I am new to the hobby and need to know how I can identify if a loco has DCC and/or sound installed. I realized that some of them come from the factory with them installed, but some that you find in the secondary market have had them added by previous owners. I am looking at a discontinued Athearn Genesis F3A-F3B Santa Fe set, #G2607.
My internet research has come up empty with regards to whether or not it came from the factory with DCC & sound, so what features will clue me in?
Usually the cost is considerably more for DCC/sound over a non DCC loco. You can bet the farm if someone had spent the time and money on a sound decoder and speaker they will advertise as having it. A sound equipped loco is usually $100+ more expensive than a quiet loco.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
289Cobra I am new to the hobby and need to know how I can identify if a loco has DCC and/or sound installed. I realized that some of them come from the factory with them installed, but some that you find in the secondary market have had them added by previous owners. I am looking at a discontinued Athearn Genesis F3A-F3B Santa Fe set, #G2607. My internet research has come up empty with regards to whether or not it came from the factory with DCC & sound, so what features will clue me in?
It says so on the box? Or if you are buying from a vendor, or Ebay seller, they will hopefully be truthful about what they are selling. Most diesels these days will be labled either DCC ready, which means they have a plug but no DCC decoder installed, and in a few cases have a decoder, like some of Atlas's Master series, or some have DCC and Sound both.
Since you mentioned Athearn Gensis F3's, for years now Athearn has been offering most (if not all) of their F units in both non-DCC/Sound and DCC/Sound equipped versions.
Also be aware that many modelers have found the sound units that Athearn used in most of their Genesis F units to be of low quality (they used MRC sound until recently)
A sound equipped loco is usually $100+ more expensive than a quiet loco. Pete
Not necessarily. My "street price" Atlas GP40-2 was $99 for the non-sound version and I paid $156 for the sound version. I bought 3 of the non-sound and 2 of the sound version. So sound equipped isn't necessarily $100+ over non-sound. Gensis F3's currently MSRP for $169 (no sound) and $259 (sound). Thats $90 more and when you get a good discount price, the difference is less more like $70.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
289CobraI am new to the hobby and need to know how I can identify if a loco has DCC and/or sound installed. I realized that some of them come from the factory with them installed, but some that you find in the secondary market have had them added by previous owners. I am looking at a discontinued Athearn Genesis F3A-F3B Santa Fe set, #G2607. My internet research has come up empty with regards to whether or not it came from the factory with DCC & sound, so what features will clue me in?
289Cobra,
I went to the Athearn web site and did a search for the stock number you posted. What I found (here) indicates that the set you are asking about has a 2001 announcement date. It looks like the unit is DCC ready not DCC equiped. I had a look at the manual that is linked to the page indicated above and it includes instructions for replacing the circuit board to install a decoder.
I hope this helps.
Vernon
Vernon in Central Indiana