i am new into this hobby and i want the amazing sound with all my locomotives but i don’t think i am ready to go into dcc yet
what would be the best thing to get sound with just a dc layout
Look at the MRC website. They make DC sound units for under the layout or on board the engine.
The MRC tech 6 controller will give you the ability to use all the on board sounds in the engines without going DCC.
I have the Tech 6 and will add it allows the owner to set some CVs in DCC equipped locomotives.One can add the walk around throttle and control six DCC locomotives.
From the MRC site on MRC tech 6
Control up to six locos
This powerful six amp unit, with its versatile walk-around, will control one standard DC loco or six fully functional, sound decoder equipped locos at one time. Best of all, the Tech 6 allows the hobbyist to enjoy all the sound advantages that until now were only available to the DCC crowd.
This seems to be a DCC controller that can be switched to DC to run one locomotive instead of 6 DCC equipped locomotives.
You can buy a DCC starter set for less than the MRC tech 6. See this site Tony’ Train Exchange for lots of information on DCC.
Good luck
Paul
Does this unit have the same voltage output as a regular DCC power unit? Or is it a DC controller with circuitry similar to BLI’s DC Master Analog Control Module?
At the risk of starting a flame war, I just have to ask… why not DCC?
As someone already pointed out, the cost of DC equipment required to run sound equipped engines is on par with most DCC starter sets. [Edit: Perhaps the OP didn’t realize this? maybe he was put off by the perceived cost of a DCC system?] Other than a $20 (or less) decoder per locomotive, that’s all you need to get set up in DCC. If you’re going to spend $150+ on a sound-equipped loco, spending another $20 (or less) on a decoder shouldn’t break the bank. Chances are, the loco is already DCC-ready anyway, so it’s a simple plug-and-play with no soldering required.
Actually (someone please correct me if I’m wrong), don’t all sound-equipped engines already have a DCC decoder already installed? Is there such a thing as a non-DCC sound-equipped engine?
I fully understand that special sound controllers for DC runners are attractive to those who have an existing layout and are fully entrenched in a DC system with dozens of locos they don’t want to retrofit. But for someone just starting out fresh in the hobby, it just seems unnecessarily complicated to go that route right off the bat.
[edit 2] I’d just ask the OP to take another good look at DCC and compare it to what you’d need to run sound on DC, before taking the plunge one way or another.
That’s my [2c] - I’m sure others will disagree.
some of broadway limited’s locomotives had dc only sound, but you had to buy the dc master or a dcc decoder and system to power it.
Dan,I agree on the flame war-we don’t need any…
Now then.
In my case I wanted to control sound so my best answer was the Tech 6…I have no real need for DCC on my one horse 1’ x10’ ISL.I plan on adding the walk around throttle since all my switches are manual.
As far as price I thought of going with the Bachmann EZ DCC system but,decided the T6 was the better choice for my needs.
For those that may be interested the T6 was $84.99 and the Bachmann EZ DCC starter system was $79.99 without locomotive or $89.99 with locomotive which isn’t bad for a basic DCC system.
i am looking into the mrc tech 6 unit
and this will work with a athearn with the decoders already in it?
where could i get it for the cheapest, i am only 14 so i don’t really have an expendable wallet
This seems to be a DCC controller that can be switched to DC to run one locomotive instead of 6 DCC equipped locomotives.
You can buy a DCC starter set for less than the MRC tech 6. See this site Tony’ Train Exchange for lots of information on DCC.
Good luck
Paul
Paul,Heres the rub…The T6 will run DCC locomotives on the default address only-add the walk around throttle then you can run 6 DCC locomotives…Still its a powerful DC unit that allows limited CV programing in the duel mode…
It will operate BLI’s Blue Line locomotives.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/trainSound/Tech6%20addendum.pdf
Think you mean NOT run BlueLine? Since the instructions linked say that to get access to all the BlueLine sounds you need to install a motor decoder in it, just like you do for a full DCC system.
–Randy
Randy,Thanks for catching my mistake…[:$][B)]
You are correct…I meant to say won’t run.
As for the original question, the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders provide good sound on DC. I originally ran my Blackstone HOn3 locos on DC before I switched to DCC and they sounded great. You can take them to someone who has a DCC programming track, changes various CVs to get sound you want (including animated some sounds by linking them to throttle actions), then take them back to your DC layout and they will retain those settings.
You should check when ordering on specific decoders, but like the Tsunaim many of them today are dual-mode, i.e. they run on either DC or DCC.
But if you do want sound in your locos, you’ll be spending just as much money as you would if you were running DCC, but you don’t have easy access to many features if you stay on DC.
That said, if you have a large collection of locos the biggest cost of conversion to DCC is all the decoders and their installation. In comparison, even a nice command station is not really that much money – and the NCE Power Cab can get you running DCC for under $200. If you’re starting off, I’d suggest you just go ahead and make the leap to DCC.
So yes, you can get into sound in DC. Is it a way to save a lot of money versus DC? No. Sound decoders cost the same, whether you run them on DC or DCC.
So yes, you can get into sound in DC. Is it a way to save a lot of money versus DC? No. Sound decoders cost the same, whether you run them on DC or DCC.
Agreed but,the biggest cost is start up is the basic starter system and buying decoders for one’s (hopefully) DCC ready locomotives which features plug/play installation.
Of course if one starts adding throttles that can be costly as well.
None the less if I was to build a (say) room size layout it would be DCC because of the simplicity of wiring a DCC layout versus wiring a DC layout with several blocks.
I re-read my first post again later and realized I might have come across as aggressively pro-DCC and somewhat belligerent towards the OP - neither of which was my intent, and apologies to the OP if it was taken that way (welcome to the forum & hobby, by the way [:D])
@ Brakie - I just know there are people out there who are passionately DCC / anti-DCC, so I expected some backlash with what I posted (which thankfully hasn’t materialized… yet). What I really should have said was “at the risk of getting myself flamed…” [:D] Anyway, I appreciate your thoughtful responses and personal experiences with sound in DC. Clearly you have weighed the options and made an informed decision on which system to use in your own situation.
@ the OP - At the end of the day, I’d just recommend you to do the same - do the homework and weigh the options before going one way or the other. From your post, you said you’re “not ready to get into DCC yet”, which implies you might be inclined to do it in the future. I believe (and I think others have commented accordingly) that for someone like yourself just starting out in the hobby, DCC might have a little higher initial investment, but in the long run it really makes the most sense for someone looking to run sound-equipped engines.
If the cost differential is really that big of an issue, you could get an inexpensive MRC DC power pack (e.g. off eBay) to at least run your engines w/o sound until you can save up for the DCC system. If you buy a sound-equipped engine, you’re already getting the DCC decoder (unless it’s a BLI Blueline or similar, in which case you’d have to spend another $20 or less for the decoder), so the only missing ingredient is the DCC command station to run it. FWIW, the cost difference between something like the Tech 6 and an MRC Prodigy DCC system is less than the cost of a single sound-equipped loco.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!
so if i do go with dcc which would be the better choice, what is a good starting kit for dcc.
Digitrax Zephyr Xtra or NCE PowerCab.
–Randy
I will recommand the Digitrax Zephyr since its still a great system.This Zephyr was recently replaced by the Zephyr Xtra.
Tom, guess I will chime in.
If you want to stay DC for now, I would not mess with sound! Reason I say that is anytime you add electronic you add problems. On a simple DC engine, if it does not move, either the motor is not getting current, something is jammed or the motor is cooked. Pretty simple.
With Electronic not nearly as simple, is the decoder messed up or is motor not getting current, is something jammed or is the motor toast?
While I am firmly in the DCC camp now, there are times I wished I stayed DC. Sound is what did make me make the jump. Yea, I love sound, sometimes. Lot of the time I do turn the sound off. More than 1 sound engine can be to much racket sometimes.
On the BLI Blue Line engines, BLI has stopped making them. There still plenty to be had, but at there current prices if you have to have sound go with a dual mode DCC engine.
DCC on the cheap? I started with a used Bachmann E Z command and I still have it, bought it for $30.00 and used it for 3 years. I was able to run 3 BLI Steam engines with sound at the same time.If you can find one for around $50.00 it is a great way to get your feet wet with DCC.
But Waite You Cannot Change CV’s With It! [:'(] To be honest, that is why I used mine so long! I went to a more advanced Digitrax Super Empire Builder system and more than a few times I hit the wrong button and changed 15 engines to the same address! [banghead]
If you try DCC and pick a Bachmann E Z and want to play with CV’s, buy a Digitrax PR 3. It is a computer interfaces where you can change what are called CV’s with your computer. After you get the hang of it, much easier to uses than the DCC system it self. Cost is around $60.00 or so new. Many of us with $400.00 DCC systems have it or something like it.
Wish you well which way you go with the layout.
Good luck an
Yea, I love sound, sometimes. Lot of the time I do turn the sound off. More than 1 sound engine can be to much racket sometimes.
Agree 100%! [tup]
That’s was another reason I decided to go with MRC’s Tech 6…Push the button,remove the noise maker [(-D] and I’m back to silent running in DC.
For me that was a ideal solution.