The EZ-Command absolutely can support sound locomotives, there are only two caveats.

1. You can only use functions 0-9, which are where most of the sound commands
2. You can't program CVs to customize the sound profile.

If you can live with those constraints you should be fine depending on how many locomotives you want to operate at a time.

Glad it worked for you, welcome to the world of decoder programming

Decoder programming can work great and be real seamless and easy... and sometimes things just don't work the way they are supposed to.

I don't know the specifics of the Dynamis but it seems to me that it's not writing the new address to the locomotive decoder.

Are you programming the decoder CV (based on the PDF online instructions start on page 16) or just updating the roster?

I'm guessing DecoderPro isn't recognizing the decoder correctly. Unless Bachmann used a third party decoder (or have a new unannounced decoder) none of the things you are trying to do are going to work with the Bachmann decoder. Bachmann has the instruction sheet for their decoder posted online which specifies the supported CVs.

If you would like to add lighting effects or a full speed table you'll need to upgrade your decoder. I'd recommend not using DecoderPro as the definitive source on what a decoder supports as it's more likely to be wrong than the manuals produced by the manufacturers.

I've had success using Digitrax DH165s for speedtables and lighting effects but I imagine there are many other brands that support those features.

Quote from: captain1313 on May 10, 2011, 10:50:24 PM
Well....the hose hose height was OK......the wheels looked in gauge.......sooooo.......I changed out the wheels sets on the offending truck anyway...........low and behold..........no more derailments.  I'd better get a few more packs.  Anyplace to get wheels sets in bulk of 100?   Thanks to all for the tips.

Kevin

Yes, you can buy metal wheels in bulk from various vendors but you need to be aware that not all wheelsets fit all trucks. In addition to wheel size (such as 31", 33", and 36" to name a few) the length of the needle points can vary. I've found Bachmann's 33" sets (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=2210) have fit a lot of the trucks I've owned but run into trucks that require longer and shorter trucks.

As an example I recently bought a Kadee cushion underframe boxcar that won't fit any of my existing metal wheelsets. Because of this my recommendation would be to survey what type of stock have before you buy them in bulk so you don't end up with a bunch of wheels that don't fit.

As for bulk packaging, I've seen the bulk packages but it's more common to see the smaller packages (like the ones Bachmann sells). You could check to see if your local hobby store will order a case and sell it at or near wholesale (or at the very least some level of discount).

Quote from: Jim Banner on May 06, 2011, 07:21:38 PM
Fortunately, there are only two possibilities so you have a 50% chance of being right the first tme.

I don't want to derail the thread (pun intended) but I actually laughed out loud when I read that (you can ask my wife).

To the original question it's entirely possible the V has no significance to the orientation which is an excellent reminder on why you should pay close attention when you take something apart that will one day need to be put back together.

It sure did turn out nice!

His website was a great inspiration and where I found the inspiration for my current project.

I have to say, though Ray, you were also responsible for my own introduction to small layouts with your posts about building the Monks Railway (and actually linking to Carl's website)

It would be nice if they did (hope they do!) but you could always sell the track and power pack on ebay or HO Yard Sale.

As for DCC I'd almost rather then be DCC ready as I prefer to pick my own decoder. Even better if they were Sound friendly. I would definitely jump at the idea of having an A-B-A or A-B-B-A set in GN, especially if it was sound upgradeable.

There is a handy pin guide for the 8-pin plug: http://www.dccwiki.com/NMRA_DCC_Plug

Based on your close up image the pin alignments should be this:

8 7 6 5
1 2 3 4

As long as you have the decoder wired up to the plug correctly the plug can be installed the wrong way and not release the magic smoke. You will know it's in backwards because the lights don't work. Additionally since #3 is the dummy plug if you can verify that pin on the board has no traces to it that would also confirm the orientation.

I'm interested in seeing this through, I have a Bachmann Pere Marquette 2-8-4 that I've always wanted to put sound in but never allocated the budget to getting the sound decoder but had the same Soundtraxx decoder on my wishlist for it.

I would be very interested in seeing how difficult it is to install sound in one of these sound ready 2-8-4s

Tedshere, the small print states that the roadname may vary and there is if you order you'll get whatever they have. No guarantee of a specific roadname.

It is probably the same as the set you got. What "can't be sold as new" and "No Retail Box" likely means is that it's either open box, packaging was damaged, or something has happened to it so they can't put it in a box and sell it as new. It could be a case where they had a run of defective trainsets and these are the perfectly fine rolling stock. It could be merchandise returned to the company or even items used as display items at train shows. They have been taken out of the box and possibly handled and thats why they aren't new.

I don't speak for the company so it could be something completely different and none of my explinations should be used taken as fact.

Quote from: jonathan on March 16, 2011, 06:03:43 PM
Gosh, model railroading is fun.  I'm sure I read that somewhere.

Indeed it is By the way, welcome to the world of DCC

Can we look forward to project threads detailing the installation of decoders and speakers in your existing fleet?

I'm making an assumption that the non-sound Consolidation is also DCC equipped. If it is do you know the what type of decoder it is?

If it's a decoder that supports speed tables, kick start, and both Forward and Reverse Trim speed matching shouldn't be too difficult*

If it's a decoder like the Bachmann non-sound decoder which is very basic and doesn't support speed tables it is still feasible but more difficult.

*Difficulty is a relative term based on the tools available and patience. My plan is to get most of my fleet operating at the same speed curve by using the speedometer I've ordered to adjust each speed step to a scale speed.

In theory yes you should be able to speed match a sound and non-sound locomotive but it's going to probably be more difficult.

I recently ordered Bachrus speedometer (http://bachrus.com/speedometer.php) and Digitrax PR3 with the intention of speed matching my locomotives (well the ones that support speed tables). I have one sound locomotive and the rest are not so in a couple weeks I might be able to answer that better.

For CVs you might be in luck since they are both Spectrum Consolidations in that there is a higher probabililty they have the same gearing. That could mean you could set the same speed curve and then use the Forward and Reverse Trims with the Kick Start (CVs 65, 66, and 95) to get them in sync.