LokSound for an Atlas H-16-44 (70)

[@mandbhomestead]

Thanks for for a great video filled with tips and tricks. They sound great with the speakers where you mounted them. Thanks for sharing. Ken

[@TheDCCGuy]

I love these sugar cube speakers. And LokSound has no started using them with their decoders. You can buy the decoder and speaker as a kit but it is a simple cube enclosure. These rounded enclosures designed for the inside of the cab roof make it so easy to find room for a speaker.

[@mandbhomestead]

What was the size of the speaker you used in this video? Thanks.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I am petty sure thst ws an 11x15mm that he uses in those rounded enclosures. He also makes enclosures for the 13x18mm sugar cuves but I have found the 11x15 more than adequate. Check out his speakers and enclosures here store.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.aspx

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

I still haven't had a Lok Sound Decoder... I know they're awesome! Just haven't been able to afford one. I'm now Disabled, and bring in so little, that I can barely afford the Hobby at all. But after 45 years, I'm not giving up now!! 😊 Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@Form44208]

Love the Fairbanks Morse locomotives. Have one from the last Atlas run and have a few of the next run on order. Great video! Regards.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, they have a pretty unique sound, and look. I especially enjoy collecting various early diesels and installing sound decoders because of the variety of sounds. However, in my estimation, nothing beats the sound of an Alco 244 or 251-sounds like the pistons are about to bust through the cylinder heads!

[@Form44208]

@@TheDCCGuy I agree, I love how they sound at slow speeds though a yard. I don't have any yet but I do have 2 Atlas Master Gold RS-1 and Atlas Classic Gold RS-5 on order. I will have to get an RS-2, RS-3 and RS-4 eventually! Regards.

[@stevenseguine9447]

Why did you change the LED marker lights? If they were LEDs to begin with, I don't understand why they needed to be changed. Thank you, Steve

[@TheDCCGuy]

Because they are not prototypically accurate. White is used for extras and green for trailing sections. Red would only be correct for the rear of a single loco.

[@waltergodwin5220]

Great video. Poking around on the Streamlined Backshop web page, there is quite a selection of sizes and baffles. Do you remember what size you installed in the H15-44? Better yet, a product number would be great.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I use the 11x15mm speakers. sbs4dcc.com/products/sbs4dcc-sugar-cube-speaker-11x15mm-8-ohm-1-watt-w-ho-cab-roof-sound-chamber.html

[@waltergodwin5220]

That helps a lot. Thanx. 😊

[@WeMustRebell]

Larry, Where do you get those small connectors you used for the speaker connections?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Those are from TCS #1301. Most of the DCC sellers have these or similar ones.

[@WeMustRebell]

The DCC Guy Thank you!

[@davennysouthern8717]

Thanks Larry ha you make it look easy

[@TheDCCGuy]

Installing the first one wasn’t. You really have to get used to the difference in the LokSound naming of the Aux functions and figure out what that all means. The wiring is pretty straightforward and similar to all these kinds of drop in decoder circuit boards. However getting in to the programming, especially making changes to existing sound projects can be like learning a new language. I installed a LokSound decoder in a Rapido F40PH and had to totally reprogram a decoder sound project they did for the Kato version. That was a challenge but it taught me a lot about how to do it. It really does require having a LokProgrammer interface and suing their LokProgrammer software. More in that in a future video.

[@brandongaines1731]

@LarryPuckett is that failed engine start-up randomized?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, and I wish there was some way to disable it but so far I have not found a shutoff CV.

[@dfly27485]

How do you take apart?! No one ever shows in any video

[@StephenWilliams]

What make 2 pin wire cnnectors do you use for the speaker connections? I have some but they are a bit more fiddly to connect than those shown. Thanks.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Those are from TCS although similar ones are available. Check the TCSdcc.com website and sbs4dcc.com website .

[@hansfriess]

I too was wondering about the building in the background when you were demonstrating the locomotives. Is that a plastic kit or a paper printed kit?

[@TheDCCGuy]

It was a wood laser kit made by a company that no longer is in business. Look for similar kits in the Walthers catalog.

[@warthog5562]

What model loksound decoder did you use? Looking to order one to add to my h16-44. I see that yougave info about the speaker but I dont think you have the model info for the decoder.

[@TheDCCGuy]

73700 LokSound Select Direct decoder, probably v. 4 if I remember correctly. Make sure to ask the dealer to install the correct sound package for you.

[@warthog5562]

@@TheDCCGuy thank u

[@2011Maynard]

Another nice video and a thumbs Up. Any plans on doing a LokSound keep alive install video? I have a Bowser Exec C636 with a ESU#91493 board on Select system, and can't find any deninitve instructions on that install (hours of research)...

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, I have discussed this at length with the LokSound folks and now feel comfortable passing that information along. But it will be done as a decoder installation in my September DCC Corner column so I really can’t release a video before that article appears which will be late July. I will see if the is any way I can move it up a bit thoguh since I know a lot of folks are interested in the topic. Take a look at my column in the current MR as I talk about the new version 5 LokSound decoders and discuss the keep alive issue.

[@bnsfrailfan5241]

Would you mind doing a demonstration of converting an Atlas older engine. I have an engine that is only DC , but I would like to convert it to DCC, do you know any place where I could take it or send it to to see if they could install a DCC and sound decoder in it? I am based in Texas and the Engine is a GP40.If you want to know more about the engine, please let me know, I would be very happy to have you take a look at it.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I will be doing an Atlas S2 soon and either an Atlas GP7 or RS3 later this year. As for someone to install the decoder check with dealers who sell DCC equipemnt. Litchfield Station in Arizona has been doing them for some time so check their website www.litchfieldstation.com/installs/ .

[@allenbarnes7202]

How about a video on n scale locomotives, i have 3 Bachman f-9 from the early 90's, would like to convert to dcc

[@TheDCCGuy]

I would normally be happy to do that but I don’t have any N-scale locos. i did a couple for friends and wrote them up on my MR column but that was a hear or so ago and I did not video that. Let me check with them and see if they will let me do some of theirs. Let me point out that the N-scale diesel installs I have dine in the past were very easy as they are made to be drop in replacements for the original board. Not a real problem if sound is not involved, usually getting a speaker in them is the big issue if they re not designed with a slot for one.

[@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545]

I have 2 Rapido locos, both are rs18 units with loksound decoders. Compsred to my True Line trains engines, they produce half the volume. Just vwondering if anyone else finds volume differences between different brands. I had to reduce the volume on the True Lines trains by about half the volume, to match the Rapido trains ( master volume set at max, 192)

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’d contact Rapido. They have had problems with the RS18s and the first run of the RS11s and have been replacing motors and recommending decoder edits. They may be able to answer you question quickly.

[@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545]

@@TheDCCGuy that is the best bet, just got another Rapido rs18 that has no sound , very slow top speed as well. I reset cv8 to factory settings, fixed the speed steps but still no sound ( I checked the master volume cv, and it is set for max volume, as per factory settings). Guessing speaker may not be connected as it is completely silent.

[@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545]

@@TheDCCGuy I saw a Rapido video where they were taking all the stock rs18 locos and swapping out the motors for new and better ones.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, and they also pulled out all the RS18 and RS11 models and reprogrammed them too. Probably in the same video. You can bet that it cost them a bundle to replace all those motors. I found it interesting that a simple decoder reprogram of BEMF settings reduced the motor failure rate by 90%! Interestingly they are switching from LokSound decoders to WOWSound for the next RS11 run as soon as the folks at TCS can get back in operation to make them. Sounds like Rapido is not happy with ESU.