MTH Proto-sound Upgrade is here!!!

[Anonymous]

I just got a cataloge supliment from MTH, and included with it was a notice stateing that a P.S.2 UPGRADE is now available for original Proto sounds 1 engines, made prior to the year 2000!
After confirming this info on their website, the upgrade won't be available untill later this year, so who knows? It might be out now, or maybe later.

The price is $179.00 + instalation, or $149.00 + instalation, for members of the "MTH railroaders club".

According to the flyer, & website, not ALL of the PS2 features are on this upgrade.
The extra funtions listed are:

• Proto speed control



• Constant voltage headlight is assumed to be included since a new headlight comes with the circut board.



• Proto coupler operation in conventional, or command mode



• Syncronized chuff sounds & puffing proto smoke for engines that have "Fan driven" smoke unit



• PS2 digital sound & command control effects



• Upgradeable software design.- update engines with new features / sounds, as they are created.



• 90 day warrenty, if instalation is done by authorized service center

And much more. Go Tohttp://www.protosound2.com, for more details.

[Anonymous]

I just got a cataloge supliment from MTH, and included with it was a notice stateing that a P.S.2 UPGRADE is now available for original Proto sounds 1 engines, made prior to the year 2000!
After confirming this info on their website, the upgrade won't be available untill later this year, so who knows? It might be out now, or maybe later.

The price is $179.00 + instalation, or $149.00 + instalation, for members of the "MTH railroaders club".

According to the flyer, & website, not ALL of the PS2 features are on this upgrade.
The extra funtions listed are:

• Proto speed control



• Constant voltage headlight is assumed to be included since a new headlight comes with the circut board.



• Proto coupler operation in conventional, or command mode



• Syncronized chuff sounds & puffing proto smoke for engines that have "Fan driven" smoke unit



• PS2 digital sound & command control effects



• Upgradeable software design.- update engines with new features / sounds, as they are created.



• 90 day warrenty, if instalation is done by authorized service center

And much more. Go Tohttp://www.protosound2.com, for more details.

[Anonymous]

Well here's the article that can be found at: www.protosound2.com

This upgrade is only for the "Premire" line, so I'm kind of bummed out now...

QUOTE: M.T.H. Announces Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Program
Now operators can enjoy Proto-Sound 2.0 in older M.T.H. locomotives outfitted with M.T.H.'s original Proto-Sound sound and control system by having Proto-Sound 2.0 installed.
A brand new Proto-Sound 2.0 upgrade kit has been created for older M.T.H. Premier Line steam locomotives and can be purchased directly from the company's website or through an M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. Each kit consists of a Proto-Sound 2.0 circuit board, a coil wound Proto-Coupler, various wire harnesses, new speaker, new rechargeable batteries, new mounting brackets, and headlight and backup light bulbs. The kits are warranted for 90 days when installed by a participating M.T.H. Authorized Service Center. Each kit will require programming of a sound set prior to operation. The sound sets can be downloaded from the M.T.H. website at no charge but will require the DCS system in order to be uploaded into the upgraded locomotive.
Virtually all features found in factory equipped Proto-Sound 2.0 locomotives are included in the Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Kit. These include conventional and command mode Proto Speed Control, full Ps2 digital sound effects, DCS command features, conventional and command mode Proto-Coupler operation, conventional and command mode synchronized puffing smoke on locomotives equipped with fan driven M.T.H. smoke units, self recharging battery backup system and operating headlight control.
M.T.H. strongly encourages consumers to utilize the nationwide network of M.T.H. Authorized Service Centers for installation of the Proto-Sound 2.0 upgrade kit. As M.T.H. has long cautioned, upgrading a locomotive to Proto-Sound 2.0 requires significant rewiring of the locomotive, installation of new mounting brackets, soldering and careful wire management to prevent pinched wires that could damage the circuit boards. M.T.H. Authorized Service Centers have received factory training and are proficient in working with Proto-Sound 2.0 electronics making them your only solution for a warranty backed, quality installation.
The Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Kits are expected to retail starting around $150.00 and will be available in late 2003.
 
When the kits are available, you will be able to order online at WWW.MTH-RAILKING.COM
Or at any authorized MTH retailer

[Anonymous]

Well here's the article that can be found at: www.protosound2.com

This upgrade is only for the "Premire" line, so I'm kind of bummed out now...

QUOTE: M.T.H. Announces Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Program
Now operators can enjoy Proto-Sound 2.0 in older M.T.H. locomotives outfitted with M.T.H.'s original Proto-Sound sound and control system by having Proto-Sound 2.0 installed.
A brand new Proto-Sound 2.0 upgrade kit has been created for older M.T.H. Premier Line steam locomotives and can be purchased directly from the company's website or through an M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. Each kit consists of a Proto-Sound 2.0 circuit board, a coil wound Proto-Coupler, various wire harnesses, new speaker, new rechargeable batteries, new mounting brackets, and headlight and backup light bulbs. The kits are warranted for 90 days when installed by a participating M.T.H. Authorized Service Center. Each kit will require programming of a sound set prior to operation. The sound sets can be downloaded from the M.T.H. website at no charge but will require the DCS system in order to be uploaded into the upgraded locomotive.
Virtually all features found in factory equipped Proto-Sound 2.0 locomotives are included in the Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Kit. These include conventional and command mode Proto Speed Control, full Ps2 digital sound effects, DCS command features, conventional and command mode Proto-Coupler operation, conventional and command mode synchronized puffing smoke on locomotives equipped with fan driven M.T.H. smoke units, self recharging battery backup system and operating headlight control.
M.T.H. strongly encourages consumers to utilize the nationwide network of M.T.H. Authorized Service Centers for installation of the Proto-Sound 2.0 upgrade kit. As M.T.H. has long cautioned, upgrading a locomotive to Proto-Sound 2.0 requires significant rewiring of the locomotive, installation of new mounting brackets, soldering and careful wire management to prevent pinched wires that could damage the circuit boards. M.T.H. Authorized Service Centers have received factory training and are proficient in working with Proto-Sound 2.0 electronics making them your only solution for a warranty backed, quality installation.
The Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Kits are expected to retail starting around $150.00 and will be available in late 2003.
 
When the kits are available, you will be able to order online at WWW.MTH-RAILKING.COM
Or at any authorized MTH retailer

[Anonymous]

Why would I want to upgrade the system for that kind of money when I can buy a new engine for just about the same price? What tics me off is the "dead battery, no memory" question regarding my SW-8 and "Doodle Bug".....

[Anonymous]

Why would I want to upgrade the system for that kind of money when I can buy a new engine for just about the same price? What tics me off is the "dead battery, no memory" question regarding my SW-8 and "Doodle Bug".....

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, If the battery is 4 years old or so, then it may need to be replaced.
So if it won't hold a charge, after it's been charged for 14-16 hours, then I'de say --order a new battery.

Most of the engines that I see in the catalog have a price of around $300.00 to 700.00, for the railking line, and even more than that for the "Premire" line, in which this upgrade applies to.
In light of that, I would definatly upgrade.

Weather or not I can get a new engine for 180.00 would have no effect on my decision to upgrade another one. I like my protosound 1 engine and would love to upgrade it, if they offered it for the railking line.

I'm guessing that the bigger size of the premire line stuff is the only ones they can fit the new electronics into.

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, If the battery is 4 years old or so, then it may need to be replaced.
So if it won't hold a charge, after it's been charged for 14-16 hours, then I'de say --order a new battery.

Most of the engines that I see in the catalog have a price of around $300.00 to 700.00, for the railking line, and even more than that for the "Premire" line, in which this upgrade applies to.
In light of that, I would definatly upgrade.

Weather or not I can get a new engine for 180.00 would have no effect on my decision to upgrade another one. I like my protosound 1 engine and would love to upgrade it, if they offered it for the railking line.

I'm guessing that the bigger size of the premire line stuff is the only ones they can fit the new electronics into.

[Anonymous]

The up-grade will be available for steam and diesel engines. It doesn't matter if it's Rail King or Priemier.

The PS-2 board set is smaller than the PS-1 board sets. The limiting feature will probably be the speaker size. The PS-2 system requires a 16 ohm speaker. The kit will include the speaker but it will be 2 inchs in diameter. This is standard for most but some engines use smaller and/or thinner speakers. The other speakers may be available as a seperate part from MTH.

*** Teal

[Anonymous]

The up-grade will be available for steam and diesel engines. It doesn't matter if it's Rail King or Priemier.

The PS-2 board set is smaller than the PS-1 board sets. The limiting feature will probably be the speaker size. The PS-2 system requires a 16 ohm speaker. The kit will include the speaker but it will be 2 inchs in diameter. This is standard for most but some engines use smaller and/or thinner speakers. The other speakers may be available as a seperate part from MTH.

*** Teal