I'm looking for a basic, realistic HO sound decoder. Realistic meaning cheap on money, but not on quality. That's why I'm stuck. MRC and NCE make them but I haven't heard the greatest, SoundTraxx is good and not bad priced, also carried at the LTS, and then there's QSI but they're kinda sorta way friggen expensive. I don't need to many bells and whistles. I won't be running more than one engine (layouts too small for that and honestly doesn't need it), so I'm basicall looking at DCC because of sound. I've looked at DC sound stuff but the best ones are really only cheaper than DCC because power packs are cheaper to buy than DCC systems, and then the speakers have to mounted else where. I would like to have on board speakers to make it sound more realistic.
I'm really only interested in engine and horn sounds. I don't really care about bells, I probably won't run steam to have whistles, don't need coupler crashes or anything. But what I would need is something that can have multiple choices, or be able to reprogram the decoder for it. My roster will consist of at the least an F-M road switcher and an Alco switcher, with possible a GP30 or GP15 added for later eras. The layout is a rail-barge served island so I am still playing around with the idea of either having the engine brought to the island on the barge with the cars or have the island have it's own motive power, either way I'm trying to stick to smaller, older, and therefore lighter engines.
The DCC system will be a Digitrax Zephyr starter system, with a UT4 throttle add on throttle for walk-around capability. The layout plan is closely based off the CP Slocan Lake plan published in April issue or MR, I forget the guys name who made it.
It sounds (pun intended) like you don't have the engines yet.
If that's the case, I would advise buying a sound-equipped DCC engine, rather than buying a DC engine and trying to add the sound yourself. By the time you add a Soundtraxx or other mid-range decoder, speaker and enclosure, you have already made up the price difference, and you still have to install them in a space that's not going to be designed for sound. (The price difference is in the $100 range.) The Proto engines with QSI decoders are a bargain in this respect. They're also nice engines.
I've got a variety of sound engines. There's nothing wrong with having different manufacturers' decoders. They play together nicely. Some are better than others. I like the QSI systems the best. I've got one LokSound which is nice, too. The Soundtraxx audio is a step down, but still quite acceptable, and then I've got a couple of Digitrax SFX sound-only decoders, which sound OK and are programmable, but have a very low audio level.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Have you looked at the Digitrax "Sound Bug" decoders? You can upload prototype sound recordings to these decoders. You will need to purchase a Digitrax PR3 to upload the sound, however you can also use the PR3 with DecoderPro to program locomotives and you can use your personal computer with DecoderPro and the PR3 as a throttle; in fact you can use the computer as multiple Digitrax throttles.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
All the sound equiped DCC loco's at the LTS are the around 280 bucks, just as much as what they're asking for the Digitrax Empire Builder starter set. Plus they are all newer engines, GP38's, 40's and the like, nothing for time era. I know alot of the ones I was looking at were Proto series engines, I do believe DCC ready, and were less than 100 bucks. In fact the switcher I was eyeing up was only 88 bucks. 280 is at the edge of my price range, and would take so long to save up for it would be more worth it just running everything DC and making own toot's and burbles. I have been known to make pretty convincing diesel sounds though . I modeled it after the Alco S6 I got to ride in
You need to shop around more!! Micro-Mark sells Spectrum steam engines with very good Tsunami sound decoders for around $170.
Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0
You can add a Soundtraxx LC Alco light-board replacement sound and motion decoder to an Alco switch engine for around $55-70. You need to get a speaker, I'd say a 1/2" by 1" oval speaker and decoder would be the best bet to fit in a switcher.
But if you like diesel switchers, you can get a Broadway Limited GM switcher with sound for about $140. I have one of the NW-2's and it runs and sounds great!!
BLI diesel switcher
You may need to shop around online to find the roadname and exact model you want, but I'd spend the little extra and get one with a good decoder factory installed if you're only going to be buying one or two engines.
Remember too - if you haven't already bought them - that you can use the Zephyr by itself without the walkaround, and then buy the UT-4 later...and if you do, I'd get the UT-4R so you can later add radio control without having to buy a new throttle.
I can almost guarantee that you will do much better to get a factory-installed sound-equipped engine than to buy even a discounted DC engine and then install a sound decoder of choice, or to have one installed for you. As the previous poster alludes, there are some bargoons/clearances out there that are very good, and the warranty covers the whole shebang. Hard to go wrong when they have made the engineering choices for you, and then taken the liability as well by providing the installations as a complete package...if...you can get a discount in the 40-60% range.
I guess it all was kind of vague. For starters a 0-6-0T steam switcher and either an Alco HH600/660 or S2 for diesel switcher (one or the other will be used, not both), and then I'm thinking an F7 for the short passenger train that will get more or less get pulled through the layout, I don't think I will have it make any stops. It's a compact layout, built as a shelf and made to fit in the corner of the living room. An L-shape about 7 foot long and 4 foot wide. It's all close enough I might just go with DC cab control, but I would still like to have sound. Sort of why I am stuck. I don't neeeed DCC, there's just a few things you can do with DCC that I like.
I would probably go with the S2 as it's near identicale (sorry I can't spell this morning) to the S6 I got a cab ride in so it's kind of special to me, even though anyone with an extra 10 bucks could have this same extra-special expierence. But still, that was the first time I was ever close to one. I just wish the driver could have told me more info than it was an Alco S6 owned and operated by Green Bay & Western untill the early/mid 90's when they donated it to the museum and it runs on an old WWII submarine diesel engine. I really wish he would have known more about that engine. From what I understand Alco used their own prime movers so I'm guessing maybe it was re-engined somewheres down the line. My layout scene has changed slightly so I can go with a litte bit bigger loco than the HH600 I first planned on getting.
The S-6 you rode on was originally Southern Pacific #1034, built in 1955. I don't believe it was ever repowered, but now your comment has me wondering...
See greenbayroute.com for more info on that loco.
That was a low blow dude . Seeing pics of all those glorious Alco's in beautiful GB&W paint, and then noticing what seems to be about 95% of listed as scrapped, I wanted to cry. But looking at those made me think of using my RR interchange for two RR and including GB&W. Seperatly of course, would look goofy having a WC engine and GB&W engine on the same track, not to mention not very prototypical. Now the only problem is the only GB&W painted Alco I can find in N is an RS3. It's nice, I plan to get both of the two numbers available, but I was hoping to find one in maybe RSD-15 or C430. Guess I will have to learn how to paint and stop by the NRRM to do some close up picture taking of the 430 they have.
Actually a small layout may need DCC more than a big one. I'm currently operating an L-shaped switching layout; I find it's a great advantage to not have to wire blocks all over the place to be able to have two engines working at once.
Atlas makes Alco S-2 and S-4 switchers that will be pretty close to the S-6 you rode in. http://www.atlasrr.com/holoco/hos2s43.htm
A Soundtraxx LC lightboard replacement Alco decoder would be a good inexpensive choice. Not sure how much room is in there for the speaker. I find you can usually fit a 1/2" round speaker in pretty much all HO diesels, and with a good enclosure they work OK. I've had good luck with 1/2" x 1" oval speakers in Atlas diesels so that might fit too. I don't think Atlas has issued the S switchers with QSI sound installed yet (??)
Otherwise there are plenty of sound-equipped switchers available.
There are a lot of F7's out there, some with sound installed...Life-Like, Athearn/Genesis, BLI etc. F's usually have a lot of room inside if you want to add your own 1" round speaker.
Life-Like makes a sound equipped 0-6-0 with tender. Unless you're modelling a street-running urban layout or using it as industry-owned switcher I'd go with the tender engine rather than the tank engine. (Generally with steam the tender holds the decoder and sound speaker, not sure if you could do a sound equipped tank engine without a lot of work.)
Sounds to me like the volunteer you talked to had a fairly good amt of info, he might have been busy running the train and couldn't answer all your questions right then. Anyway, there are plenty of books available on Alco engines, diesels in general, and the GB&W if you want more information.
Factrouy install sound is the way to go. Look at Blue Line by BLI.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
MILW-RODR I've looked at DC sound stuff but the best ones are really only cheaper than DCC because power packs are cheaper to buy than DCC systems, and then the speakers have to mounted else where. I would like to have on board speakers to make it sound more realistic.
But what I would need is something that can have multiple choices, or be able to reprogram the decoder for it.
I have 6 MRC decoders and 2 QSI from tonys. I prefer the MRC. They sound more authentic and are very loud. The MRC decoder for the Atlas S2 fits in with a little modification and it has the correct sound.
harbor558 I have 6 MRC decoders and 2 QSI from tonys. I prefer the MRC. They sound more authentic and are very loud. The MRC decoder for the Atlas S2 fits in with a little modification and it has the correct sound.
Getting a good speaker in the S2 is a bit difficult and a little beyond my ability so that's why I went with MRC. For everything else I've pretty much settled on using Digitrax sound as they are relatively inexpensive and they have various combinations that can be fit into almost anything. And they are capable of downloading different sounds with their PR3.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
MILW-RODR But looking at those made me think of using my RR interchange for two RR and including GB&W. Seperatly of course, would look goofy having a WC engine and GB&W engine on the same track, not to mention not very prototypical.
Never rule anything out... The GB&W was acquired by the WC in 1993. The only GB&W / WC combination I have photo evidence of is a 1994 photo of a healthy GB&W Alco with a sick WC EMD:3121994.04.30soosd60.pdf
You are correct, the red & gray RS-3 from Atlas is the only pre-painted GB&W loco available in N scale. That paint scheme is prototypical from the late 1950s through 1969.
mmathu Never rule anything out... The GB&W was acquired by the WC in 1993. The only GB&W / WC combination I have photo evidence of is a 1994 photo of a healthy GB&W Alco with a sick WC EMD:3121994.04.30soosd60.pdf
Sure about that?
"The story of the Green Bay Route, from its earliest conception through its merger into the Fox Valley & Western in 1993"
Taken directly from the GB&W site. As I understood it it all lasted as FV&W for a few more years untill CN bought it out.
[qoute user="mmathu"]
You are correct, the red & grey RS-3 from Atlas is the only pre-painted GB&W loco available in N scale. That paint scheme is prototypical from the late 1950's through 1969.
[/qoute]
Yea just one problem. Atlas provided the RS3's with two road numbers, 305 and 307. both were rebuilt to RS20 specs in '73 and '75 respectively, but only 307 stayed to the end. 305 was leased out in '83. I didn't really like the all red scheme, kind of bland. I mean they did pick out a brighter red, but for some reason they only all red locos I liked were brand new CP ES4400's. Didn't the FV&W use old GB&W trackage?
Whoa whoa whoa, wait wait wait. mmathu. Would you be the mmathu that runs greenbayroute web site? Because if you are IIIIIII seriously need to talk you. After romping around that site for about hour and a half I've very dearly decided that I don't just want a model RR, I want to RUN a model RR. Being my main items will be a few lumber mills (I'm thinking two mills for dimensional lumber, and third for dimensional or flat lumber like plywood, OSB, etc) and I was so impressed I want to model my operating scheme after GB&W. This means I will have to use more of the spare room or if we move sort of take over the bedroom (leave enough room on my "half" of the bedroom for a bed if we move to a 1 bedroom apartment) and include a loooooooooooooooooooot of staging. I counted 41 different RR's that the Algoma Plywood Company recieved cars from, most if not all of my list there was outbounds of product.
Plus maybe then we good try to do some sort of impromtu "open house" of the old GB&W yard and you could give us a nice lectured walking tour. "Well paint shop #1 used to be where we are standing now, and if you look 190 feet off to your north west the second shop used to be there". That sort of thing.
Here's a funny story, when I first moved up here I was told the elevator was haunted and lights would turn on and off in structures above the silos/annex but there was no way for a person to get up there. Needless to say I've lived here 5 years and only found out the elevators are still in regular service last fall.