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ESU Lokprogrammer problem with LS MFX and LP MFX
Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Hi all,
It seems like I have a problem with my ESU Lokprogrammer. As of the moment I've installed the new firmware into my Lokprogrammer it is not capable of reading (or even recognizing) any of the ESU Lokpilot MFX or Loksound MFX decoders. (I've tried this with four different decoders, using the 21-pole plug, the 8 pole plug and a hard wired one.) It functions perfectly with non-MFX decoder though...
I'm using software version 2.6.5. at the moment, downgrading to software version 2.5.6. results in errors, probably due to the fact that I can not downgrade the firmware version anymore.
Anyone else experiencing the same kind of troubles?
Good evening!
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Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,843 Location: Norway
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Hi Sander  This is interesting as I was thinking of getting a Lokprogrammer to program just mfx decoders  [:p] Was the ESU Lokprogrammer easy to use and program before you got this problem  English software  Sorry that I can't help you with your problem do [:I] |
Pål Paulsen Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3 |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,188 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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I was using mine just the other night to program a Marklin mfx decoder. I'll have to go down and check the softare version.
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote: Originally posted by pa-pauls<br />Hi Sander  This is interesting as I was thinking of getting a Lokprogrammer to program just mfx decoders  [:p] Was the ESU Lokprogrammer easy to use and program before you got this problem  English software  Sorry that I can't help you with your problem do [:I] It was working well and was fairly easy to use. English software is included. Shortly it will be working again, I presume, the question remains (for now); how? |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,188 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Ok. Mine is also at 2.6.5. It recognizes and works fine with the mfx decoder in my Unicef lok, but won't read the decoder in my new BR05 insider. Interesting. Sander: I would recommend reloading the software update and trying again.
I would bet that if I pulled the decoder out of the '05 and put it on my 21 pin adapter it would work (as did my Scheinenbus), but the '05 is running perfectly and there is nothing I care to change, so why take the chance of messing something up? |
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Joined: 16/10/2005(UTC) Posts: 382 Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
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Hi all, Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Ok. Mine is also at 2.6.5. It recognizes and works fine with the mfx decoder in my Unicef lok, but won't read the decoder in my new BR05 insider. Interesting. That is documented by ESU. It is cause by electronics on the C-Sine board: "Ich habe eine Lok mit mfx-Decoder und C-Sinusmotor. Leider lässt sich diese mit dem LokProgrammer nicht auslesen. Es erscheint immer eine Fehlermeldung. Was ist zu tun? Die in der Lok verbaute Steuerelektronik des C-Sinusmotors stört die Kommunikation zwischen LokProgrammer und mfx-Decoder. Abhilfe ist nur möglich, indem Sie den Decoder aus der Lok ausbauen und direkt mit dem LokProgrammer verbinden. Sie müssen hierzu nur die beiden Schienenausgänge des LokProgrammers direkt mit dem Decoder verbinden, weitere Leitungen sind nicht nötig." Cheers, René - whom Sander was trying to help when he came across this issue - |
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Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,843 Location: Norway
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Thank's Sander,
I will look out for one on eBay
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Pål Paulsen Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3 |
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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I just tried my installation: LokSound Programmer 6.2.5 LokProgrammer Firmware 0.0.1447
I think these are the newest.
It reads my mfx LS decoders correctly. |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 15/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,734 Location: ,
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Hi Sander, I'm using the LokProgrammer with Firmware version 0.0.1447 and Software 2.6.5 (thus both the most current ones); I didn't have any problems in getting those installed and working. Have you tried to reload the firmware again? One more info: When I could not read a mfx decoder directly out of the loco in the past, I moved it to another loco with less "disturbing electronics for the programmer". Now I'm mostly using the new "Profi-Prüfstand" and I also didn't encounter any problems so far with that (other than it doesn't have a SDS motor  ); it also works fine with the CS. Following two pics showing it while testing a LoPi-mfx3.0.   Hope you can get your LokProgrammer working again soon (if not you might have to send it to ESU). 
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Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,843 Location: Norway
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Hmmm  Was thinking a little bit, yes a little bit, don't worry [:I] Maybe a stupid question but anyway : [B)][V] If I hook up my computer to my CS is it then possible to program a decoder without the Lokprogrammer  |
Pål Paulsen Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3 |
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Joined: 15/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,734 Location: ,
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Hi Pål, you don't even need the CS for that - unless you want to modify a mfx decoder - as there exist already several SW programs doing just that. 
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Joined: 16/10/2005(UTC) Posts: 382 Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
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Lutz, thanks for your thoughts on this issue I am sorry for all the troubles. Sander, I should have told you that my BR50 has been cursed by Murphy Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Have you tried to reload the firmware again? That sounds like a viable option to me. Hope it works. René |
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Hi all,
Thanks for all your interesting replies, I'll have time to check the results of your suggestions this Saturday. If anything else pops up, please let me know!
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Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Update: after a renewed firmware update it is still not working, tried it (again) with different decoders and locos. I'm starting to believe it is truely a hardware failure. ;-( |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 16/10/2005(UTC) Posts: 382 Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Sander van Wijk <br />Update: after a renewed firmware update it is still not working, tried it (again) with different decoders and locos. I'm starting to believe it is truely a hardware failure. ;-(
Not much other options left, I think. Sorry to hear. [:(] I wonder how such a thing happens. Hope that ESU can help you out. René - feels slightly guilty - |
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Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,843 Location: Norway
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Hello Sander  Sorry to hear this [:(] Did it work i.e. could you read mfx decoders BEFORE you did the firmware update  Maybe it is a software bug in the new firmware or is your lokprogrammer hardware to old  I would ask ESU about this [}:)] Otherwise I agree with you that is most likely is a hardware failure as Lutz, among other's, have done the same without problem  [:p] |
Pål Paulsen Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3 |
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Hi all,
It did work properly a few weeks ago. In order to be sure about that, I took the last loco equipped with an MFX decoder that was programmed successfully. Currently, it shows the very same error as all other MFX decoders do... Anyhow, I'll keep you informed!
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Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,697 Location: United Kingdom
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Sorry to hear that, Sander. |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Short news: Luckily, I was able to borrow a friends' lokprogrammer, it is equipped with a lower firmware version and works properly with my computer. So, it seems like the programmer itself is causing the troubles, either due to the software (firmware version 0.0.1447) or a hardware issue. I've send an email to ESU support explaining the problem, let's see what happens... |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,843 Location: Norway
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Hello Sander  Have just got a lokprogrammer on eBay  Will I then get the same problem you think  [:I] |
Pål Paulsen Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3 |
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Joined: 07/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 232 Location: Australia
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I have read this topic with interest, and it reveals something I do not understand. Some time ago I took one of my Marklin MFX locos to a friends place where his LokProgrammer could not recognise the decoder, so we cold not change anything. However it has worked for him with other ESU decoders such as LP3. From this we concluded that the LokProgrammer could not change Marklin MFX.
However from the above discussion it would seem that the LokProgrammer can change Marklin MFX, except in some configurations. Is this correct? If it is correct then which situations cause it it not work?
PS: We were able to change setting with a 6021 so the decoder is not faulty.
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There is no place like The Shire... |
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Joined: 15/12/2007(UTC) Posts: 10 Location: ,
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I have just put the below contribution on another similar topic. It might be helpful here also.
I have actually managed to program my BR 01 (Mä 39015 with a compact sinus motor and mfx decoder) with my Lokprogrammer several times. When programming, the program sometimes show a fault message - however, mostly the programming is done anyway. If not - just try once more. The newest software for Lokprogrammer seems to do it better.
I have been told by ESU/Loksound that the problems lies with the sinus motor electronics. This is why they advice you to take the decoder out and connect it to a test bench or another non-sinus motor. A mfx decoder controlling an older motor should work well.
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,697 Location: United Kingdom
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welcome to the forum, Omo. |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 9,289
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I have heard and seen that ESU lokprogrammer is not suitable for mfx decoder... I wonder if you should choising Marklins own mfx decoder instead...? Because,they are already finished programming decoder such like sounds and other functions too...! Goofy  |
H0 DCC = Digital Command Control
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Joined: 15/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,734 Location: ,
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Goofy <br />I have heard and seen that ESU lokprogrammer is not suitable for mfx decoder... Wrong! (whoever told you that).  Please see the list of decoders supported by the LokProgrammer here or read version 5 (Nov. 2007) of the LokPilot handbook: http://www.loksound.de/index.php?showId=276Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:I wonder if you should choising Marklins own mfx decoder instead...?
Because,they are already finished programming decoder such like sounds and other functions too...! Any ESU sound decoder comes preinstalled with a specific loco sound which you can order and even customize with own sounds as desired, whereas Märklin sound decoders are offered as spare parts, mostly not even orderable and not customizable with own sounds. ESU sounds are available as project files; Märklin sounds are not (yet). 
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