Well I wasn't going to get an FP45 w/sound but now I don't know.

[wcfn100]

I got an undec MILW version and I'm nearly done detailing it and I thought that'd be it.  I've been interested in getting a sound equipped loco as all I have is a CZ baggage car I did a few years ago.

But after reading an HO thread on the A-Board saying that Athearn will be using Soundtraxx in their new releases, I did a search and the FP45 in N are coming up.

Right now, all that proves is that someone wrote 'Soundtraxx' in the metadata for the webpage.  Has there been anything else mentioned about this?  And do I really need two Milwaukee FP45's? 


Jason

[SkipGear]

That may explain the delay in the release. Everybody assumed MRC decoders but the F/FP45 decoder is absent from the most recent drop-in decoder announcements from MRC.

So far MRC has quite a bit covered:

Atlas:
 GP's and U23
 SD50/60

LifeLike:
 C Liner

Kato:
 F40PH
 NW-2
 PA
 E8/P42
 F Units
 SD40-2
 SD70/AC4400
 SD80/9043

Too bad somebody else can't crank them out as fast with better motor control. It looks like they at least seem to be worrying about matching the sounds to the loco in the most recent version.

[Nato]

  I would hope that we get the neat little hand held RC link controler for DC operation like with their Steam, but I believe that controler is an MRC unit. Nate Goodman (Nato). "Currently a DCer with some DCC locomotives".

[Walkercolt]

I don't think Horizon/Athearn will be using MRC sound boards, and I don't think they'll use Sound Trax's either. I think they will use whoever made the sound units/decoders for the Challengers/Big Boys, and nobody's claiming who made those. ??? Maybe part of the deal with Athearn was to keep their mouths shut about making them. Or they could have been made in China, Indonesia, etc. like your new TV/computer monitor.

[wcfn100]

"I don't think Horizon/Athearn will be using MRC sound boards, and I don't think they'll use Sound Trax's either."

But these locos already have Soundtraxx as part of their search criteria on the Athearn site. Go to the Athearn site and use the search feature with the word 'soundtraxx'.  You will get a listing of 127 sound equipped locomotives set for future release which includes 33 listings for the FP45.

And before it starts, the search IS NOT pulling everything that has sound. In fact, it's using data that isn't even seen on the page but is metadata within the HTML.  Somebody purposely listed Soundtraxx as part of the extra information for these locos.


Jason

[Walkercolt]

OK, that may be what they are going to use, but I'm surprised. Probably shouldn't be...

[SkipGear]

I think they will use whoever made the sound units/decoders for the Challengers/Big Boys, and nobody's claiming who made those. ???

The decoder in the Challenger and BigBoy is an MRC unit. They share the same vendor ID CV and default CV's as the HO units which I have talked to both Athearn and MRC about when I was having problems with a customers. They also have the same sound files and locations as the Standard Generic MRC Steam decoder available to the public.

Athearn just doesn't advertise the fact that they are made by MRC, probably a good idea on thier part.

[asarge]

Jason,

It is on the A-Board forum which is not always reliable. How reliable do you think this info is?

[wcfn100]

Jason,

It is on the A-Board forum which is not always reliable. How reliable do you think this info is?

At this point everything the OP said is 100% right on.  I was only wondering if this was something previously mentioned or hinted at.  Had I known this, I would have waited for the undec MILW with sound.


Jason

[asarge]

At this point everything the OP said is 100% right on.  I was only wondering if this was something previously mentioned or hinted at.  Had I known this, I would have waited for the undec MILW with sound.

No hint here that we ever heard. Surprising though since Athearn had been using MRC for quite awhile.

[Roger Holmes]

SkipGear--Walthers lists the MRC soundboards for the Kato NW2 as "TBA".  Do you show these as available anywhere?  I've been holding off on buying decoders for my two Milwaukee Road NW2's.  It seems pretty amazing that they could fit that much board and a speaker in those little engines.

I've has my sound equipped FP45's on order at the LHS for several years now.  Not holding my breath but my wallet is happy for the reprieve.

[lashedup]

My  local hobby store is saying that the first run of FP45 units with DCC and Sound are in the country and should start showing up in dealers this week.

[Chulvis]

Guys, this is what is coming this week, equipped with Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders :

Santa Fe (Pinstripe)
Great Northern
Santa Fe (Warbonnet)
Milwaukee Road (Yellow)

Hopefully this will be a huge improvement over the MRC sound.

[Mark5]

Hopefully this will be a huge improvement over the MRC sound.

Pretty sure bet right? The MRC sound decoders kinda suck don't they? Two "diesel" sounds as I understand it (idle and run).

[asarge]

In case somebody doesn't get the Athearn Email, here is the text of the announcement

Athearn to Offer SoundTraxx Tsunami Equipped Locomotives
Athearn Trains is excited to announce that all sound-equipped HO-scale Genesis locomotives, as well as Athearn N Scale and Roundhouse sound locomotives announced after April 27th, 2009 will proudly feature SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders. Custom designed for Athearn, these state-of-the-art Digital Sound Decoders will include the following features:
 
Tsunami technology that provides smoot and precise locomotive operation.
Back-EMF control for consistent operating speeds.
Compatible with the NMRA DCC Standards and Recommended Practices.
Dual-mode capability to allow for operation on Analog or DCC layouts.
16-bit digital processor provides CD quality sound technology.
Diesel decoders will include the following sound effects: prime mover startup/shutdown, bell, air horn (with several user-selectable horn types), air compressor, turbocharger (where applicable), dynamic brakes (where applicable), brake squeal, fans, coupler crash, and many more.
Steam decoders will include the following sound effects: exhaust chuff, bell, whistle, air pump, dynamo, injectors, and many more.
HO-Scale models will feature effect lighting (as applicable per prototype), including:
Mars oscillating signal lights (clear and red, as applicable per prototype)
Pyle Gyralights (clear and red, as applicable per prototype)
Western-Cullen rotary beacons
Prime Stratolite sequential beacons
Xenon Strobes
Flashing ditch lights
and more!
Programmable acceleration, deceleration, and starting voltage.
Supports 14-bit address modes for addressing any Loco number up to 9,999.
Supports programming on the main.