I am thinking about picking up a PK 1000 F chassis that has a Soundtrax EMD 567 Sound Decoder. I did a quick search on the site and did find some negative comments on the older Soundtrax decoders.
Is this one of the older ones that you have to have super clean track for it to run right? That was the most common complaint I saw.
By the way, I do know you have to have clean track for any decoder to run right, but the post I read makes it sound like it has to be super clean.
Thanks in advances.
Ken
I hate Rust
The older SoundTraxx diesel LC decoders where not the best. Now SoundTraxx has the Tsunami decoders. Much better. I use the Tsunami EMD 567 Tsunami.
You need to find out details of the decoder in the loco. Is this from a prvate sale, ebay, hobby shop?
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.
I've had a Soundtraxx DSD 150 1st generation diesel decoder installed in an Atlas GP 7 for a number of years, with absolutely no issues of any kind. I believe this series of decoder is even older than the LC series. Just to be sure, I went to the layout room, and fired 'er up after being idle for a few weeks, and yup, works the same as ever, even over some track that hasn't been cleaned for months.
Errol
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Modeling Canadian Pacific's Okanagan Branch In The 1950's
Good pickups and clean tracks are important. At our club, we operate only once a week and generally no issues with DCC except for shorts when not paying attention to turnouts.
The Tsunami does come with a stay alive cap. No doubt you might wonder what stay alive stands for so I include the below link.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm
One fellow has MRC sound decoders which are generic sounds and he is happy with them but we are not rivet counters.
Rich, I am buying it used from the HO yard sale. So 567 is the model of the engine not the decoder number it self. I did a quick search on the net and found a few videos and I like the type of sound it has. In fact I have a Soundtrax decoder in a pair of messed up PK 2 F-2's that before it was worked on sounded the same. I had a light bulb replaced, now it sounds like the gong show when ran.
That all so reminds me to ask what the chassis looks like. I forgot about the old F 2 PK 2000's and need to make sure it is the 1000 series.
What CV's need to be changed to reset the older Soundtrax decoders anyway?
I am going to E mail the seller one last time. But at $50.00 plus shipping I stand a pretty good chances of doing OK.
Thanks to all that have taken time to answer as well.
Select CV8 and enter 8 to reset the decoder. That is what I use. Below are helpful links.
The only SoundTraxx LC decoders I used were for steam. I have heard from a couple people who use the older LC diesel decoders and were happy with them.
http://tonystrains.com/technews/dec_rescue.htm
http://00200530.pdl.pscdn.net/002/00530/MRH04/DCC%20Shortcuts%20Card.pdf
Sounds like a good deal. Go for it.
I installed a Soundtraxx LC decoder in an Alco RSC-3 a few years ago. It was my first sound installation. The engine has remained one of my best performers. It doesn't stall out anywhere on the layout, pulls well, runs well and sounds great. It is a six-axle engine, which does help with pickup, but overall I've been very happy with this decoder.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.