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Sound

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  • Member since
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  • From: Northwest Montana
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Posted by Rastun on Sunday, September 11, 2005 10:07 AM
Troy,

You have email.

Jack
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 11, 2005 2:45 AM

I have my UK supplier price back.

On the Pheonix webite in the US the
2K2 sound board is listed at.....$295
Computer interface.....................$70


In England I've been quoted
2K2 soundboard.................£295 which = $542
computer interface..............£75 which = $137

I think someone is taking the p***
Again .Any reliable US shops I can get a quote from please?
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2005 12:18 PM
Can you e-mail me off forum about the fix and the reason please [:)]
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Posted by Curmudgeon on Friday, September 9, 2005 11:55 AM
No Phoenix until the "fix" is out.
And, there is a reason the sound files are off the Sierra site, but I can't go into that.
TOC
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2005 11:19 AM
Ok
I've asked for a quote on a
1.....pheonix 2K2 soundboard
2.....pheonix computer interface

from Hobbybahn in England.

I would like to also find a good supplier in the US that will give me a price for exporting to the UK.Anyone dealt with anyone I can use for this ?
Curmudgeon,
Torby,
Can you assist me on this?
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 3:08 PM
Yes they do.I've just been through the Sierra website.Couldn't get their sound files to work though.
It appears to me that (excluding sound quality,as I've not heard them)

Sierra could be the better one for normal analogue.(also cheaper for a basic system)

Pheonix could be better for DCC (as I think they said it already has a built in decoder.This system also enables you to change sounds via a computer interface.

Both appear to come with reed switches and magnets for analogue chuff noises.

Am I making sense?
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Posted by Curmudgeon on Thursday, September 8, 2005 2:31 PM
Sierra has chuff magnets and reed included.
When I sell one, it also includes a remote volume control.
You can set volume on the Sierra board without it, hence it's "optional" status.
You cannot set volume on the 96 or 97 board without their volume control.
TOC
  • Member since
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  • From: Norton, MA
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Posted by piercedan on Thursday, September 8, 2005 1:44 PM
Sierra is cheaper, but does not include any add ons. You must get magnets, switches separately.

Phoenix although it costs more comes complete. I have only 1 of these and I really like it.

Phoenix is programmable and I have used this feature several times.

I do have 2 sierra units in my SD-45's and I am pleased with them.

  • Member since
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  • From: East Bedfont; England
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Posted by powlee on Thursday, September 8, 2005 3:18 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by troybetts

Oh dear.Phoenix do tram noises.
Now I'm like a big kid in a very expensive toy shop [^]



Troy
Do a cost exercise. Buying direct from the US could work out cheaper. I did and the package is quite light in weight and might not cost so much. Also recommend the Computer Interface so you can reprogram the soundboard for any loco (or tram).

All the best
Ian P

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 3:08 PM
Oh dear.Phoenix do tram noises.
Now I'm like a big kid in a very expensive toy shop [^]

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  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Posted by cacole on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 2:33 PM
The SoundTraxx Sierra is the other system, and is a little cheaper than the Phoenix. Both use a rechargeable NiCad battery pack to maintain the sounds when the engine is stopped, and recharge when the engine is running.

Both systems are for either DC or DCC operation, and do not have DCC decoders in them. Except for background noises, either one will require external triggering for the bell and whistle sound effects. They can be set to chuff according to variances in the track voltage, through reed switches and magnets, or a locomotive's built-in axle wipers if such exist. When used on a DCC layout, a decoder can be used to trigger the bell and whistle.

Phoenix has, I believe, 8-channel sound and more sounds than the Sierra. Additionally, the Phoenix can have custom sounds programmed into it using a computer interface.

I don't know about Sierra dealers other than by ordering directly from SoundTraxx. You can hear sound samples from both systems by going to their respective web sites.

http://www.phoenixsound.com
http://www.soundtraxx.com
.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 12:47 PM
It makes sense now Dave.
Kim
Luckily this is not for me so money is no object.However,after telling him that it can be done,I want to do it for him.
Thanks all.
I'll report on my progress on this one.Might help someone else.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 6:21 AM
Hi Troy,
Dear items these sound units. Phoenix give a list of UK stockists on their web, one near me on Carnforth Station - watch that train Celia! Sandy @ Scottish Garden Railways is also a stockist & a gent to deal with. Start here: www.phoenixsound.com
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
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Posted by Curmudgeon on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 12:39 AM
Well, he had a post on how his diesels revved up just fine.
He deleted it, so I deleted mine.
Hence my question, since we were talking "chuffs"....
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 12:33 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Curmudgeon

Yeah, Benny, but does your diesel CHUFF?


I'm afraid you've lost me with that.?

Thanks Kevin and folkestonekeith.I'll look into it.
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Posted by kstrong on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 4:07 PM
It is possible to put the magnets on the back side of one of the drivers to get 4 chuffs per revolution, but you must remove the pick-ups from that particular wheel. For many LGB locos with skates, this isn't going to be that big of a deal to lose one point of contact. You can use the small (about 3/16" round x 1/32" thick) rare-earth magnets to activate a magnetic reed switch attached on the base of the motor block just beside the wheel.

And yes, the trailing truck would work just as well. If you put three magnets on the rear trailing truck of an LGB 0-6-2, you'll get pretty close to 4 chuffs per revolution of the drivers. Note that you'll have to remove the pick-ups from those, though, as they also pick up power for the loco. (Again, only on the side which has the magnets.)

Also, when installing the magnets, make sure they don't extend any further than the wheel treads, so they don't get caught in the flangeways of switches, etc.

Later,

K
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  • From: Folkestone, UK
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Posted by folkestonekeith on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 4:00 PM
Troy,

Check out www.hobbybahn.cjb.net who have a link to Pheonix sound where you can listed to all the various sounds produced by Pheonix

Hobbybahn offer a fitting service - they have added Pheonix sound systems to my Bachmann Heisler and Shay as well as a couple of USA Trains diesels.........

Keith
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 2:50 PM
Thanks for the reply Dave.Any sites I can look at ?
I think the sychronised sound is going to be a must for him.
I can do this ok with DCC but understand that axle triggers must be used for analogue.
He uses motorised tenders with his 040's.This could be a starting point.
When you say you put the magnets on the tender axles,could this be applied to the trailing wheels of a 062 perhaps?
I need to present him with a working sound unit that sounds realistic (in time with the cylinders) for his smaller engines.
It's very difficult in England sometimes.No-one seems to understand what you want!!!.
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Posted by Curmudgeon on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 2:03 PM
Battery keeps the sound going.
They both have "auto chuff", both can be triggered.
You can put the triggers in the motor blocks, not recommended unless you've done it before.
I put 2 magnets on a tender axle, gives about 3-1/2 chuffs per driver rotation, better than the stock LGB 2, so if he's used to 2 he wouldn't care about 3-1/2.
TOC
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Sound
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 1:01 PM
I know.
It's probably all been done before.
I'm on a mission from my Dad.
He runs normal analogue,using LGB 10 amp and 5 amp transformers.
I've read about the Phoenix and (oops I can't remember the other one)systems and mentioned them.(is it Sierra)
Questions,
Do they 'chuff' in time with the wheels
How easy to import (or any UK suppliers)
Not interested in battery systems (although I can probably convert them)
Do they use capacitors to 'keep'the sound when stopped.
Any other info,please let me know.
Thankyou.

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