Adding an Athearn RS-3 RTR to the Middleton & South Haven Roster

July 23, 2025

     I had previously watched many Soundtraxx Blunami videos and I thought that I had seen scale speed displayed on the device running the App, a feature that LocoFiTM has. I was WRONG!

     A Google search this morning for "can Soundtraxx Blunami display scale mph speed" resulted in the AI answer containing this; "In short, while you can carefully adjust the speed characteristics of your Blunami-equipped locomotive to mimic realistic scale speeds, the Blunami app itself does not natively display the locomotive's speed in scale MPH."

     I did note that the App’s display DOES indicate the voltage.

Videos noted in the AI answer;

Operating And Programming With The Blunami App (273) - Model Railroading - Larry Pucket

Learning how to change the speed settings Blunami - Soundtraxx short

Auto vs. Manual Notching with SoundTraxx Decoders - Soundtraxx

Two other non-video links were noted;

The Blunami Quick Start Guide (which I had downloaded)

Has anybody here tried one of Soundtraxx's new Blunami decoders?
A useless Reddit post with no information.

     That raised the question; since each loco actually starts to move at a different speed step, LocoFi has an easy way to make that the bottom of the throttle display the "zero" point. How does Blunami handle the start up point speed step?

     A Google search for "how is the zero speed step set in blunami" noted this;
"When operating a Blunami decoder with the Blunami app, you can adjust the minimum speed (or 'V start') through the three-point speed table found in the speed settings menu.

Here's how to access and adjust it:
1. Open the Blunami app and select your locomotive.
2. Access the settings menu: Tap the gear icon within the app.
3. Navigate to speed settings: Open the 'Speed Settings' option in the settings menu.
4. Adjust V start: You'll find a three-point speed table with V start, V mid, and V high settings. You can adjust the V start setting to control the locomotive's speed at the lowest throttle input. You can either use a slider bar or input a specific value to make the adjustment."

July 24, 2025

     I rewatched the Soundtraxx video on YouTube; "Getting Started with Blunami: Your Wireless Model Train Upgrade!".

Notes from Video

1. Install the Blunami App on the device - I've already done that

2. Go to settings on the device and turn on Bluetooth - I forgot that the phone MADE ME enter a password to turn on now. Found the password and entered it. While the Bluetooth was on, I shut it off and turned it back on as shown in the video. I don't know why, but the whole phone is working differently now, and its a pain.

3. Tap on the MULTI-TRAIN button; and it reads all of the CVs from the decoder

4. FCN is the function button. Pressing it brings up a list of functions.

5. The function list can be moved, but he does not demonstrate HOW

6. He changes from F0-14 to 15-28 to test the lights.

7. He shows that FX3 through FX8 are his lights, but doesn't explain how he knows that they are the lights, as they are not labeled lights.

8. Next he "hits" the gear button and it opens the settings menu and then he opens General Settings>Loco Nickname and he typed in Mopac B23-7 #2289; I can use CP RS3 #8451

9. He sets his DCC address to 2289, his locomotive number. I can set mine to 8451.

10. On Disconnect: two choices; Continue or Stop - Id want it to stop. He chose Continue
Auto-Connect Option: two choices; Auto or Manual - He chose Manual
Stop All Method: Speed 0 or E-Stop - He chose E-Stop

11. He used the Back arrow at the top of the screen to return to the Settings page

12. He chose Sound Settings and then Master Volume. A screen comes up with a slider and input box to change the sound setting. He back all the way out to the Settings Menu.
IMPORTANT: From the Settings menu he went to Light Settings and chose FX3 (the main class lights). He chose Lighting
Effect and a menu opened. He selected On/off - brightness 1 from the opened menu. Next he chose Headlight Type Lamp/LED from the FX3 Settings Menu and chose LED.

13. He returned to the Light Settings menu and selected Brightness. He adjusted the brightness for Brightness 1, which he'd previously selected. He backed out to the Settings menu.

14. Next he discussed Function Remap, which is a way to combine functions.

15. Next he discussed the Manage Function Panel. This is where functions can be named. He chooses FX3 and renames it F. Class Lights. He Locked the name and then saved it.

16. There is a CV Backup and CV restore choice on the Cv Settings menu.