Digitrax SDH166

[chaz]

I recently bought a 2nd hand Bachmann On30 2-8-0 which has sound in it. On opening up the tender I found that it has a Digitrax SDH166 decoder in it. On test the loco' runs well but the sound volume is very low. I will do a CV8 factory restart to get the default values back before I start doing any tinkering with settings.

 

Do you have experience of this decoder and any advice or opinions for me?

 

I am prepared to whip the decoder out and replace it with something newer if necessary if this would be worthwhile. Personally I prefer ESU decoders and I have some experience with these - most of my British O gauge models are so fitted.

 

Chaz

[chaz]

I can only think that either none of the eighty or so people who have viewed my post have any experience of this decoder or they don't care to comment.

 

Ho Hum.

 

Chaz

[Loconuts]

Hi Chaz

 

Although I sold you the loco I have no answers to this problem but can I suggest contacting Ted Smale  of Sunningwell Command Control http://www.scc4dcc.co.uk/ . They are a Digitrax Agent.

 

John

[geoff]

I can only think that either none of the eighty or so people who have viewed my post have any experience of this decoder or they don't care to comment.

 

Ho Hum.

 

Chaz

 

Chaz, CV 58 is the master volume control but you should look at the manual on the Digitrax website as there are several different cvs which can be used to tailor the sound levels of the various sounds in this decoder. You will find the manual under 'support' on the website.

 

Geoff

[chaz]

Hi Chaz

 

Although I sold you the loco I have no answers to this problem but can I suggest contacting Ted Smale  of Sunningwell Command Control http://www.scc4dcc.co.uk/ . They are a Digitrax Agent.

 

John

 

Chaz, CV 58 is the master volume control but you should look at the manual on the Digitrax website as there are several different cvs which can be used to tailor the sound levels of the various sounds in this decoder. You will find the manual under 'support' on the website.

 

Geoff

 

Thanks lads. I shan't be able to do anything with this info' until after the weekend but I will certainly see if I can get this loco to "perform" effectively. I don't want to chuck away the decoder if it will deliver good, convincing sound.

 

Chaz

[chaz]

Chaz, CV 58 is the master volume control but you should look at the manual on the Digitrax website as there are several different cvs which can be used to tailor the sound levels of the various sounds in this decoder. You will find the manual under 'support' on the website.

 

Geoff

 

Geoff, thanks - I have now downloaded the Digitrax manual for the decoder. It comes as a PDF which is very convenient. May well play around with CVs next week to see what it will do.

 

Chaz

[Loconuts]

Hi Chaz

I have just remembered I have one of these SDH166 decoders in my K-28. Have just been out to run it and the sound level is just fine, matter of fact it actually needs turning down a bit.

 

The difference between the Baccy 2-8-0 and the K-28 is I have used a 1.5 in diameter cone 8 ohm speaker in the tender as opposed to the supplied box speaker so it looks as though the volume levels are due to the speaker.

 

John

[peach james]

I'm using a couple of these, and the x version. I've used JMRI to make changes to the cv's. If you start into making your own sound files, they are...entertaining...to program. There is sound helper, which I have used to generate the program, and then uploading 11k/8 bit .wav files. It can be of some import to note that memory quoted is in bits, not bites.... so you get about 3 min of 8 bit .wav in a 16 megabit chip. That doesn't matter so much if you are using someone else's .spj, but if you are creating your own, it matters.

 

James

[chaz]

I'm using a couple of these, and the x version. I've used JMRI to make changes to the cv's. If you start into making your own sound files, they are...entertaining...to program. There is sound helper, which I have used to generate the program, and then uploading 11k/8 bit .wav files. It can be of some import to note that memory quoted is in bits, not bites.... so you get about 3 min of 8 bit .wav in a 16 megabit chip. That doesn't matter so much if you are using someone else's .spj, but if you are creating your own, it matters.

 

James

 

Thanks for that James. I don't think I will be making my own sound files - life's too short and there's a lot of work to do on the FVRR and it's stock.

 

Hi Chaz

I have just remembered I have one of these SDH166 decoders in my K-28. Have just been out to run it and the sound level is just fine, matter of fact it actually needs turning down a bit.

 

The difference between the Baccy 2-8-0 and the K-28 is I have used a 1.5 in diameter cone 8 ohm speaker in the tender as opposed to the supplied box speaker so it looks as though the volume levels are due to the speaker.

 

John

 

I will try adjusting volume levels with CVs first John, then if necessary a change of speaker. I don't want the sound level too loud but you may recall that when we tried the loco' on the FVRR it was only just audible.

 

Chaz