I have been using a MRC 2000 at home for a couple of years. After going back to a local mr club after a two year absence I see them using NCE controllers and sound. I am hooked on sound.
I just ordered a NCE starter set and a Athearn/Roundhouse 4-4-0. I inquired on a dcc group and was told the dcc/sound/spkr module cannot be ordered separately.
Athearn will not answer eMail inquires. I am sure they get spammed.
I have a couple Roundhouse 2-6-0 old timers, one 4-6-0 old timer and I was wondering if there are any dcc/sound/spkr modules available that will fit in the tender for this engine? Maybe with a raised coal load. I did some searching including Tony’s but did not come up with anything. Maybe there is someone who has done this if it is possible. I have a couple of dcc only modules I was going to use and would rather have both functions now. I model about 1900.
What brand of decoder where you looking for, TCS, Digirtrax, MRC, ect… once you know that trying contacting the decoder company itself and ask them whats the best too use.
I said I am wondering if anyone has installed a dcc/sound/spkr module in an old time Roundhouse 2-6-0 HO gauge loco tender? Is this possible?
I searched around including Tony’s for a possible fit but did not see anything that would fit in this style tender.
I am hoping someone who has done this will tell me what brand will fit in this tender. I do not care what the brand is.
Athearn/Roundhouse has a 4-4-0 with dcc/sound but I understand this module is not available separately.
It is totally possible. Loksound is a good choice, but if you do Loksound, just get the V3.5 and not the micro. The micro is really an N scale decoder and often cant handle the demands of an HO locomotive’s drive. The loksound V3.5 is actually pretty small and should fit in your tender easily. Also Tonys is a good place to order your decoder, they will load it with whatever sound you want and you can buy the speaker and enclosure from them too. Not to mention the discount[:)]. Make sure to get a Loksound speaker and not some other brand. Loksound uses 100ohm speakers while most others use 8ohm. Loksound decoders are generic in thier shape, they arent made for any specific tender or locomotive. It is up to you to determine the best place to put the decoder and speaker.
Another choice is the tsunami from soundtraxx, but it is considerably larger than the Loksound decoder.
The Athearn locomotives with sound use sound decoders from MRC. Even if they were available seperately I would advise against getting one because MRC decoders are pretty poor quality. If you install a Loksound or Tsunami decoder and compare it to the factory sound in your athearn you will notice a big difference.
I went to the site for the Loksound and found dealers about 90 miles east of me and I believe they do mail orders, online orders.
I asked about the 4-4-0 decoder on a dcc forum and a couple people have the 4-4-0 and the sound is quite good. They believe MRC has a better run of dcc/sound decoders now which is probably why the module is not available separately.
I havent actually heard the 4-4-0 yet, but the MRC decoders have not been so good in the past. It would be nice though if MRC were improving their product, more people (myself included) might more seriously consider buying the Genesis locos.
It actually looks like Loksound has only released the sounds for a few steam locos so far, so if there is enough room a Tsunami might be a better choice.
I stand corrected on the Athearn 4-4-0. I just heard from someone via private eMail that the 4-4-0 is not worth it. This person works for a good size online and walk-in model railroad store.
I shall have to wait and see.
I did find the Loksound at Tony’s. Thanks for the link. I might have to buy one for the 4-4-0 if the one I get does not work very well. Exchanging by mail order might be more trouble than it is worth.
Quote:
``With all that said, I think it would be safe to say that no one, ``
``emphasis, no one, in the store thinks the MDC is good! Everyone who ``
``hears it ````is very disparaging of it. ``That quality is pretty bad. It is high pitched
and "tinny"sounding ``to us. ``
``The locos do not have good throttle control. One I was ``
``demonstrating for a customer just sat on the track, stationary, as the throttle was ``
``increased. The chuffing sounds emanated from the speaker, but the loco ``
``did not move. Finally, once the throttle was advanced several volts higher ``
``that any other loco has needed, the model began to move. I had about been ``
``ready to take it to the repair department to see what was wrong with it.``
End of Quote
Rich
Okay, I’ll admit it []… about 12-18 months ago I bought two MDC Brilliance decoders - shortly after they came out IIRC. Given the state of sound at that time and my relative lack of experience, I thought the sound was okay. And at the time, there were no “LC” decoders from Soundtraxx or others, so MRC was basically <50% the cost of any other sound decoder. Today, of course, there are far-better-sounding options in similar price ranges, so no contest there.
What became quickly apparent to me, even then, is that the loco control was terrible. Lousy, jerky, terrible performance. Awful low-speed response, and the same issue noted above: You
As I understand it(from multiple posts on threads on these forums, not from my personal experience) Loksound offers the most variety in sounds–they also offer a programmer that you can actually download sounds off the internet, thus the number of sounds you can download and program are limitless.
I just bought two Athearn Genesis F3’s in my logo(frisco)–these are the previous DC only version, but it’s fairly easy to change out the circuit board, and there are actually 3 specific decoders that are easily put in the circuit board’s place–as of now I plan on probably putting a Loksound 3.5 in both A units and simple function decoders in the 2 B units. As per the above discussions, even if my loco was available in the Genesis DCC units now produced I would just get the DC version with the NMRA DCC plug in it given the quality issues with the MRC decoders.
I have the new Roundhouse 4-4-0 and there are sounds on the module that are really good. The chuff sound is the “0” it has a deeper sound than the default one. The sound volumes have to be reset to “0” also. I found the control to be very good on both DCC and DC. The sound on DC requires a bit of throttle to initiate. The radio controller for the DC also works well.
Loksound has a bunch of diesel sounds but is limited in small steam and the programmer is pricey.
I plan to put the Soundtraxx Tsunami in my older Roundhouse locos. I have Tsunami’s in my On30 locos and I really like it. All that is needed is a new floor and connections to the loco.
I suppose it is the old quality issue that MRC has had for some time. I just hope I do not have to through a return issue. That can be the pits.
Tony’s came up with a couple other different suggestions and I will probably wait until the Springfield, MA (Big E) show. Soundtrax and “MRC”. I wonder if Tony’s could install and test a DCC sound decoder at the show if I have the tender frames ready? Anyone know if Tony’s does that at the show. I vaguely remember that he did that at one time.
I have to get the two MDC metal frame tenders milled (water tank section)
and holes drilled in the bottom for the speaker since the speaker normally faces down from what I see in a page at Tony’s…
If I were you I would not send an engine in to Tony’s, they do good work but they take forever and the prices are outrageous. You would probably spend at least as much on the installation as you did on the decoder. Installing decoders seems to intimidate people for some reason but it is really all a matter of cutting and soldering a few wires, or in some cases just plugging in the decoder. You should at least look at it yourself, and if you dont feel you can install it properly try to find a hobby shop in the area that will install it for you.
As far as installing it for you at the show, I wouldnt count on it. Tony’s has tons of installations all backed up and I doubt you would be able to jump right to the top of the list.
Oh I have done decoders. I have put small Lenz decoders in my tender drive HO 4-4-0s but I thought that this would be more than I could handle. Tony’s suggested a couple other DCC sound decoders that do not require programming like the LokSound 3.5 and will fit the older MDC 2-6-0s.
The only additional thing really is the speaker, so dont let it get to you. With Loksound, you dont actually need the programmer, the only thing the programmer does is allow you to change sounds on the decoder but all other CVs are programmable on any programming track. I have a few Loksound decoders, but I dont have the programmer. If I were you I would actually go with a Tsunami over the Loksound though. Other less expensive options are a Soundtraxx LC series decoder or a DSX. Both of them are less costly, but dont sound as good or have as many features. The LC is an all around decoder (motor, lights, sound) but the motor drive isnt the greatest and can make your engine run noisy. The DSX is a sound only decoder so the engine needs 2 decoders to run, the DSX and another decoder for motor control. So the way I see it:
Loksound: Good decoder, but Tony’s doesnt seem to offer the sounds for your engine.
LC: A cheap option but sounds generic and the control circuit isnt great.
DSX: sounds pretty good but you will need 2 decoders which complicates the install and takes up more room you could possibly use for a speaker. Also can make programming confusing if you havent programmed dual-decoder engines before.
Tsunami: Sounds great, great drive and has acceptable sounds for your locomotive.
]… about 12-18 months ago I bought two MDC Brilliance decoders - shortly after they came out IIRC. Given the state of sound at that time and my relative lack of experience, I thought the sound was okay. And at the time, there were no “LC” decoders from Soundtraxx or others, so MRC was basically <50% the cost of any other sound decoder. Today, of course, there are far-better-sounding options in similar price ranges, so no contest there.