I got a P2K 0-6-0 with sound a few weeks back, and now I’m hooked. So, I’ve got to think about equipping some of my other engines. Does anyone have recommendations for any of these?
P1K Alco RS
P2K GP-9
P2K S-1
I’ve looked at some of the sites like Tony’s, but they seem to be product-line-specific. Thanks in advance.
For the P2K units it seems that Soundtraxx would be a good way to go. Soundtraxx makes sound decoders for 1st generation EMDs and Alcos.
Another would be QSI. Quantum sound. They are in almost every P2K loco out there. Quantum sound would probably fit in the GP9 but I am not sure if it would go into the S-1 or the RS you have. I know the chip would fit into the RS, but I’m not sure about the S-1. The speakers are the real problem. You might have to buy a different speaker for the quantum sound. There are smaller speakers to fit into smaller bodies like the RS 1/2/3.
Happy railroading[(-D]
James
At this point it appears that QSI is only available to manufacturers - Individuals will need to look to other sources. QSI has said that at some point the will sell units to modelers, but they seem to be more interested suing LOK-ESU at this point. And now we have KAM products suing JMRI …
I am glad I just do the model railroad part of the hobby…
Jim
I had the same problems and they were all solved by Bruce at Litchfield Station in Az.
He can tell you which decoder is right and sell it to you at the lowest price.
BB
MB,
I don’t know about the RS or GP-9, but Bruce Petrarca @ Litchfield Station did do a Proto 2000 S1 sound install. Bruce used to have it listed on his old site, but it doesn’t look like he has it included on his recent updated site. Bruce even had a parts list, if you decided you wanted to do it yourself.
Tom
Sorry for the poor lighting, but I took the photo quickly. This is a P1K RSC2 with a Soundtraxx DSD-LL110LC decoder. This decoder is the ALCO version. Interesting enough, this decoder’s form factor is designed to fit P2K GP7, GP9, GP30 and SD60 locomotives; yet there it is an ALCO version of it.
The speaker I use produces 3dB more output than the Soundtraxx speaker; It is DigiKey Part Number GC0351M-ND; I use this speaker in Genesis F units and narrow hood diesels; properly baffled, it produces more output than similar round speaker offerings.
Notice the baffle below the speaker; it isolates the air of the front side of the cone from the backside. Air pressure is created in the baffle firing down through the truck opening as well as against the shell (infinite baffle); this effect is significant with the shell on. The infinite baffle lowers the resonance, producing a warmer sound. I soldered the wires directly to the pins on the decoder board.
I use LED’s for optimum effect; to do this with these DSD decoders, a RC circuit consisting of two 1K ohm resistors and a 0.1 microfarad capacitor is required to eliminate the “flicker” that is evident when the loco receives DCC commands or the “glow” when the opposite direction is selected. The LED’s are yellow-white versions from Miniatronics or NCE.
You can also use a small N scale or Z scale decoder combined with a Soundtraxx DSX decoder if you need more lighting functions (DSD has only FWD or REV) or you are looking for a Nathan M5 or Leslie 3 chime horn different from the Leslie horn types (single, three or five chime) that come with the DSD series of decoders.
Who knows which decoder&sound goes for a KATO SD90/43MAC, without distorting half model?. Thanks.
? Distorting half the model? Do you mean can you drop in a premade baffle/speaker combination?
Carl - thanks a lot for the info and photo. Did you have to cut out any weight to put the speaker in? I was thinking of installing the speaker in the cab, where there’s actually a bit of space.
Carl, I mean I don´t want to make a lot of cuts and such as into the model, as a modeller in a forum who puts a Soundtraxx with a lot of hours of working inside, cutting, sanding, etc. The Kato is as a precision piece, and don´t want to make mistakes. Thanks
The great thing about the Proto 1000 RS units is they have plenty of room inside. The weight is in the frame. I was able to create the styrene chamber in the open space without removing any existing material.
Doc,
I have not seen the frame/chassis of your locomotive. Does it look like the SD70 frame on Litchfield Station’s website: http://litchfieldstation.com/lobby/s_KATO_SD70MAC.htm
Is is possible to produce a photo of it? I am willing to help with your speaker/decoder choice.
BTW All,
Happy Thanksgiving !
Carl, the fuel tank has 2 screw heads, so it is no empty. The speaker (just one) should be in other place.
Digitrax has a drop-in sound decoder for the Kato. --Randy
If the frame is similar to the Litchfield Station photo, I recommend the Loksound decoder for the MAC series locomotive you have. The part number you order varies depending on generation and horn choice. If you purchase a Loksound programmer, you can buy ANY Loksound V3.5 decoder and upload the proper sound set. Go to the following website:
http://www.loksound.de/us/index.php?showId=202
I recommend the 0.79" x 1.57" speaker for the installation. I would use Litchfield’s idea for mounting.
I hope this helps.
Randy,
This holds true for the Kato F40PH, SD38-2, and the AC4400CW. These locomotives have the provisions for these decoders - speaker baffles and mounting design. In addition, the decoders are not identical to each other; LED mounting differs between them; motor mounting clips come with one of them and not the F40PH version. Although the Digitrax decoders are capable of installing different sounds for the engine, horn, bell, etc, the sound library currently contains only the three aforementioned selections.