Bachmann Spectrum Dash 9 44 CW

[popson]

I have an older Spectrum Dash 9 44 CW with DCC but not sound, what kind of DCC sound decoder would I need? I work on DC locos but not much DCC, so I'm not sure what to look for inside it.  Thanks, for any help. Also, it doesn't run as slow as my other two DCC sound locos, is that because it's not DCC sound?

[trainman203]

It doesn't run as slow because you don't have motor control features the DCC offers.

The questions you're asking leave me to believe that your best option is to have a professional install your decoder and sound. You can watch all the videos you want on YouTube, but I think it's more complex than you realize.

There are many decoders available. The Bach Man's House is not the place to discuss other brands of decoders since he offers a line of them. You need to research all of them online and look at videos to see which ones have the sounds you are looking for.

[Penn1974]

I have always thought the the purpose of this forum and other forums are for people to ask questions on how to handle a problem they might have in regards to model railroading. When someone asks a question for an issue maybe we should ask what they are comfortable doing instead of always telling them to go to a professional for having something done. I never saw any question as to any other types of decoders. You do not know what an individual problem is to complex for them. Lets all of us be civil.

[trainman203]

No uncivil tone intended, apologies for that perceived offense.

Ok, rephrase.  Watch the many videos about decoder installation and decide what you want to do.  One thing about videos though is that some are really good and some are very poorly produced. You have to critically evaluate each one.  It won't take long for you to figure out which one is really teaching something and which one isn't.

I've never been confident about electronic work at all. I have around 35 steam engines now, with mostly the same brand of decoder in them, all installed by a professional who happens to be a good friend of mine.  I can say that, because I did that,  I had several free evenings to do other things on the layout rather than tracing and backfeeding circuits trying to find what went with what, burning out decoders, or putting my soldering iron through the side of the tender shell. I did pay money to get the work done, but I got to build some scenery and kits for a couple of evenings instead of going down rabbit holes, and got the engines back in perfect working order.  I never liked model railroad wiring at all, I was fortunate to have someone that could do that work for me reasonably.

The statement about not discussing brands of decoders still stands, this isn't a place for that when the host has his own line of products.