I thought for sure I wouldn't want sound decoders on the layout. Then after installing a number of non-sound decoders I saw a post about the inexpensive XL sound decoders. OK for $40 I'll give one a try. Most of their decoders are 'drop-in' decoders but they do have one that you can hard wire in. Since this older Kato U30C won't take a 'drop-in' decoder I went with the hard wired decoder. It wasn't an easy install but I learned a lot and I could do it quicker if I had to do it again. Do I like having sound in a loco?. It has become more addictive than I thought it would. Enough so that I now have two ESU sound decoders that I'll install. I wouldn't go with another XL at this point. One reason I wouldn't install another is I'm having some erratic behavior when the loco is running and it will stop at times when I toggle one of the sound functions. Not sure yet if it is a decoder problem or track power problem. The second reason being that the sound files available with it are somewhat generic in nature. The one in the U30 isn't from a U30. With ESU they have a ton on actual sound files. I'm kind of addicted also to U.P.'s U50's which are a dual diesel loco. Since you can preview the ESU sound files on line I listened to one of the U50 sound files and got hooked by hearing one diesel start up and then the second start up. I haven't installed it yet or the other one (not sure what I'm going to put it in at this point). I'll see if I get tired of the whole thing or not but it has caught my attention which I never thought it would a couple years ago when I first became aware of sound in an N scale loco. Hopefully the following pictures will be enough explanation but if not email me. . . When I can I like using the jewelry's saw to cut out parts of the frame. I do like my other saw I have better than the one above that you can find more about ( HERE ). You can tension the blade tighter on the other one since in addition to the adjustment on the top of the frame there is one also at the front of the saw past the end of the blade. . . . I did most of the other milling that you will see except for where the speaker sits with flex shaft Dremel type tool. More about it ( HERE ) and I like it a lot. If you do this be gentle on filing the sides down. You just need a tiny bit and don't want to get into the traces on the board. . ........... end part 1 and link to decoder installs on my site ( HERE ). Sumner
Continued......... . . . . . . . In the YouTube link ( HERE ) it shows the XL sound decoder being tested but in the video the sound is coming from the larger speaker in the tester and not the speaker as shown above under the frame. I should of tested it that way and later did test it that way as shown above. If you are interested in building the decoder tester go ( HERE ). ............ Part 3 next, Sumner
............... continued Part 3 Link to using the flex drive Dremel tool ( HERE ). . . . . . . . ........... Part 4 and end of install next. Sumner
I never put up Part 4 of this decoder install, which is also the conclusion of the install, so here it is if anyone is still looking. For more on where to get and how to use the flexible PCB strips go ( HERE ). . . . . . More about the decoder tester, how to build it and the printer files ( HERE ) and a video of it in use ( HERE ). Click ( HERE ) for a YouTube of the engine on the test track. What is my final verdict on the XL sound decoder? Probably worth $40 ( I heard at the time of writing this they have gone up) considering alternatives are probably at least twice that. But............ can you fit it in the N scale loco you have? Maybe not without a lot of work. Sound options are limited. Operational I'm having some problems with the loco stopping and starting at times when I for instance blow the horn. Not sure at this point if it is a decoder problem on a track current problem. Would I buy another one? Probably not. I'll probably stick with an ESU decoder in the future since with it, in most cases, you can find a sound file that is a match to the loco you are putting the decoder in. The XL has some rather generic sound files. I'm sure an ESU sound decoder has far better motor, lighting and sound controls. Since doing this install I've bought 2 ESU decoders to install and will write those up when I do them. I'm not interested in sound for all my engines so will try and do the best I can for the ones I do install sound in. You can find the install on my site along with others ( HERE ). Sumner
