Hello, I've got a Tsunami Tsu AT-1000 Fairbanks Morse sound decoder comming in the mail shortly and I was wondering if theres anyone out there that has done this install and what do you think of the sound? I really like the look of the Proto 1K C-liner, Ive got a Milwaukee Road version that Im going to pull some Walthers Hiawatha passenger cars with as a sort of " what if " excursion train.
Got the decoder today. Read over the manual, looks pretty straight forward. I'll let you know how the install goes.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Well, I got the decoder installed. It was'nt too bad for my first total board replacement/speaker install. The tough part was installing the speaker. Looking at the loco, I thought one of the large, round speakers that come with MRC sound bugs woud be OK. Well, I had to cut a couple of pieces out of the frame to make the speaker fit. I thought I had it after the first cut, so I glued the speaker down to the frame. After looking at the loco on the track, I realized that the back was a little higher than it should be. When I went to remove the shell, DISASTER. When I layed the loco on its side, glue had pooled at the low side, glueing the shell to the frame!! I had to Carefully, slowly cut the shell away with a razorblade. Unbelievably I did it without damaging the shell! Anyway, I realized the speaker was'nt completely level, so I did somemore cutting and all was good. The FM Tsunami sounds pretty good, but I think that it is for a switcher not a C-Liner even though the packaging says its for a C-Liner.
I did use a baffle. Im not knowledgeable enough to use the equalizer to match the speaker to the decoder and yes, you are right, I should have used that speaker, it would have made installation ALOT easier. Mistakes are learning experiences.
Go to the Soundtraxx site and download the user guide and manual. They're pretty large.
As David said you have to set the equalizer cv to match your speaker size. Also did you install 1 or 2 speakers? And did you position the speaker(S) so that the sound can escape the shell?
Springfield PA
David B and Hamilton Blue,
Can you give us some pointers on "tweaking" the equalizer? For some of us this looks like a formidable task.
Thanks for your inputs, Chris
Hamltnblue Go to the Soundtraxx site and download the user guide and manual. They're pretty large. As David said you have to set the equalizer cv to match your speaker size. Also did you install 1 or 2 speakers? And did you position the speaker(S) so that the sound can escape the shell?
I've been to the Soundtraxx site and looked at the manual, yes it is large, I believe 91 pages. Is there just a number you program for a particular size of speaker? I will go back to the manual and look closer, I do remember seeing equalizer cv's.
I installed one speaker facing down above the rear trucks. There are no openings in the Proto 1000 C-LIners shell, so the only open area is the one around the trucks. Thanks
p.s. Im in the process of adding all the grab irons and rungs , should be done tonight.
Ok, I went back to the manual and if Im correct, you set CV153 to 1 for a tiny speaker (less than 1") to 2 for a small speaker(1"-2"),and to 3 for a medium speaker (2"-4"). These are presets for the various size speakers, but you can go into each and every CV of the equilizer and set them all to exactly what you want. Im not so much a train nerd to do the individual cv's, I'll use the preset (#2 in my case) Thanks Hamltnblue.
MotleyLet's see some pics too. I'm curious as to how the passenger consist will look.
This is the only forum Im on that requires a host for pictures, so I wont be posting any pictures. I still dont have all the cars I want yet, so maybe when I have everything I'll try to post some pics.
Greetings;
Have followed this thread and wish to thank all for the "clues". I have the same Tsunami unit coming in the mail and going into the same Locomotive (CPR markings though). I haven't bought the speaker(s) yet so the information about size is welcomed. I will also be installing a LED for the headlight. This will likely be a Fall or Winter project so any other ideas/suggestions etc. will be welcomed.
Thank you all again...
John W. Boake
Creemore, Ontario, Canada
Thanks "Santa Fe all the way"
I have done a little investigating inside the shell of the c-liner and believe that one of Tony's TDS Speakers (medium oval - 16mmx34mm ± and enclosure will fit nicely in the space over the rear trucks. I guess we will see. Thanks again for your input
John
I just got finished doing an install in a C Liner . I used an old Soundtraxx DSD-101LC and a 1 inch speaker .I stripped the loco down to the frame .I measured from behind the motor and cut a half inch out of it. I put the loco back togeather and started the install. Because its the old style Decoder I had to stay with a regular light bulb ad these dont like LEDs. My enclosure was built from 040 Evergreen styrene.It is the width of the frame ,Half an inch high and almost 2 inches long. The sounds coming from it are loud and clear. In fact I had to turn it down as it was to loud. I have 2 intermountain F units to do next and will do the same with them. As I do mostly steam installs I use the tender as my enclosure . With diesel you need a good size enclosure. But as room is not there its hard to do so . The EQ on a soundtraxx is not hard to set up . I use Decoder Pro to do mine but before that I used to use a pen and paper to do it . That way you can keep track of what you have done. Goodluck . MartyG
Below is what I did with the 16mm X 35mm speaker for the Spectrum 44 ton and 70 ton. The photos are the 44 ton but the speaker for the 70 ton is installed the same way. I had to use a sanding block to narrow the plastic frame on the speaker a little to fit into the shells.
Below is the 16mm X 35mm in a Stewart VO-1000. The shell is fairly tight fitting.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.