Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
Budget friendly and easy DCC & Sound Install on a N scale Atlas GP7 Trains with Shane Ep 74
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 вер 2023
- Update: We Now have Channel Memberships and a Thanks button!
On today's video we attempt to install a cheap-ish "generic" DCC/Sound decoder I found on eBay into an old N-Scale Atlas GP7 that I picked up used at the local train show a year or so ago. Is it possible to get DCC and sound installed both comparatively inexpensive and easy? Well either this cheap DCC/Sound decoder is going to deliver either success or snake oil!
eBay seller's store:
www.ebay.com/u...
Loved Radio Shack
I used to love going to Radio Shack in the 80's and 90's as a kid. They had the best RC cars! At least ones that my parents could afford.
Not only do I remember and love Radio Shack, I used to be an assistant district manager at Radio Shack.
I miss Radio Shack. so much.
I've bought several decoders from this seller for many of my Kato locomotives. If you want affordable DCC sound for your locos, I highly recommend you try these. They may not have the best audio dynamics compared to high end decoders, but for the price, they're well worth it.
I agree. and SO easy to install!
You had better luck with them then I have had lately. In the past I loved putting this decoder In my n scale atlas RS-11's and had no problem's with them. The most recent decoders I have bought from MRC however have all been trouble makers\duds, They won't talk to the motor drive's on the locomotives they were installed on. And yes, I did insure that the contacts for the motor were in place.
Great video!
USER ERROR!!!! lol just kidding. Thanks for stopping by, Peter. Did you warranty any of the decoders? If so what was the experience with that process? I'm thinking about picking up at least 1 or two more.
Mixed, when the company was MRC they would go a far as to install the decoder them self's if there was a problem in some cases. other times they would demand that I send the decoder back, at my own expense and then demand I pay to have it shipped back to me when they fixed it, yes for a factory defect! Those were the best cases scenarios, in other cases, more if this since the company became XL systems, they would use an out that is built into there disclaimers and warranty terms, and this is were they get you, if ither of the companies find that you, the installer/user made made a mistake installing the decoder or tampered with it, you would have to pay for the repair or a new one. and since the user/installer must technically do so to install the decoder, that becomes an out for them. @@Trains-With-Shane
Bought one of these a few weeks back for my atlas gp38 and works great
I'm on the fence on whether I want to try a few more or not. I've got a few F40ph's that could use one.
Atlas sometimes uses cheap castings... they can swell up and make the shell hard to remove. I've had them disintegrate when I took a shell off...
Thanksfully I haven't had any fall apart yet. But I think in this instance it was due to how tightly the board fit. It's not hard to flex the frame halves, though. So caution is definitely advised.
You are 100 percent correct. I had 2 Atlas SD26 locomotives do that. Atlas N scale locomotives are junk.
The shell is probably hitting the clear light tubes in the top. Also I would glue thin styrene to the sides where the motor contacts come up.. This will prevent shorts or burning up the decoder. As you know just order some Capton tape. The little rolls they sell last a long time.
I was able to get it on there. The decoder fits so tight in its slots that the frame was spread apart slightly at the top. I was able to squeeze it all the way in with a little bit of gentle persuasion.
You could electrical tape instead of kapkon tape, and it would work fine
I'd be afriad that electrical tape would be too thick and keep the shell from sliding back on. I need to really get some kapton tape, though. I still haven't, lol.
@@Trains-With-Shane I have seen it done on othe UA-cam channels, I haven't done it myself , but I have used shrink tubing on the motor contacts so the isolated that was until I got the tape.. N scale is a real bugger. I've run DC train for about 40 years, between ho and when I went to n scale in my late 40's. I got into dcc when I was 68 with sprog pi one and then dcc++ and now dcc-ex, it's been a long journey but it's fun.
I have the same loco with the same decoder, had to mill some metal away with the dremel and file it smooth. The decoder fits perfectly into it. changed some CV's e.g. 123 to 3 it sounds great. good video thanks
I may have to try that setting. What did it change?
@@Trains-With-Shane It will change the sound to a more realistic sound for that locomotive.
great camera work are you a professional cameraman
Nice video and nice channel in general. I’ve bought a few sound decoders from those guys for sd40-2s. They work pretty well, as you said, and they are from the same design that is used for MRC decoders. They are not nearly as good as current higher end N scale sound from the big boys. Its really come a long way.
The volume is really a problem with the cheapies. I don’t need super duper prototypical sound from my locos, but it should sound more like an engine than static, and its a close race there. It’s often drowned out by “gear noise” too! 😊
I wonder if you can just upgrade the speaker on these units for better quality, or if they are too underpowered?
It’s also irksome the way lower end sound decoders drop when they have a power break. Even a microsecond dust speck will break contact in a way that stops the loco dead and requires the whole “start up procedure” to go back to square one.
I recently used a spare digitrax sound decoder (really lousy) to make a sound boxcar. Built a wheel pickup system and replaced the built in capacitor with a few much bigger capacitors in parallel, to attempt to fix that stall problem.
Kinda works. But I’m not good enough to get it perfect.
The journey continues. Thanks for sharing your hard work. I’ve subscribed and will be watching.
😊👍👍
I agree on all counts. I haven't really ran this unit much other than testing. I need to get it over on my rescue layout as that'll really give it the sketchy track conditions test, lol.
for prime mover try CV49
You gotta keep in mind that you're not working in camera frame!!!
It's not as easy as it looks, lol
Getting what you pay for. MRC clone decoders are cheap bc they are inferior for quality, sound and performance. Spend the extra $ on an Atlas Gold series with Loksound, BLI QSI sound or Soundtraxx decoder.
I'm into the entire rig for less than the price of just a nicer decoder by itself. The exorcise was precisely to see what you get for the comparative lower price. Having quite a few BLI's in N scale as well as various Loksound units I can certainly testify to their superiority. That wasn't the point, here. Also. I don't have the soldering and fab skills, yet, to install a setup that isn't 100% drop in which is why I wanted to check this out in the first place.
They're not MRC clones, MRC decoders are actually these XL System decoders. XL Systems are the OEM maker and sell them both branded and unbranded.
I don't know if you have one or not, or maybe you do but haven't installed dcc on it yet. (Anyways) Would you happen to have an N scale Athearn F59PHI? If so, I would HIGHLY appreciate it if you could do a video on how install DCC and sound on it because I don't know how.(LOL)Love the vids too.
Sorry don't have one of those yet. They make one in TRE colors but people just want more money than i'm willing to pay for one. But if I do end up with one i'll keep you in mind and shoot a video about it.
@@Trains-With-Shane Thanks!!!! I recommend Lombard Hobbies, they have n scale athearn F59PHIs for 100 but with shipping total is 113 which I don't know, its better than paying an extra 50 dollars from Athearns website. I live in Chicago so I just pick it up from there.
this looks much easer than the orignal pfm system i guess that dates me
Could you tell me what to look for and year for gp7 I have the gp38 but I know some frames are hard wired but want to get a gp7 so I can drop in my decoder, thanks
I'm not sure exactly which frames this will fit but anything made after ~2006 should be compatible.
You get what you pay for.
Always