Question about Trainsounds

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a Steam Engine with Trainsounds?  Not Railsounds.

My 0-8-0 B&O with Trainsounds does not sound like a steam engine chugging.  Was wondering if anyone else noticed anything strange as well?

Brent

[Train Memories]

Brent,    Unless you get the 0-8-0 with the works (the original one with everything Odyssey, Railsounds, etc.) the trainsounds is NOT going to sound realistic. That's why Lionel wants a lot more for that other engine. I know because I have both those engines. The better one chuffs and sounds very good. They had to make a less expensive version of it I guess.          Reuben                      

[Anonymous]

Thanks,
Is it possible to switch out the Trainsounds for Railsounds?

[chuck]

Trainsounds does use the same base sound set but does not have the more advanced features like muti-whistle/horn.  It also uses voltage shifts and dc-spikes (aka horn/button presses) to trigger sound events.  The Trainsound cars I've heard sounded pretty nice so here may be some other issue with your car that may be affecting the sounds.  RailSounds is definitely a more elaborate and richer sounding system but the TrainsSounds are not chopped liver.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Chuck!  I've got a few engines with Railsounds and this is the first with Trainsounds.  The crew talk is really neat in this engines as it is a switcher and the engineer and yard master talk back and forth!

I dropped her off at the repair shop on Friday and they said is sounds like a blown speaker, but they weren't certain.  Haven't heard anything so maybe it is something else...

Brent

[Anonymous]

Update - LHS swapped out the speaker with a new one from Lionel... no change.  I emailed Lionel Tech Support yesterday and this is their response:

It could be a bad board, without hearing it we couldn't say.  Note that
the trainsounds may not be quite as high of quality as the Railsounds
system.  Also, the Trainsounds will need about 10 volts to get to full
power/sound.  If you think your board is defective, you can call our
customer service dept here at [phone] ext 9105 to discuss your
problem and go about getting a replacement board.

So I think I'm going to have to setup a small loop, and see if I have the problem without TMCC (LHS ran it on a DCS system).  Then if still having issues, I'll call the support line and let them listen to it... I'm off tomorrow for New Home Inspections so the afternoon is looking pretty good.

Brent

[Jumijo]

Brent,

We have a NYC starter set with Railsounds. It's not the fullblown Railsounds found in the expensive trains, and I believe it might be the same as Trainsounds. It sounds very good to me.

I also have a Trainsounds diesel. Likewise, I am pleased with the way it sounds. The crew talk is crystal clear in both locos.  

I doubt if swapping a Railsounds board for a Trainsounds one (or vice versa) is very hard to do. I'd call TAS and see what they have to say about it.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Jim,
I am going to upgrade the engine to TMCC at some point (ERR), I know I can swap out the Trainsounds for Railsounds, but want to wait to do that till I do the complete upgrade to TMCC... I will lose the wireless tether between the engine and the tender, which sucks.

Right now I just want to get the sounds working correctly... upgrades can come later...

Brent

[Nick12DMC]

Jim,
I am going to upgrade the engine to TMCC at some point (ERR), I know I can swap out the Trainsounds for Railsounds, but want to wait to do that till I do the complete upgrade to TMCC... I will lose the wireless tether between the engine and the tender, which sucks.

Right now I just want to get the sounds working correctly... upgrades can come later...

Brent

Just had a thought on this as we have a lionel Berk Jr (similar to polar express loco but with Trainsounds) 

Would a ERR TMCC upgrade work with Trainsounds? I know the kits can activate a conventional whistle. Could the ERR upgrade activate Trainsounds? Intresting if it were possible.

Nick