Hi guys After running Industry Lane at the show I decided it was time to delve a little more into DCC. I particularly liked the sound aspect and the ease of cabling a layout. I also liked the use of the NCE Power Cab. (Gary are you on commission?) Have done the usual "tube" thing and read a lot but now get to the sticky part. What decoders should I use, where do I get them and how many "readies" wilI I part with? Remember I have N gauge but at least some of the locomotives are DCC ready so to get a single test unit up should not involve me soldering too much. Thanks Andrew
Hi Andrew, You're certainly up for a challenge, can't argue with your choice of dcc system, others might, but I won't. Sound decoders are around £100 each plus speaker, your problem will be fitting them in. Probably worth checking the manufacturers web sites for recommended decoders as there may be custom decoders available to fit. Paul
Don't envy you your task ...... sound in N Gauge. Never mind. I like your choice of control system though. NCE for me. toto
Thanks Guys I think with N Gauge the saying goes: Cant see no evil, now I hear no evil so that just leaves the doing part left. Andrew
Some info re installing decoders into N scale - UK outline https://clarahost.clara.net/www.bromsgrovemodels.co.uk/decoderinstallation2mm.htm and for USA outline https://nrmrc.org/dcc/decoder-installation and sound decoders http://www.digitrax.com/products/sound-decoders/ http://sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/nscalesounddecodersummary.html now this should keep you busy reading Andrew
Hi Andrew. Depending on how many loco's you eventually end up with, you might not want to fit sound in all of them (you can have too much of a good thing!). I currently have 53 loco's with 3 more on pre-order, but will only finish up with around 15 sound fitted. As far as non-sound DCC decoders are concerned, I've fitted a good number of the popular quality makes with no problems, the only one really that I would suggest you avoid would be Hornby. Since you are an 'N' gauge man, size becomes a primary issue, particularly where sound decoders are concerned (I'm '00' gauge myself). I've personally had issues with ESU decoders, but as you will need the smallest possible to use in your stock, I'd suggest you look at the Zimo MX649 decoder which I believe is the smallest sound decoder currently available. I fitted a couple of these in my stock and been happy with them,- you'll obviously be looking at 'sugar cube' speaker(s) and there are many sizes available from about half the size of a postage stamp upwards, chosen to suit the available space, which won't be a lot in 'N' gauge! I don't know if you have a UK themed railway or elsewhere in the world, so as regards your actual sounds, if you're non-UK themed, then you'd have to get the decoders blown elsewhere to suit, if you are UK themed then several choices are available, Digitrains, Youchoos and (I think) Coastal DCC amongst them for Zimo. My personal preference is Youchoos, but this is subjective so you'd need to listen and judge for yourself, either on the respective websites or U-Tube. I've had much fun and headscratching fitting sound into some of my '00' gauge stuff, so don't envy you fitting to 'N' gauge, unless you have 20-20 vision, perhaps a microscope might be a worthwhile purchase before starting, good luck with it, and pick the easiestone with most space to start on is my recommendation. Keith.
