I have a couple Athearn Genesis with factory installed Tsunami sound decoders and quite few more that are DCC-ready. I'm about ready to start upgrading the DCC-ready.
I'd like to go with Loksound. The existing Tsunami I have all seem to have some issues with slow start up speed (not slow and gradual, the first (and second & third throttle step) are somewhat abrupt. I'm using 128 step throttle.
If I go with Loksound for the DCC-ready upgrades am I going to have to make the Loksound equipped locos match the "inferior" start up performance of the Tsunami's when used in a simple consist (as in all the same address)?
That's been pretty much my expeience. Get the Tsunami to run as good as possible, then DE-tune the Loksound to match. I've never been able to get any other decoder to match a Loksound motor control exactly .... close, but not perfect.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
TCS non-sound work quite well with my Loksounds, haven't tried a WOW Sound though. The two are drawbar connected but I don;t have any issues with wheels spiining or one dragging the other unless I make very abrupt throttle changes - like cranking it from stop to full or vice-versa. If I handle the throttle properly they don't seem to fight and I've done no drive settings changes to either one.
You can actually set a Loksound to behave like a Tsunami, instead of starting up with F8 it won't start until step 1, but that is just so WRONG in behavior - one of many reasons I traded away my last Tsunami loco for a Loksound.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
ArtoI'd like to go with Loksound. The existing Tsunami I have all seem to have some issues with slow start up speed (not slow and gradual, the first (and second & third throttle step) are somewhat abrupt. I'm using 128 step throttle. If I go with Loksound for the DCC-ready upgrades am I going to have to make the Loksound equipped locos match the "inferior" start up performance of the Tsunami's when used in a simple consist (as in all the same address)?
Arto,
That's my major complaint against Tsunami and why I don't use any on my layout. TCS and Loksound are far superior to Tsunami in motor-control - even right out of the box. So, yes - you'll have to "dummy-up" your Loksound decoders to play well enough with the Tsunamis.
Does anyone know if the new Tsunami 2s have made any strides in that area?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I, too, am dealing with mixing Loksound and Tsunami.
I've got two Loksounds and one Tsunami I intend to regularly consist. I am expecting that the best/easiest solution is to pull the Tsunami decoder and install a Loksound.
Yes, there is that irritating "money" component in the decision. Unfortunately.
Ed
rrinker You can actually set a Loksound to behave like a Tsunami, instead of starting up with F8 it won't start until step 1, but that is just so WRONG in behavior - one of many reasons I traded away my last Tsunami loco for a Loksound. --Randy
Randy, could you please explain the F8 verses Step 1 thing? I've never used F8 for that (that I know of)
tstageDoes anyone know if the new Tsunami 2s have made any strides in that area? Tom
Should be. They all have DDE now, which is the standard method used with the first gen Tsunami steam decoders to adjust and tailor starting and slow-speed sound and running characteristics.
Because it's often not mentioned by critics of the first gen Tsunami decoders, most of these concerns have to do with the diesel version of the Tsunami, which lacked DDE, although there were still ways to adjust its slow speed and starting. This involves the same basic architecture used by the DDE on the steam Tsunami (CVs 10, 209, 210, and 211), except it wasn't directly tied to the sound as DDE did with the steam version. Sure, the user had to read the manual and adjust this for best low-end performance, so this may be a big deal if you're expecting shake-the-box results in a decoder. Soundtraxx took a different route than Lok later did when they came on the market by putting ways to tailor this into the hands of the consumer. Yes, it was a bit intimidating at first, I just left mine alone on my steam for years, but finally decided to delve into it and am quite satisfied with the results. Assuming that same capability -- and more from the sounds of it -- is built into the Tsu 2, that should address these particular issues that some find irritating.
Steam users generally are satisfied, it's worth pointing that out again (because a large % of them are that often finicky narrowgauge crowd ), because people would otherwise wonder why Soundtraxx seems to enjoy robust sales despite the vocal dissastisfaction of some.
So the Tsunami 2 has DDE in diesel, too, now. Might be worth reading the documentation to understand how it works, but like most things sound, probably get a more accurate impression of its capabilities in person. Sound, and criticism of it, tends to be highly subjective. For some, performance at speedstep 1 is the thing that's most important about a decoder, as part of that model railroading fascination with how slow is not stopped. Mostly, I've observed that the prototype seems to run somewhere well north of 1...and that's in Urbana where walking speed is faster than the few trains that still make it here. What some find to be major differences are hardly noticed by most consumers.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Arto rrinker You can actually set a Loksound to behave like a Tsunami, instead of starting up with F8 it won't start until step 1, but that is just so WRONG in behavior - one of many reasons I traded away my last Tsunami loco for a Loksound. --Randy Randy, could you please explain the F8 verses Step 1 thing? I've never used F8 for that (that I know of)
Default setting with Loksound decoders is that they are silent until you press F8, then the sounds come on and it executes the startup sequence (prime mover starting). Tsunamis by default do the startup when the decoder is commanded to speed step 1 and they do not pause to complete the startup, so you can select a Tsunami equipped loco and dial up the throttle and the loco will be moving while still playing the prime mover startup sound.