 Joined: 27/05/2020(UTC) Posts: 12 Location: Linkoping
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Hi all,
Before realizing that the mDecoderTool is only for the mSD/3 decoders, I took out a factory-installed mfx+ decoder from a loco and connected to the decoder, in an attempt to read its contents. Of course the decoder tool failed to read the decoder, and I put it back in the loco. But now the loco seems completely unresponsive. Did I kill the decoder by using the decoder tool on it?
Regards,
Martin
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 Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,556 Location: Paris, France
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Hello Martin
No cristal ball here but it seems to me that chances are the decoder has only been garbled (not sure here) especially when only trying to read variables)
The factory-installed decoders are the same as the mSD3 ones but some programming is locked
I would try a decoder reset using DCC, address 03 and writing CV8 = 8
Make sure the decoder has been installed the correct way w/o bent pins
My little experience in dying MFX decoders is that they lose some fonctionalities and when resetting they never register anew
Cheers
Jean |
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Joined: 27/05/2020(UTC) Posts: 12 Location: Linkoping
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Ok, thanks for the tip. But I think this is one of the older decoders without DCC. At least the loco manual (37756, or rather the 26805 set) doesn't mention DCC support.
Well, I'll try to fiddle with it a bit more before I start thinking about replacing the decoder.
Regards,
Martin
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 Joined: 04/08/2018(UTC) Posts: 1,156
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Originally Posted by: MartinS  Hi all,
Before realizing that the mDecoderTool is only for the mSD/3 decoders, I took out a factory-installed mfx+ decoder from a loco and connected to the decoder, in an attempt to read its contents. Of course the decoder tool failed to read the decoder, and I put it back in the loco. But now the loco seems completely unresponsive. Did I kill the decoder by using the decoder tool on it?
Regards,
Martin Using the mDecoderTool with a factory installed decoder does not kill it. You can use the mDecoderTool + 60971 to upgrade the firmware in the factory installed mfx+ decoders and use "show decoder data". but unfortunately little else. Did you upgrade the decoder firmware ? what controller do you use ? if the decoder is truly dead, it might have been because of something else, e.g shorting something, static electricity other faults etc. try the reset JohnjeanB suggested, but try to use MM protocol.
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 1 user liked this useful post by bph
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,467 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: bph Originally Posted by: MartinS Hi all,
Before realizing that the mDecoderTool is only for the mSD/3 decoders, I took out a factory-installed mfx+ decoder from a loco and connected to the decoder, in an attempt to read its contents. Of course the decoder tool failed to read the decoder, and I put it back in the loco. But now the loco seems completely unresponsive. Did I kill the decoder by using the decoder tool on it?
Regards,
Martin Using the mDecoderTool with a factory installed decoder does not kill it. You can use the mDecoderTool + 60971 to upgrade the firmware in the factory installed mfx+ decoders and use "show decoder data". but unfortunately little else. Did you upgrade the decoder firmware ? what controller do you use ? if the decoder is truly dead, it might have been because of something else, e.g shorting something, static electricity other faults etc. try the reset JohnjeanB suggested, but try to use MM protocol. My suspicion is that the decoder is not an msd/3 but the first generation msd, which also do mfx+. Unfortunately they don't seem to have built the necessary into the the programmer to identify these decoders.
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1 user liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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 Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,225 Location: Montreal, QC
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You have to be careful when working on decoders. I mistakenly popped the decoder of my 37342 Re 4/4II back upside down. I quickly removed it and put it back the right way, but it was too late. Fortunately I had saved the project and was able to load it onto a similar ESU decoder. The locomotive does not know the difference today.
Regards
Mike C
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1 user liked this useful post by mike c
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Joined: 27/05/2020(UTC) Posts: 12 Location: Linkoping
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Quote:
My suspicion is that the decoder is not an msd/3 but the first generation msd, which also do mfx+. Unfortunately they don't seem to have built the necessary into the the programmer to identify these decoders.
Yes, I think so too.
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1 user liked this useful post by MartinS
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Joined: 27/05/2020(UTC) Posts: 12 Location: Linkoping
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Originally Posted by: mike c You have to be careful when working on decoders. I mistakenly popped the decoder of my 37342 Re 4/4II back upside down. I quickly removed it and put it back the right way, but it was too late. Fortunately I had saved the project and was able to load it onto a similar ESU decoder. The locomotive does not know the difference today.
Regards
Mike C Right. I actually also put it on upside down on the decoder tool at first, but I can't quite remember if I turned on the power before realizing this and turned around the decoder. So I might have damaged it that way. Well, I will try the reset and some more to see if I can get in back in order. Thanks for the feedback!
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1 user liked this useful post by MartinS
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