The QSI decoder that I have been studying and writing about is more than just a sound system. It is also a motor controller which additionally controls the headlight and backup light. The system is basically a plug and play system, which mates with the Aristo circuit board to give you both sound and motor control. The "Magnum System" is really an additional circuit board that plugs into the QSI board and adapts the Aristo plugs to screw terminals, so that the unit can be used in other manufacturer's locomotives.
The QSI system is designed to be used in three different modes: DC from the track, DCC from the track, and DCC from a radio system such as Air Wire.
The unit has the ability to sense either DC or DCC, so no modifications need to be made, and programming changes are unnecessary. The QSI unit has sounds that can be downloaded and configured to your own preferences. Most programming has to be done in the DCC mode, but some can be done in the straight DC mode. In the DC mode, as previously written, the reversing switch is used for horn and bell control. There is a "Quantum Engineer" unit ($50) that goes in series with your power pack and track which can be used to program and control other sounds in the DC mode. There are 30 different sounds that can be handled by this unit (future article). Because of current limitations (2.5 Amps) on this unit, you can only run one loco per track, unless you buy the booster ($200) which kicks things up to 40 Amps.
The beauty of this system is that it can read motor loads, and can change the sounds based on it. You can actually hear the differences between a locomotive "running light", starting under load, going up a grade, or drifting down the track. This function holds for both steam locomotives and diesel locomotives. There is also a neat "Doppler" effect for the horn/whistle which sounds like the real thing as your train passes by. There are way too many prototype sounds that are available with this system for me to write about in this short article. All have been recorded from the actual locomotives, which is a really great advance in scale sound technology. The sounds for this unit can be downloaded and customized with the QSI "Programmer" ($90), which uses a USB port port on your computer. The system, however, only runs in the Windows environment and not the Apple MAC.
You can run the QSI system on battery or track power using an Air Wire throttle. Use the Air Wire 9000 model for best results, as the older 1300 model has some limitations with the QSI system. In addition, NCE has made a great "Garden Wire" throttle which easily handles all the functions that the QSI unit is capable of. To use these throttles, you add a receiver ($80) which is called a "G-wire" to the basic QSI circuit board. This unit plugs right into the QSI decoder, and power for this unit is either from track power or on board battery. Many people are very happy with this system. The NCE throttle is a lot easier to program than the Air Wire system, but fortunately, the QSI "Programmer" unit will verbally confirm all programming changes. Without this help, programming would be very difficult and cumbersome..
So there you have some additional information on the QSI system for both sound and throttle. One note about your headlight and backup light with this system which I almost forgot. The QSI unit follows "Rule 17" and will dim the backup light when the locomotive is moving forward with a "full bright" headlight. When you reverse, the headlight dims and the backup light goes "full bright". This works with both LEDs and incandescent bulbs with some programming changes. A very nice prototypical touch, since other systems turn the lights on and off only. This system seems to offer good sound at a reasonable price. The downside is no reed switch triggers, and no idle sound when the loco is standing still.
