Are these trains DCC ready? I mean could i purchace one of these and run it on my DCC setup?
I would hazard a guess that they are NOT DCC equipped. 'DCC ready' means that they have a socket and are 'ready' for a dcc decoder. 'DCC Equipped' means that they already have a decoder in them.
The link you provided also says 'DC Sound' which tells me those are conventional DC locos.
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
Who makes the best DCC QSI sound RTR Locos?
7793Who makes the best DCC QSI sound RTR Locos?
7793 Who makes the best DCC QSI sound RTR Locos?
To clarify the previous answer, Atlas makes a series of HO Scale locomotives that have QSI sound and DCC installed. They are called "Atlas Master Gold Series". Walthers, who now owns LifeLike, sells the Proto 2000 units with QSI Sound and DCC installed. These two manufacturers, in my opinion, make some of the nicest plastic models with sound.
They are basically RTR, since you can take them straight from the box to the track and call them up with your DCC system and start running them. Of course, there are detail parts to be installed (like pilot handrails).
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
Perfect, i will search for those manufactures
Don Z 7793 Who makes the best DCC QSI sound RTR Locos? To clarify the previous answer, Atlas makes a series of HO Scale locomotives that have QSI sound and DCC installed. They are called "Atlas Master Gold Series". Walthers, who now owns LifeLike, sells the Proto 2000 units with QSI Sound and DCC installed. These two manufacturers, in my opinion, make some of the nicest plastic models with sound. They are basically RTR, since you can take them straight from the box to the track and call them up with your DCC system and start running them. Of course, there are detail parts to be installed (like pilot handrails). Don Z.
Thanks for that. I got to thinking after I made my post that different manufacturers define RTR in different ways. There is no single definition for RTR.
Athearn's RTR lovomotives for the most part are DCC ready with NMRA approved socket. You are on your own to pick out and install the chip of your choice. I believe Athearn still has some non-DCC ready stuff at the low end of their RTR line. Athearn's Genesis locomotives are all DCC ready (NMRA socket installed). Sound and DCC is offered as an option on the Genissis line or you can purchase the DCC chip, sound board, speaker mount and speaker(s) of your choice.
claymore1977 'DCC ready' means that they have a socket and are 'ready' for a dcc decoder.
'DCC ready' means that they have a socket and are 'ready' for a dcc decoder.
Not necessarily, I bought a Proto1000 SW9 that stated on the box the it was DCC ready but you had to solder a decoder in to make it DCC. Under PROTO's rules all locos are DCC ready
Previous answers you have been getting are not even close to the truth in some instances.
Blue Line locomotives have sound and a DCC socket so you can use your own motor control decoder. They will run on DC and you will get sound, but it will not be as controllable as it is if you put a motor control decoder into it and run it on DCC.
Bachmann, Proto 2000, Atlas, and Broadway Limited Paragon locomotive all have DCC and sound already installed if you purchase the correct version. Bachmann, for example, sells without DCC or sound, with DCC only, and with DCC and sound. Proto 2000 come with the same three options. Broadway Limited, too, came with or without sound.
You have to read the descriptions of what you are interested in to make sure you get one that has DCC and sound. If in doubt, go to the manufacturer's web site and read their descriptions.
jep1267Not necessarily, I bought a Proto1000 SW9 that stated on the box the it was DCC ready but you had to solder a decoder in to make it DCC. Under PROTO's rules all locos are DCC ready
Now that's just down right dirty.
*Adds a line to the "CON" list for Proto*
What about these?
train1
train2
train3
train4
7793 What about these? train1 train2 train3 train4
All say they are DCC and sound equipped. As with anything on e-bay you should confirm any details like this with the seller. Buyer beware.
I haven't looked at your linked engines when I write this post, but if any of them happen to have an MRC sound decoder, you should understand that a great number of posters here over the past eight months or so have reported serious and frustrating problems with them. They sound pretty good, and they run the trains well...the problem is in programming the various CV's, and also some of them just seem to develop problems related to quality control very shortly after you begin to use them
Heads-up!
Man im confused, so lets say i went with a Atlas Gold series, does that have a MRC decoder? Should i stay away from a MRC DCC system? Or should i not use DCC at all and just use DC?
claymore1977 jep1267 Not necessarily, I bought a Proto1000 SW9 that stated on the box the it was DCC ready but you had to solder a decoder in to make it DCC. Under PROTO's rules all locos are DCC ready Now that's just down right dirty. *Adds a line to the "CON" list for Proto*
jep1267 Not necessarily, I bought a Proto1000 SW9 that stated on the box the it was DCC ready but you had to solder a decoder in to make it DCC. Under PROTO's rules all locos are DCC ready
Yeah, but fortunately the store owner was pretty cool and popped the shell off to verify it DCC rediness. He gave me a deal on the decoder AND instalation so I bought it anyway. Sorry for not adding to the original posted question, but I thought I'd share my experience.
J.P.
As I stated earlier, the following brands have QSI Sound factory installed:
Athearn Genesis with sound use factory installed MRC decoders. MRC decoders are also available as an aftermarket purchased and can be installed in any locomotive. I would avoid the Kato unit as the owner has equipped it with an MRC decoder. As Selector said, many users are not satisfied with the MRC decoders. The complaints against them range from difficulty in programming, losing their programming, etc.
It's not as daunting as you fear...DCC is a lot of fun!
Darn i liked that Kato unit too, if i could just find a BNSF unit that was DCC installed with QSI sound and alternating ditch lights i would be happy. I just cant find one~
I really want this one I know it has a MRC decoder in it, but do you think it would be ok? If not could i replace it later? I will be using a MRC Prodigy DCC system too. (unless you think i should avoid MRC all together?)