Ok… I’ve searched the forum, read through all my back issues of MR and checked a number of manufacturer websites. And I’m still unsure about this question:
Are sound decoders stand alone? Can they be used for motor control, lighting, etc. Or do they need to be used in conjunction with a standard decoder. Are there some that can function alone and others that can’t?
I’m a little unsure… I’d like to have everything contained within one decoder so as to save space and wiring inside locomotive shells, I model in HO but room still gets a little scarce in hood units.
Thanks!
That’s exactly my understanding. For example, the SoundTraxx DSX is a sound-only decoder. You’d use that along with a regular decoder. The DSD-90 and DSD-100 are combined sound and motor controller, so you don’t need an additional control. It’s all baked right in.
For soundtraxx -
DSX is a sound only line of decoders.
DSD and the LC series decoders are sound and power.
The Tsunami series is sound and power.
For ESU - they are sound and power decoders.
Digitrax is still pending but it will require two parts to have both sound and power.
That clears that up. Thanks for the info guys.