmaster offer QSI sound. Loaded question? Would there be any sound board changes from release in 2004 to 2007? In other words if i purchase a 2004 release would it be inferior to a 2007 release. Just has to ask! Thanks steve
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Post by el3637 on Sept 26, 2012 22:31:36 GMT -8
I dunno but... my brother bought one of them (Wabash) - not sure what year it was released. I tried to program the long address for it, and the decoder just simply went away. Hard reset, soft reset... completely dead. Only plan of action is to just gut it and put an NCE decoder in it. Fortunately it was a markdown so he didn't pay full price for the noisemaker.... and looong out of warranty by the time I made my attempt to program it.
I don't think Tsunami makes an FM decoder, or I might consider it since the thing is already set up with a speaker and all. I did hear the Atlas QSI version, which like most QSI decoders sounds about right at idle but the minute you notch it the illusion is ruined. The TM has a unique and wonderful prime mover sound - one that really needs bass, but like the 567 if *correctly* reproduced the upper frequencies can at least sound like something other than a shaver or a toilet tank filling. But.... it's more likely I'll just throw a regular decoder in it if I ever want to run the thing since he gifted it to me for Christmas last year.....
Andy
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Sept 27, 2012 6:42:04 GMT -8
Steve,
There might have been a QSI chip upgrade between 2004 and 2007. The older chips are pure ROM's (Read Only Memory) while the later and upgraded chips are EPROM's (Electronically Reprogrammable Read Only Memory). EPROM's allow various files to be changed, which means that if you don't like the sounds, you can change them using the QSI sound loader software and hardware interface. Say, for example, one has a QSI-equipped HH660, but one's prototype used air whistles instead of horns. With the EPROM chip, one can have a whistle installed instead of the blat air horn that comes from the factory.
IIRC, the older chips say "Ver. 6" while the newer ones are "Ver. 7". If you can look under the hood, you might be able to get the info by looking at the top of the small IC chip inside the socket. If worst comes to worst, you can always buy a $30 QSI chip upgrade and get the latest version that way.
Andy,
I've had that happen at my club a couple times. Instead of going through all that effort, the members simply bought a QSI chip upgrade for $30 and had the latest sound files uploaded on it. Pull out the old chip, stick in the new chip, and the loco was fine. Heck, they sounded even better than they did originally.
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Post by steveturner on Sept 27, 2012 7:03:39 GMT -8
Curious are these chips soldered or just press fit? I am no sound guru so i think what ever is in the loco might be fine.The one i am looking at is 2006 release. QSI i see has gone to a new series of sound. 2006 is old but its new and as long as it runs and makes sound i would be happy. Steve
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Post by el3637 on Sept 27, 2012 20:31:36 GMT -8
I've had that happen at my club a couple times. Instead of going through all that effort, the members simply bought a QSI chip upgrade for $30 and had the latest sound files uploaded on it. Pull out the old chip, stick in the new chip, and the loco was fine. Heck, they sounded even better than they did originally. Hmm. I can stick a decoder that I already have in it and have a runnable Wabash Trainmaster for $.0.00 outlay or I can plunk out $30 and *maybe* it will fix the problem and I'll have a shaver that sounds like a wee little Trainmaster at idle and is flaky the rest of the time. Hmm, what would Winston do....... Andy |
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Post by bnsf971 on Sept 28, 2012 2:54:24 GMT -8
Curious are these chips soldered or just press fit? I am no sound guru so i think what ever is in the loco might be fine.The one i am looking at is 2006 release. QSI i see has gone to a new series of sound. 2006 is old but its new and as long as it runs and makes sound i would be happy. Steve The chips are press fit. QSI recommends buying a puller from Rdio Shack, but i simply use a small screwdriver to pry the chip out. |
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