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In DC, you cannot turn on any of the user-controlled sounds in your model. If you like operating
models with advanced sound and lighting features, you might want to think about upgrading to
DCC.
In our North American product manuals it is at this point that we usually make some condescend-
ing comments about DC control being to model railroading what the Robin Reliant is to the mod-
ern automotive industry, but we’ve decided to leave those out lest we offend anyone.
If you want a taste of the sound features you are missing, please read on…
OPERATION – DCC (SOUND)
It is through sound that the APT-E really shines. We’ve worked closely with Kit Spackman, Paul
Leadley, and everyone at the APT-E Conservation and Support Group to ensure that your APT-E
model is as accurate as possible, and that includes the sounds.
TRAIN ADDRESS
Your Rapido APT-E has a DCC decoder installed in PC-1, which comes from the factory with a
default address of 3. PC-1 is also the forward end for model railway purposes. We suggest if you
are using DCC control that you first test that the train responds on address 3.
Once you have verified that the APT-E is responding and operating properly, you should assign it
a unique address. This can be done either on your programming track (recommended) or on the
mainline if your system supports programming on the main. It also can be done with the entire
train on the track or just PC-1 and one intermediate bogie.
Be aware however that if you do program the APT-E on the main and you have any other locomo-
tives on your layout assigned to address 3 (the normal default address for new locomotives) that
ALL
of them will likely also be changed to your new address! Also be aware that if you give your
locomotive a four-digit address it will not work at all if you try to run it on a friend’s DC layout.
Please keep in mind that some DCC systems do not have sufficient power to program sound-
equipped locomotives on the mainline. If you have a really, really old DCC system (check for
vacuum tubes!), you may find that this locomotive won’t work at all – nor will many other new
models. Go update your DCC system to a newer version. Your computer is updated regularly. Your
DCC system should be updated as well.
TURBINE STARTUP DELAY
Your APT-E has a turbine startup delay. That means it won’t start moving until the entire turbine
startup sequence plays out. This sounds awesome, but it takes a considerable amount of time. That
is no problem when playing trains at home or at the club, but sometimes at an exhibition you need
to get a train started and moving
QUICKLY
to ensure that all the people standing at your layout
don’t wander off to go look at the trams on the layout next door.
You can do this by one of two ways. You can start the train moving and then turn on the sound
(see below). Or you can deactivate the turbine startup delay so people hear the turbines starting
up, even though the train is (unprototypically) moving at the time.
If you wish to turn off the turbine startup delay so that your APT-E can always start moving imme-
diately when you advance the throttle, give CV 124 a value of 17.
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