LGB 20481 Saxon VIK not responding to digital

AshleyH

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Hello,
Long term member on here, but I have been inactive on the LGB front for a few years.

Anyway a couple of weeks back I was casually browsing eBay when I found a newly listed LGB Saxon VIK in the rather attractive Saxon green livery, which I thought would go nicely with my Saxon IK, LGB 21980, in the same livery.
Listed by Rails of Sheffield at £795, with a note that the chuffing didn’t work, but all other sound functions did. So I put in an offer and got it for a counter offer of £750. Ahead of receiving the loco, I was guessing the chuff sensor needed attention.

Received it last week, but only set up some track to try it today. Setup my Marklin Central Station 3 Plus and waited for the loco to be recognised with mfx, nothing, so I tried a manual mfx search, again nothing. A sticker on the box from Rails said DCC Address 3, so I tried that, no response.

OK I thought maybe there is a loose connection somewhere, but first I thought I would try analogue. The lights game on and the loco ran smoothly in both directions. Within a minute or two the chuffing sound effects started, I guess as the buffer capacitor charged.
The loco runs smoothly, the chuffs work as long as there is enough voltage, and the bell and whistle trigger with track magnets.

The loco looks to have had little, if any, use. No marks to the skates and a clean yellow traction tyre. Interestingly the manual states that the sounds are turned off for analogue! I’m looking at CV50 as a suspect and wondering if the previous owner was analogue only and things have been turned off? The problem is I’ve tried a decoder reset with the CS3, but it doesn’t see the loco at all.

Any ideas gratefully received……..

I should add, for the money paid I am not sending it back as the analogue operation and limited sounds are great, and I really like the loco.
 
Have you tried manually inputting the cab number as an address....
 
Check CV29 to make sure it is not expecting a large address. If rails have just set CV1 to 3 they may not have told it to expect a single digit address.
Bin there!
 
Here with the relevant instructions:

Multi-Protocol Operation • The programming can be done either on the main track or the programming track.Analog OperationThis decoder can also be operated on analog layouts or areas of track that are analog. The decoder recognizes alternating current (DC) and automatically adapts to the analog track voltage. All functions that were set under mfx or DCC for analog operation are active (see Digital Operation).The built-in sound functions come from the factory inactive for analog operation.Digital OperationThe decoders are multi-protocol decoders. These decoders can be used under the following digital protocols: mfx or DCC.The digital protocol with the most possibilities is the highest order digital protocol. The sequence of digital protocols in descending order is:Priority 1: mfx; Priority 2: DCC; Priority 3: DCNote: Digital protocols can influence each other. For trouble-free operation, we recommend deactivating those digital protocols not needed by using CV 50. Deactivate unneeded digital protocols at this CV if your controller supports this function. If two or more digital protocols are recognized in the track, the decoder automatically takes on the highest order digital protocol, example: mfx/DCC; the decoder takes on the mfx digital protocol (see previous table).Note: Please note that not all functions are possible in all digital protocols. Several settings for functions, which are supposed to be active in analog operation, can be done under mfx and DCC. Notes on digital operation • The operating instructions for your central unit will give you exact procedures for setting the different parameters. • The values set at the factory have been selected for mfx in order to guarantee the best possible running characteristics. Adjustments may have to be made for other operating systems. mfx ProtocolAddresses • No address is required; each decoder is given a one-time, unique identifier (UID).• The decoder automatically registers itself on a Central Station or a Mobile Station with its UID-identifier.Programming • The characteristics can be programmed using the graphic screen on the Central Station or also partially with the Mobile Station.• All of the Configuration Variables (CV) can be read and programmed repeatedly.• The default settings (factory settings) can be produced repeatedly.• Function mapping: Functions can be assigned to any of the function buttons with the help of the 60212 Central Station (with limitations) and with the 60213/60214/60215 Central Station (See help section in the Central Station).DCC ProtocolAddresses • Short address – long address – multiple unit address• Address range: 1 - 127 for short address and multiple unit address, 1 - 10239 for long address • Every address can be programmed manually.• Short or long address is selected by means of CV 29 (Bit 5).• A multiple unit address that is being used deactivates the standard address. Programming• The characteristics can be changed repeatedly using the Configuration Variables (CV).• The CV numbers and the CV values are entered directly.• The CVs can be read and programmed repeatedly. (Programming is done on the programming track.)• The CVs can be programmed in any order desired. (PoM - Programming can be done on the main track). PoM is not possible with CVs CV 1, 17, 18, and 29. PoM must be supported by your central controller (Please see the description for this unit.).• The default settings (factory settings) can be produced repeatedly.• 14 or 28/126 speed levels can be set.• All of the functions can be controlled according to the function mapping (see CV description).• See the CV description for the DCC protocol for additional information.We recommend that in general programming should be done on the programming
 
I always register a new loco on a programming track. An MFX loco should be recognised staightaway as that is the convention that Marklin use. By the way every MFX chip has a unique address. Sometimes when an MFX loco is not recognised I switch off and then, after a pause, switch on the Central Station. Note that you cannot use POM to change CVs 1,17 and 18.
 
Thanks for all the above.
I’ve been unsuccessful with the CS3. Sometimes it reads the address and sometimes it fails.
I am just setting up my Massoth system, and will see if I can get any further with that.

The loco is perfect on analogue, even the random sounds such as coal shovelling and blowdown effects trigger every few minutes.
 
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OK, so the loco works perfectly with the Massoth on Address 3. Including the chuffing and all the other sound and lighting functions. The dynamic smoke with cylinder steam is also working.
So, two unsolved mysteries, firstly why is it not working on my CS3 even as a straight DCC decoder.
Secondly, why did Rails think the chuffing sound wasn’t working.

But, as I have a mixture of LGB locos from current Mfx, going back to those with Serial electronics, I guess I am mostly going to use the Massoth anyway.

But it’s a strange one that I’d like to get to the bottom of, though nonetheless delighted with my otherwise fully functioning Saxon VIK.
 
I'm wondering if the previous owner, presumably using DCC rather than MFX, actually switched off the MFX function on the decoder so that it stops "looking" for an MFX signal?

I can't recall exactly how to do this, others of a more techie bent (oo-er...) will hopefully drop in to explain it, but it seems a possible reason for what is happening...?

Jon.
 
If it has a mfx decoder:

CV50 = 0 is DCC only
CV50 = 2 is analog DC
CV50 = 4 is MM
CV50 = 8 is mfx

Default value is 14, which is mfx + MM + analog DC + DCC

Thanls for that, Loco - so if it has had the MFX option switched off but everything else is "on", the value of CV50 should read 6... (0+2+4)?

By the way, what is "MM"? I'm not familiar with that abbreviation... :)

Jon.
 
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