New but not new to HO scale. Need some help with DCC

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi there everyone! Ok, I started out at age 4 with a bachmann cannonball express. I collected HO for years up until about 7 or 8 when I found out what O gauge was all about, Bells, whistles, Lights, action! Now Im 14 and Im coming back to HO. Im wanting to buy Kato’s 2 EJ&E SD38-2’s. I noticed on the page for the loco it says it has a 8 pin connector. I need to know how much and who makes DCC and sound decoders for those 2 engines. Thanks alot everybody. Dillon Harrison

2

In case you’re wondering why nobody has replied to your query, the subject of DCC is always being kicked around here, so repeats get little attention. To save you some time, and to save me some typing, here are a few things for you to look at.

Read this: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1170927/ShowPost.aspx

Visit here to learn more about DCC: http://www.tonystrains.com/

This site has an index of some DCC manufacturers: http://www.tttrains.com/dcc/dcc_man.htm

There’s a search function at the bottom of this page. Just type in what you’re wondering about and read up on the links it brings up. Like I said, DCC gets a lot of coverage here, so I’m sure you’re bound to find what you need.

Enjoy.

3

Dillon,

The major players of DCC and sound are following:

Motor: $12 and up

  • Digitrax

  • Lenz

  • NCE

  • TCS
    The more functions you get; the more expensive the decoder is.

Sound: $60-100 (including speaker)

  • Digitrax
  • Loksound (ESU)
  • QSI*
  • Soundtraxx

*QSI doesn’t have an after-market decoder for sale as of yet

Anyone of the manufactures above make an 8-pin socket decoder. You’ll need to find which specific one has that feature. Tony’s Train Exchanges Decoder Comparison Matrix will help you with that.

Tom

4

Dillion,

Digitrax makes a drop-in sound decoder specifically for that loco. It doesn’t plug into the factory board, it replaces it and is an easy conversion. I’ve done two, the first one took 30 minutes and the second one maybe 20 minutes:

http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_sdh104k1bcombo.php

If you don’t like Digitrax’s SD38-2 sound scheme that comes with the decoder, you can modify it or even “build” your own:

http://www.digitrax.com/sounddepot.php

There’s a Yahoo! group where Digitrax sound is discussed in great detail:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitraxsound/

HTH,
Steve

5

Be sure and get the “combo” one, the Digitrax sound decoder is just sound and motor control, it has a piggy-back decoder for lights. I’ve done one, the speaker is attached to the decoder and the engine has an enclosure all set to take it. It would be a great choice for someone’s first sound installation!!

6

Good point! The link I posted is for the combo, but you’re right, it’s worth pointing out that you need to get the combo if you want the “complete” setup.

Steve

7

That, and how many people are up between 12:30 AM and 6:00 AM?[8D]

8

Thanks guy for all your input. I think the digitrax combo is the way im gonna go. All though it is pretty pricy. Im not wondering if I should but sound in just one engine and put and put just dcc in he other. Thanks again guys. Dillon Harrison