Yes David, your first response was a legitimate response but, the derogatory remarks in your next post ruined it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about but you do come off a bit negative.
And as for sound quality from a pcb mounted speaker, I agree absolutely that it isn't gonna be great. That was an expectation/compromise I'm willing to make for ease of install. Course when you get down to it, putting sound in any HO train is a waste because you can't get the low frequency sounds of the real thing. Lots of people are willing to make that compromise.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
Now that David, is the kind of response I was hoping for. No MRC bashing just a solid reccomendation on a decoder and install that sounds like its simple. It also sounds like you've done this which adds credibility.
As for how it was read wrong, the sentence prior to what you highlighted is the key. I know of no other manufacturer that offers a decoder with the speaker mounted to the pc board, do you? Thats why I specifically picked the MRC units. Removing one pc board and installing another is straight forward enough and not having to find/make room for a speaker is the bonus.
As for what was highlighted, I simply acknowledged the fact that MRC decoders are frowned upon due to quality control problems. Heard it enough. But if only one company make a product you want or need then you pretty much have to get it from that company or roll your own.
FWIW I have two MRC "Sounder" sound decoders in use and am happy with both. I wasn't bashing MRC, but your post kind of sounded like you thought only MRC made "drop-in" sound decoders. If you want to try an MRC decoder with a built-in speaker I'm not against it, I just wanted to point out if you use a drop-in decoder it usually isn't that hard to fit in a speaker without doing any modifications...so I wouldn't make the fact that a particular brand decoder has a built-in speaker the deciding factor in making your decision.
Looking at some of the options on the MRC web site, some of those integrated drop in sound decoders aren't 100% drop in, some say they require you to solder the wires to the board. I don't know of any other decoder that has the decoder and speaker integrated in a design to fit specific locos like that, however.
As far as the quality issue, I'm seen too many posts here and on other forums to even want to bother purchasing one. The irony is though that back in the DC days, MRC really did make the best stuff. I have a Tech II that's over 30 years old that still works like new. The club I used to belong to until recently powered the track with a Controlmaster 20 - the big monster box with the walkaround handheld. They used the RailLynx IR system until relatively recently converting to DCC, and the MRC unit provided the steady DC to the tracks for the IR locos through show after show with no problems. Great stuff.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Well thank you Bob, Stix et al but I believe Mr B. may want to read the posts completely before beating his own drum. The MRC is junk chant is getting tiring and I did specifically ask that itbe kept out. Also nowhere did I say I wouldn't consider other decoders just that I'm not aware of any other brands that have a speaker on the card. I've had plenty of MRC products over the years and all have worked as advertised and reliably.
That said I've only done a couple of decoder installs and the irony was that the larger loco (atlas u23b) had less room under the shell than the Atlas rs32. Getting just a DH123 in was a squeeze. I see lots of posts where people gut the weights to fit a speaker and that kind of scares me to do since I don't want to turn my locos into junk. Sound without pull is useless. I just wanted an outside opinion on how does it fit? Is it easy to install? I didn't ask how well it works, how does it sound or anything else.
A "drop-in" decoder means you remove the light board and "drop in" a decoder shaped like the light board you're removing. Several companies that make sound decoders make lightboard replacements designed for Atlas engines, not just MRC. You may need to add your own speaker. I find a 1/2" by 1" oval with enclosure will fit almost anywhere, a 1/2" round speaker can fit where even an oval can't go.
Since the "drop-in" decoder is the same shape as the lightboard it replaces, it takes up zero additional room. You just have to find a spot for the speaker. I have a couple of engines where I had to remove a separate weight piece to fit in the speaker, but it wasn't a big deal. I've never ground down a weight etc. to make a speaker fit, most diesels have plenty of room inside them without doing that.
Plus of course many newer engines have a built-in area for a speaker...even the new Spectrum 45-tonner has an opening for a 1/2" round speaker built into it!!
Bob - you were using DCC in 1970??
davidmbedard Graffen http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/showwistle.php?s=251V12 May be a better choice It is more here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=1000at.php Nope, he wants the full MRC experience. The quickest way to get put off of MRC is to go through the FULL experience. David B
Graffen http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/showwistle.php?s=251V12 May be a better choice It is more here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=1000at.php
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/showwistle.php?s=251V12
May be a better choice
It is more here:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=1000at.php
Nope, he wants the full MRC experience. The quickest way to get put off of MRC is to go through the FULL experience.
David B
You know, comments like that are of the kind that almost soured me on DCC back in 1970. I was converting from Dynatrol command control to NCE and didn't have the foggiest. I asked a few questions on various forums and got blow off answers. Finally discovered the NCE forum on Yahoo and a bunch of guys who were willing to help me understand. One in particular lives in Australia and telephoned me at his expense to work me through a problem with power districts.
Since then, I have installed DCC in most of the 250 plus diesels on the layout, a few, Atlas, came already installed and I still don't have all the answers but I try to help others remembering my own frustrations. Just this week I received two more Kato SD40-2's to round out the 28 I already have accumulated (HO). Both were given decoders, and when I got them off the programming track and onto the railroad test track, they were DOA. Not a spark. I dug into my supply of Lenz, NCE and Digitrax decoders (new) and still DOA. Then I found a loose pickup wire on one, resoldered it, and it ran. I put the first decoder I had programmed for it back in and it ran fine. I did nothing to the second one but put the first decoder I programmed for it back in and it ran fine. This morning, I have them consisted and breaking in on a grain train. Because I am more of a lone wolf rather than part of a local Kansas City group, I really have no one to talk to with questions, except through the forums.
Give the guy a break.
Bob
Sorry I should have pointed out I work in HO. I like the install that MRC shows for the RS3 decoder and the model 1801 looks like what I'm after although the photo shows a Genesis (I think) I don't have the skill, time or patience to tear it down and fit and fiddle to get a speaker in so, a small speaker on the pc board would be acceptable. If MRC is the only manufacturer that offers decoders that fit my requirements then MRC it is. If there are other decoders that offer the ease of install then great I'm open to it.
Yep, if that is really the intent, this will do the trick. Otheriwse The Soundtraxx option above or a Digitrax DH165A0 with a Soundbug plugged in are both "drop in" replacements, once you find a place for the speaker.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
N or HO?
If N, I would wait until more manufacturers come out with thier own versions of plug and play sound. I have heard from some that this market may heat up in the last quarter of the year. I hope its true.
John
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