Walthers Lets Loose the Bachmann Announcements...

[Pacific Northern]

don't tell me Bachmann is pulling an "Athearn" By going all sound on everything new.

Please tell me that the Spectrum sound unit is not getting the same type of negative reviews as Athearns/ MRC sound units?

Still waiting to hear what the users think of the sound chip that Bachmann Spectrums are being equiped with. It is my understanding that they are somewhat limited in their functions. Likewise the DCC chip that is being used in the DCC on board engines -

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

its not bad, but people including me who don't have the money for the sound or just don't want it.

drhone. I did answer your question. its enough to make me want to go sound but it'll drive me crazy after a while.

[MC]

Sheldon,
Why are you so down on DCC?
MC

[Atlantic Central]

MC,

I'm not really "down" on DCC, but I do not see it as a "cure all" for model train control. For some modelers, for some types of layouts, it is great. But it is far from perfect, it is very expensive, it leaves lots of other areas of train control and operation unanswered and still requiring complex seperate systems (signaling, detection, etc.).

I am pro choice - I think modelers should understand what the real choices are, how they work, decide how they want to operate, then choose the best system. Not just buy into a lot of hype from the manufacturers or the press and think that DCC is the only good way to control model trains.

For me personally, I have no interest in sound in small scales like HO (although I think it is great in large scale), additionaly, I am not solely sold on walk around control of mainline trains on big layouts.

I have about 150 HO locos that would require decoders, that is a large expense. I am building a large layout that would require multiple hand helds and power districts, that too is a large expense. For about the same money as the decoders would cost, I have designed a simple wireless throttle block control system using the Aristo Craft Train Engineer throttle and my own push button block selector.

My system provides wireless throttles, collison avoidance, train detection, signaling, dispatcher and walk around operation, as well as possible layout based sound later on, for about the same price as just the decoders for my 150 locos.

Sheldon

[Pacific Northern]

its not bad, but people including me who don't have the money for the sound or just don't want it.

drhone. I did answer your question. its enough to make me want to go sound but it'll drive me crazy after a while.

Good to hear, do you know what limitations the Bachmann sound decoder has in relation to the regular sound chip? Also anyone know what limitations the Bachmann DCC decoder? There has been some references to some users taking out the Bachmann decoders and replacing them due to their limitations.

[drgw268]

its not bad, but people including me who don't have the money for the sound or just don't want it.

drhone. I did answer your question. its enough to make me want to go sound but it'll drive me crazy after a while.

Good to hear, do you know what limitations the Bachmann sound decoder has in relation to the regular sound chip? Also anyone know what limitations the Bachmann DCC decoder? There has been some references to some users taking out the Bachmann decoders and replacing them due to their limitations.

The Bachmann DCC "On Board" decoder is a basic, 28 speed step decoder with simple light control.  The sound decoders in the Spectrum steam engines, however, are Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders, and are the best on the market.

Athearn has been catching a lot of grief by using MRC sound decoders.  While I have no problem with the sound from their diesel decoders (the Athearn MP15's sound great to me), their steam decoder is lacking.  Plus, some people have had problems with programming the MRC decoders. 

[Paul M.]

Still buying only DC locos like about 75% of the market from what I can tell.

Sheldon

I'm with you, Sheldon.

Me, too. I'm building a 5x9 foot layout on a limited budget, and I can divide it into blocks with DPDT switches. No need for DCC yet, for me at least.