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...--- $40 XL Sound Decoder in Kato U30C -- Part 4 ---

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For more on where to get and how to use the flexible PCB strips go ( HERE ).

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More about the decoder tester, how to build it and the printer files ( HERE ) and a video of it in use ( HERE ).

Click the image above or ( HERE ) for a YouTube of the engine on the test track.

What is my final verdict on the XL sound decoder? Probably worth $40 ( I heard at the time of writing this they have gone up) considering alternatives are probably at least twice that. But............ can you fit it in the N scale loco you have? Maybe not without a lot of work. Sound options are limited. Operational I'm having some problems with the loco stopping and starting at times when I for instance blow the horn. Not sure at this point if it is a decoder problem on a track current problem.

Would I buy another one? Probably not. I'll probably stick with an ESU decoder in the future since with it, in most cases, you can find a sound file that is a match to the loco you are putting the decoder in. The XL has some rather generic sound files. I'm sure an ESU sound decoder has far better motor, lighting and sound controls. Since doing this install I've bought 2 ESU decoders to install and will write those up when I do them. I'm not interested in sound for all my engines so will try and do the best I can for the ones I do install sound in.

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