is there anything that sounds better than say a big hauler tender for sound that can be switched out easy ??? is there any sound units that you can control remotely from the control area ???? just very confusing to many units thanks to all
Well, a sound system better than the B'mann... That's a tall order.
Seriously, pretty much anything's going to fit that bill. Most all sound systems will run on regular DC. The trick is controlling them remotely. To do that, you're going to need some variety of remote control system, or at the very least do some rewiring of the locomotive. (For instance, QSI's "Magnum" sound system allows for control of the sounds using the power supply, but you've got to rewire the locomotive so that the sound/control board is between the track pick-up and the motor.)
Probably the simpler/cheaper solution would be something like Dallee Electronics' sound system. You can't control the sounds remotely, but you can trigger them through track magnets. (They play different whistle patterns each time, so not to get repetitive.) On the top end of the spectrum would be Phoenix. There are others, but those are the only two I saw advertising in the GR that's in front of me right now.
It would help us make better recommendations if we knew a bit more about your particular railroad. What are you using to control it, and how comfortable are you with doing a bit of rewiring if necessary? If I were to guess right now, I'd say you've got something akin to a single locomotive and a power supply, running on a loop of track. There's really nothing that's that "easy" that still allows for remote control of blowing the bell and whistle. If you can give us a bit more info, we can probably figure something out...
Later,
K
Tom Trigg
Hi Ks answer is the way to go I use Pheonix sound with track magnets if you are running more than 1 loco with sounds pushing buttons can get confusing. If your layout is a long run you dont tire of the sounds.
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
Tom, I have not used one, but have talked to 2 people who have, and have contacted several dealers who sell it. Apparently it somehow sends DCC signals over the rails on a DC layout (interrupts the DC?) for a brief instant. It only works with one loco on the track and the loco's DCC address (sound unit) needs to be 3 (short address)...
I'd go with a QSI on DC and your reversing switch (free) for bell and whistle, and if more sounds (all 30) are desired, pay the $45 for the Quantum Train Engineer, which also lets you set momentum, etc.
Pretty cost effective and a lot more functions than a Dallee for example and only about $40 more.
Regards, Greg
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Greg, that's why I said read up on it.
Sorry Tom... actually read it, and it appears to be able to send DCC function commands, and possibly it also does the polarity reversal sequence trick that the QSI stuff and other similar HO decoders have done for years on DC... hard to get a straight answer...
I have emails from several individuals, some swear it is DCC only, some swear it is the polarity reversal only. Have a copy of a manual for it and it says that DCC decoders have to be set to address 3.
Maybe it's magic!
Greg: Was NOT getting on your case, just a case of when someone asks a question about an obscure piece of equipment that I remember and can relocate, I throw it out for discussion both pro and con. Being an “Analog Dinosaur” I do not understand some of the stuff you “youngens” like to play with, but am willing (when I can) to help find these trinkets.
I may have to buy one of the dang things just to see what it REALLY does, ha ha!
I do have one of the QSI "Quantum Engineer" gadgets, and it controls tons of stuff on the QSI decoders while running DC to the rails. A nice inexpensive way to do it, considering it's $45. It is limited to about 2.5 to 3.5 amps.
I did also go nuts and buy the 20 amp "booster" for the Quantum engineer too. That was more to run things at shows or at other's layouts.
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