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...--- $40 XL Sound Decoder in Kato U30C -- Part 1 ---
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I thought for sure I wouldn't want sound decoders on the layout. Then after installing a number of non-sound decoders I saw a post about the inexpensive XL sound decoders. OK for $40 I'll give one a try. Most of their decoders are 'drop-in' decoders but they do have one that you can hard wire in. Since this older Kato U30C won't take a 'drop-in' decoder I went with the hard wired decoder. It wasn't an easy install but I learned a lot and I could do it quicker if I had to do it again.
Do I like having sound in a loco?. It has become more addictive than I thought it would. Enough so that I now have two ESU sound decoders that I'll install. I wouldn't go with another XL at this point. One reason I wouldn't install another is I'm having some erratic behavior when the loco is running and it will stop at times when I toggle one of the sound functions. Not sure yet if it is a decoder problem or track power problem.

The second reason being that the sound files available with it are somewhat generic in nature. The one in the U30 isn't from a U30. With ESU they have a ton on actual sound files. I'm kind of addicted also to U.P.'s U50's which are a dual diesel loco. Since you can preview the ESU sound files on line I listened to one of the U50 sound files and got hooked by hearing one diesel start up and then the second start up. I haven't installed it yet or the other one (not sure what I'm going to put it in at this point). I'll see if I get tired of the whole thing or not but it has caught my attention which I never thought it would a couple years ago when I first became aware of sound in an N scale loco.
Hopefully the following pictures will be enough explanation but if not email me.
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When I can I like using the jewelry's saw to cut out parts of the frame. I do like my other saw I have better than the one above that you can find more about ( HERE ). You can tension the blade tighter on the other one since in addition to the adjustment on the top of the frame there is one also at the front of the saw past the end of the blade.
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I did most of the other milling that you will see except for where the speaker sits with flex shaft Dremel type tool. More about it ( HERE ) and I like it a lot.
If you do this be gentle on filing the sides down. You just need a tiny bit and don't want to get into the traces on the board.
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........... Part 2 on the next page.
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