Atlas O MP15 with ESU Loksound Select L sound decoder upgrade

That is really nice ..... sound and operation! Really like it. (Those red CP engines are sharp looking, too!)

So, retailers don't load the prime movers that you request into the decoder? I guess only the retailers that do repairs/installations do ... such as Tony's in Vermont?

If you do decide to try a speaker upgrade, please post your results on the forum. Thanks.

Have used the Loksound L decoder & highly recommend it! The supplier I used here in the UK (Coastal DCC) loaded the sound file I wanted for me.

I fitted mine in an AtlasO TM RS3, similarly replacing a QSI decoder, which had been factory-fitted in an F-3. Someone re-programmed it with Alco sounds for me, but it still didn't sound right to me - except for the horn, which was awesome; even slightly better than the Loksound, & totally blew away (no pun intended!) Tsunami horns.

But overall the Loksound is much better all round.

I installed a small LokSound Select in a Sunset 44 ton engine 2 years ago, because they were the only ones to offer the correct sound set at the time. Fantastic control and sound.

Wow!  Great looks and great sound.

I was there while Scott ran the engine/consist around the layout and then did the photo/video shoot.  The low end motor control --  and at all speeds is as good as it gets.  The prime mover, bell, horn and other sounds are very crisp even with the stock Atlas O speaker with whatever attention Atlas paid to acoustics.

And how about that much cleaner and more reliable looking installation!   The O Scale engine manufactures should take a look at this!  

Thanks Scott for showing the gang a well done project!

do you guys ever meet at Frank Schmidts place?

Looks good!  Sounds great!

Dave

Bob Anson posted:

do you guys ever meet at Frank Schmidts place?

Yes, we have met at Frank's place at previous get-togethers and saw his fantastic 2-Rail O scale layout. Frank was in attendance over at this meeting as well.  A nice selection of O5W and P48 modelers here in Austin. 

Scott Kay

Austin, TX

Nice job! Looks great, sounds great, and runs great. What's not to like?  I mean.... Man that's really lousy, you should let me take that off your hands so you don't have to look at it anymore

Fantastic work!  Sounds great and certainly operates a lot better with the ESU Loksound Select L.

Seeing and hearing Scott's engine in person convinced me so I ordered two ESU Loksound Select L decoders, the ESU Programmer and the ESU decoder tester.  Look forward to installing the decoders in steam engines and comparing the results to my 6 amp QSI Titan Magnum Q2 and Q3 equipped steam engine installations. 

Will compare:  Ease of installation and programming.  Motor control.  Sound and lights.  Function button mapping.  Documentation and Support.  The ESU S/W and Programmer vs.  QSI CV Manager and the Quantum Programmer.  Downloading files. 

I go into this knowing that the QSI Titan Magnum has two totally independent speaker outputs which can be adjusted to balance the sound between an engine speaker a valuable feature.  The Loksound Select L has 2 positions to connect speakers to but on just one channel.  Wondering if I can find a way to balance them or maybe just get lucky.

 Also the Titan Magnum has screw terminals.  The Loksound Select L has solder pads on the base board with multi connectors between the decoder board which rides on top of the base board.  So, the base board can be permanently soldered in place and yet the decoder board can removed by just unplugging it for whatever reason. This is good IMO.  Bet the OEMs will like this for RMR activity.  

The new Atlas 2-rail U23Bs come with the adapter for the LokSound decoders installed, including the speaker and lights.  As they are DC only there is a plug where the decoder goes but it is a direct physical swap with the retail decoder.

Austin Bill posted:

..... I ordered two ESU Loksound Select L decoders, the ESU Programmer and the ESU decoder tester. ..... Look forward to installing the decoders in steam engines and comparing the results to my 6 amp QSI Titan Magnum Q2 and Q3 .....

Will compare:  Ease of installation and programming.  Motor control.  Sound and lights. .....

I look forward to your results, Bill.

Thanks. Matt

I have a few questions hoping someone can help...

1. Will this work on any conventional 3 rail engine???

2. what controller would be used IE. MTH DCS or Lionel Legacy???

Hi Dio,

This was a 2-rail DCC sound decoder installation, so it will only work on a DCC equipped layout, whether it is a 3-Rail DCC layout (yes, there are a few out there) or a 2-Rail DCC equipped layout.  

The actual controller that was used in the making of the video was an NCE (North Coast Engineering)  DCC controller but any DCC controller could have been used, i.e. Digitrax, MRC Prodigy.   However, MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy controllers could not be used as they are not DCC compatible control systems.  They are their own proprietary control systems.

Scott K.

Austin, TX

Austin Bill posted:

Seeing and hearing Scott's engine in person convinced me so I ordered two ESU Loksound Select L decoders, the ESU Programmer and the ESU decoder tester.  Look forward to installing the decoders in steam engines and comparing the results to my 6 amp QSI Titan Magnum Q2 and Q3 equipped steam engine installations. 

Will compare:  Ease of installation and programming.  Motor control.  Sound and lights.  Function button mapping.  Documentation and Support.  The ESU S/W and Programmer vs.  QSI CV Manager and the Quantum Programmer.  Downloading files. 

I go into this knowing that the QSI Titan Magnum has two totally independent speaker outputs which can be adjusted to balance the sound between an engine speaker a valuable feature.  The Loksound Select L has 2 positions to connect speakers to but on just one channel.  Wondering if I can find a way to balance them or maybe just get lucky.

 Also the Titan Magnum has screw terminals.  The Loksound Select L has solder pads on the base board with multi connectors between the decoder board which rides on top of the base board.  So, the base board can be permanently soldered in place and yet the decoder board can removed by just unplugging it for whatever reason. This is good IMO.  Bet the OEMs will like this for RMR activity.  

Austin Bill,

Could you please let me know when an ESU programmer is needed? Is it needed to enhance the performance / sound or to customize DCC decoders in existing DCC locomotives or is it only needed for new DCC installations? I read that high-end DCC systems like Digitrax Super Chief have more functionality compared to an entry-level Zephyr Xtra starter set but I am beginning to think that there must be something lacking from these high-end systems that required you to get the programmers.

Since you also mention QSI Manager & Quantum programmer, am I correct in assuming that even though DCC is a standard, you cannot modify default settings unless you have programmers from each decoder manufacturer. If that assumption is correct, then it would take away some of the standardization I expected from DCC. Most of my DCC capable locomotives would be MTH Proto-Sound 3.0 since they are the only choice for modern 6-axle locomotives. Would any of these programmers work if I needed to say match the speed between MTH models?

I have been running conventional DC for the last 10 years but recently bought my first DCC system from ESU.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

Navreen, most settings on any DCC decoder can be modified with any DCC system. However, when I tried to adjust the chuff rate on my QSI Magnum decoder I found out that to change that particular setting I needed the QSI Programmer which I don't have. 

If all you have is MTH locomotives than none of those programmers mentioned will help you because each programmer only works with its own decoders. 

Hi Naveen,

DCC decoders can be programmed using any of the main DCC systems like my NCE DCC system.  This is accomplished by using the programming features of the DCC system to DIRECTLY change decoder attributes called Configuration Variables (CV's).  This works just fine for making small changes to simple CV's.  I use this method to make simple changes on the fly.  But, rely on the three programming methods below for installations and big changes.

 Beyond simple changes using your DCC system becomes more complex.   For example many decoders have complex CV's called Indexed CV's which are much harder to fathom and change.  So, to vastly simplify and provide a user friendly (plain old English and graphics) interface companies like ESU and QSI developed specialized proprietary programmers optimized for their brand decoders.  There is also a free public domain and very comprehensive suite of tools is available on-line called JMRI which has two tools called Decoder Pro and Panel Pro.  These can be used to program most features of many decoders.  Free.  I use it to program decoders brands other than QSI and ESU.  And it will work with QSI and ESU, too.  I can't say how well because I have the programmers. 

So, why buy the QSI Quantum Programmer and the ESU Programmer?  You must have a QSI programmer to download new sound sets and new firmware versions.  Same for ESU.  Period.  Beyond this requirement I feel the proprietary programmers just make life easier.   In my experience I cannot imagine setting up a new QSI Titan Magnum decoder without my QSI Quantum Programmer.  Others will disagree with this for sure!!  But, why not take advantage of tools that simplify?

As for NMRA standards,  they are fine as far as they go.  They standardize many basic and important DCC attributes.  But, the various manufacturers are free to add proprietary attributes layered on top of the NMRA attributes.  This is a lengthy topic and I won't attempt it here.  

Bottom line.  DCC is not all that hard to understand.  It just takes time and effort and study.  Good luck and have fun.

Bill

Thanks for the in-depth explanation Bill. I too was wondering what the benefits were for purchasing the programmers.

"Will compare:  Ease of installation and programming.  Motor control.  Sound and lights.  Function button mapping.  Documentation and Support.  The ESU S/W and Programmer vs.  QSI CV Manager and the Quantum Programmer.  Downloading files."

Please post with the results of your comparison. I also look forward to it.