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Hogwarts Express - digital


zavavov

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Hi all,

I bought the Hogwarts Express train from Hornby and now I want add into digital decoder with sound. Have you got any ideas, how to do it and which decoder is the best for this train? And which sound? 

I digitalized some locomotives at home with LaisDCC decoder from China. These decoders are good and cheap, but they are have not sound. 

 

Thank you very much!

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The Hogwarts was a Hall Class Loco. AFAIK (As Far As I Know), Hornby do not market a Hall Class specific TTS (Twin Track Sound) sound decoder. One of the other TTS steam loco (A1, A3, A4, Castle Class or King Class) decoders may possibly be a suitable alternative (you need to await a knowledgeable steam modeller to advise). Click the link above for more TTS information.

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The Hornby TTS decoders are budget decoders and the TTS kits (decoder including speaker) retail for about £36 to £39.

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A specialist sound decoder installer (there are many to choose from) would be using a Loksound decoder with a custom set of sound files loaded onto it. The Loksound decoders are typically about £90 plus speaker and fitting charge. The 'Rolls Royce' solution with a RR price tag to go with it.

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If you want to go completely the other end of the price spectrum. There are battery operated sound modules (non Hornby) with motion detectors that provide only a generic (non loco specific) set of steam sounds. These would be fitted in addition to the basic non sound DCC decoder.

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There are also a small number of non Hornby sound decoder brands that fill the middle ground (price wise) at about £50. The actual brand names have slipped my memory at the present time, as have the makers of the cheap generic motion detecting battery operated modules.

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I'm sure someone else will come along and fill in the gaps in my memory with the product details I have alluded to. In the meantime, it might help if you were to state what your financial budget is for sound. In other words, what are your price and product quality expectations?.

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@Chrissaf.........."There are also a small number of non Hornby sound decoder brands that fill the middle ground (price wise) at about £50. The actual brand names have slipped my memory at the present time, as have the makers of the cheap generic motion detecting battery operated modules."...........The battery operated motion triggered sound module is made by Traintech............the budget sound decoder was made by MyLocoSound but is no longer produced in small scale............HB

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Thanks HB, I knew you would come to the rescue......"High Ho Silver Tonto".

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Not sure on this, but I think Zimo also do a mid price range sound decoder.

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Hi all,

thank you for yours replies. The price is not a big problem (maximum can be around £60), but the postage can be problem. I am not from England, but from Czech republic. The second problem is free space in locomotive. There is really small space for decoder and I do not know, where is space for speaker. 

 

The best solution will be only one decoder for sound and control locomotive. 

Thank you

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The Econami has the advantage of being loaded with several types of selectable steam or diesel variants (steam OR diesel on the same chip not both) and a choice of associated horns or whistles and other noise, so on paper a reasonable buy if absolute accuracy of sound to loco is not required.

 

Just the sort of thing I was trying to get Hornby to do - generic TTS stem or diesel in small or large loco noise sizes, but it fell by the wayside.

Rob

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Hi all,

I found, that Märklin sell the Hogwarts express train with sound and lights. Is was really nice train. I tried get information from Märklin company about DCC decoder and instalation, but I get information, that they can not give me information about products, that are not from their company. 

I saw some videos on YouTube with Hogwarts express train and the best sound is from Märklin - 

Havou you got anybody any advice or any information about this product? What decoder used there and ligts, too?

 

Thank you

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  • 3 years later...

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