New to DCC and have a lot of engines to add decoders to. Planning to start with those engines that are easiest to convert by replacing the light board. I have two Atlas SD35's that I plan to use as my first conversions. I want to use MRC 1812 sound decoders for these. My question involves those locomotives that have been issued at various times. An example is the Kato F7. Do all issues of this model and other similiar ones use the same drop in decoder or is there more work involved on the earlier issues [like isolating the motor]?
There were several versions of the Kato F7's made so it will depend on which ones you may have. The later ones will use a drop in type decoder. Some earlier ones will need to be machined to make a place for a decoder and then hard wired. One thing to keep in mind, where will you find room for a speaker?
Okay, my original post got edited somehow. I wanted to ask two questions. The one I omitted was about the sound decoders. Different people have told me different things about the sound. Some say it sounds tinny others say the volume is too low to hear except at very close range and when turned up doesnot sound good. So I am asking are these sound decoders worth the extra bucks or should I go with a regular decoder?
For me, I really like sound in my N-scale engines if it has reasonable volume and quality. Whether it is worth the extra cost depends on your preference. I suggest trying one or two before investing more funds. I have had excellent results using MRC series 1900 sound decoders in F and PA/PB units (Kato engines). On the other hand, I installed one in a Atlas GP9 engines and I can hardly hear it. I think the difference is the lack of room in the narrower GP9 shell for the speaker.
Another solution is to do a DCC sound car. It can be done with many kinds of cars. I have seen box cars, reefers, an so on. They even have a steam helper car with sound for steam engines that just can't pull that long train. I have watched video on youtube that shows different versions and they sounded pretty good to me. Just an idea.
IMO sound is better than no sound. I have a number of locos with MRC drop in sound decoders. In recent times, two have failed (about 3 years old). I have switched these over to TCS decoders (one was an Atlas B23-7 in which the MRC sound decoder was very good, and the other a Kato P42, in which I was never totally happy with the quality of the sound). However, I do use MRC stationary HO sound decoders, one placed in each corner of my layout and consisted together, but each with a different loco sound). May not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like the noise. Stationary sound decoders are half the price of the drop in ones, and the HO gives a richer sound. The downside of course is that the sound does not travel around the layout.
When speaking of MRC sound decoders, there is a difference between the new versions compared to the older versions, correct? And how can a Joe shmoe know the difference before ordering? Sent from my Commando
I've been researching this topic for a week now trying to decide if I want to get back into this hobby in HO or N-Scale. I will end up with a layout in each with the N-Scale one being portable for shows. I have been trying to figure out if the superior sound in the HO models is enough to make it my main focus scale wise or stich with N-Scale as my primary scale to mess with. I have collected stuff from both and my brother and his son are in the planning stage of a HO layout now. I can say for sure, whichever way I end up going WILL include sound regardless of it's limitations. It just adds so much to the realism modelers try to get from their creations.
So is the 19xx series that much better than the 16xx series? I thought I had read somewhere, but cannot find it now. I work almost only with steam.. Sent from my Commando
The one biggest and best thing you can do for ANY sound in ANY scale is to provide an airtight (I do mean "airtight") speaker enclosure for your speaker and proper venting to the outside world (outside of the inside of your engine chassis/shell. Some sound is "better" than others because of the files loaded into your sound decoder, and/or the adjustment capability of your particular brand of decoder, such as Soundtraxx's equalizer that allows you to fiddle with various sound frequencies. John Columbo has really proven to me and many others in his regular posts about sound installations and videos of his sound-equipped engines that you can put quality sound into just about any N-scale engine nowadays. He and I through our own efforts have come to many similar conclusions about installs, decoders and speaker types. I do NOT have a problem with sound volume in any of my sound installs, and if you do, the first thing to look at is your speaker mounting protocol. You MUST provide an airtight enclosure for one side of the speaker, or the sound waves will cancel each other out, and you can build a very effective speaker enclosure out of .020" Styrene, or perhaps there's one that's commercially available for your size and type of speaker. My Soundtraxx Tsunami equipped Big Boys and Challengers have excellent sound as well as operational function. My Kato E's sound pretty good with their cheap Digitrax sound decoders, and other than drilling a precise hole for the 10mm speaker and providing a slot for the capacitor, the installation is a virtual drop-in. The same goes for my Kato F's, which use the same decoder and speaker as the E's. The nice thing about some sound decoders (particularly ESU Loksound and Digitrax) is that you can also program them using the proper hardware and software with your own sound files or files someone else has recorded. Lack of programing capability is the one thing I don't like about Soundtraxx TSU decoders. One of the things I don't do with both my E's and F's is put a sound decoder in both A and B units. I only put sound in the A's as the B's never run by themselves, but the A's do...so there's always an engine or two in any E or F lashup equipped with sound. I also equip the non-sound engines with decoders from the same company so adjusting the running characteristics is consistent. I take portions of my modular/sectional layout to two or three shows a year, and it's important for me to have sound loud enough to be heard above the crowd. I end up turning down the volume at home, and every sound-equipped engine I have is loud enough to be well-heard at the shows. Here's a photo of E's on my workbench getting Digitrax sound decoders installed: I am the local N-scale repairman for my LHS. Every DCC problem I've had come my way for the last three months has been MRC sound decoders. I'm not sure if they're the new ones or old ones, but they are not reliable in my experience. I'd stay away from them. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
Thanks Robert! I always worry when I see you post that I may need a coffee and blanket, for I might be reading awhile. Lol!! However you always have good information. I have only toyed with two sound decoders. Loksound and digitrax. (Need to make the enclosure for the digitrax yet.) I want to try wowsound and soundtrax at some point. Gotta make some extra dough first! Anyway thanks for the info. It helps to know that you actually do work for a hobby shop. Even if its just to do repairs. Sent from my Commando
If you work only with steam, there are no drop-in sound decoders. That said, there a few better choices. I am in N Scale and my first choice and in the same price ball park as MRC and far superior is ECU LokSound Micro Select. Ecu also makes a LokSound Select for HO. I'm not a big fan but many prefer the Tsunami that sells for quite a bit more without (IMO) any benefit. Another choice is made by Zimo, they make an excellent product but the sound files are more directed to European locos. Another choice for HO guys is QSI. I have their decoder in my 2-8-8-2 Y3 Mallet and it sounds great. All of these decoders are very good but non of them are any good without a speaker with an efficient enclosure. Do a search for sound installs on the TrainBoard and you will find some very valuable information. Hope this helps. Harold
Hahaha! I am a bit long-winded, but I type really fast and I attempt to cover all the bases as rarely there's a one-sentence solution. I don't work for my LHS, they just contact me when they've got an N-scale repair to do. We've got a trade agreement worked out so I do repairs for DCC stuff. It's a good arrangement for both of us! Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
