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Sound decoder for KATO SD45

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  • Member since
    December 2013
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Sound decoder for KATO SD45
Posted by johnnypsr on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:08 PM

Will the MRC SD40-2 1802 decoders also work in the KATO SD45's without modification? Or is there a drop in decoder designed for the SD45's that I am just overlooking? Thanks!

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Posted by Marty C on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 12:42 AM

Johnny,

You didn't memtion the scale but Soundtraxx has a Tsunami TSU KT 1000 that will drop into a HO katto SD45.

 

Marty C

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Posted by Train Modeler on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 3:10 PM

Don't waste your money on MRC.  Soundtraxx is much better, but be sure and use high quality speakers as large asytou can install.   When I did my SD45, I used a medium oval and another I can't recall.

Richard

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Posted by johnnypsr on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 6:10 PM

My apology, The scale I was working in is HO, and Thank you to all who replied!

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Posted by johnnypsr on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 6:16 PM

The Tsunami decoders are around $100 without a speaker, and the MRC decoders are between $50-$60 all included. Is there that much difference to warrant the cost? I am very new to all of this. Thank you.

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:30 AM

Johnnypsr,

Here is a site to check out:

http://www.mrdccu.com/install/hods/Kato-SD45-828041. 

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:44 AM

I don't have the answer to your question, whether the MRC 1802 decoder will fit in the KATO SD45 without modification, but consider this.  On its web site, KATO makes the following comment.

The SD45, while sharing the same common frame as the EMD SD40, was distinguished by a number of characteristics such as the flared radiator that stretched across the side of the locomotive's long hood. 

So, it would probably be safe to assume that the MRC 1802 decoder will fit both the SD40-2 and the SD45, since it is likely that both KATO locos share the same chassis.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:45 AM

Johnnypsr,

One more:

http://www.modeltrainwarehouse.com/

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:54 AM

Frank,

I don't know what happened to your link.  It worked at first, but it doesn't work now.  Here is the correct link:

http://www.mrdccu.com/install/hods/Kato-SD45-828041.htm

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:54 AM

Johnnypsr,

MRC If you want:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/dcc-decoders.asp

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:01 AM

Incidentally, the OP never responded to the question about scale, but the MRC 1802 is an HO scale drop in decoder, so we can presume that he is working in HO scale.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:02 AM

Rich,

I don't know what you mean, by the link don't work. Works fine for me. You have to navigate, for what you want on the site. It won't let me copy the URL for the direct install. I tried three times. It was for a soundtrax.

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:04 AM

zstripe

Johnnypsr,

Here is a site to check out:

http://www.mrdccu.com/install/hods/Kato-SD45-828041. 

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

 

The htm somehow got dropped off the end of the link.  

The link worked at first, but then failed.

Rich

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:07 AM

Rich,

I know about the scale part. I also was assuming. It would be easier, if everyone would include those details.

Cheers, Drinks

Frank 

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:08 AM

zstripe

Johnnypsr,

MRC If you want:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/dcc-decoders.asp

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

 

Same for this link.

http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=8276

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:21 AM

Rich,

I don't know what's going on,but I can get them all, including the one you just quoted me and it's the same as yours,but the URL looks different. Who knows,with this new software.

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:25 AM

zstripe

Rich,

I don't know what's going on,but I can get them all, including the one you just quoted me and it's the same as yours,but the URL looks different. Who knows,with this new software.

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

 

Yeah, I don't know what happened to that first link that you posted.  When it was first posted, it took me right to that Tsunami install tutorial.  But, then when I went back later to re-read it, it sent me to the general web site.  Somehow, the htm suffix got dropped.  You are probably right about it being just one more software flaw.

Rich

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 5:36 AM

Rich,

I just read the 404 error, go back to that page not found and click on home,that will take you to the site, they changed the URL for the site with a new URL. So it has nothing to do with our new software, it's there's. On the MRC site that is also different, if # 1802 is a prime mover EMD645e,that is the correct one for a SD45.

Cheers, Drinks

Franks

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    January 2010
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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, December 12, 2013 6:01 AM

Johnnypsr,

How about a ''just in case'' N-scale SD45:

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/N_Scale/Kato/EMD%20SD45/EMD_SD45.html

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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    March 2007
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Posted by Train Modeler on Thursday, December 12, 2013 9:40 AM

johnnypsr

My apology, The scale I was working in is HO, and Thank you to all who replied!

 

 

Guys, he responded with the scale as per above.

Johnny, in my opinion it is definitely worth the extra money.  The speakers that come with the mrc chip are not all that good and don't fit easily into places.   I prefer having 2 speakers anyway, one being a high bass speaker if possible.   Some say Loksound has some good sound too, but I prefer Soundtraxx for a variety of reasons at this point, including F11 braking which makes operating the train pretty realistic.     I can tell you that my kato SD45 sounds amazing and I'm only about 25% of volume.    The SD45 uses a 645 turbo prime mover.   Soundtraxx has a selection of  various horns you can choose from as  you program the chip.

Richard

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    September 2004
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 10:27 AM

Train Modeler

 

 
johnnypsr

My apology, The scale I was working in is HO, and Thank you to all who replied!

 

 

 

 

Guys, he responded with the scale as per above.

 

ahh, ya know what, he is a newbie, so his posts are being monitored.  His recent responses, though made last night, only recently showed up.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, December 12, 2013 11:27 AM

johnnypsr,

Here are sound samples for the MRC and the Tsunami:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuY9Cc_LNmE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnA6b_0Nsg

Rich

Alton Junction

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