hello
I have bought a second hand Athearn Union Pacific DDA40X but has no sound ,
does anyone know were I can find 2 sound decoders with speakers to fit and
which are the better one`s to go for ?
cheers
Dan
I'd use two LokSound Select decoders with the EMD SD40 sound file, since the DDA40X was basically two SD40s on one frame.
The select comes with a speaker and baffle and sells for around $85 each through Litchfield Station, Ulrich Hobby Shop, and others.
Does this Athearn DDA40X have two motors? I have an older one decorated for Southern Pacific, which I don't think they ever owned, and it has two motors. Mine has that notorious Athearn growl which would drown out a sound decoder.
YOu have to be careful doing this as you have 2 motors--they can suck up over 1 amp--at least my new Bachmann did. Soundtraxx makes the OEM version of this and you can buy it from Athearn or maybe even Soundtraxx directly.
Richard
I have the new version and it has 2 motors
hi Richard
ok thank you ill have a look
Train Modeler YOu have to be careful doing this as you have 2 motors--they can suck up over 1 amp--at least my new Bachmann did. Richard
YOu have to be careful doing this as you have 2 motors--they can suck up over 1 amp--at least my new Bachmann did.
cacole Train Modeler YOu have to be careful doing this as you have 2 motors--they can suck up over 1 amp--at least my new Bachmann did. Richard That's another reason I recommended TWO separate LokSound Select decoders -- one for each motor. The LokSound also has superior motor control and better sound than Tsunami. Using only one Tsunami, you stand the risk of burning up a $100+ decoder from overload.
I have one Tsunami in my DD40X but go through the OEM motor control board--done so for about 2 years now with no problem. Some may not know how to do that, so I recommend to most to use the OEM board made for the application to make it easy.
You keep saying that the Loksound is much better on motor control and maybe that's true, I doubt it's better than TCS and my Tsunami's can run as well as TCS--I can't say for sure in every case because I haven't tested it. My DD40 can creep at 1 SMPH--I'm not sure how slow we have to go. It also has F11 braking which adds a LOT of realism to running trains. I don't think Loksound has anything similar so overall the Soundtraxx probably has more realistic train op capability if you get it tuned properly. I admit that you have to tune those Tsunamis many times and it can take a while even with JMRI.
I may buy a Loksound now since I met them at the National Train Show and they asked me to give them a chance. I think Soundtraxx prime mover sounds are better in most cases. The new GEVOs, I'm not as certain about. The Loksound at the show sounded pretty good, but again sound is VERY dependant on the speakers and I normally use 2 in every installation and haven't found any OEM sound install to be very good. The new/recent Loksound OEM locos I've seen have had better speaker installs. If I get a chance I will do a thorough test using one loco with stop watches, pulling power at various SMPH levels, MUing, etc. Decoders use PID algorithms to smooth out operation but can end up causing "bucking", etc.
There are ways to simulate dual prime movers with both Tsunami and Loksound decoders. For Tsunami settings, go to the middle of this page ....
http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm
For Loksound decoders, you would need to use their 4.0 decoder and have access to a Loksound programmer. You would install the same engine file in two separate sound slots giving it two discreet engines. You can then set one engine to run ever so slightly faster (or slower) than the other which would cause them to run in and out of sync just like the proto-type.
As for the motor control of Loksound - I doubt you would ever get a Tsunami to run as smooth as a Loksound. I've spent hours trying to speed match a Tsunami to a Loksound. I've gotten them to run perfectly, side by side on every speed step, but the transition between speed steps is what you can't match. While you can't really notice it when running solo, the Tsunami lurches ahead of the Loksound by about half an inch with each speed step increase - I just couldn't get it to match perfectly.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark R. There are ways to simulate dual prime movers with both Tsunami and Loksound decoders. For Tsunami settings, go to the middle of this page .... As for the motor control of Loksound - I doubt you would ever get a Tsunami to run as smooth as a Loksound. I've spent hours trying to speed match a Tsunami to a Loksound. I've gotten them to run perfectly, side by side on every speed step, but the transition between speed steps is what you can't match. While you can't really notice it when running solo, the Tsunami lurches ahead of the Loksound by about half an inch with each speed step increase - I just couldn't get it to match perfectly. Mark.
Did you adjust CV209, CV210, CV3, CV4--there are others, but since I use JMRI, I can't recall them all?
Does Loksound have F11 or any type of function brakes?
hi
thank you for all your info on the decoders, as you all have such a wide view on the different decoders could I have some idea's of which pair of decoders is worth purchasing for the DDA40X out of
Loksound , TCS, Tsunami , MRC,
I would be looking at a replacement for the light board ,
but would consider a plug in,
thank you to you all for your help
For sound, LokSound or Tsunami are the only two I would consider. TCS does not have a sound decoder for diesel locomotives yet. MRC is the worst choice because they have a very high failure rate.
ok thank you for the info.
I have spoke to ESU and they are bringing out a Loksound decoder for the Athearn DDA40X by the end of the year hopefully,
that's not good about the MRC decoder`s as I just bought 2 for my EMD E7`s,