Question on Spectrum HO "DCC Sound Equipped" steam locos.......

[mobilman44]

Hi!

I currently have a Spectrum HO 2-10-0 and 2-8-0 ATSF locos, both without sound or DCC decoders.  Lately I've noticed that Bachmann has these same locos with "DCC Sound", and frankly I am interested in upgrading to them.  However, the ads do not indicate that they have a decoder installed for the operation of the motors.

Now I may be considered skeptical, but I just don't want to buy them ASSUMING that they are ready to run on my Digitrax layout right out of the box. 

I emailed Bachmann but they are "out of the office" and thought you all could enlighten me on this.

Thank You!!!

Mobilman44

[wjstix]

I believe the BLI "Blue Line" engines are the only ones that come with sound-only decoders where you have to add a motion decoder to use the engine in DCC. Otherwise you can assume all engines with "factory sound" will work on DCC right out of the box.

One thing to note is the Spectrum steam engines don't have cams or anything like that to control the "chuff". That means that (unlike BLI engines for example) the chuff won't be synchronised to the driver's rotation. You'll need to adjust some CV's to get them matched up....so you probably could just install sound decoders yourself and save some money compared to buying two new sound-equipped engines.  

[richg1998]

 If the 2-10-0 and 2-8-0 are DCC ready, they should be ready for sound and control. There is a PC board inside the tender to plug into for control. Unplug the jumper plug in the 8 pin NMRA connector. As far as I know, the sound/control  decoder is not available separately. Some people install a Tsunami decoder that they purchase themselves. Speaker installation can be an issue.

I have done that with a Spectrum 4-4-0 and 4-6-0.

I recommend joining the Bachmann forums where this is discussed quite a lot.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php

2-8-0 tender DCC ready. Older article for control only.

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/2-8-0/index.html

Control/sound suggestions.

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/DCC-University/install/HOSS/InstallationExamplesHOSS.htm

 Store the links in your Favorites folder.

Rich

 

[fisker76]

mobil, I've done over 20 installs of the soundtraxx Tsunami decoder into various spectrum steam engines. It requires relatively basic soldering skills and the results using either the TSU-750 or TSU-1000 are much better than the factory installed decoder that comes with the bachmanns. Visit http://www.tonystrains.com/ for the best customer service and knowledge in DCC and to get install ideas visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPMclinics-RickBell/. At Rick's site he has some outstanding DIY instructions in the files section for doing various DCC sound installs. Mine are more simplified in that I use speaker enclosures that I buy from Tony's. To give you an idea I can put two 1.1" high-bass speakers with a Tsunami TSU-750 decoder into the tender of the spectrum 2-8-0. The sound quality and motor control is terrific.