WOWSteam Version 4.6 Changelog

Wow, has it really been six years already? Version 4.0 WOWSound steam decoders began shipping way back in May of 2016! It's no lie to say that an update was long over-due. That said, it's not like we've been sitting idly by for the last six years, no no no! We've been hard at work developing tons of new and exiting projects and technologies, including but not limited to Chuffinity.

WOWSteam Version 4.6 features exclusively Chuffinity chuff sets, as well as a plethora of new sounds and new features. Ever since we introduced Chuffinity in our steam decoders, we were absolutely in love. We think you will be, too. Now, as of April of 2022, included in this Version are 13 Chuffinity chuff sets total, including some old favorites. Check 'em out below!

Of course, just like every new version of WOWSound, we've added tons of new sounds to our library, ALL OF WHICH are available on every single flagship decoder we make. The full list of new sounds can be found below, or you can visit the Complete Sound List for Steam Version 4.6 to see the complete library of sounds in this version.

On top of all of the new sounds, we've also made some revisions to other features which we think you'll like! *wink*

New Chuffinity Chuff Sets Available in WOWSteam Version 4.6

The proverbial "meat and potatoes" of a steam sound decoder - the chuffs! Meat our roster lineup for Version 4.6. We promise none of them are potatoes!

1. Jeddo Coal Company #85
   
2. Cumbrees & Toltec #484 - K-36
   
3. Cumbrees & Toltec #488 - K-36
   
4. Tweetsie Railroad #12 - 4-6-0 Baldwin "Ten-wheeler"
   
5. Reading & Blue Mountain Northern #425 - 4-6-2 Baldwin "Pacific"
   
6. Nickle Plate Road #765 - 4-8-4 "Northern"
   
7. Tanfield Railway No.2 - Narrow-gauge 0-4-0 Saddle-tank
   
8. Railtown 1987 RR #3 - Rogers 4-6-0
   
9. New Hope #40 - 2-8-0 "Consolidation"
   
10. Jeddo Coal Company #85 - Second Cut
    
11. Cass Scenic RR #5 - 3-cyl Shay
    
12. Black River & Western #60
    
13. Lehigh Valley Coal Company #126 - 0-6-0 Saddle-tank
    

Also found in Version 4.6 are some select sounds from Norfolk & Western J-Class #611 See below:

Full List of New Sounds in Version 4.6

Air Pumps:

• Jeddo# 85 Air Pump
• N&W #611 Air Pump
• Cass Heisler #6 Air Pump
• Lehigh Coal #126 Air Pump

Bells:

• Black River and Western #60 Bell
• Cass Shay #3 Bell
• Colorado state RR Museum #491 Bell
• N&W #611 Bell

Chuff Sets:

• See Above

Whistles:

• Air Chime Corporation 6-Chime
• American Steam Gauge Single-Note
• Cass Shay #5's Whistle
• Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis 5-Chime
• Crosby Steam Gauge 6-Chime
• Hancock Air Whistle Type 2 (from CACV #3051)
• Illinois Central Nathan 3-Chime
• L&N 3-Chime
• Lehigh Valley Coal Co. #126 - Nathan 5 Chime (Low Pressure)
• Lehigh Valley Coal Co. #126 - Nathan 5 Chime (High Pressure)
• UK Whistle (Number 1)
• UK Whistle (Number 2)
• UK Whistle (Number 3)
• UK Whistle (Number 4)
• UK Whistle (Number 5)
• UK Whistle (Number 6)
• UK Whistle (Number 7)
• Unknown Whistle (Number 4)

Idling Sounds:

• Cass #6 Idling sound 1
• Cass #6 Idling sound 2

Injectors:

• N&W #611 Injector

Safeties:

• Cass Shay #3 Safety Valve
• Cass Shay #6 Safety Valve

Station Announcements:

• 6x Unique, randomized arriving announcements
• 6x Unique, randomized departing announcements

Feature Updates in WOWSteam Version 4.6

Chuffinity

As previously mentioned, all production version WOWSteam decoders now include Chuffinity chuffsets exclusively.

DC Mode with Sound

All production version WOWSteam decoders now support DC mode with sound. DC mode is not enabled by default, and must be enabled on a DCC programming track via CV 29 in order to allow for DC mode control with sound.

The performance on DC mode will vary, and can be modified to your liking through the use of new Indexed CV's:

• Indexed CV 4:15 - DC Mode Sounds
• Indexed CV 4:41 - DC Mode Chuff Volume
• Indexed CV 4:43 - DC Mode Motor Start Voltage
• Indexed CV 4:44 - DC Mode Automatic Bell Cutout Voltage
• Indexed CV 4:43 - DC Mode Motor Start Voltage
• Indexed CV 4:46 - DC Mode Motor Hysteresis
• Indexed CV 4:48 - DC Mode Quill Trigger Delta
• Indexed CV 4:54 - DC Mode Peak Track Voltage

All of these new Indexed CV's are covered in depth in the latest version of the WOWSteam Complete Programming Guide for Version 4.6. Due to the large number of variables in DC power packs, layouts, etc., you will most likely need to make modifications to these configuration options if you plan to run your model in DC mode. For best performance, always use a DC power pack with sufficient regulation, and/or add-on filtration.

Automatic DC/DCC Mode Bell

Added an option in the Automatic Sounds indexed CV (4:12) to enable or disable an automatic bell. If enabled, this option will cause the active bell sound to play when below a configurable speed setpoint. In DC mode, this setpoint is configurable through indexed CV 4:44 as a voltage; whereas in DC mode, this is configurable with indexed CV 4:45 as a speed step (1-126)

New "Rotate" Feature Revisions

The "Rotate" feature has been a big part of WOWSound for many years, and has been an option made available to users as an extension of Audio Assist which makes initial setup of your sound decoder lightning quick. In all previous versions of WOWSound, both Steam and Diesel, the Rotate feature has been able to change between horn, whistle, or bell sounds upon a single button press. In Version 4.6 WOWSteam, there have been two major updates made to the Rotate feature.

1. The Rotate feature can now be used to rotate through Chuff sets. While in motion, use the rotate button to change the chuff set in real time. This new addition to the rotate feature allows you to program in a new chuff set without ever having to touch a programming manual, or even enter the Audio Assist program. The biggest advantage is the ability to hear the chuff sounds change in real-time while running. Listen through the different chuff types to find the one that suits your locomotive best!
2. The Rotate feature now automatically locks itself out when not intentionally in use. This was a common issue and point of frustration for many users, who found that between power cycles of their system, or when transferring between layouts, their bell or whistle would change! This issue is caused by de-synchronization between the decoder's memory of the function's status, and the command station's transmissions of the function state (on or off). These de-synchronizations would cause the bell or whistle to rotate seemingly randomly. To correct for this, the Rotate feature now requires TWO sequential presses of the rotate button (default 9) within two seconds to enter rotate mode and begin rotating sounds. Once in rotate mode, any subsequent presses of the rotate button will allow you to continue rotating through the sounds. After approximately 10 seconds of not using the rotate feature, the system will exit rotate mode and you will be required to press the button twice again to enter rotate mode.

The rotate feature is without a doubt the most convenient method to do quick initial setups to a sound decoder. And that's saying something, considering Audio Assist also exists! How could it get any easier than pressing a single button? Check out the new and improved Rotate feature in your own brand new WOWSteam V4.6 decoder and tell us what you think!

Function Pagination Now Available as a Configuration Option

Bachmann customers familiar with recent releases of locomotives with OEM TCS WOWSound decoders may already be familiar with this feature. The Function Pagination feature makes it easy to access all 28 functions and lighting effects by adding an offset to the pressed function button. This feature is useful in particular for users of the Bachmann EZ Command system, or other utility throttles with limited function button access. For example, to access function 15:

• Press function 8 twice at a time to rotate through the function pages until the decoder announces "function page [two]"
• Press button 5 on your throttle/controller
• The decoder will activate function 5 + 10 (page 2 offset) = 15

Note: the decoder supports accessing functions above 9 at any time by pressing the corresponding button(s) on your throttle regardless of the currently selected function page.

If you have a command station which supports all 28 function buttons, this feature is most likely not necessary for you to enable. This configuration may be done by re-configuring the User Options indexed CV 4:19. For more information on the User Options indexed CV, please refer to the Complete Programming Guide for WOWSteam Version 4.6.

Improvements to Playable Whistle

Fixed an issue where the decoder would pre-maturely cut into the ramp-up sound of a whistle and immediately play the end of the sound if the user released the playable whistle button (default 2) immediately. Improved this behaviour so that the entire ramp up is played, which sounds more organic.

Safeties now Enabled by Default

For this version, we decided to continue kicking up the realism by enabling the Safeties sound by default on all production decoders. One of our brand new safeties sounds has been mapped to Random Sound 4.