QSI Upgrades Sounds for All Sound Locos Made by Atlas, BLI, Proto 2000 and More

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In an unprecedented action that demonstrates QSI's concern and dedication for their customers, QSI announced that all sound files for all locomotives equipped with QSI factory installed sound can be upgraded to incorporate some of the new features that are available in the popular Quantum Revolution Q2 architecture.

The sound file download/upgrade feature of all the QSI sound decoders makes this possible. While there is no significant economic benefit for QSI to do this for an "older technology product", their doing so is a good measure of customer dedication!

This is great news for the more than 500,000 owners of locomotives that have factory installed QSI sound designated as the Q1 and the Q1a series. Some of the new features available in the new Q2 series - the Quantum Revolution - which represents the most advanced sound decoder technology, have been ported into Q1 and Q1a.

If you own or will purchase a locomotive with factory installed sound made by Atlas, Broadway Ltd, WKW Proto 2000, Intermountain and others, then your loco's decoder software can be upgraded to add many new features.

Here is an abbreviated list of the new features:

1. For diesel and gas turbine firmware, use CV55.21.0 to specify the number of speed steps per notch.
2. Use CV55.154.SI to configure an automatic Grade Crossing Horn Signal.
3. Support for F13-F28. Use CV53.15.0 thru CV53.30.0 to specify which features these function keys activate.
4. CV56.9 BEMF to SMPH Trim
5. Odometer functions.
6. CV56.13 Chuff Interval Trim
7. CV56.0 bit 3 Calibrate BEMF Synchronized Chuffs is supported.
8. For diesel, electric, and gas turbine firmware, you can use CV55.3.5 to configure the bell to turn on automatically when a horn blast occurs.
9. You can use CV55.84.SI to configure the ditch lights to strobe when the bell turns on.
10. CV55.70.12 Headlight Max Intensity
11. CV55.76.6 Mars Light Strobe Period
12. CV55.76.11 Mars Light Min Intensity
13. CV55.76.12 Mars Light Max Intensity
14. CV55.76.13 Mars Light Mid Intensity
15. Set CV51.2 bit 0 to "0" to shorten the delay at the end of a horn blast.

If you want to upgrade your locos, here are the ways to get the upgrade:

If you do not know your loco's software version then you can determine it as follows:

1. DC (pdf)
   DCC (pdf)
2. If your version is V6 then you can upgrade by purchasing an upgrade chip and replace it. The V6 chip is not upgradeable. More info.
3. If your version is V7 or higher then you can upgrade the loco software directly by using the Quantum Programmer. More info.
4. If you do not have access to a Quantum Programmer then you can remove the chip and send to us to do the upgrade. The fee is $19.95 and includes return shipping.