Hi everyone. A few years back, I bought one of the first Athearn Challengers (Clinchfield 670). The original MRC decoder board in these was a complete disaster, and the sound was terrible. I converted it to a heavy-steam Tsunami not long after I bought it, putting in a new 16 x 30mm speaker in a custom enclosure. While the sound was great, the motor control of the TSU wasn't. The Challenger did all sorts of weird things while under the TSU's control - it would speed up or slow down without warning, and I never could synchronize the chuffs to the driver rotation. I pulled it out at N-Trak shows for the kids and the public, but at home I kept it in its box because the lack of driver sync and overall weirdness was too much to take on my home layout. Last night I decided to try an ESU LokSound in place of the Tsunami. This was my first use of a LokSound in a steam loco, and since they don't have a Challenger-specific file, I used the file for the Big Boy instead. Overall, I'm pleased with the results. I can't find a whistle that I really, really like; the UP "steamboat" included in the file just doesn't do it for me, and since this is a Clinchfield unit anyway, I just picked a whistle that I thought was the best of the bunch. But the LokSound's motor control is rock-solid as you will see from the video linked below - the thing will literally creep along at tie-walking speed, and the chuffs are pretty much right-on even at this "barely moving" speed. I need to adjust some sound volumes (I think the open-cocks hiss is a bit too loud), but I thought some of you might like to see what ESU's steam files are capable of. So here's a link to a short video of the result: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0bjmQ7cYqw John C.
Hello John, i can't open your video, it's 0:00 long?, but absolutely agree with your ESU assessment...the motor control and "synchroability" are fabulous. I also like the "swoosh" sound at starting.... something the TSU is missing. Now we all need to buy a bunch of Loksound Micros so that the price comes down (or will it?) Still at about $84 for both excellent sound and control... The best combination on the market right now, IMHO. Best, Otto K.
Hmmmm. It plays for me on my computer, but there seems to be some kind of glitch going on with YouTube. I'll have to check it again in the morning -the new version of iMovie may have messed something up. John
Sounds great John. You're speaker box building posts and other sounds installs have been a great help as I dive deeper into dcc and sound - thanks! The youtube video plays for me but I notice it doesn't appear in your channel. John W.
Looks really good. I have an ESU sound decoder in my IM AC12 Cab forward and I really like the way it moves. I have finally gotten up the nerve to put sound decoders in my brass steamers and I know they will be ESU units. I really did like seeing the smooth creep. Just was wondering how it sounded and the chuffs matched at mainline speed?
I think the chuffs at track speed are a bit slow. I think this can be altered, however, by changing the sound repetition rate; there's a CV for that, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm less concerned about chuff matching at track speed since it's hard to tell if the chuffs are matching driver rotation once you get above about 30 smph. The real Challenger is mostly a roar at track speed, without any real distinct chuffing. Here's an embed of the video; whatever glitch there was last night seems to have resolved itself: [video=youtube_share;R0bjmQ7cYqw]http://youtu.be/R0bjmQ7cYqw[/video]
John, I too purchased the Challenger with the MRC decoder. When it died I took the easy way out and used the drop in TSU. I was not impressed. It will run for a little while, stop, blink the tail light until it is turned off and allowed to cool. I have had similar problems with the 750 even after installing heat sinks. I started using the ESU when the Select Micro first came out and haven't looked back. I did install a Zimo in the Kato C62. It was small enough I could use their sound decoder and the Cube speaker without major mods to the original tender. The sound and motor control is equal to ESU if not better but the sound files are mostly European and the sound programming requires a DCC system that will access CV's greater than 300. Just a thought for the future. Harold
John, another piece of excellent work. Your right, the whistle just doesn't seem to fit the loco, but then what do I know as I never heard one in person. Whatever speaker you used sure sounds off great. Nice job. I hope my Select Micro sets off my AC-9 as well. Carl
