Rivarossi Allegheny H-8 2-6-6-6 - Two questions about loksound decoder

[DigitalGriffin]

Question 1:

It stalls at slow speeds, even on clean track. Is this common? I thought there were
pickups in the tender AND driving wheels.  I'm a bit surprised.

Can I use the keep alive capacitor to solve this?

Question 2:

I have an 2008 DC release of the H-8. I would like to add sound to
it. Is it possible to get a copy of the H-8 files so they sound
similar? (yes I know it doesn't sound right.) Is it possible to
download from one loksound and copy it to another?

BTW: I know someone who has a sound file for the correct wistle on the
H-8!

[cacole]

Thanks for the warning about the (new?) Rivarossi Allegheny.

LokSound decoders are programmable if you purchase the Lok Programmer hardware and can find the files you need on their web site, but this is a very expensive path to take.

Some DCC dealers such as Litchfield Station will program the decoder for you if you can tell them exactly what files you want loaded into the decoder.

My experience with LokSound decoders has been disappointing to say the least.  They are extremely wimpy in the volume area, especially their horn/whistle sound files.  Even on a Precision Craft A-B-A California Zephyr locomotive set with sound in all 3 units, the sound of the air horn is very weak and is drowned out by the prime mover and other sounds, even with the horn volume set to max.

 

[selector]

I haven't run my H-8 in many weeks because it has been largely a disappointment.  It did have a stalling problem early, but it went away, and it does run well.  My disappointment lies in the rather salient sound component of the operating experience.  I have no issues with volume...that's just fine since I turn all my decoders down to something like 50% of their volume settings maximum anyway.  What made me sour on the engine is the choice of sound files for their whistle and the engine chuff.  Both are plainly, simply, clearly WRONG!!!!!!!!!

So, if you are looking for some ideas, and are feeling a bit squeamish about Loksound decoders, wait until the Quantum Revolution series Universal is available, should be fairly soon now that they have announced the diesel one, and you can programme sounds into it if you have swappable file types, or can convert them to a type that Quantum will use.

[hdtvnut]

Selector: have you been able to listen to the Tsunami Heavy whistles, and if so, do any sound more or less correct?  I am using one of these in my H8's with my best guess about it.

The old H8 runs very smoothly IF all wheels and pickups are clean and the cable connectors are OK.  I doubt that the design has changed.

I put the Tsunami in the tender, and believe I had to add several wires to the interface to do this, if I remember correctly.

regards

Hal

 

[selector]

Hal, no, I have two of the early Tsunami decoders, one in a P2K 0-6-0 switcher, and the other in a Trix Mikado.  If the heavy version of the Tsunami had a good deep articulated chuff and a hooter whistle much like the N&W Y series, that would be fine.  As it stands, it is just awful, and is a non-playable tweeee-weee-weep.  How wrong can it get?!

-Crandell

[C&O Fan]

I too am extremely disappointed in the sound qualities   The stalling issue improved greatly with engine break in
The fact that the whistle is a fixed 3 longs and a short make it totally unusable I think one reason the sound is so far off is that Lok Sound is a European company and probably doesn't have access to American steam sounds   If I had it to do over I would have bought a no sound version and installed a Tsunami Heavy Steam decoder it I have a C&O H-5 with a Tsunami and it is FAR SUPERIOR to Lok sound    

[hdtvnut]

The Tsunami Heavy does have a good hooter, and the chuff can be shaped to a deep sound, so I think it might be as good as you can do, with the possible exception of having real recordings and a Loksound programmer setup (I do).  I have been able to use recordings to make decent Loksound projects, so if the whistle recording is available and of good quality, I'm willing to give it a try.   The real work is in the audio editing.

Hal

 

[cudaken]

 If, or should I say when I get on my feet again, hum it rhymes? Anyway the H-8 is on my shopping list. With that being said, little high jacking of this post.

 I have a PCM Y6-b with a loksound decoder and it sounds great! Very deep chuff's and loud. I have a PCM Big Boy that was DCC ready. After many hours of tinkering, going back to PCM for repairs and tinkering some more! It about time to install a sound decoder.          

 Crandall my mentor, should I go with the Tsunami for the Big Boy? If so what speakers? Will the heavy version have the right sound for a Big Boy? Well, like I ever heard sound from a real Big Boy except it rusting in St Louis.

 I have 7 sound engines, the PCM Y6-b has the deepest tone of all. My BLI steam engines sound shrill now after running the Y6-b. 

 One of the many things I love about the loksound is when the Y6-b hits the grade it speeds stays the same all the way up and down. I will add that is with a 90 car drag, that pulling power! Can the Tsunami do the same thing?

 Does the Tsunami need a power booster to change the cv's?

 Will the Tsunami have the swooshing sound when it starts moving like my loksound Y6-b?

 Thank You for the up coming answers from Crandall and other knowledgeable folks here.

 Looking forward the H-8, now if I can find a affordable Yellow Stone Ken posting again.         

                                         

[selector]

Ken, I was away all evening and have just now seen your post. 

Yes, I intend to replace my H-8 Loksound with either a heavy steam Tsunami, or I may wait to hear how things unfold for the Quantum Revolution (Universal).  I believe that these two are "it" for steam fans right now.  My opinion, of course...our ears are all different.

I have never installed a decoder, but the fellow who does that for me, and hour's drive away and now a good friend, says that the decoders come with a speaker  At least, when the Tsunamis first came on the market, that is how he got the two of mine...paired with a good speaker and baffle.  I know for a fact that QSI has been marketing a special enhanced bass speaker for just over a year.  Maybe David can offer an opinion about that combo.

If you'd rather get on with the decodering of your BB, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the heavy steam Tsunami. 

You will not need a booster to do anything with the Tsunami if you use a Digitrax system...far's I know.  My SEB has no trouble with any of my five or six variations of decoders. 

Unless they have added it recently, the open cylinder cocks hissing and swooshing a la Loksound & PCM Y6b is not available on the Tsunami.  HOwever, on my two Tsunamis and with my DT400's set from the factory, F4 plays a steam hiss until you turn it off by pressing that button again.

The constant speed up hill is, as far as I know, only possible due to BEMF, and the Tsunami's do have that capablity.

-Crandell

[cudaken]

 Thnaks for the answer Crandell, I was pretty sure that was the way you where going to go. Hum, what are you going to do with you old decoder?

      Thanks for your time, Cuda Ken