Is anyone aware of one of our sound decoder suppliers that may be working on plug and play sound decoders for all these wonderful N scale Fox Valley Locos out there? I would have thought that someone would have tried to fill that market by now. Specifically I have 3 GP60s I would like to convert to sound.
One possibility might be the Zimo MX649N. Present cost is about $100. http://www.zimo.at/web2010/products/lokdecoder_EN.htm It has the 6-pin NEM651 type pin connector on one end and a pair of wires for the speaker connection on the other end. You would need to check it for fit - its dimensions are specified as .91" x .36" x .16" (or 23mm x 9mm x 4mm). Following video gives you a sense of the sound performance:
Everything I run is DCC now. All new locos come with sound or I am converting to either LOKSOUND or TTSUNAMI so far.
I like what I have seen and heard with the ZIMO sound decoder. Who of our advertisers install them? I need to go for quotes. The speed control looked excellent as does the sound. It looks like you could install the system yourself as long as you had the proper sound files loaded.
Trainboard advertiser Top Hobby Trains performs sound decoder installations. http://www.tophobbytrains.com/ They may not be a Zimo dealer, though. However, they do sell ESU products and the LokSound micro 4 and micro 5 decoders are available with the NEM651 style 6-pin interface plug. http://www.esu.eu/en/products/former-products/loksound-micro-v40/ http://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-micro-loksound-5-micro-dcc/
Streamlined Backshop is a seller and installer of Zimo. I believe they are are an advertiser here too.
That list hasn't been updated by Charlie in a long time. Streamlined Backshop is, indeed, an advertiser, as is any other business whose banner ads appear on our pages (we do not allow 3rd party ads)
In that case: 1) https://store.sbs4dcc.com/search.aspx?find=mx649n 2) It would be useful if the advertiser list was updated so that we could know which (additional) businesses are supporting this forum - rather than depending upon the random appearance of a banner ad - so that purchases can be steered in the appropriate direction.