I have mainly Athearn Blue Box SD40s and some other brands I'm not sure of. All pre-DCC.
What decoders would it take to update them for DCC operation and sound?
Also what controller with sound would be good to purchase?
Any decoder with at least a 1 amp continuous rating will work. The decoder can be just a 'motor' only or a motor/sound decoder. If you are going to convert of 'BB' engines, I feel that a 'tune up' before you start will be a good idea. Old motor brushes and bad lubrication can make these engines into current hogs. Also replacing the 'sintered iron' wheels with n/s wheels(NWSL or JayBee) will improve electrical pickup, and are a 'must' for sound decoders. They are very sensitive to poor electrical pickup.
The DCC 'system' you choose is going to be based on your needs and things like the 'fit' of the throttle in your hand. Most brands will not mix system/throttles from other manufacturers. Another factor is what are the other modelers/clubs using in your area? My local area has lots of Digitrax users, and the 'club' has Digitrax. About 75 miles away is a large group of modelers who use NCE systems.
Good 'starter' systems that have 'expansion' include the NCE Powercab and the Digitrax Zephyr systems. You will be 'in' for around $200 with some careful shopping. Another thing to consider is the ability to attach a home computer to the DCC system - It sure makes programming the decoders much easier!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
If you see a good price for the Bachmann EZ Command, pass on it. Very limited in what it can do.
The two suggested systems are good starters. I have the NCE Power Cab. I can run three sound locos but it is a challenge.
Shop online for good prices.
No idea on your level of DCC experience. Below is a link you might be interested in.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn/index.htm
The below fellow likes SoundTraxx.
http://www.mrdccu.com/
TCS has a WOW series that are getting good reviews. DCC is continually evolving.
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.
jrbernier Any decoder with at least a 1 amp continuous rating will work. The decoder can be just a 'motor' only or a motor/sound decoder. If you are going to convert of 'BB' engines, I feel that a 'tune up' before you start will be a good idea. Old motor brushed and bad lubrication can make these engines into current hogs. Also replacing the 'sintered iron' wheels with n/s wheels(NWSL or JayBee) will improve electrical pickup, and are a 'must' for sound decoders. They are very sensitive to poor electrical pickup. The DCC 'system' you choose is going to be based on your needs and things like the 'fit' of the throttle in your hand. Most brands will not mix system/throttles from other manufacturers. Another factor is what are the other modelers/clubs using in your area? My local area has lots of Digitrax users, and the 'club' has Digitrax. About 75 miles away is a large group of modelers who use NCE systems. Good 'starter' systems that have 'expansion' include the NCE Powercab and the Digitrax Zephyr systems. You will be 'in' for around $200 with some careful shopping. Another thing to consider is the ability to attach a home computer to the DCC system - It sure makes programming the decoders much easier! Jim
Any decoder with at least a 1 amp continuous rating will work. The decoder can be just a 'motor' only or a motor/sound decoder. If you are going to convert of 'BB' engines, I feel that a 'tune up' before you start will be a good idea. Old motor brushed and bad lubrication can make these engines into current hogs. Also replacing the 'sintered iron' wheels with n/s wheels(NWSL or JayBee) will improve electrical pickup, and are a 'must' for sound decoders. They are very sensitive to poor electrical pickup.
How much am I looking at for an operational and sound decoder?
Howabout those replacement wheels?
What about my old MRC power packs, can I still use them?
Also "block wiring"....is that compatable with DCC?
richg1998 If you see a good price for the Bachmann EZ Command, pass on it. Very limited in what it can do. The two suggested systems are good starters. I have the NCE Power Cab. I can run three sound locos but it is a challenge. Shop online for good prices. No idea on your level of DCC experience. Below is a link you might be interested in. http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn/index.htm The below fellow likes SoundTraxx. http://www.mrdccu.com/ TCS has a WOW series that are getting good reviews. DCC is continually evolving. Rich
I have zero DCC experience.
Just make sure the MRC power pack does not have pulse power option. I think that option can be turned off. That option confuses the decoder.
Sound decoders can run from about $50.00 to maybe $130.00 including speaker. Depends on the brand.
I use Litchfield Station. Google it. There are other on line sites.
Tony's Trains is good, also.
Depending on your electrical, mechanical, soldering experience, this might be a challenge.
Take your time so you don't buy the wrong item.
For a home layout, block wiring should work. It did for our club until we wanted to run two or three operators and as much as ten sound locos. At home, no problem. Reverse loops can be an issue. You need a DCC reverser. Same for a crossover or turntable.
NWSL replacement wheel sets are $12.95 for a set of 12(enough for a 6 axle engine).
Something else to consider before investing in a bunch of sound decoders...Do you really want or need all that sound?
Sound is what got me into DCC finally, when the first Blackstone K-27s hit the market. The sound was amazing on DC. DCC could only be that much better and it was. All my steam (it's all narrowgauge) has sound now. My diesels, both NG and SG, are a different story.
Many of the narrowgauge ones are kind of noisy and space is far more limited than SG diesels.
I have a Genesis F-unit fleet because I model the 1950s-1960s Rio Grande. It's been converted to DCC. My only sound units are six Walthers/P2K F7s, which are intermixed and sheel swapped with the non-sound Fs.
My RTR SD45 and SD40T-2 hood units make nice candidates for sound. But they're pretty darn loud with all that noise they have just running down the track. I keep my volume low, so I can just see the need to turn up the volume to drown out the fabled Atheran gear noise...then everything will be too loud.
Thus my sound conversion, on hold due to budget concerns, has shrunk in scope. Probably a few more Fs to give me more flexibility and the Tunnel Motors, because I want them loud for some reason (trackside experience back when Tennessee Pass was still operational), will likely get sound, but a lot of those noisy Athearns will remain honorary sound locos. I just don't like 'em enough to run them loud enough to tune out the gear noise.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehman Something else to consider before investing in a bunch of sound decoders...Do you really want or need all that sound? Sound is what got me into DCC finally, when the first Blackstone K-27s hit the market. The sound was amazing on DC. DCC could only be that much better and it was. All my steam (it's all narrowgauge) has sound now. My diesels, both NG and SG, are a different story. Many of the narrowgauge ones are kind of noisy and space is far more limited than SG diesels. I have a Genesis F-unit fleet because I model the 1950s-1960s Rio Grande. It's been converted to DCC. My only sound units are six Walthers/P2K F7s, which are intermixed and sheel swapped with the non-sound Fs. My RTR SD45 and SD40T-2 hood units make nice candidates for sound. But they're pretty darn loud with all that noise they have just running down the track. I keep my volume low, so I can just see the need to turn up the volume to drown out the fabled Atheran gear noise...then everything will be too loud. Thus my sound conversion, on hold due to budget concerns, has shrunk in scope. Probably a few more Fs to give me more flexibility and the Tunnel Motors, because I want them loud for some reason (trackside experience back when Tennessee Pass was still operational), will likely get sound, but a lot of those noisy Athearns will remain honorary sound locos. I just don't like 'em enough to run them loud enough to tune out the gear noise.
Well sound would be nice.
Actually, the tiny speakers in the DCC locos I've seen sound pretty thin, kind of like an old telephone receiver but the real RR sounds are still there from what I've heard. I was thinking of hooking up a remote wireless speaker system of some kind in sync with the tiny speaker. Haven't figured out eactly how, but where there's a will there's a way.
Probably after I would have it all up and running, I'd have to turn down the volume after the thrill wore off.
Then again, when I go rail fanning with the real thing, "Sound" is an important part of the fascination of watching trains roll.
Isn't model railroading trying to duplicate the real thing in small scale after all?
jrbernier NWSL replacement wheel sets are $12.95 for a set of 12(enough for a 6 axle engine). Jim
That's amazingly cheap. What are they made of ?
Why did Athearn use sintered metal for the wheels anyway?
Big Boy Forever jrbernier NWSL replacement wheel sets are $12.95 for a set of 12(enough for a 6 axle engine). Jim That's amazingly cheap. What are they made of ? Why did Athearn use sintered metal for the wheels anyway?
Do yourself a big favor, spend some time looking ALL though a site. NWSL sells machined wheels. Read the details below. I have bought from NWSL for years, even when they were in Seattle, Washington.
http://www.nwsl.com/uploads/chap3_web_04-2014.pdf