 Joined: 04/11/2017(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: Minnesota
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Have a couple locos that are way to small for any of the Marklin decoders but the LokSound micro will fit in there just fine. So, what do I need (equipment-wise) to be able to program the sound to a particular loco? Are there downloadable files out there somewhere that one can get and install on the decoder? Any comments, cautions, hints, etc.? Thanks.
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,464 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: JDennis  Have a couple locos that are way to small for any of the Marklin decoders but the LokSound micro will fit in there just fine. So, what do I need (equipment-wise) to be able to program the sound to a particular loco? Are there downloadable files out there somewhere that one can get and install on the decoder? Any comments, cautions, hints, etc.? Thanks. The ESU Website downloads section has a considerable number of suitable sound files. You will also need a Lokprogrammer along with its software ( downloadable from the downloads section) and I would recommend a Decoder Tester to mount the decoder on while the sound file is downloaded. It is possible to do this while it is in a loco, but the relatively high possibility of bad contact through the wheels creating a corrupted download is rather high, and the solid wire connection to the decoder tester is preferred. The Decoder tester is universal to any decoder, not just ESU ones, so is a useful device to have around anyway.
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 1 user liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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 Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,261 Location: Hobart, Australia
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan …. The Decoder tester is universal to any decoder, not just ESU ones, so is a useful device to have around anyway. Please excuse my interjection Alan and JD,  Thanks for the information (I learn something new here every day  ) I normally use ESU decoders, have a Lokprogrammer (and watch the “ESU decoder-users” site). So, am I understanding correctly from what you are saying that the ESU decoder tester will enable both reading and writing of many other brands of decoders (including Märklin) ? Have a Happy New Year , Philip
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Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,464 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: PJMärklin Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan …. The Decoder tester is universal to any decoder, not just ESU ones, so is a useful device to have around anyway. Please excuse my interjection Alan and JD, Thanks for the information (I learn something new here every day ) I normally use ESU decoders, have a Lokprogrammer (and watch the “ESU decoder-users” site). So, am I understanding correctly from what you are saying that the ESU decoder tester will enable both reading and writing of many other brands of decoders (including Märklin) ? Have a Happy New Year , Philip yes, the ESU Decoder tester is just like Marklins Decoder Tester, it emulates the various facilities in the loco, in that it has a motor, speaker and a number of LEDs so that operation of the decoder can be checked. The ESU unit has connectors for all the available decoder connectors (21 pin Plux 16, NMRA 8 pin, etc) but I am not sure that the Marklin one has the range of connectors. Think of the decoder tester as a stationary loco with fixed wiring to the programmer or control unit.
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1 user liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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Joined: 04/11/2017(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: Minnesota
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Thanks so much for your info, guys. So, if I've got this right:
1. The decoder tester is a mount onto which you place the decoder for testing the operation of the decoder, and that the ESU decoder tester will work on both ESU and Marklin decoders.
2. That the LokProgrammer would connect to the decoder tester (with the decoder mounted on it) to do programming (e.g., installation of new audio files), and that the LokProgrammer would also work with ESU and Marklin decoders.
That's very helpful. I'm just in the process of converting all my locos to digital and have a great deal to learn. Have had good success on several, a few challenges on one right now, so this will help a lot.
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 Joined: 20/01/2010(UTC) Posts: 125 Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
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With the lokprogrammer you will be able to program ESU decoders and some other brands decoders that support dcc, but only the cv’s not the sounds. You will not be able to program the sounds of Marklin decoders
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1 user liked this useful post by anthpao
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 Joined: 08/11/2005(UTC) Posts: 3,528 Location: Mullerup, 4200 Slagelse
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 Originally Posted by: JDennis 1. The decoder tester is a mount onto which you place the decoder for testing the operation of the decoder, and that the ESU decoder tester will work on both ESU and Marklin decoders.
2. That the LokProgrammer would connect to the decoder tester (with the decoder mounted on it) to do programming (e.g., installation of new audio files), and that the LokProgrammer would also work with ESU and Marklin decoders. The decoder tester is just a simulation of a locomotive, wagon or whatever you want it to be; it's not a magical device that let's you use ESU's lokprogrammer to do all you want with Märklin's decoders. If you have the Märklin decoder programmer, you can do everything with Märklin's decoders, having them installed in the decoder tester. Per. |
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1 user liked this useful post by Purellum
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Joined: 01/05/2016(UTC) Posts: 623 Location: Athens
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Originally Posted by: PJMärklin Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan …. The Decoder tester is universal to any decoder, not just ESU ones, so is a useful device to have around anyway. Please excuse my interjection Alan and JD, Thanks for the information (I learn something new here every day ) I normally use ESU decoders, have a Lokprogrammer (and watch the “ESU decoder-users” site). So, am I understanding correctly from what you are saying that the ESU decoder tester will enable both reading and writing of many other brands of decoders (including Märklin) ? Have a Happy New Year , Philip yes, the ESU Decoder tester is just like Marklins Decoder Tester, it emulates the various facilities in the loco, in that it has a motor, speaker and a number of LEDs so that operation of the decoder can be checked. The ESU unit has connectors for all the available decoder connectors (21 pin Plux 16, NMRA 8 pin, etc) but I am not sure that the Marklin one has the range of connectors. Think of the decoder tester as a stationary loco with fixed wiring to the programmer or control unit. The 60970 Märklin decoder tester has interface for the following formats a Socket for the connection of an external speaker. 3.5 mm jack plug b Connections for the 60971 Programmer c Connections for the controller (programming track) d Connection field for a decoder without an interface e Interface for a 1 Gauge decoder f MTC 14 decoder interface g Decoder interface PLUX the decoder must be plugged in from above. h Decoder interface MTC 21, note the mounting direction i Decoder interface for decoders in compliance with NEM 652 k Interface for connections from a SUSI module l Decoder interface for decoders in compliance with NEM 651 Actually has more than the ESU I have both and are really very usefull Costas
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Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,464 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: JDennis
2. That the LokProgrammer would connect to the decoder tester (with the decoder mounted on it) to do programming (e.g., installation of new audio files), and that the LokProgrammer would also work with ESU and Marklin decoders.
The Lokprogrammer will load sound files and update the software of ESU decoders only. It can change CVs on any NMRA compliant decoder. To load sound files to any other make of decoder you need the appropriate decoder programmer from the manufacturer of the decoder, i.e.the Marklin decoders require the marklin programmer or a cs2 or cs3 to update them. When using the cs2 or cs3 you can use the decoder tester as the decoder mount while programming.
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Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,464 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: ktsolias
The 60970 Märklin decoder tester has interface for the following formats
...
Actually has more than the ESU
I have both and are really very usefull
Costas
Thanks Costas, i must admit I haven't researched the Marklin one as I already have the ESU one.
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Joined: 04/11/2017(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: Minnesota
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Well, I ordered the ESU decoder tester. Figure if I can diagnose a couple questionable decoders laying around here (one ESU, one Marklin) with that, it's worth the money. Did not order the LokProgrammer at this point, figuring that i will have about 2 ESU decoders that need sound files in the forseeable future, and AJCKids will load them for me (for $5 I think). Just doesn't make good economic sense to spend $150 to load sound for 2 locos right now. Maybe will find I need one later.
There is sooooo much to learn about this stuff. You guys are all great at sharing so much information. Thanks again.
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