We have compiled the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive to help you decide which product to purchase, or to help you troubleshoot or understand the various features of Railsounds and Trainmaster Control.
Do you offer installation service for your products?
A.
No, we do not.
The downward price pressure of the O Gauge maket combined with the increasing number of technological features found on new engines is making it increasingly difficult for the hobbiest to decide whether to upgrade his existing locomotive or to sell it and purchase a new one with the latest features. Most of the time, the decision is based on simple economics. By eliminating the cost of installation and two-way shipping from the equation, upgrading an engine becomes a more economically feasible choice.
Our instruction manuals are painstakenly written and composed to make the installation process as simple as possible. If you posess the skill to connect a transformer to your layout and wire a few remote controlled switches, then you will have little or no trouble upgrading an engine yourself.
If you feel that you do not have the ability to do the installation yourself, we can refer you to a competent technician that will be happy to do the work for you.
What should I do if I cannot get my engine to work properly after doing an installation myself?
A.
Telephone for assistance during business hours, but kindly avoid using email for questions of this nature. It is easier for us to ascertain the problem and offer you a more timely solution when we can speak to you directly.
Will upgrading my locomotive with command and sound increase its value?
A.
It depends on the engine and its condition. Certainly, the value of a mint, in-the-box pre-war or post-war Lionel engine will be decreased by modifications of any kind. But in general, adding TMCC and/or Railsounds to any engine will increase it's functionality and therefore its value.
What's the difference between SignalSounds, Railsounds, and Trainsounds?
A.
Lionel SignalSounds is a factory installed sound system that provides a good quality digitally recorded whistle and bell or horn and bell, depending on whether it is the steam or diesel version. No other engine sounds are produced, and the whistle and horn sounds are static, meaning that you will get the same sound effect each time you activate it.
Railsounds is a full featured sound system that includes the sounds of the prime mover at different RPM levels (diesel version), or chuffing effects (steam version), screeching brakes, multi-whistle or horn, bell, and various other sounds including TowerCom and CrewTalk.
Trainsounds is digital sound system featured in Lionel traditional engines. It provides basic engine sounds, but lacks the quality and features of Railsounds. Trainsounds is not compatible with Trainmaster Command Control.
In addition to the Railsounds Power Supply Card and Railsounds Audio Card the complete kit includes a Railsounds motherboard and all necessary wiring, a loudspeaker, miscellaneous mounting hardware, and an installation manual.
The answer is yes and no. If you are using Railsounds with Trainmaster Command Control, then you will not need a battery. With TMCC, track voltage is always present, so no standby source of power is required. However, if you want to occasionally operate the engine in a conventional environment, you will need a 9V battery to provide uninterrupted sounds when you change engine direction by momentarily interrupting the track voltage. Also, the battery will allow you to hear engine shutdown sounds after the power has been shut off for more than a few seconds.
It depends on how often you operate the engine. When the engine is running, the battery receives only intermittent use, so it should last for several months.
Can I use a rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery with Railsounds?
A.
It is possible, but not always practical. Railsounds does not provide a means to charge the battery, so you will have to remove it from the engine to charge it. A 9V alkaline cell has a much longer shelf life than rechargeable types, therefore requires infrequent replacement. If you prefer to use a rechargeable battery, then you should consider our high capacity NiMH battery for best results.
The term 'generic' refers to the TowerCom and CrewTalk features of Railsounds. These recorded messages do not refer to a specific engine number or road name, so they can be used with any engine.
I'm thinking of installing Railsounds in my locomotive. Do I need to install Trainmaster Command Control too?
A.
No, you do not. Railsounds can operate 'standalone'. However, only the basic engine sounds including horn (or whistle), bell, and chuffing (or diesel sounds) can be heard in Conventional Mode. Other sounds such as screeching brakes, coupler opening sounds, and the TowerCom and CrewTalk functions can only be activated and heard with TMCC operation.
I am not satisfied with the Railsounds that came installed in my 3rd Rail, Weaver, or Atlas engine. Can the sounds be upgraded or changed?
A.
Yes. You can choose from the different generic sound sets available for diesel or steam and then purchase a new Railsounds Audio board to replace your existing board, or, depending on stock availability, you may be able to exchange your board for a flat fee of $20.
None of the Railsounds systems listed for sale are prototypically correct for my engine. Are there other sound sets available or can you custom program sounds for me?
A.
No. At this time, the Railsounds selection is limited to what is listed here for sale. Custom programming of sounds is not possible.
Will I lose any Protosound functions after installing the Equalizer?
A.
All of the Protosounds functions are retained and many are enhanced when operating the engine in TMCC mode. In conventional mode, the ability to remotely operate Protocouplers will be lost. Also, certain other user programmed features will not function, including the ability to 'lockout' the engine.
Do I still need the Protosounds battery once I install the Equalizer in my MTH engine?
A.
The battery is optional. You will need to install it only if you want to run the engine in Conventional Mode. However, the battery will improve performance of the system in Command Mode by keeping the Protosounds system up and running over sections of dirty track and other sources of potential power interruption. This can be important, since a temporary loss of power can cause Protosounds to re-enter Reset or Neutral, and become out of sync with the movement of the engine.
Does the Equalizer eliminate the annoying potential problem of a scrambled Protosounds memory?
A.
The memory scrambling problem is caused by operating Protosounds with a weak battery. When Protosounds switches from track power over to battery power as it would during Conventional Mode direction cycling or engine shutdown, a weak battery allows the Protosounds microprocessor and other components to operate below their minimum specified voltages. If the microprocessor writes to memory during this time, the memory contents may become scrambled. Operating the engine in Command Mode with the Equalizer greatly reduces the chances of scrambling the memory for a couple of reasons. First, the constant high voltage on the track provides a steady robust charge for the battery. The battery will charge continuously and more rapidly than if the engine is operated intermittently with the lower track voltages of conventional operation. Second, in the command environment, other than in final engine shutdown, there is less reliance on the battery to provide power other than randomly, a few milliseconds at a time. Unlike in conventional mode, where power is cycled off routinely and for longer durations.
The short answer is that while the Equalizer will greatly minimize the chances of scrambling Protosounds memory, it is not guaranteed to eliminate the problem entirely.
Should I replace the original Protosounds battery with a different type battery?
A.
The Protosounds Nickel Cadmium battery, like all NiCad batteries, suffers from what is termed a 'memory effect'. If the battery is not allowed to discharge fully, then fully recharged on a regular basis, it will lose it's capacity to hold a charge. When this happens, the battery can never be charged to its maximum capacity, no matter how long it is left in the charge state. Much better results can be achieved by replacing the original battery with a NiMh battery. The Equalizer charging circuit has been designed to safely accommodate NiMh batteries
