I understand you need to push a function key and operate the encoder wheel on the new NCE Powercab (at the same time) to get a playable whistle function on a sound decoder. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it awkward? Thanks!
karle,
I have the Power Cab but haven’t had the opportunity to try the playable whistle. Randy (rrinker) mentioned today in another post that he had tried the feature recently and found it “a bit awkward” to use. The Digitrax DT400 (which Randy has) has a “pressure-sensitive” F2 button to activate the playable whistle.
karle, if you are thinking about buying a DCC system, I wouldn’t necessarily use this as a deal breaker. I would though, at the very least, try both of them so that you can determine which system is right for your needs.
Tom
What are you guys talking about? Give me more detail of the problem. I have a Power Cab NCE system and using a Bachmann Decapod with a Soundtraxx Tsunami DCC sound decoder. I can take advantage of all functions of the sound decoder just by pressing the number keys or the “Whistle” , “Bell” and “Headlight” keys as appropriate.
What kind of whistle are you talking about? A loco whistle or a conductor whistle,etc??
The POWER Cab from NCE is AWESOME (in my book). It blows away the MRC Prodigy and bachmann & Atlas entry level DCC systems. I prefer it over the Zephyr too.
I have owned the Prodigy and I can tell you that MRC uses the shoddiest of materials (from a junk shop somewhere in the Orient) to assemble their products.
The NCE system not only works great, has great performance and technology, but unlike MRC is made of quality construction as well.
All that, and its very expandable to boot!
Regards,
Tom M.
(just a proud NCE customer!)
Tom M, the “Playable Whistle” feature is a relatively new concept that has been introduced in the latest sound decoders like the Tsunami. This allows you to control the whistle sound increasing and decreasing the sound like a real engineer to allow real signalling to be made with the whistle. You know, make that whistle talk. As opposed to simply pressing the whistle button and hearing the same whistle sound every time. Digitrax had anticipated this feature and built the pressure sensitive F2 button into the DT400 throttle some years back. Only now are the decoders coming out to support this feature.
Just to set the record straight, I haven’t tried it on the PowerCab, I don’t know anyone locally with a PowerCab. The one layout I work on besides my own, he’s also a Digitrax user and won’t be having any sound anytime soon - his locos are scratchbuild tiny 4-4-0 Camelbacks. What I said is I THINK it would be awkward to press the whistle button and try to scroll the wheel backa nd forth at the same time - although you could press F2 instead of the whistle button and latch the whistle on and play away. Versus the way Digitrax has implemented it with a pressure sensor behind the F2 key so you just press harder or softer on the button.
–Randy
Oops! [:O] Sorry about that Randy. I misinterpreted your other post. [:(]
Does anyone know which of the newer decoders comes with the playable whistle?
Tom
Only ones I know of are the Tsunami, Loksound 3.5, and the Digitrax ones. Not sure what the playable whistle is like on the Digitrax, the Loksound is more or less just the volume, and the Tsunami is really playable.
–Randy
Just wanted to thank all who took the time to reply. I’m very intersted in any other comments folks may have. Take care.
Thank you for letting me know. However, my PowerCab “Whistle” button is touch sensitive, in the case that you press it for a long time and seemingly the whistle gets stronger. Same with my P2K diesel horn that sounds from the same button. Its a touch sensitive button for sure–but I cannot say for sure that the volume actually increases, but it sure seems like it.
I am using Tsunami and P2K’s latest factory decoders on my layout.
Regards,
Tom M.
I ran an F unit with a Soundtraxx Diesel decoder installed once, using a Digitrax DT400 throttle. If you pressed the F2 really quick, the horn would be very quiet and only sound like one bell was blowing. Was pretty cool, by the end of the day everybody running that F unit had a different touch with the horn.
The button on NCE is most definitely not pressure-sensative. There’s an article on Tony’s web site on newer sound decoders, as wella s numerous discussions on the NCE group on Yahoo - the playable whistle on NCE is implemented with the button and the thumbwheel. If you have a Tsunami - program the playable whistle CV to work with NCE and try that - I think you’ll find a big difference versus how long you hold the button down. The QSI decoders in the P2K locos most definitely do NOT have any form of playable whistle. What they DO have is an ‘alternate ending’ that plays at random times to give a slightly different sound. The Soundtraxx DSX and DSD decoders also have no form of playable whistle.
–Randy