Phoenix sound USB to Serial cable

[Overner]

I have a Phoenix P8 sound card in my newly aquired RC, battery powered Accucraft Class 66 and I would like to get familiar with the programming features. I would like to know if an FTDI FT232 chipped adapter would be OK to use with an appropriate 3.5mm stereo jack plug. I have the P8 manual which gives the pin assignment as tip - 5v .. Ring - data ( I assume Tx) and sleeve gnd.

The sounds are very good but do not really reflect the way an EMD sounds, as the loco moves before the engine revs rise whereas with the 1:1 loco the diesel engine normally revs before the motors move the train, particularly with a heavy load. I am hoping I can achieve this, even if I have to have the motor control and Sound control on different channels of the RC ... ?

Comments very welcome ..

Andy

 

[PhilP]

Hello Andy.,
There is a little more to it than that..
You would really need the Phoenix interface unit, if you wanted to change things using the computer software

Do you have the P8 manual? - you can change many things without using the software..

PhilP

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Way more and it is not a simple rs-232 interface, they did some tricks to make you buy their programmer.

Unless you understand electronics (it is possible to build one) buy the programmer, or find a DCC friend and program it on his DCC system.

Your issue is just a setting issue. Also, it does NOT vary sounds by BEMF feedback. It is old technology with nice sound files.

Greg

 

[Overner]

Thanks for that Greg - I notice on your website you state that the cable can be built for half the retail price so if you have details of this I would be very interested. Also if can you help with advise on the settings to resolve the issue, I would be grateful ..

Thanks .. Andy

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I have not documented the build, but mean to, it's on one of the forums.

Until you have the programmer or a DCC system, the settings are moot.

Did you get the manual for the decoder yet? It's not a complex procedure. I'm assuming you are running in analog mode?

Greg

 

[Overner]

I have not documented the build, but mean to, it's on one of the forums.

Until you have the programmer or a DCC system, the settings are moot.

Did you get the manual for the decoder yet? It's not a complex procedure. I'm assuming you are running in analog mode?

Greg

Yes, I have the Phoenix P8 manual and the loco is battery powered, Radio controlled - I have searched the various forums for the cable build with no luck, so If you could point me to a link that would be great ..

 

[Overner]

I already have a USB to serial adapter which I used for another project - Do you know if this would be adaptable?

 

[The Shed]

This link may be what you are looking for.

Phoenix Sound Serial/USB interface

www.mylargescale.com

The author of the link above used this breakout board.

SparkFun USB to Serial Breakout - FT232RL - BOB-12731 - SparkFun Electronics

This is the SparkFun USB to Serial Breakout for the FT232RL, a small board with a built in USB to serial UART interface. This little breakout is built aro

www.sparkfun.com

Compare it with the one you have.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Dan]

When programming Phoenix units be sure to turn off MTS!!

 

[Greg Elmassian]

OK, you need some more electronics to change the standard RS-232 to the electrical interface Phoenix uses.

You need to contact Phoenix to get the schematic.

You CANNOT use an off the shelf RS-232 electrical interface....

Phoenix Programmer

Greg Elmassian web site on large scale trains and garden railroads, cigars, and computers

elmassian.com

Greg