[upnick]

*** Richard,

I take on board your advice and wouldnt doubt it at all, but the loco is a bachmann with a large metal chassis i bought new recently not the one i posted here ''Milwaukee'', i did change my plans (hold my hands up to that one ) i would like to go for the loksound but it isnt economical for the cost of any of my HO locos as i want to keep the cost down.

As for the huge board decoder yes i was advised to use it in conjuction with the sound bug .......... but would need a plug for the bug to hook it up to a normal decoder surely the board could be used elsewhere on another loco.

I did try the decoder without the speaker for motor movement and lighting ......... as Zmil has said do you think i may have damaged the bug as i can get it to read CV's the characteristic click heard after a read present but no sound after soldering the speaker back up, in the instruction it does say F8 is 'mute' but if i try to press F8 ( NCE powercab ) nothing appears in the display or changes.

if ive blown out the amplifier then its down to experience

 

[Richard Johnson]

*** The Bachmann is included in my comment - there is room to be had if you look carefully at the construction, even if it means a few minutes with dremel or hacksaw. As I said, every US HO loco has space somewhere if you really think it through.

re the sound bug try using it without the decoder - just connect direct to red and black and a speaker.... They are a tad fragile but unless you did something directly negative to its life I don't think you will have harmed it - even no speaker connected is generally OK.

the biggest problem is actually getting to grips with digi instructions.... they can be a tad obtuse much of the time.

Richard

 

[upnick]

Thanks for the advice Richard,

I will try it and cut out the loco when i can sit at the bench more.