Al-
There are three (well, four, if you count no provision for DCC at all) levels of DCC equipment in B'man locos: DCC and Sound On-Board, DCC On-Board and DCC Ready. DCC and Sound On-Board means that the DCC decoder, with sound, is installed and ready to use, including a speaker for the sound. DCC On-Board means that DCC is installed and ready to use but there is no sound. DCC Ready means the loco is ready for a comparatively easy DCC installation. This generally means that there is a plug on a circuit board or a harness in the engine or tender. It used to include locos with just an electrically-isolated motor but I'm pretty sure that Bachmann isn't calling such merchandise as DCC Ready any more. If I'm mistaken on that someone else on this board will straighten me out pretty quickly.
If you have a DCC Ready loco you can "easily" install either DCC or DCC with sound. Note that you'll need a speaker for the sound; this is often located in diesel fuel tanks.
Good luck with your project and do keep us up to date on your progress.
-- D
There are three (well, four, if you count no provision for DCC at all) levels of DCC equipment in B'man locos: DCC and Sound On-Board, DCC On-Board and DCC Ready. DCC and Sound On-Board means that the DCC decoder, with sound, is installed and ready to use, including a speaker for the sound. DCC On-Board means that DCC is installed and ready to use but there is no sound. DCC Ready means the loco is ready for a comparatively easy DCC installation. This generally means that there is a plug on a circuit board or a harness in the engine or tender. It used to include locos with just an electrically-isolated motor but I'm pretty sure that Bachmann isn't calling such merchandise as DCC Ready any more. If I'm mistaken on that someone else on this board will straighten me out pretty quickly.
If you have a DCC Ready loco you can "easily" install either DCC or DCC with sound. Note that you'll need a speaker for the sound; this is often located in diesel fuel tanks.
Good luck with your project and do keep us up to date on your progress.
-- D