I think I might have sound on my new loco but no idea how to get it working

[potatan]

I bought a new steam loco and it arrived yesterday, lovely. My first steam loco. But what’s this? It’s sound enabled? Choo choo!
The description says it has a “speaker fitted” and “Sound fitted – with a Zumo MS59ON18 Sound Decoder” and has the following functions listed, plus several others:
SOUNDS

F1 - Sound On / Sound Off

F2 - Brake (Non-Latching)

F3 - Cylinder Drain Cocks

F4 - Single Whistle (Speed Related)

Link to train: https://railsofsheffield.com/products/g ... -dcc-sound

But I can’t get it to work with my NCE PowerCab. I’ve fitted the Bachmann 36-567A Next18 DCC Decoder that was recommended and I can control the train with my PowerCab.

For Sound operation I assume I would need to first press “1” on the PowerCab to enable it, then “2”, “3”, “4” etc. to action the specific sounds. I'm aware of the issue with accessing F10-F28, but I can't seem to get F1 to 9 to do anything. Correction - when I press 1, it toggles the "1" on the display, so I think that should be indicating whether sounds are available or not.

I assume that the square lump at the back of the tender with the PCB on is my speaker, but I may be wrong of course.

Assuming I'm a newbie and still very much learning, particularly about the NCE PowerCab, what vital step might I be missing?

[Lofty]

I haven’t really a clue on n gauge steam locos, but looking at the link you put it says sound fitted and you can enjoy it straight from the box…

You then state that you have fitted a Bachmann decoder, if it is the loco in the link you would have to unplug the fitted plug to insert the new one if that makes sense. You say the Bachmann decoder is recommended. By who?

[Dad-1]

That should all work out of the box.
The NCE again should be an ideal stable mate.
What could be wrong ??
Is there any chance you are using the programming output to try and drive it on the track ??
The programming output is a low power output used to safely change setting on decoders without any chance
of blowing them.
I don't have a NCE system so it's difficult for me to relate to that, just general ideas.

On my Digitrax system there is a track power button with indicator light. Often we get people at club who have
accidently pressed the button. When you know what you're looking for a quick glance will tell if power is being
fed to tracks. You would be surprised how often this slips people up !!

The loco should run on address 03, without any other function being called into service.
My first action would be to re-address the decoder - Using the programming output. Then on main track power
see if it'll run back & forward. Should work fine. It also most certainly has sound fitted.

Keep us informed, Oh this is where I find being in a club helps so much, different ideas and experiences, but hands-on.

Geoff T.

I hadn't read all the posting = Lofty did. That locomotive came with a decoder fitted. You must have removed the sound
decoder when you put the Bachmann decoder in. No sound decoder, no sound. There is only ONE decoder location.

[potatan]

You then state that you have fitted a Bachmann decoder, if it is the loco in the link you would have to unplug the fitted plug to insert the new one if that makes sense. You say the Bachmann decoder is recommended. By who?

The 36-567A decoder was recommended on the product page. There was what I assume is a blanking plate already fitted to the decoder slot, see pics below.

The loco should run on address 03, without any other function being called into service.
My first action would be to re-address the decoder - Using the programming output. Then on main track power
see if it'll run back & forward. Should work fine. It also most certainly has sound fitted.

Yep, I've had the train running after readdressing it. I've run it in for half an hour in each direction and played with the 128 step speed increments and momentum settings so it all seems to work as it should in terms of DCC movement.

Tender socket:

original chip that came fitted (I assume a blanking chip as it's not very "busy", couple of diodes and not much else):

the shop-recommended chip I bought and fitted:

[potatan]

Ok stand down all - it looks like there may be an issue with my order.

The train they have supplied is 372-630, but the price I paid is for 372-627A - around £80 cheaper. The invoice lists the 372-630 so something's gone wrong somewhere.

No whistles for me it seems, well not for a bit.

[Lofty]

Glad it is sorted of sorts, looking at your pictures I was about to shout out that it’s not sound fitted, then I saw your last post confirming it.

[Dad-1]

Hi Potatan,

Sorry my fist reply was so rushed - We were going to catch the Bus and my wife was
trying to hurry me up.

Glad that at least we understand where we are now.
I will admit I have a few sound loco's, but for me at least sometimes it's just not
worth the trouble, let alone the money. Often silence is golden !!

Geoff T.

[potatan]

Glad that at least we understand where we are now.
I will admit I have a few sound loco's, but for me at least sometimes it's just not
worth the trouble, let alone the money. Often silence is golden !!

Thanks for taking the time to respond despite the imminent bus arrival.

I've seen your point about sound elsewhere too, and wonder if perhaps the sound is to impress other people not ourselves. I know my grandson would like pressing the toot buttons. I'll give it a go with a replacement loco when I get round to it, still trying to find out about as much as I can with this hobby before deciding what I like the most.

I'll delete this thread later so as not to mislead anyone

[Bigmet]

...still trying to find out about as much as I can with this hobby before deciding what I like the most...

Very sensible approach. Little story, it took me quite a while to learn that what really interested me was the timetable operation of the railway trains. I don't have general scenery, just the track and a few essential trackside buildings, and I only ballast the on view sections of track, purely for the great sound effect. I cannot shunt a tree, or make up a train of road vehicles, or have the buildings move about to a timetable, so why bother with non-railway train stuff?

Each to their own, when it comes to what interests and thus matters to you in a hobby. A long past French colleague had a great name for my layout: 'Le Trainodrome'.

...I'll delete this thread later so as not to mislead anyone

You can only delete your own input, which makes a complete mess of any thread, best just leave it...

[aleopardstail]

Charlie at Chadwick apparently asked around his club who had sound and how they used it. apparently most left the basic sound either off or just used the automatic stuff. all the literal bells and whistles quickly being more than they are worth unless you can automate them somehow

do want a sound fitted loco to experimentificate with here

[Bigmet]

...do want a sound fitted loco to experimentificate with here

I have a Bach class 20 bought s/h as a non-runner, and look at that, it had a sound decoder installed and ran immediately on DCC. The young enjoy the horn, which is the only sound effect that has some resemblance to reality.The decoder motor control is good, and if I find the blowing of the horn too irritating, sound is quickly switched off from my handset, causing much bafflement.

[centenary]

Isnt the issue with sound the fact that many people leave it set to the manufacturer's default value out of the box? This is quite high as they want you to hear the loco to good effect and can hear it all the way round the layout.

In reality, you want it turned down so you only hear it when it goes past you and not on full blast with the other 2, 3 or 4 locos you have running at the same time creating a cacophony of noise.

[Bigmet]

Isn't the issue with sound the fact that many people leave it set to the manufacturer's default value out of the box? ...

The principal problem is that it falls way short of realistic sound reproduction, and most of it is simply irritating at any volume as a result.

[centenary]

Isn't the issue with sound the fact that many people leave it set to the manufacturer's default value out of the box? ...

The principal problem is that it falls way short of realistic sound reproduction, and most of it is simply irritating at any volume as a result.

TBF you're not getting realistic sound reproduction from sub miniature speakers in a moving plastic body immitating a 2500 bhp low revving deisel engine.

I think the standard iphone speakers supplied by say Loksound are pretty pathetic. Lots of people also fail to properly build the speaker enclosure. Any small gaps in this will lessen the overall sound effect.

On the Roads & Rails website you can sample different speakers and sound files for a range of locos. The quality is many times better. imho.