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I finally got my two DSX decoders. Installed the Shay sound decoder in my Heisler. It's not the loudest, but for the money, it's just fine with me. I don't like the sound real loud, anyway. From 30-40' away, I can just hear it. Up close, it's plenty loud. The sound level is just about perfect. It's the same as I have set on my other sound equipped locos. The installation was a snap. Two wires to the track picups, two wires to the speaker, and one to the chuff contacts. Just be sure and use the supplied capacitor and resistor. Soundtraxx reccommends that you program the decoder seperately and to a different address than the motor decoder. I'm using a Digitrax DG583S. I programmed the sound decoder as the same address before I read all the destructions. It worked with no problem. One thing I did find. The volume level of the decoder is turned down to about half volume when I got it. Using a LocoBufferII and the JMRI decoder programming software made it easy to reprogram. If you are running DCC I definetly reccommend getting the LocoBuffer and using your PC to program your decoders. It's sooooo....much easier! Just move the slider with your mouse and click! I didn't install the speaker in the place provided on the Hiesler. A 2" speaker will not fit in it. I already had a 2" speaker, so I glued it to the white cover from a roll of teflon pipe tape, and covered the back with a disk of styrene. I painted it black and slid it into the back window of the cab. I stuck it to the cab back wall with some double sided tape. You have to look fo it to see it. The whistle is just a tad anemic, but everything else works fine. I will not be adding an extra amplifier, although I did add a 1/8" plug on the back of the coal tender and wired it parrallel to the speaker. I can add speakers and an amplifier later by putting it into a boxcar behind the loco. I tried my amplified computer speakers plugged into the hack and just about broke my eardrums before I could get it turned down. [:D] the computer speakers laid end to end will just fit in an old time cattle car if I decide I want it louder. One other note. The chuff mechanizm in the Heisler sucks. I ended up turning on the auto chuff. With a little bit of diddling with chuff rate it seems to match quite closely. Am I happy with it, and would I recommend it? You bet' cha. You want sound relatively cheap and easy? The DSX 's are it. Will I buy anymore? ..Just ordered four more!
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