Last week I purchased the QSI decoder software. This of course is the software that is designed to work w/ the .v7 upgrade chips for various QSI equipped engines as well as the "open" chip that is programmable for "whatever". I loaded the disk on my PC (windows XP) and went to the QSI website to download the software upgrades. My problem is there is little if any help in OPERATING the software. I have been "fooling" w/ this thing for almost a week and still cannot program an address on my SW7 loco. I purchased the upgrade chip for this engine. I can put it on a track I have set up at my computer, get the horn to blow, make the bell clang, and even make the engine run on address 03. The website has many, many articles on WHAT the software can do, but VERY little if any on HOW TO DO IT. This thing this NOT user friendly at all. That last two nights I have gotten so frustrated I have walked away from it rather than toss it in the trash. Do any of you posting have this thing? Been successful with it?
Kitbash, You might want to call this number and ask for help. Toll-free (800) 671-0641 I hope they can help you.
Thanks. I actually called QSI and TONY's and they were very helpful. I really like dealing w/ Tony's. I have managed to figure out how to get the sounds downloaded, etc., and programmed into an engine I upgraded w/ the new chip. However, I can't find anywhere in the instructions, on the website, or in any manuals how to change the address in the loco. Its probably going in and actually manipulating a CV from the CV Manager. But you'd think w/ software like this, there would be a "click" option to just "change loco address". Part of the problem is the instructions are not user friendly and the other part of the problem is I have no patience with software. I will say from what I have been able to do sofar, I am glad I got this thing. I can really see how it is going to improve performance, sound, etc.
This may be a dumb idea, but can the s/w actually do what you are suggesting? I know little about it, but I though it was primarily for (as you have done) updating the 'firmware' in the QSI decoders - ie. the main control software, sound files, etc. Things like CVs for addressing are not firmware - they are (using my words) 'runtime settings' and I'd expect to change them when the decoder is in the loco using my normal DCC system or something like Decoder Pro.
Kitbash, I did some poking around at the QSI website and found something that may help. Look at page 21 of the QuantumCVManager operators manual. They have a screenshot of a tab to set the decoders address. http://www.qsisolutions.com/pdf/qCVmanager.pdf Is this the software you purchased? I think Mike Sheridan is on the right track in suspecting the capabilities of the firmware upgrade software. I hope this information is usefull. Jerry
Thanks Mike and GM. Most useful posts. I spent the better part of this morning "bulldozing" my way through commands and reading between lines of the various print articles and instructions I have on this device. I began to suspect that both of you are correct in where you are going. I also spoke to Tony's Trains today and they arranged for me to work w/ an IT "guru" that is up-to-snuff on this software next week. Also, I tried again this afternoon programming the Road Number (long) address of my SW7 straight from my Super Chief. After about the 3rd or 4th try in "Ops" mode, I got it to take. I put the engine BACK on the programming track connected to my computer and got the engine to do some good things. I tried several configurations of engine sounds, etc from the QSI site and was quite successful. Seems this is one of things where just spending some good time coupled w/ patience pays off. The more I "toy" with it, the more I like it. Thanks again for the responses.
