The Spectrum Russian Decapod 2-10-0 is a beautiful small engine, and the non-sound version I had now for about 4 years (which was converted to DCC) runs very well. Recently, I acquired two copies of the DCC/sound version. They both have a rather pronounced background “whine” coming from the sound system (it is absent when I turn of the sound). My spectrum 2-8-0 (w/ sound) does not have this problem. Is there anybody who encountered this problem before, and is there a solution?
That, my friend, is the Dynamo (the keg-shaped thinghy on top of the boiler ahead of the cab). It is a steam powered electrical generator. The sound you hear is completely prototypical and accurate. You should be able to turn it down or off with a CV or by simply turning the lights off (F0).
The dynamo whine doesn’t come up automatically when you turn the lights on (like it does on QSI steam engines). I can’t think which F button it is, but one of them turns the dynamo sound off and on. I agree, it is pretty annoying even at low volume.
Thank you both so much for your help; it worked like a charm. For the Tsunamis Bachmann is using, the generator is actually not turned on or off with the lights (F0); instead, you have to use F5 (dynamo).
Since my 2-10-0 with the factory equipped Tsunami is the only steam Tsunami I have, I assumed they all were that way. But you’re correct, per Soundtraxx website, on “regular” steam Tsunamis F0 controls both the lights and the dynamo. My guess would be the simpler version Bachmann uses doesn’t use the F5-F6 lighting functions the regular Tsunami does, so they decided to use them for other (sound) things??