lok sound

[bnsf0823]

Hey everyone, I need your advise on what lok decoder to put in my following ho scale engines.  speaker too

Sd70mac athearn Genesis,

Atlas dash-8 

kato ac4400 

also does lok come with keep alive or do i have to buy that seperate and what do you recommend for my best experience.  This will be my first time trying lok. S

[rrinker]

 All three will take the Loksound Select Direct. This is a board replacement. Kato offered the AC400 with Loksound, so it might have a 21 pin connector on it already, and there is a Select with 21MTC connector int he wild, just not listed on the Loksound web site. Otherwise, the deocders are all physically the same, the difference is what sound set you get loaded.

For the AC4400, you want article number 90450, which is the sound file made for Kato for those locos.

For the Dash-8, it's 73840 for the Select Direct.

For the 70mac it's 73831 for Select Direct.

Any of the decent resellers will load your choice of sound file in the decoder before shipping it. Otherwise you would need a Lokprogrammer or access to one to install a sound file.

                            --Randy

 

[peahrens]

I've only used one Direct board, in a Genesis GP9.  I haven't done your locos but usually use a 6Aux board which takes a bit less room in length.  I usually use 2 or more Knowles Grand or Donau sugarcube speakers in custom size 0.040" styrene enclosures.  I'll mill the frame as needed for room, varies with each loco. Some may provide room for speaker in fuel tank or frame

 Tony's Trains can advise on approach for specific locos and provide parts, including Select with best sound file.

Consider a supply of LEDs, resistors and small wiring for installs.  It's great to have everything you need on hand except decoder.

[rrinker]

 Direct is pretty much the same size as the Genesis light board it repalces, also the ones Atlas uses. Never worked on a newer Kato loco, just the old ones they made for Atlas, where the Direct board is again a perfect replacement.

                --Randy

[bnsf0823]

Thanks, i will get in contact with Tony's Train Exchange when im ready to purchase..