AntonioFP45 wrote: These new Blue Line locomotives certainly look like and sound like they're going to be winners! I'm definetly looking forward to having some of these units on my roster.Brakie,in reading your above response......many would come to the conclusion that NO modern HO/N sound system is going to please you. You stated a while back that the club you belong to voted not to have any sound equipped units on the layout at all, so your response is understandable and almost expected. For many of us (myself included); onboard sound has become an incredibly enjoyable feature of this hobby and its great to see that it is becoming more and more popular. I enjoy walking in the SMRR Club, and throughout the layout I hear the faint distant sounds of Alco 251s, GE FDL 16s, EMD 567s, and steamers. Mr. Grubba.......please keep them coming!
These new Blue Line locomotives certainly look like and sound like they're going to be winners! I'm definetly looking forward to having some of these units on my roster.
Brakie,
in reading your above response......many would come to the conclusion that NO modern HO/N sound system is going to please you. You stated a while back that the club you belong to voted not to have any sound equipped units on the layout at all, so your response is understandable and almost expected.
For many of us (myself included); onboard sound has become an incredibly enjoyable feature of this hobby and its great to see that it is becoming more and more popular.
I enjoy walking in the SMRR Club, and throughout the layout I hear the faint distant sounds of Alco 251s, GE FDL 16s, EMD 567s, and steamers.
Mr. Grubba.......please keep them coming!
You fail to remember I am a member of 2 HO scale clubs..Now,Frankly sound is ok for a short time but,for 6 hours straight it does get on your nerves.Try that your club and see for yourself.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
mario_puzo wrote:The sound may be ok, but sound does not compensate for an absolutely terrible shell and lack of railroad-specific details. Compared to other modern diesel offerings from Atlas and Athearn, the BLI SD40-2 looks like it was tooled 25 years ago thanks to plenty of heavy molding and thick details.
Not to mention the forth coming upgraded Athearn SD40-2 with road specific details will surpass the BLI's generic SD40-2.
Driline wrote: BRAKIE wrote:Mr.Grubba,Sorry to say that sound Blythe doesn't do the model justice..I was up close and personal with one of your SD40-2s..Indeed it does sound like a 645E3.After listening to that unit run for 5 straight hours I doubt if I will buy any sound equipped locos any time soon-maybe not even in the next lustrum..Why do you even bother to comment on threads like this? We all know you hate everything to do with DCC and sound and will never ever convert. Good for you, your choice.But give the rest of us a break here. We like our DCC and sound.
BRAKIE wrote:Mr.Grubba,Sorry to say that sound Blythe doesn't do the model justice..I was up close and personal with one of your SD40-2s..Indeed it does sound like a 645E3.After listening to that unit run for 5 straight hours I doubt if I will buy any sound equipped locos any time soon-maybe not even in the next lustrum..
Why do you even bother to comment on threads like this? We all know you hate everything to do with DCC and sound and will never ever convert. Good for you, your choice.
But give the rest of us a break here. We like our DCC and sound.
And WHO are YOU TO to say what anybody can or can not reply to??
Who says I hate DCC/Sound ? I don't recall ever saying that.STOP putting words in my mouth.
IF you know so dang much about my replies you will remember I was DCC/Sound at one time.I have also stated DCC has its place.
Brakie wrote: ".....Now, Frankly sound is ok for a short time but, for 6 hours straight it does get on your nerves. Try that at your club and see for yourself."
Geez... when I was a member I did and found it most enjoyable and the other members seemed to as well! On several occasions when someone came in with a new sound unit, there would be excitement in the air, especially if he had a Lok Sound or Tsunami equipped unit. The key to the enjoyment was not to have the sound units turned up at full volume. With sound, the railroad, imho, is so much more realistic.
Brakie wrote: "I doubt if I will buy any sound equipped locos any time soon - maybe not even in the next lustrum.
The next "lustrum"? Brakie, apparently sound gets on YOUR nerves. There's nothing wrong with admitting that, but you slide around it instead of admitting it, outright.
Everyone here likes and dislikes different aspects of this hobby. You got upset with Driline's reply. Neither of us are putting words in your mouth. Go back over your posts from the last 2 years. Over and over again MANY of your statements "knock" and put down sound as well as dcc, inspite of your statements that you are a member of 2 HO scale clubs. So hence, the responses here that seemed to have upset you.
You keep mentioning the upcoming new Athearn SD40-2. (Will this unit be, what, the 3rd version?)
The body detailing willl certainly be beautiful and may be superior, but I most certainly hope it does not have the outdated, noisy 1980s style drive that must be worked on out of the box. Yes, Athearns can be tweaked, but come on.......I've been buying them since 1977, have seen the minor drive upgrades, and a friend taught me how to tweak them, but after 30 YEARS and the price being asked, Athearn should have a considerably better drive than what they're offering in "non"-Genesis units. Even the "old" Atlas Roco drive from the 1970s is a superior mechanism..
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Again you have not read all of my replies..I had DCC/Sound and like it..I just don't like 6 solid hours of it..If the truth was to be spoken I suppose many on this forum that has sound will agree to it as many did on the Atlas forum.
Again you have no idea of the forth coming AND GREATLY UPGRADED Athearn SD40-2 and blowing more smoke as the unlearned does.There is NO sound verision as this is a RTR model
Buy your GENERIC SD40-2 and be happy..Just don't expect me to buy a GENERIC SD40-2 that doesn't look any better then a old BB SD40-2.
So Brakie, this new Athearn unit, how much will it be with DC sound? O wait, it doesnt have it! Thats the POINT of buying Blueline.
And as for your comment about running sound units 6 hours a day....Well Im pretty sure in my line of work I hear those sounds x10 for much more than 6 hours a day.........Doesnt bother me.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
BRAKIE wrote: Again you have not read all of my replies..I had DCC/Sound and like it..I just don't like 6 solid hours of it..If the truth was to be spoken I suppose many on this forum that has sound will agree to it as many did on the Atlas forum.Again you have no idea of the forth coming AND GREATLY UPGRADED Athearn SD40-2 and blowing more smoke as the unlearned does.There is NO sound verision as this is a RTR modelBuy your GENERIC SD40-2 and be happy..Just don't expect me to buy a GENERIC SD40-2 that doesn't look any better then a old BB SD40-2.
Brakie, I'm not trying to get into an argument with you, but I did look at many of your replies. Read the replies on the Atlas forum. Many seem to coincide with the replies here......sound can be enjoyable for a long time........at low volume.
Blowing smoke? Where? Nobody stated anything about you buying an SD40-2. The response was to your PUTTING DOWN the sound on the new PCM SD40-2. No mention of the body detailing was made at that point. You don't have to tell me to buy a Generic SD40-2. At 44, I can make my own choices. I have my goal set on the new FP45 and am already keeping in mind that the drive may need some tweaking. In fact, I just replaced a truck on an Genesis SD75M for a friend who's vowed not to buy any more Athearns. His drive is noisy!
But it is interesting that you constantly swing your points to Athearn's GREATLY UPGRADED SD40-2, with a seemingly blind loyalty . You've mentioned it on several threads and make it sound like it's going to be the "ultimte" unit. You haven't even seen one in front of you yet. So who's blowing smoke? Just as you picked apart the new PCM unit, if Athearn's drive hasn't improved, then the new SD40-2 will be a beautifully detailed shell with an o.k drive.
Well I was a forklift operator for 15 years in a warehouse so like you I am no stranger to loud sounds.
Hey! If you want 6 solid hours of sound GO FER IT! Have fun!
Antonio,Check your pm box please..
I promise no bombs! LOL!
CAZEPHYR, I recently upgraded my M1a to the new version with a alternate chuff using the QSI chip. The whistle on that engine is acceptable to me.
The Reading T1 whistle has never been and will be re-programmed with a different sound set at some point in the future.
I did not want to say anything about the sounds in the SD40, but after hearing the BLI website's sounds for the Blue line SD40, I thought how terrible. Did the other sounds actually stop when they blew the horn?
Im not in a postion to judge a sound file because I am hearing impaired and cannot pick out the background stuff very well. I leave that to the others who might be Audio-piles on the forum.
I dont know. Im just happy that Im in DCC and dont feel the need to try and get these Blueliners. I am aware that I have not had too much good things to say about it but.. am doing my best to be diplomatic here.
Safety Valve wrote: CAZEPHYR, I recently upgraded my M1a to the new version with a alternate chuff using the QSI chip. The whistle on that engine is acceptable to me. The whistle is OK, but not a good recording of a PRR sounding whistle. Of course, they all sound different to each of us and a recording done on a whistle standing still is different than a moving locomotive. The Reading T1 whistle has never been and will be re-programmed with a different sound set at some point in the future.I did not want to say anything about the sounds in the SD40, but after hearing the BLI website's sounds for the Blue line SD40, I thought how terrible. Did the other sounds actually stop when they blew the horn?Im not in a postion to judge a sound file because I am hearing impaired and cannot pick out the background stuff very well. I leave that to the others who might be Audio-piles on the forum.I dont know. Im just happy that Im in DCC and dont feel the need to try and get these Blueliners. I am aware that I have not had too much good things to say about it but.. am doing my best to be diplomatic here.
CAZEPHYR, I recently upgraded my M1a to the new version with a alternate chuff using the QSI chip. The whistle on that engine is acceptable to me. The whistle is OK, but not a good recording of a PRR sounding whistle. Of course, they all sound different to each of us and a recording done on a whistle standing still is different than a moving locomotive.
Safety valve
How do you like the alternate chuff on the M1?? I have one of those also. I find the alternate chuff is better than the original sound and ordered all of mine with the alternate chuff.
I did not listen to the sound byte, but normally, the other sounds would not stop when the horn is blown. If the other sounds stop during the time the horn is blown on the new blueline, that means they only have one input into the amplifier. Most DCC sound units have four inputs into the amplifier and the bell, motor, and the horn is on separate inputs into the amplifier. That leaves one other input channel for the alternate sound also. All of the input channels can feed the amplifier at the same time and you will hear all of the sounds together, but if you only have one or two input channels, they have to share one at a time into the amplifier.
The first Loksound systems only had one or two inputs and when the whistle was blown, the bell would have to stop first and then the whistle would blow. This was so annoying to me, that I immediately sold my first Trix Big Boy with sound. .
The old cheaper than any other sound units might have only one input to the multiplexer, instead of the normal four inputs. I hope this is not the case as that sound is worthless, at least to me.
I probably will spend the few extra dollars and get the Walthers GP Chessie units and know that they come equippted with QSI sound all the way through.
I have been in the market for a Chessie unit for some time and was hoping that MR will post a video of the SD40 running on the layout as I find those videos very helpful.
Can somebody explain how this no-DCC sound works?
What happens when engine is not moving - 0 Volts on the DC track - I'd think, no sound can be heard?
Thommo wrote: Can somebody explain how this no-DCC sound works?What happens when engine is not moving - 0 Volts on the DC track - I'd think, no sound can be heard?
Heh. I dont think so either. DC Voltage zero = no go. No workie etc.
I recall this as an annoyance having to find the voltage at which one engine starts the sounds but before moving.
Sure..I saw this done this past weekend and was impress.
The engine stops moving at/about 1/2 throttle but,the locomotive is now "idling".Shut the power completely off and the sound turns off.Simple operation.And no the motor does not pick up power while in the idle mode thanks to the whiz bang(for the want of the correct term) electronics in the sound decoder.
A cool thing-and yes I was VERY IMPRESS with the sound of a "panting" steam locomotive including safety valve lifting and air pump..
I simply love the N&W "hooter" whistle on BLI's 1218.
BRAKIE wrote: Antonio, check your pm box please..I promise no bombs! LOL!
Antonio, check your pm box please..
Thanks
I am interested in purchasing a blueline SD40-2, for running on the San Diego Model Railroad
Club layout. How well does the blueline SD40-2 run on club layouts? I would like to hear
from members of model railroad clubs that run the blueline SD40-2s.
Tnx!
Do you maybe know which steam engines have this DC sound?
Thommo wrote: Tnx!Do you maybe know which steam engines have this DC sound?
Well,I will suggest BLI's Blue line of steamers even though locomotives with QSI sound can be used in DC mode by buying the Quantum Engineer from BLI or Atlas.
http://precisioncraftmodels.com/Quantum-Engineer---QARC-Enabled-28-Button-Activator-c3474.html
So does anyone here have a Blueline they have converted to DCC ? If so I assume the function keys still work for the horn, lights, bell etc ? I see that some of the delaers now have them in stock across many roadnames. From the pictures it looks like a Digitrax DN143IP is a drop in decoder. Anyone know for sure ?
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
"does anyone else notice that all other sounds stop when the horn is being blown?" That was the first thing I heard. Then a few pages of bercking about sound it final came out. Does it do it in real life, how about the control box, same thing?
As far as the racket, I am with Brakie with that to a point. When I come home from work and start to unwind I run the DC with no sound first. Later I kick on the DCC side. Sometimes I all so mute the sound or just turn down the sound F-5 on my BLI Steamers.
Far as racket, trying running a body shop for 25 years!
Far as dropping a lot of Cash for a DCC system, people turely under rate the Bachmann E-Z. New on E-bay $55.00. Cheap way to get started and mine does 70% of what I want it to do. I will add my M1a and Heavy Mike BLi's are pulling 60 rolling stock with no problems.
I have high hopes for the Blue line. Like another M1a and 24 more Big Boys. Plus some oil Burners as well.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Blue Line SD40-2 sound isn't bad. The sound is pretty decent considering it's their first proprietary sound system but QSI equipped Paragon Series still sounds much better.
Consider this, Paragon SD40-2's run about $30 more than Blue-Lines on Factory Direct Trains.com ($119.99 vs $149.99) both with sound. Other places, the difference can be $50 or so. Never pay MSRP.
QSI offers sound chip upgrades.
Paragons come DCC equipped, Blue-Lines do not. They're DCC ready. A decoder, if needed, will cost you $25 or more.
Paragons run great on DC with a Quantum Engineer as do all other QSI equipped brands.
Also, The shells are interchangeable between Paragon Series and Blue-Line Series SD40-2's.
I was going to buy one. But after listening to the sound compared to my three Paragon SD40-2's, I'll gladly fork over the extra 30 to 50 dollars for another Paragon. If it's a particular roadname that I'm looking for, I'll order a shell.
Ted Marshall
Ted M.
got trains?™
See my photos at: http://tedmarshall.rrpicturearchives.net/
Despite the model not being perfect to some standards, I know my son and I are having a lot of fun running it over the layout. To me the fun factor is very important. Compared to non-sound units I purchased a few years ago, I still think it is a great deal. Sure, it is no Lexus, but it is a nice Toyota in my opinon.
I broke down and bought 2 SD40-2s from Factory Direct for $119 ea. I'd prefer to get them from my LHS but they get no markup at these prices. I also picked up 2 DN143IP decoders. I already have 2 BLI SD40-2s with the original chipset. I'll compare the Bluelines with them, once the Bluelines arrive.