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I have included a video for the sound track.  The sound is scratchy and voices garbled.  Engine sounds unrecognizable.  Here is what I have done to try to fix it.

1. Replaced the battery.  I do not have an MTH part, but am using a new 9V alkaline temporarily.

2. Factory Reset, Feature Reset ad nauseum.  And it will not remember it's name.

3. Downloaded and installed the correct sound file from MTH website.  Name comes up blank after install.  

4. History:  This loco is about 15 years old.  It is an 8 volt system.  Product No. 20-2341-1.

Any other things I can try to restore the sound quality and name retention?

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Last edited by Jim Katz
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CP BOB posted:

Hi Jim,

I have had a few speakers flake like that. Replace the speaker, make sure no flakes are on the board, and retry. I bought my last replacement from GGG. The speaker particles took out the board on my friends Big Boy.

Bob

Who is GGG, and was the speaker of better quality than I can get from Midge at MTH?

Jim,

The speaker is almost certainly the cause of the garbled/low volume/staticky sounds. Replace it with the correct speaker for a 5 volt PS2 engine. Just get the replacement speaker from MTH.

By the engine "not remembering its name", I expect that what you mean is that you have to keep re-adding it to the DCS Remote after you've turned off track power. If so, it's most likely either a dead/weak battery or a disconnected wire between the battery and the PS2 board. Less likely is that the board's battery charging circuit has become defective.

Place the engine on a powered track and start it up making sounds. Turn off track power. If sounds don't persist for 6-7 seconds, first ensure that the wires have continuity between the battery and the board. If so, replace the battery with a new 8.4 volt NiCad or NMH.


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The speaker is almost certainly the cause of the garbled/low volume/staticky sounds. Replace it with the correct speaker for a 5 volt PS2 engine. Just get the replacement speaker from MTH.   These are out of stock at MTH and they don't really know when they are going to get them.

By the engine "not remembering its name", I expect that what you mean is that you have to keep re-adding it to the DCS Remote after you've turned off track power.  No.  It stays in the remote through a power cycle.  It is only when you do a Feature Reset or Factory Reset that you lose the name.  You would not normally do a reset, but it is strange behavior and somewhat worrisome.  If so, it's most likely either a dead/weak battery or a disconnected wire between the battery and the PS2 board. Less likely is that the board's battery charging circuit has become defective. 

Place the engine on a powered track and start it up making sounds. Turn off track power. If sounds don't persist for 6-7 seconds, first ensure that the wires have continuity between the battery and the board. If so, replace the battery with a new 8.4 volt NiCad or NMH.  Using the 9volt alkaline battery temporarily, the sound continues for 7 seconds after turning off the power.

I hope I have responded to your suggestions.

Jim

 

Jim,

No.  It stays in the remote through a power cycle.  It is only when you do a Feature Reset or Factory Reset that you lose the name.  You would not normally do a reset, but it is strange behavior and somewhat worrisome.

That's because the engine has a board in which a permanent name was never entered. The name that goes away is a Custom Name and it should go away whenever you Factory Reset the engine. A Feature Reset will not remove the name.

A permanent name may be entered using the Dealer (Service) version of the DCS Loader Program.


DCS Book CoverThis and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!"

This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

DCS Book Cover

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 1st Edition!"

This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Get the free TMCC & Legacy Addendum here!

 It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

Is this going to help Jim.... nope.

Last edited by Gregg

Gregg,

It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it

I stated "post - DCS 5.0" which means I believe that it was corrected in the latest release, DCS 6.1.

.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

If you were using DCS 6.1, you might not have the issue.

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
Gregg posted:

 It's still there.(version 5).. Why mention it.... A feature reset is a handy tool and gets used quite often,,,, We have a number of engines upgraded with proto-2 kits and now we have to re enter the names every time we do a feature reset ....  Not a big deal but a pain in the butt. 

Is this going to help Jim.... nope.

A pain in the butt, is by definition, a big deal.  Easier to do on the iPad, but I don't run my trains with the iPad all the time, I much prefer the original remote.  And upgrading to 6.2 is no help either.  This is a "feature" I can do without.

Anyone know another source for a speaker for my GP-38 5 volt?

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