Hello All
I'm researching my locomotive buying options and I'm thinking of stimuilating the economy by investing in a USA Trains J-1 Hudson with Phoenix sound. This would be my first G scale sound equipped engine. I am quite familiar with DCC sound in HO having installed and run many sound HO locomotives but I am quite dismayed that there is so very little information out there for the Hudson.
No where can I find out which model of the Phoenix sound unit is installed. On DC HO locos you can flip the reverse button to blow the whistle, etc. How are the sounds activated on this Hudson? Can you use one of those "DC Master" boxes like Broadway Limited has for DC Sound? I can't find any reviews that evaluate the sound system other than to say it is installed (in some Hudsons)
I use an Aristocraft Train Engineer to power the DC on the garden railroad, DCC on the HO in the basement.
If anyone out there owns one and can give me a little insight before I plunk down two-grand for a locomotive I would appreciate it quite a bit and any other experiences you might have with this particular locomotive.
Thanks!
ED
You might come over to MLS, Nick S. had several hudsons.
Depending on what phoenix system is installed, you could use track magnets. The Phoenix 2k2 and P5 are both controllable by DCC... Other than that, it makes sounds based on voltage.
No, it does not work like the QSI systems in the BLI locos.
There are some gadgets that "claim" to be able to control DCC sound boards from DC... the MRC "black box" is the only one I have heard of, but I have not seen it work.
In my opinion, I'd buy the loco, and then see if the "black box" works... if not, then you could go QSI and the Quantum Engineer.
The locomotive is the best one that USAT makes, bar none, the only problems people have had is with the wiring of the smoke unit, many of the factory installations grounded the body of the unit and it damages it when first turned on.
This is the only thing I have ever heard negative (other than it is expensive)
Regards,Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Thanks, Greg!
I'll let you know about the Phoenix Sound in a month or so when I get the engine. Again, I'm surprised that there isn't more info about this locomotive out there. Even the USAT site leaves much to be desired and the LHS would never stock such a costly item so first-hand viewing is not an option.
Thanks again,
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