PS2 PS3 and Loco Sounds Proto-cast

Hi Robert,

The manual only mentions using Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch with Loco-Sound engines.  To be honest, I've never used this feature of the IR Lock-on with any engine, so I can't say for sure it wouldn't work with a PS2 or PS3 engine, but I doubt it.

No.  The signal sent to Loco-Sound engines for this application is different than the signal sent over the rails to PS2/3 engines. 

Many thanks David and Stan!  I had found a bit of a dated page on Loco-Sounds, PS2 & Protocast that seems a bit ambiguous, but now re-reading it seems to affirm exactly what Stan is saying about the Protocast signal being different under PS2/PS3 & DCS w/TIU versus under Loco-Sound/Conventional & the RK IR Remote...

     "Proto-Cast™ lets you broadcast an audio recording through the locomotive's speaker.  It is available with Proto-Sound 2.0 when it is used with the DCS Remote Control System and an audio source (such as a portable CD or tape player) you provide and (this probably should read "or") with Loco-Sound when it is used with the RailKing Remote Control System and an audio source you provide."

It might be worth finding an inexpensive or secondary market loco-sounds engine to mess around with this feature.

I wanted to ask first before just testing it on a PS3 in part to make sure it would not hurt the PS3 engine.

I'm guessing compatibility is the same in reverse, Protocast will work with PS2/PS3 via full DCS/TIU, but Protocast not work with Loco-Sounds via the TIU...basically you need the Railking IR Remote system to run Protocast with Loco-Sounds?

Still a great little remote system for straight running of conventional engines...at least all button functions works great with my Williams (Bell, Horn, Direction and even Emergency Stop/Power Off).  I'm guessing MTH stopped making 50-1012, which is kind of a shame.  It's a neat little setup.

Thanks again,

Robert

Correct.  For discussion purposes, think of AM vs. FM radio.  Both accomplish the same basic audio function but use different signals.  An AM radio can't pick up FM and vice versa.  However both systems can co-exist without harming each other.

Many thanks again Stan & Dave for the tips!  As Dave suspected, and Stan affirmed, my PS3 doesn't provide any sound when running conventional with the Railking IR Remote System and an MP3 connected to the proto-cast port.  When Stan said to think of it like a different radio signal (AM vs FM) for proto-cast via Loco-sounds vs proto-cast via DCS/Protosound it made a lot of sense and figured it would not hurt to test the PS3 just to make sure.  Never really doubted you Stan, just was curious if it would produce static, interrupt engine sounds or what...results zero, zip, nada or no effect.

So I'd been shopping Loco-sounds engines on the bay and found a nice 2002 UP 2-8-0 from perrystoyexchange...one of the MTH "prototypes" or production demos they sell, and I am very impressed with the results of a little MP3 player hooked up to the proto-cast jack on the lock-on (as usual poor quality video ahead)...

Unfortunately the video is a bit dark, and my older digital camera does not do the sound justice.  Music playing through the tender speaker actually sounds a lot fuller than it does in the video.

I was thrilled with finding out the Railking IR remote set-up would run my conventional Williams engines perfectly (TBII whistle & bell, direction and power interrupt all work seamlessly with the remote).

However, now I'm just head over heels with the proto-cast function and my 'new to me' Loco-sound engine.  This will make a great feature for a round the tree layout this Christmas playing a mix of Holiday favorites

Not to mention that this Loco-sounds engine is actually a really nice performer...slow running, speed control, etc.  I was also very pleasantly surprised with the synchronized chuff & puff running sounds...really good for conventional synthesized sounds as they'd been described, and while the whistle & bell are different, they're not that bad at all IMO.

I spend about $40 a piece for the full Ralking IR systems...bought 2 of them as I found them available cheap (2-remotes, 2-lock-ons & 2-750w bricks...both even came with some bonus track), and spent another $90 for the UP 2-8-0 Loco sound engine....win-win-win

Thanks again for your help, and all the great info here at OGR Forum!

Robert