Digitrax SFX064D Sound FX Decoder , good or not?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Question for all you guys that know about this sound decoder.I want to put a sound decoder in some of my dummy engines but am reluctant to buy one wheni have no knowledge of the decoder.Saw the this decoder on ebay for abour $ 60 bucks but would like to get some feed back on it.If you guys have any info on a good fairly cheap sound decoder to install in gp-38’s,40’s , 40-2 etc let me know. I already have a Union pacific with factory sound but ,would love to put sound in my southern pacific’s .

Thanks

Chris

2

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1127828/ShowPost.aspx

Take 5 minutes and read the thread. It will tell you everything you need to know.

David B

3

Thanks David, i appriciate it, that is what i was looking for, dont remember seeing the thread?

Chris

4

I have two Tower 55 models with the new Digitrax SoundFX decoder in them, and the sounds and motor control are very good.

5

As per usual on these forums, useful threads usually get buried and the useless off-topic ones stay on top.

David B

6

Cacole,

Which Tower 55’s do you have? I have a couple of ES44AC’s(UP’s so I suppose they are C45ACCTe’s) and agree on the motor control but find the sounds, while clear, are limited. They also aren’t the best pullers, even after run-in.

I didn’t realize/make the connection you were in Siera Vista. I spent Three months at Ft. Huachuca last year and would have liked to say Hi.

And I put an FX combo decoder in my Kato SD38-2, which sounds and runs well, again with limited sounds.

Tilden

7

You need to unlock your sounds…with the PR2

David B

8

And I didn’t even know they were in prison. Doing 8 to 10 for fraud I’ll bet.

So, there are additional sounds on the chip and I need to buy the PR2, which runs through a computer to access them? Does this go for diesel as well as steam? Is there info on the Digitrax web site regarding the sounds available?

Tilden

9

Tlden,

My two Tower 55 models are the ES4400ACs decorated for the SP Black Widow fantasy scheme. All of the sounds work fine in mine, so I don’t know why you’re having problems with them.

I am using an NCE Wireless ProCab with them set on the default values as they came from the box, except for resetting the address and adjusting a couple of the volume CVs.