Well my adventures into DCC/sound decoders is going from bad to worse. The ATH RTR SD45 that I've put the used Tsunami into, that I had working on my test track the previous night, failed to make a sound when placed onto the club's layout. Moved initially, but sluggishly and after a run, soon stopped doing that also. I had also taken along the P2k SD45 that is factory Tsunami, which on it's last couple of outings seems to have not been going too well either, I put into a consist with the 2 ATH RTR's. I had changed the speakers in.
Set them up, spaced apart so I could judge their relative speeds (I had previously bumped the speed curve up on the P2k) and found it was dragging it's heels badly. Ran it by itself around the layout at max speed steps (126), then ran the other 2. I reckoned they, at step 26 were going faster. As both of these SD45's numbers are no longer on MRL's roster (scrapped), I'm beginning to think these should follow.
So that's 3 dead heads I've got (the 3rd being the QSI MP15DC).
On the Rat front, we are not winning the battle either, now have a smaller one (bigger than a large mouse) semi trapped in the kitchen, dining, lounge, entry (open plan) area. Semi, because we tried to encourage it to leave via the front and back doors, during the day, by leaving them ajar. Have the door to the hall that goes to the rest of the house closed and sealed off at the bottom and are having to use the glass slider out of the dining area onto the patio and then through the door from that (the one with the doggie flap that was being chewed on the other morning) into the laundry to the hallway.
Before going to bed last night, set the spring loaded Rat trap, that had caught the first one, up in the kitchen, having previously gone over every bit of furniture, lifting, checking and vacuuming. The only ones not moved were the fridge/freezer or a free standing closed in Pantry, because they were too heavy. Baited the trap with a bread Crouton, tied to the bait pad with an elastic band and with some Vegemite savoury spread on it, to make it extra tasty (Australia's favorite breakfast spread, YUM!) (aromatic too).
On getting up this morning, gingerly opened the hall door slowly (the others being locked from the inside), first thing I saw was wood shavings from under that door, where it had obviously been got at during the night and similar at the front door. Then I checked the trap, not a skerrick, not a speck of bait in it, nor a Rat either. AND it hadn't gone off. After washing it and jabbing it twice with a broom handle, it did go off. Examination of the wire trigger showed it was too long and and allowed the bait tray to hit or sit down onto the base without releasing. Trimming that a tad and it's now a hair trigger. Re-baited with another crouton and Vegemite (seeing the Rat seemed to like it) and here's hoping. I'm trying not to have to get a cage trap and then figure how to "dead it". And there doesn't seem to be any wild cat's for hire.