SD60 Sound

[macjet]

I'm not too sure what generation an SD60 is. Soundtraxx has this decoder:

825226 EMD 2nd Generation with Nathan K5 5-chime Airhorn $85.00

Is this the correct decoder for an SD60? I believe the Nathan 5 chime is correct for RI.

Are speakers included with sound decoders? I assume this sound decoder will work with the appropriate Digitrax decoder.

Thanks.

 

[HaggisKennedy]

An SD60 can be considered a second generation, but some might say it's a third generation. It has a 16-710 turbo engine, which sounds close enough to a 16-645 of a SD40-2.

Are you sure of the part number? That doesn't look familiar to me.

Some decoders come with speakers, some don't. It should work with Digitrax stuff, but by how you described it, you're using a Digitrax motor decoder with a Soundtraxx sound-only decoder?

Kennedy

 

[macjet]

An SD60 can be considered a second generation, but some might say it's a third generation. It has a 16-710 turbo engine, which sounds close enough to a 16-645 of a SD40-2.

Are you sure of the part number? That doesn't look familiar to me.

Some decoders come with speakers, some don't. It should work with Digitrax stuff, but by how you described it, you're using a Digitrax motor decoder with a Soundtraxx sound-only decoder?

Kennedy

http://www.soundtraxx.com/products/dcc/price.htm It's listed about 3/4 of the way down the page. It looks like they only have the motor/sound combos in steam.

I'm not too sure. My understanding is that I need a decoder for the motor, one for the sound, or a combo that will do both. I've read good things about the Digitrax for the P2K locos and good things about the Soundtraxx decoder. If there is a better setup I'm all ears. My DCC education is still in kindergarten.

Thanks.

 

[jbaakko]

You should be bale to get away with a 2nd generation. I doubt anyone will notice the slight difference in sound.

 

[HaggisKennedy]

Ah, OK. Yes, that one will do for the SD60.

Yes, you are correct; with this decoder, you will also need a motor-only decoder. Soundtraxx used to offer this, but those were discontinued a little while ago, I think because of the new Tsunami decoders, which is their next-gen combo. The diesel version is not out yet, it's been a long time coming, but it'll be here eventually. Right now, there's no anticipated release date, so you might as well go with the sound only. Your only other Soundtraxx option is one of the combo 'LC - Low Cost' decoders; their sound is more generic. But, I do believe they have one that fits the LL locos specifically.

As I said, you'll need a motor decoder. I think you're going to have to solder the track pickup leads to both the motor decoder and the Sound decoder, because they're both powered from the truck pickups.

Kennedy