Another thing. The whistle and bell functions in the tender operate independently of the engine even in command so there will not be any need for any other electronics to operate the sounds.
I checked it out by putting the tender on the track in command mode and could operate both the whistle and bell with my CAB1 remote.
Uhh... Not with the command version of RailSounds installed. The commands for it come from the R2LC (or R4LC) and not from the track. Since there is no TMCC receiver in the audio or power board for the RailSounds package, it's not possible to receive the TMCC whistle/bell commands with the tender along for a command model.
The only way that the tender on the tracks along can respond is if it thinks it's in conventional mode and it's seeing the DC offsets on the track for either the whistle or bell. If it's not connected to a locomotive, it would indeed believe it was in conventional mode. That's the only way the whistle or bell is being activated.
I don't know what you're testing, but I've put together a lot of upgrade packages, and I can assure you that the TMCC command will not be received by the tender directly. That also applies to OEM products from Lionel that have RailSounds in the tender.
Well in a way you are right. I just reviewed what I did and I can operate both the whistle and bell using the CAB1. What I found out was that I had my TPC programmed in what we used to refer to as the MTH mode. This was used when we were doing the TMCC demos at train shows and other venues for Lionel that allowed us to operate MTH PS2 engines with the TPC's.
My TPC 300's are programmed as engine 1 and 2, although they could be any engine number not in use. I then programmed my outerloop as engine one, hit the "M" button and then set. What this did was set the TPC into conventional mode.
If you want to operate a conventional engine like the CC Berk you press AUX1 8 to put 30% power to the track which will allow you to operate conventional engines like the CC Berk.
If you want to operate a command engine you hit AUX1 9 to energize the track and you will have full voltage and can then address a command engine by addressing it's engine number and press any button and it will start up and receive the command signal and be controlled by the CAB 1 or your Legacy remote.
In the former scenario you would be operating in what Lionel refers to as "transitional command control" to allow both a conventional and a command engine to operate on the same track. The speed of the command engine will be restricted to the amount of voltage put to the track to operate the conventional engine.
Your are right that if the track is in command mode or you have address a command engine and you then put the CC Berk tender on the track and hit either "W" or "B" there is no response. However if you toggle back to Engine 1, which is what the TPC is programmed for, then hit "W" or "B" the CC Berk tender will respond.
So, in conclusion. If you convert the CC Berk or perhaps any other engine to command using the ERR AC Commander you will only be able to get the sounds of the whistle, bell or horn by programming a TPC as an engine with a number different from the converted engine and then toggle back and forth using the sticky key function of the TMCC/Legacy system.
Sounds confusing but I doubt if there is any other way short of installing some type of Railsounds. The Berk tender has such a sweet whistle that I think most who decide to convert the engine to command won't mind having to toggle back and forth. However if you don't have TPC's none of it will work so that is another caveat.
