Duh! Yes, I know it means that the loco has simulated locomotive sound.
What I want to know is…Does it automatically mean that the loco is DCC equiped? I know a loco can have DCC and NOT have sound, but can a loco have sound and NOT be DCC equiped?
The reason I ask is that I’m looking at buying an Athear Genesis F7A /w Sound and the description says “/w Sound”. I wouldn’t want to buy it and find out that it isn’t DCC equiped.
Thanks for you replies,
Trevor
Yep, this would have the DCC sound decoder pre-installed.
Yep, those Genesis loco’s have a decoder already installed.
Trevor,
Just be warned that the Genesis come with an MRC DCC decoder. Many people find them unsatisfactory and end up replacing them with a decoder and sound unit of choice anyway.
There are locos available as DC w/sound (no DCC), you need a special controller to access all the sound functions. But most are now Dual-mode DC/DCC/Sound, but you still need the special controller for the sound functions when operating in DC mode.
Hmmm…I have NEVER heard of a Sound Equipped Loco (in recent times) that isnt based off of a DCC chip. MRC, Lok, Qsi, Soundtraxx (Tsunami and older) and Digitrax Sound FX are all DCC decoders. Who makes the sound without DCC that you are claiming?
Of course Most, if not all sound decoders can be used on DC with a strange controller to control sounds.
David
I agree I haven’t heard of any factory sound unit that does not come equipped with a Dual Mode Decoder that switches between DC and DCC.
BTW - I’m not sure about MRC decoders - but a buddy of mine tested his new B and O AB units on my lyaout and they look, sound and run beautifully.
My bad. I was mixing up factory equipped and separate sound systems such as Dallee’s. These are sound only systems that can be added to DC locos.
Sorry about confusing the issue, I guess I just spaced out. What can I say, I was a child of the 60s. [:D]
Thanks for your replies and input on the factory installed MRC decoder. I will be running a Digitrax Zephyr (soon to arrive any day now). Until I get around to replacing the MRC chip, will it work okay on a Zephyr?
Trevor
Should be fine. I have a zephyr but nothing with an MRC decoder so don’t have first hand experience, but I have not found a decoder that does not work with mt Zephyr.
Yes, DCC and sound equiped.
Victor
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
Easy Jay, you might have been having a flashback.[%-)] Before DCC became popular, there once was a F-7 model with sound available from ModelTronics. They still offer a GP35 ATSF Freight dummy loco with sound for $150 [:0]
Trevor, the only place you would want to worry about a sound equiped loco NOT having a DCC decoder (if the discription doesn’t say so) would be the used model market like train shows or auctions.
Don’t get to worked up about it. The decoders in the Genesis F units are fine. Some of the older MRC decoders have been known to have some issues, but none I know of with the F units. Besides, it’d be a pain to remove the factory sound system. But be careful, the F units come with the sound set at max.
When the first MRC sound decoders came out I bought a steam and a diesel one. As far as the decoder itself, running the engine etc. it was fine. The sound wasn’t great but it was OK.
“With sound” means an extra $70 - $100 and you can drive everyone else nuts with the silly repetative noises.
(Not that I’m biased).
I’m expecting my Athearn SD45 in CSX paint anytime in May, since they are due to arrive in that month. It is sound equipped andhas a little wireless sound controller for use in DC mode. It is equipped with a dual-mode decoder that lets you run it in DC mode and DCC mode. I’m guessing the Loco you’re lookin’ at has the same mechanism and decoder as the one I’m getting, mine was described as “w/ sound” as well. [:D] Just be careful when running it for the first time, because as 4884bigboy said, these come with the sound all the way up! [:)]
-Brandon
(replying to what myred02 said) Is Athearn gonna have all of their new engines include the hand-held? I know they did it with the Cahllenger (duh, cause I have one) and their about to do it on their 4-4-0 and Big Boy, but if they can do it, they will. I mean, they do make them cheapER than most engines with sound, and they’ve got more stuff.