I’ve just finished fitting an MRC S2/S4 sound decoder to my one-and-only Atlas Alco switcher. Overall I am quite satisfied with the sound, although the horn is a bit quiet. The fitting of a better speaker may address this.
I also used the opportunity to test the new track layout at the west end of Sweethome, that has been progressing over the past few months.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0a4AHpDHsM
Jon
Jon - how great that is! Is that chug-a-lug idle sound what the S’s sounded like? Have never heard one in real life.
I have a S-1 that I want to DCC and sound. I am new into this and wonder, is that MRC decoder used for both the sound and the running and lights, or is that a separate decoder?
[%-)]
But, I thought those decoders were junk and didn’t work??[%-)]Hmmm…[:-^]
Nice.[tup] Looks great going over those double slips.
Neither have I, although I have a few videos with alco sounds on and the decoder sounds good enough to pass muster, IMO.
The decoder is almost a drop in fit. You have to file away a little portion of the weight and solder on the 4 pick-up wires, but you do get both sound and power in the one decoder. Just as well, as there’s no room left inside for much else.
Jon
John, as always, great track work and painting.
In terms of the sound decoder, I heard nothing but a lot of white noise. Very dissapointing.
I myself will be installing a QSI Revolution in my 2 Atlas units. It has 16 bit sound so it should trump anything else out there.
Here is a good video of an S series loco.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejLNoTvGha4
David B
jake9,
No, that is not what S-units sound like. S-units have either a 539 (S-1 & S-3) or 539T (S-2 & S-4) prime mover. The “T” is for turbo, and indicates 1000Hp instead of 660Hp. Both kinds of 539’s are straight 6 diesels, and have cylinder heads as big around as a dinner plate.
What MRC did was record a 244 prime mover and program that into their S-unit board. These diesels are found in original RS-2’s & RS-3’s, FA’s/FB’s, and PA’s/PB’s, and were available in V-12 or V-16 versions (1600Hp or 2000Hp). Naturally, a V-12 does not sound like a straight 6.
Yes, the MRC decoder does have headlight controls on the board, and both operates the loco and makes their RS-3-like sounds. Most sound decoders these days do it all with the exception of Digitrax (they use plug-ins) and old DSX-type decoders from Soundtraxx.
loathar,
Nobody ever said that all MRC boards are failures. What we have been saying is that they have around a 50% failure rate for DCC, far higher than any other manufacturer of decoders. That makes them J-U-N-K. They do, apparently, work more reliably on DC since you don’t have to program them, and that’s where most failures occur.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Thanks for the link to what an S2 SHOULD sound like. Do you know if the QSI revolution decoder will actually fit into the Atlas (or P2K) model?
Jon
Paul - thanks for the heads-up. I am still looking for a sound decooder for an RS-1 but I guess that MRC will not be it!
I have another answer on the forum about S2, FM H15-44 and FM H16-44. Any further input would be appreciated.
[bow]