Paul's Comments

I was able to spend a good part of the afternoon working with the Quantum Programmer and the software currently available from QSI Solutions. The entire package seems very stable and trouble-free. By using the .q1a file for the "Universal" chip, and going through two updates, I was even able to convert a surplus Mikado (Pot) chip to a U28B (Reed) chip. The result was perfect. This is an unexpected and very welcome bonus.

Just a couple of minor buglets in Quantum CV Manager: (1) The slider in the program for CV 51.1 (Mute Volume) has a range of 0-127, while the actual available range on the chips is 0-63. This results in Verify errors if you program with the slider more than 50% toward the right. And (2), selecting "User Defined Speed Table" sets CV 25 to a value of 0 (zero), rather than 1. This really makes no difference, but it does cause a readback/verify response of "Reserved Value 0" rather than "User Defined Speed Table."

Finally, while I had no problems with manually loading the files and completing the installation, I can see where a novice computer user might be put off by the lack of a formal "Setup" or "Install" program and the lack of automatically generated Start Menu entries. At this point I assume that the production CD will answer these concerns.

All in all, I'm very pleased with the product.

Paul

Nicks Comments

After spending the entire weekend playing with the programmer and the CV Manager software, I can safely say that, IMOHO, it is a top-notch piece of software. I learned how to perform multiple CV changes instead of one-at-a-time in my first attempts.

I did have some trouble with programming an extended address as my default. When I made the selection and wrote to the programmer, I expected to be able to control it with the program's CAB using the extended throttle. I added my extended address number to the CAB but nothing happened. When I went back to address 3, it responded.  When I retrieved the decoder data, the extended address came back as 0. I tried a couple of times and finally changed the extended address by using CV 17 and 18. I tried it on two different locos, a FM Trainmaster and a PRR M1a.

Earlier, I stated that perhaps DecoderPro should be included in the package. I have changed that opinion. CV Manager, once I figured out a few things, was very capable and much quicker than DecoderPro. The responses and reprogramming finished quickly and the settings were spot-on.

I would, however, ask for one small software modification. DecoderPro highlights any CV changes in Yellow when you make a change. It stays Yellow until you write to the decoder. When you perform a write, the change goes to Red as it is written. This gives a nice visual indicator of changes you have made and would permit mistakes to be seen easily before they are accidentally written to the decoder.

When I finished programming the locos, 2 PRR M1as and 1 FM Trainmaster, I then got to play with them. Since the programmer does not support Digitrax Power Stations or Boosters, I could not check out Ops Programming.

I was flat-out amazed at the differences in the decoder upgrades. I particularly enjoyed using the Heavy Load function and trying to stop a loco at a designated place. It took some getting used to but after a while I got the hang of it. The RTC function was even better. O hooked up a string of 30 hopper cars to one of the M1as and started them out on a continuous loop around my layout. There were times when I thought I would need to add on a helper as the loco slowed on the climbing grade. I was also looking for blue brake smoke when the train rolled downgrade. (I still need to practice braking with the air brakes).

QSI has a major advantage over the ESU programmer. LokSound decoders have their main exhaust or diesel engine sounds tied to the main volume control. If your exhaust is too loud, lowering it also affects all of the other sounds. You cannot separate it from the rest of the sounds. The only way you can achieve a lower exhaust sound is to use an audio editor on the individual loco exhaust files and save them with a lower maximum volume. Not an easy task. The QSI decoder has the perfect method of being able to lower the exhaust and not adjust any other sounds if that is your preference.

One process I have not tried as of yet is to submit a custom sound file to QSI for the purposes of changing some sounds in my PRR Mia. They used a single-tone whistle on freight engines on the PRR called the Banshee. Some of the M1as were fitted with these whistles. I have several recordings with them in use. I would like to see how QSI handles this process and how long it would take if I supplied the sound clips.

For now, these are some of the observations I have made and I found the use of the programmer to be very easy and for all intents and purposes, the programmer worked just fine with few programmer-generated errors. Most errors were cause by equipment incompatibility. Once I solved that problem, I was very pleased with the performance and speed of this device.

One last suggestion, I would include one upgrade chip of the customer's choice at half-price when they purchase the programmer. ESU does not do this but they provide the instant gratification of changing sound files. The universal chip would be my choice since that permits the user to replace and program any loco sound into any style of decoder. Changing a FM Trainmaster into an ALCO RSD15 was very impressive. It could mean that the owner had to replace the original prime mover. It did sound awesome.

I hope these suggestions will help. Earlier suggestions on having and installer and uninstaller are still in effect. They should definitely be implemented in the software. Combining the Programming software and the upgrade software would be a plus. One load, one program with expanded pull-down menus.

Regards,

Nick