I operate my layout with analogue DC and have no intention to change to DCC. This saturday I bought a LL Proto2000 GE U23B with QSI sound and control. It took me some time of trial and error to get the best out of the QSI possibilties but now I’m quite happy with it. I also have a Genesis F7 AB set with the (old?) MRC sound/control decoder and small handheld soundcontroller.The QSI sound is far superior to the MRC sound and of course much easier to control. Now my question: is it feasible to exchange the MRC decoder for a QSI decoder? and if so which one and where are they to be had.
Nieuweboer,
I don’t believe QSI decoders are available yet for after-market installations. They’ve been talking about it for a while now but nothing has materialized yet. You may want to consider one of the ESU LokSound decoders instead.
Tom
I have always wondered why people need to make this preliminary statement when it comes sound locomotives. [;)]
David B
That DCC engine may get cranky on DC if you cut off the voltage too much or too early or too little. They will then get cranky and need a reset.
The older QSI engines had a manual pot switch to reset easily, but today’s engines either have a reed which may or may not work and sometimes require a set of 3 cv values entered via DCC for a reset.
QSI is on the verge of releasing thier aftermarket decoder for installs into analog engines. They are very much anticipated.
I take it you already discovered how crappy the MRC decoder is against the QSI?
You WILL run DCC some day.
That first sound/dcc engine is the first crack in the opening door towards DCC.
Enjoy!
the QSI decoders are coming out this month.
Link?
David B
Actually, I wonder if a lot of folks are still thinking wishfully.
http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/the-300/Quantum-Revoluton-Sound-and/Detail
This page listed them as being out in Feb 2008 LAST WEEK. It’s already moved to March. Tony’s Trains had an ad in the Feb issue of MR, listed price and all. Stated Feb delivery. But nothing on Tony’s website.
Maybe QSI is at least getting close
There’s no need to dis those of us who, for whatever our reason, will not upgrade to DCC.
If DCC was available 50 years ago, it would have been an option, but having accumulated a large roster of DC motive power switching this late in the game is not an option. I would rather use that money to acquire some of the New River Point Station EP-3s and EF-3s, and the 8600 stainless steel coaches when they are available. I can see them operating on my track, but I can’t see the DCC operate.
I have just received , my BLI New Haven I-5s with Quantum sound and bought the Quantum Engineer. If that works like I heard that it works, DCC will never be an option for me, especially when the after market sound unit becomes available, not matter how long it takes.
Never say never.
You will learn about CV’s then you will want to adjust those cv’s perhaps reset your engine etc.
Prices for DCC is falling by the year.
It’s possible that analog engines will fall below a price point that they dont get produced much if at all in the future.
I too use the Quantum Engineer for my P2K U28B loco (my only sound engine at the moment). It really is a cool piece of equipment for us DC users. Once I acquire a larger house and thus build a larger layout, (and of course acquire more sound equipped locos) I will likely wire it for DCC. I agree with you that DCC may never be an option for some (heck, I may not get that bigger house for 10 years or more, or maybe never), and the QE makes a nice compromise. I’m not going to all the trouble and expense to convert a 4x8 layout to DCC! The only bad thing is that as many have noted, we are currently limited to QSI-equipped locos until QSI gets off their b*tts and finally releases their decoders. I’ve got a couple of F-units that I would love to get sound on. That’s my $0.02.
**Deploys calculator…
4 F units ABBA @ 170 dollars factory sound
4 QSI after market decoders 140 or so plus 100 per engine.
UGH.
Actually, no one is dissing anyone around here. What is needed to be known (and what they DONT tell you when you are dealing with sound, DC and the Quantam Engineer) is that the QE will affect every other locomotive on the layout that doesnt have the QE installed.
Also, they dont tell you that you cannot run a sound loco properly or well with a non-sound loco.
Also, they dont tell you that you need to supply the decoder with 5-8 volts before you will start to run.
Having sound and DC is fine if you only want to run the single locomotive (or multiple QSI) at the same time. But if you want FULL access to all the intended features of the locomotive, you have to go DCC…plain and simple.
They design these locomotives with DCC in mind first…NOT DC. DC is just an after-thought. Even the Blue-line locos (with their horrible sound sets) are designed for DCC first (albeit without a DCC motor drive decoder).
Have you ever tried DCC? I work at a LHS, and I get alot (ALOT) of nay-sayers like yourself, and the moment they have a hands on, with multiple systems, they change their minds. It seams that there are cliques of an
I think the Blueline design was simply having the QSI removed and resold the entire line for DC users.
Then we learn that we need a motor decoder etc.
The good news is BLI is releasing several NEW engines that will be equipped with QSI once again.
Another thing about DCC is brands of decoders, control systems etc. Having several different providers of DCC on the locomotive fleet really makes things a bit too complicated and requires a three ring binder full of notes on each engine individually.
Set a cv, you forget that value unless you write it down.
DC will always have a special place. But I consider them expendable guinea pigs during early track laying and testing before deploying the DCC. That 20 dollar ebay junker can catch fire and burn and it wont hurt my feelings none. That means I can fix the problem before going showtime with the big stuff.
Hmm…not an issue if you use Decoder pro. With a simple computer connection, Decoder pro keeps an list of your locomotives, which decoders you have installed in them and what you have changed.
Ive installed hundreds of decoders (mostly for clients) and I have a record of every one of the installs. This has been made for me automatically by Decoder pro. I have NO 3 ring binder of any sort, nor do I need to keep any of the decoder manuals (they promptly go out with the locomotive to the client).
(Of course, if you run an MRC system, you are out of luck when it comes to a computer connection).
David B
That’s true, that was one reason for me to use one of the computers in the home for that programming work.
Dont worry, if I buy Roundhouse engines, they will be analog models with a NCE decoder or similar installed, the only problem I have left to solve is a sound speaker installation.
Roundhouse steamers? Gotta go with the Tsunami Micro. I have been installing them into N scale steamers…so it should work in your application.
David B
They do have them coming, as when I was working for Tony at Springfield that was a common question. Too bad they are delayed till March now though. Sorry I dont have a link but you could call Tony’s, the # is on their site.
Well…the Diesel Tsunamis have been ‘comming’ for 2.5 years now. Why would Tony know rather than QSI about the QSI products?
David B
David wrote: DCC system will run you into the thousands of dollars. This is completely false.
That’s easy for you to say, David, but using your words, is completely false.
I purchased my first 12 HO engines in 1948 when I saw the light and switched from O Gauge to HO. Over the past 60 years I have purchased AT LEAST 2 engines a year sometimes more. I likely have about 150, at least.
At $50.00 a pop for a decoder and sound, I would be looking at about $7,500.00. I believe that DOES run into the thousands of dollars. Wait, there’s more, I can save money if I do the work myself. At 2 hours a pop I would spend over 300 hours, that is the equivalent of over a month of 8 hour days, if I even had that much tiime to devote to it. DCC is a wonderful improvement over DC analog, especially if you are just starting out. But, the investment in dollars and time are far to high for such a little benefit.
Not a option, means just that. NOT AN OPTION!
Ok. In your situation, you would be looking at alot of money to equip all your locos with DCC and sound.
Keep in mind that I have a different perspective on things. I deal with customers on a daily basis that have 4 or 5 locos, and refuse to switch to DCC becuase someone has said to them that it would cost in the thousands of dollars. I then have to spend my time correcting this mis-informed clients and have them understand the true cost of DCC. When they realize the real cost, they usually buy a system from me in further visits.
Every situation is unique and I go by a client by client basis. In your case (albeit extreme), yes, if you have 150 locos and you want sound in all of them at the same time, you are looking at a small fortune. But if you want to just equip them with DCC chips, then you are looking at 1/8th the price of a good sound decoder (for steam the Tsunami is recommended).
I also unde