(1st Attempt Video Added). Sunset DRGW 4-8-2 Mountain QSI Titan Decoder Installation

Bill,

 

More lines (colors!!) and details on the schematic, please.

 

For example:

 

 

Excellent, Martin!!  I'll use your diagram for my next decoder install.

I love to see projects like this on the forum. 

 

So many don't do any 'modeling' anymore and making things work!

 

Great job!  Post the pics or video when done.  I'd also like to see the FEF you mentioned in this post, video or pics. 

Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words, 86TA....... .  A little encouragement goes a long way.

 

If a "fair to middlin' " number of viewers respond showing me they're also interested I'll gladly take the time to keep posting -- as I finish the project.  

Yes, I'm interested and I have that engine.

Very interested in this project of yours.  Please take the time and keep posting updates.

 

Steve

I neatened up the wiring and finished assembling the DRGW Mountain and fired it up. Holy cow!  Everything worked!!  

 

Very nice motor control right out of the box.   No need to fiddle with the more esoteric motor control CV's. Just some simple (acceleration and deceleration) momentum CV adjustments. 

 

Am diddling with some lighting and sound refinements using QSI CV MGR and my QSI Quantum Programmer  -- which is fun, easy, intuitive.

 

Stay tuned.  Hope to post video(s) and/or pictures soon.

 I'd guess that most of us "newer guys" aren't pros but have had to go into so many locos for too many reasons. After a while I start feeling like a pro. You have to in short order or you'll cook expensive stuff to learn a lesson.

 Anyways, if you're getting results and reliable operation doing it yourself, you're there. If you're doing it for others for money, then you're a pro.

 The fact that you tear into these brass engines and install sound, makes you on top of my list! I admire your guts. It takes patience and talent.

 Sharing your techniques, makes you wealthy, in my book. Learning the latest tech stuff, adapting fast, not being too stubborn to new changes, you have the enthusiasm of a teenager! I wish we were neighbors!! 

 I need more coffee....

PS. Don't ever loose that paper schematic. Years from now you may forget how you used to do it. I already have forgotten too much.

this gets even funnier the more I look at it!!

Thanks for the kind words, Joe.

 

I had fun diddling with the lights and sound balance and chuff rate for a while today.  Getting there.

 

My new HD camcorder arrived today.  Now if I can only learn to program the camcorder CV's maybe I can post some video.

 

 

This is a test.  My first try with a new camcorder and on top of that my  first ever try at posting a video.

 

  Pretty crappy video.  But, maybe you can get a good idea of the QSI Titan Q3 sounds and lights.  Sounds pretty okay on my external but small PC speakers.

 

Will continue up the camcorder/video posting learning curve and try to do better soon.

 

 

Wow!

Sounds great on my computer!

Sharp crisp sounds. Nice strong whistle.

Like the drift sounds too. Seems pretty dynamic.

Austin,

 

Very impressive!  Thanks so much for posting the video.  What whistle are you using? I understand QSI has numerous whistles to choose from.

 

Steve

Very nice Bill !

Nice job!

I just fixed a HO engine for one of the guys at the hobby shop that had QSI. I like the way it sounds and he had his programmed that in either direction the whistle would blow the correct # of whistles and the bell would sound until it got up to 10mph.

There's a few things in DCC that I really like. The only problem is the initial price of the system.

Ralph

That's one of the best sounding steam engines I've heard on my computer.  It must be incredible.

 

How do you set the chuff rate?

Thanks for the kind words.

 

Yes, the Titan Q3 ET sounds are very impressive.  Much bigger sound files.  Therefore higher fidelity and timbre and all those audio attributes.  I must say that my speaker selection, QSI High Bass speakers in the tender and engine shell, worked out okay, too. 

 

To answer your questions.

 

The Titan Q2 aftermarket decoders come with a huge selection of horns, whistles, bells etc. They have been around for a while and so a large library was developed over time.  The Q3 version is new.  Still in Beta.  The sound files are huge compared to Q2 files.  Whole new ballgame.  So all new sound files are being re-developed from scratch. 

 

Accordingly, the firmware in this aftermarket Titan Q3 ET decoder I installed in this engine is still considered a Beta release.  It was loaded by Josh with a primary and an alternate whistle sound file and the other sounds.  The area in CV MGR where sounds can be changed is greyed out so I can't identify the whistle.  But, Josh told me the two -- (primary and alternate whistle selected by toggling F11) -- are the best bet for the Mountain engine.

 

The Q2 sound files and the new Q3 sound files are available for download on the QSI Solutions website for your viewing pleasure and downloading. The Titan Large Scale files.

 

There are two methods of setting the chuff rate.

1) There is circuitry to connect a chuff cam or other sensor technology that simply makes and breaks a circuit.

 

2) The chuff rate and number of chuffs/revolution can be electronically set (no sensor) using CV MGR.  Simply a matter of choosing a wheel diameter (63 in. in the Mountain) and then trying and adjusting. A very simple process in CV MGR.    This method is not as accurate as using a chuff cam.  If you look carefully you can see that the chuffs don't happen exactly when they should based on valve gear action.  But, it's good enough for me --as I'll take an electronic approach over an electromechanical chuff cam approach any day..  At low speeds you can see it.  But, at higher speeds perfect sync isn't needed.  Just 4 chuffs/rev gets it done. 

 

First chance you get give a listen to a Q3 equipped engine in person.  You'll be amazed.  Oh, and the motor control turned out to be awesome right out of the box. And the lights can be made to do just about anything you can think of.  Separate effects can be easily programmed for four states.  Forward, Neutral from Forward, Reverse and Neutral from Reverse.  The intensity can be set and the fade on/of time can be set.  This can be done in two alternate universal light groups or lights can be mapped to Function keys.  The possibilities are staggering and easy to fiddle with in CV MGR. And if I goof up I can revert to the previously saved file for this engine. 

 

This is a relatively complex decoder technology and like everything else electronic these days (including my new HD Camcorder) just takes time to become familiar with.  QSI CV Manager and the QSI Quantum Programmer go a long way to make it as easy and fun as possible.

That came out great.  The sounds are nice and crisp and has been said the whistle sounds nice and healthy.  Thanks for posting this.

Thanks for posting this. Good read and a good video.

Nice video. Nice sound.

Austin,

The final result is incredible.  Very impressed with it.  

 

Very interesting information and wealth of possible future developments!

 

Everything you post, all we get is a red "X" in a box, never the image.

(Are these on the OGR Forum server? If not, is that why we can't view them?)

Thanks all!!   As stated above hope you can listen to a Q3 equipped engine in person soon.  In the meantime, will post more videos on my QSI equipped engines soon -- after getting familiar with my new HD Camcorder and video editing software.

 

Lima.  Yes, I uploaded the video and pix from my PC to the OGR server.  They show up for me and everyone who has commented above.  Dunno what to tell you.

Fantastic job Bill. Josh has done a great job with the Q3 files. I'm going to be doing an install on my NYC Hudson soon. I hope I get results as good as yours. I'm thinking of going all the way and adding a fan driven smoke unit. Josh told me that the Titan can drive one directly off of the board. Have you seen Matt Forsythe's videos on Youtube? He uses the Titan in a lot of his projects.

Thanks, Jonathan,

 

Yes, the Titan installation manual has clear instructions for the smoke unit install directly off of the board and so under DCC control.  If I wanted smoke I wouldn't hesitate to install it.  On paper it looks to be a robust design.   

 

Yes, I've seen Matt Forsyth's videos.  Awesome.   I had some contact with him recently and he was a BIG help.  He's a real Titan guru/pro.  

 

Of course, the same goes for Josh.  He's extremely busy making huge improvements to his QSI Solutions company but has also taken the time to be a big help.   Just hope he finds time to sleep!

 

Good luck with your Q3 install.  Keep us posted.