Sound Decoders- for DCC

[tomytuna]

Hi!..need to get some feedback. I run my setup on MRC DCC and love it. Bought a broadway ltd steam engine with sound decoder and loved that also. So!, before converting any more diesels to dcc with decoders, have been waiting for good decoder with sound for diesel. MRC was supposed to come out with one in March 2003 ,but have not seen anything more. Question is, do any of you out there have experience with installing sound decouder in engines?, and to what success?...any help would be appreceiated...thanks Tom[:)]

[tomwatkins]

Soundtraxx has an number of different sound decoders available for diesels, as well as a good many different sizes and shapes of speakers. Difficulty of installation varies depending on the type of locomotive more than any other variable. I've done two sets of diesels- A Stewart FT A&B set, and a pair of P2K GP-7's, as well as a number of steamers. I'm very happy with all of them. Check out soundtraxx's web site www.soundtraxx.com. Loy's Toys is another good site for DCC and sound information. He is a soundtraxx dealer and a good supplier to deal with.
Good luck,
Tom Watkins

[vw-bug]

I put a Soundtraxx in SD--70M. It sounds awesome, and so much like the really thing that goes flying on the main line north of where I live. Th e biggest dificulty I have is with the lights, the ditch lights in particular. I run ditch lights and on a normal decoder they alternate. But I have found you can't use 12volt lamps b/c they slowly melt any near by plastic. I have learned to put a resistor in line so I can use 1.5volt lamps but I still have several of them that burn out after 4 or 5 weeks. I'm trying to Find a good LED that could replace a normal bulb but is small enough for ditch lights in HO scale.

[tomytuna]

thank your both..put in a MRC decoder today...sounds ok..not great..also went to Loy'stoy sight..got some help.....Tom

[Anonymous]

I put an MRC AD370 Sound Decoder into a new Proto 2000 E6. It "sort of" ran on default address 03, using a Digitrax club system, but the functions were almost impossible to work from the hand controller, and the speed control was erratic. Yes, the wheels and track were clean. The sound was way too loud and the quality was only so-so, but I would have gladly lived with with these shortcomings because of the reasonable price. The big problem was that the Digitrax system could not program the engine number (1003) into the decoder , so I tried a member's NCE system. Indications were that the decoder "took" the engine number, but right after that, nothing would work. Now I have a dead decoder. The instruction sheet that came with the decoder was not helpful, so I ripped out the AD370, put the factory plug back in, and everything came back to DC normal, including the working Mars light. Two other club members have had the same programming problem with their non-sound MRC decoders as I did. The Digitrax box is able to program every other manufacturer's decoder. What's going on here? Did MRC make their decoders unable to be programmed from anything other than an MRC controller? I will NOT buy a Prodigy controller just to program MRC decoders. Is there an answer to the "dead decoder" problem? Will I eventually be able to program MRC decoders from other makers' control boxes? Tune in next week . . . .

HELP!!

Did I miss something? Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I am also having the same problem with the MRC non-sound decoders. They appear to be sucking in the information, but when you go to run them, they are dead. I did manage to get it to take some information, and then the engine took off and I had no control. I was also getting some errors such as "dn a" and "dn d" The decoder I have is an MRC 14 step. I guess the Digitrax machine can not address the MRC's. I'm with you on not purchasing a MRC Prodigy.

Bob

[Anonymous]

I don't have any MRC decoders so I can't tell from experience what the problem is. My guess is they may draw more current than the programming track can supply. Tony's Train Exchange sells a programming track booster he claims will solve these types of problems, if that's what is causing the problem.

Regards;

Ken

[tomwatkins]

Just a suggestion, but if you are having problems programing MRC decoders with a Digitrax system, you might call Digitrax to see if they can shed some light on the situation. I've had to call them a couple of times and they were very helpful. Their tech support is excellent.
Hope this helps,
Tom Watkins

[cacole]

My experience with MRC decoders is that they will take only 2-digit addressing. Trying to program a 4-digit address causes all kinds of weird problems with them, from no address change at all to total destruction of the address that was in them and their refusal to run again. Try reprogramming back to an address of 100 or less and see if you can't get the MRC decoder working again.

[johncolley]

Question for tomwatkins: I have 3 pair of Stewart FT's 2 pr freight and 1 pr pass. so I am planning different horns but same engine sounds. My units are all powered. What soundtraxx decoders and what speaker(s) did you use? any problems fitting them in that I shaould be aware of? Did you do the install? johncolley tholcapn