MTH proto sound whats the best upgrade kit

There are only two upgrade kits, one for diesel and one for steam.  Obviously, you get the one that matches what your engine is.

You can load any PS/2 3V sound file or many of the PS/3 sound files into the steam kit, and the diesel kit accepts any diesel sound file.

Is there any specific vendor that you would recommend I would definitely be interested in looking at a steam one. Who makes the kit. I’m not the most Electronically Advanced person but are the instructions detailed enough to complete it.

I would use a Cruise Commander from Electric Railroad.

http://www.3rdrail.com/err-3rdrail/index.html

A PS3 kit is still the least expensive and easiest to install in a Protosound engine. They were designed for them and most of what you need is either already in the engine or included with the kit. That catch now is finding one. ERR stuff is a la carte. Receiver with motor driver is one piece, sounds a second, couplers a third, lights a fourth, chuff switch a fifth, $$$$$$, it all adds up. All that is in a PS3 kit.

Pete

MTh sells 2 kits John was talking about! $199.00 plus shipping!

https://mthtrains.com/50-1911

https://mthtrains.com/50-1912

Alan

That’s great, with MTH on its way out I guess now the time to get some of these. I would guess the MTH ones would be easier to install since it’s there product to start with. I have always turned away from the older proto sound units but there super nice and going for some good deals.

thanks again

MTH says that these are for Proto 2 What if you want to upgrade Proto 1?

Art, these kits are to upgrade non-command locomotives to PS/3.  They were specifically designed to upgrade PS/1, but also work fine for other brands, just a little more work with the tach mount and the tether.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There are only two upgrade kits, one for diesel and one for steam.  Obviously, you get the one that matches what your engine is.

You can load any PS/2 3V sound file or many of the PS/3 sound files into the steam kit, and the diesel kit accepts any diesel sound file.

which kit would you recommend for subways ? the obvious choice would be diesel but will the diesel kit accept subway sound files thanks

Yes PS-3 diesel kit support subway.  For PS-3 Diesel you load the full PS-3 sound file and flash code of the model.  You find a subway made in PS-3 that you want.  depending on subway though, you might need to get a smaller diameter, or flatter speaker in 4 ohm than what comes in kit.  You may also need smaller couplers.  All depends on the actual model.  Some had very little room in subway with the interference.  G

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Art, these kits are to upgrade non-command locomotives to PS/3.  They were specifically designed to upgrade PS/1, but also work fine for other brands, just a little more work with the tach mount and the tether.

@GGG posted:

Yes PS-3 diesel kit support subway.  For PS-3 Diesel you load the full PS-3 sound file and flash code of the model.  You find a subway made in PS-3 that you want.  depending on subway though, you might need to get a smaller diameter, or flatter speaker in 4 ohm than what comes in kit.  You may also need smaller couplers.  All depends on the actual model.  Some had very little room in subway with the interference.  G

Kicking this thread up to the top with question for the MTH experts.

I have a nice SW-8 in PC livery with loco sounds. I'd like to upgrade it to PS3. I looked at the diesel kit and the install looks pretty straight forward. The engine already has a tach strip and reader on one of the motors.
My question is- I only have a DCS remote commander, not a full DCS with TIU. Looks like I should be able to run the engine after the upgrade with the basic functions of the Commander. Yes?
Also, I read that I can't upgrade the sound file without a TIU but I can live with that for the short term.

Anything I'm missing?

Bob

You will have SD70 test set file most likely.  But yes, it will work, you do need to swap out all the electronics including tach.   G

@GGG posted:

You will have SD70 test set file most likely.  But yes, it will work, you do need to swap out all the electronics including tach.   G

OK- Thanks for the info.

Bob