LL P2K GP9 w/sound and decoders

[darth9x9]

Holy Cow! I just picked my two Chessie Life Like Proto 2000 GP9s today at lunch. Although I am not thrilled with the color of orange they used on the Chessie scheme, the manual (pamphlet) appears to provide a whole new realm of sound in a loco. According to the manual (in DCC operation), you have the ability to use the following:
[img.nr]http://www.bkcarl.com/mrforum/llp2kws.jpg[/img.nr]

This is some amazing stuff!!! Start Up, Shut Down, Verbal Speed Readout, Verbal Status, Number Board lights, and Cab Lights?!?!?!?!? I never thought they would get this granular.

Now I have to go home to tonight and play with some of this stuff even though I will be limited to what I can do since I haven't upgraded my NCE system yet to handle the 12 functions (I need to get my but in gear and mail in my check!). But this leads to another topic which I will post in a minute.....

[raynbecky]

Hey Bill, I saw the SP unit at the LHS Saturday. I can't wait to get my Chessie units! They are indeed nice loco's and they capture the sound of the EMD engine to a tee!

[Paul3]

The interesting thing about this new P2K GP sound unit is that the rumor mill has it that these boards will be made available for sale seperately for around $65 (according to my LHS). One would also have to buy the new weights for the speakers. If this is true, this is a great step up from Soundtraxx (it's about time). Also, according to my LHS, these will fit in the Atlas GP's as well (with a little tinkering).

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[AntonioFP45]

Wow!

Paul, is this a QSI board? If so this would really be great! I've always felt that if QSI ever decided to start selling sound units separately, Soundtraxx would get some very hot competition and hopefully prices would start coming down.[:D]

Best thing to do though would be to e-mail QSI and ask them. Many rumors do fly around. Best to get it from the horses mouth. [;)]

Cheers and High Greens!

[darth9x9]

I played with these units over the last two nights and they are quite impressive. I love the start up sound and the controllable wheel flange squeal. My only concern at this point is that it is possible to 'disconnect' the motor from the decoder to you can simulate a load test being done. The problem is that many inexperienced users will think something is wrong when the sound increases (as in notching up) but the unit doesn't move. Back to more testing.....

[rrinker]

Not totally disconnect, but if you put a large momentum value in it, you can wind up the motor good before the train starts to move.

--Randy

[darth9x9]

Randy (rrinker),

You are incorrect. You can put the loco in "neutral" by hitting hitting F9 twice. Doing this actually disconnects the motor from the decoder. At this point, you are in stage one of shut down and the loco will not move with any changes to the throttle but you will hear the throttle rev up and down in proportion to the throttle setting. The momentum value has absolutely nothing to do with it. Get yourself one of these units and you will see for yourself. If anybody is interested how to get the motor engaged again, you have to hit F6 twice.