Hi gang. I haven't been active for a long time as am in a funk about being forced to vacate my apartment of 19 years including of course ripping out my beloved 35' long HO standard gauge switchback RR. due to landlord employing the Ellis act (search Ellis act and you'll know what it is easier than my explaining it here ). Anyway, I have been running a little lately and aside from this loco being too light weight (slips on a 2.5- 3% grade if more than 4-5 cars) I just noticed that it has no bell. Is this correct !? Also I have whistle volume CV at 254 and master volume at 255 and yet the whistle remains way too low compared with cuffs, blow down, bell. Are they all this way ? While underway the whistle is too anemic. Is there a simple modification or is mine damaged ? Thanks, Mark
Suggest you reset decoder to factory default settings, to CV 8, enter 8. While the whistle many not be as loud as you would like, SoundTraxx has balanced the sounds volumes to the sound files used in this decoder. The default value for CV 129 – Whistle Volume Control is 255, which is maximum volume.
If you are still using a NCE Power Cab and the Bell button does not activate the bell sound, then refer to section ASSIGNING THE BELL FUNCTION page 58 in the Power Cab System Reference Manual, Rev 1.65.
Also ---- Click Here (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,28359.0.html) for sound decoder reset procedure.
Thanks, But what about the missing bell on the non decorated one ? The adds show this but who's going to notice. Why does Bmann do this ? It's not fair. At lease put it in the box with the other choices of trucks and pilots .....
My modern 4-4-0 had a bell, did yours come new?
On Ma and Pa No. 6 (the prototype for the model) the bell is located between the steam dome and the generator. If it got broken off, you can obtain a brass replacement part from Bowser/Cal-Scale or Precision Scale (PSC).
Gents I got it from Bachmann because the said they couldn't repair my torn wires on my 2-8-0 and thus offered me this. If you look at the Bachmann Spectrum steam list in their on-line store you can see the undeco ones have no bell ! l could have chosen a deco one and should have. I just didn't catch it in the pics. I suppose I deserve the NOBELL PIECE PRIZE !
Mark;
As was suggested, purchase one from Cal-scale, think about where you would like to locate said bell, and install it. It doesn't matter too much who did what-it's your money. Oh by the way: Try "Nobel". You might win.
Rich C.
NOBELL Piece Prize... that is a terrible pun. Kudos.
Quote from: MarkInLA on October 14, 2014, 06:56:23 AM
If you look at the Bachmann Spectrum steam list in their on-line store you can see the undeco ones have no bell !
Mark-
You've got to be kidding! This is outrageous. No bell? How can Bachmann justify this omission? This is just completely
wrong. There is no excuse for Bachmann failing to include a bell. It's the sort of thing that costs them pennies but is a
pain in the patoo for customers. I have to say, I an
very disappointed to learn this. And I'm sorry you had to
learn the hard way.
-- D
Answer!
Call service and tell them your bell was missing and you are not happy with this! Your the boss that keeps them working when you buy there products.
Jack
Made in China REBUILT BETTER IN THE U S A
Thanks much fellow hoggers ! I will do just that in morning. Man 'O man I am getting really fraid and frazzled over the many repair problems I have gone through since my first HO Bmann loco/sound..Here's even another one ! : This same engine, Mod.4-4-0's whistle is anemic..I did the CV 30-2 AND 8-8 dance. the default whistle volume is at 255 ! The master volume is 244 and whistle is still quieter than the chuffs ! So I raised CV 129 to 251 ...4 more to 255 ain't even worth trying !! I feel like a guinny pig for them. I am so not a satisfied customer ! Engines I wanted to keep have gotten sent back expecting a repair done. They advertise 'repair' or such, and instead confiscate the engine (for decoder and who knows what) after I've paid a second shipping fee (first was at on-line dealer for) then inform you it can't be repaired..Yeah, right. Then offer choices of completely different engine types and eras that you never were lusting for in the first place ! Ugh ! Ive typed dozens of posts like this. The consolidation I lost to this one now looks like it's available again ! The 4-4-0 is a very nice engine and runs smoothly. But it' not heavy enough to not slip with 5-6 standard cars up a 3%..AND it has no bell !! [exhale here]: PHeeeeeeeeew........
Quote from: MarkInLA on October 15, 2014, 02:25:47 AM
This same engine, Mod.4-4-0's whistle is anemic..I did the CV 30-2 AND 8-8 dance. the default whistle volume is at 255 ! The master volume is 244 and whistle is still quieter than the chuffs ! So I raised CV 129 to 251 ...4 more to 255 ain't even worth trying !!
The problem you describe with the whistle volume is not unique to your locomotive. It is not unique to sound equipped Bachmann locomotives. It is common throughout the entire SoundTraxx Tsunami product line. The best you can do is to maximize the whistle volume CV value and reduce the individual CV values for all other sounds.
You have already maximized the whistle volume. Now if you want the whistle to be louder than the exhaust you need to turn down the exhaust volume.
An alternate solution is to replace the Tsunami sound decoder with a different brand decoder that has sound effects better suited to your preferences.
I mentioned above that I thought the model was one of the modern Richmond 4-4-0's, and it turns out it is the Baldwin model. My bad. Mark is right, the pics in the catalog page do indicate that some of the models do not have a bell, which is indeed strange. Still, you can get the necessary brass part if Bachmann doesn't have a replacement.
Again thanks for replies and advice. Yeah, I thought same thing; lower the chuff and rod sounds to hear whistle better. Then chuffs become anemic. But I guess I'l go that way... :'(
::) Yeah, I lowered chuffs and slightly lowered bell ( which several already now; mine came with NO Bell !). Then I also changed whistle type, CV115> 2. It's better. I know big old O scale Lionel whistles really are loud and tonally correct as I/we've heard them in train stores..But I think this is mainly due to having a huge speaker/s and more logic in the decoder. But then why is it my Koss ear buds enable THEE deepest and loudest bass notes as if I'm in front of an 18" stereo woofer ! These speakers surely would fit in an HO shell/diesel/tender !! Instead, in engines they are the cone in a round or oval 1" metal frame type, like early car or home radios had; little bass !
Hi, Mark.
There is a lot less air to move in your ear canal than in a room.
You should study acoustics and loudspeaker building.
Put a receiver and sub-woofer under your layout,
then send your loco's sound signal to it using
a small, low power radio transmitter (modulator) mounted in the loco or tender.
Your ears (stereo hearing) can't easily locate the source of bass sounds,
while mid-range and treble sounds from the loco or tender speaker can
easily be followed.
This combo should then give you the auditory illusion of having bass sounds
coming from the loco.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Joe, thanks for studious reply. Not sure if I understand it all. I was getting at why is the whistle anemic in one HO Bach engine and strong in another. Gosh, when you put those youtube videos of 1:1 steam you really get a blast of what it should sound like. I love the type which starts low and long then bends up to an elongated toot(high pitch but drawn out) OOOOOOwheeeee ! Or the staccato toot toot in yard or station stops. And, to me the whistle should be the loudest sound effect, followed by chuffs/clanks, then bell.....
Anyway, I still don't get why my Koss ear buds can sound like you're at some disco club in the 70s with that real deep boom boom boom boom bass pounding all night. Their speakers are smaller than the ones in most HO engines. I do know that it is also contingent upon the type of amplifier/circuitry too, though.
Your suggestion would be great if I didnt have to demolish my 35' HO switchback RR branch line in about 8-9 Mons. due to newest landlord using the Ellis Act to vacate me (please search Ellis Act to know what's unfairly happening to me after 19 years in this apartment by a landlord 30 yrs my junior and owning building only 1-5 yrs. !) I don't know where am going to wind up. Other than a large relocation fee for me now in escrow, I get very little social security and I don't have a rich girlfriend. But thanks for ideas. I think I see what you mean. Bass spreads far and wide on the ground almost, where treble is piercing and clear. So speaker in mid of layout can be made to give that low rumble of an engine and thus doesn't need to be on the engine itself to give the necessary illusion....But, what happens when 2 or more engines are running and are using the transmitter/receiver set up ?! Especially if one is in front of you and others are across the the river a scale 2 mi. away say ?
Hi, Mark.
Ear bud question already answered in my previous post's first sentence.
Similar to inflating a small paper bag vs. inflating a large air mattress with your breath.
2 HO scale miles is about 120 feet. That's one impressive layout.
You'd have to have a different channel for each loco.
Multiple subwoofers along the route using signal strength (distance between transmitter and receiver) as volume control.
Perhaps too complicated on a large layout. Much simpler on a small layout using one subwoofer at a constant volume.
Large or small, much simpler to describe than implement.
Sorry about your having to move. Even buying a house can be temporary if you end up having to move for your job.
A deceased friend's family is talking about tearing out his (walk-in along-the-wall U-shaped 11' x 27' 3-Rail-O gauge) basement layout to sell the house.
It would be an asset if you could find a 3RO model train enthusiast as a buyer.
For many house buyers, though, it's not.
All Gargraves track and switches (absolutely gorgeous compared to Lionel tinplate) ballasted down with Elmer's glue and grit.
Beautiful murals painted on the walls.
His son suggested he make it modular (i.e., removable), but he didn't.
Hope your relocation goes smoothly.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Did you turn on the EQ and try to adjust that way ?The one I had so much power it blew the speaker at a fault of my own for the reverbe if too hi along with everthing else too hi will do this.Take care when doing this.
Jack