I was wondering how other people pick a decoder. What do you look for in a decoder?, What options are most important to you?, How important is sound to you and what type of sound decoders do you prefer, And the speakers that go with them?, Do you perfer seperate decoder/sound modules?, What do you think of S.U.S.I. of the various models? and lastly How would you rate each decoder out there?
We have in our local group the programmer for Loksound. That's a big plus! You can make such fun like the special whistle with my 44-ton. The Loksound micro is very small - if I think of my Kato NW II. I've also some Lenz decoder and factory equipped QSI. I'm satisfied with them. Wolfgang
I am a little confused by the poll, but I will answer your questions... Regarding the question, -I prefer the decoders have back-EMF -I use Digitrax and would like at least one locomotive in a consist to have transponding, so that feature is desirable to me. Obviously this means most of my decoders are Digitrax. -If a PNP decoder is available, I will generally buy it since I am in N-Scale. -The decoder should have lighting capabilities for directional headlights and alternating ditchlights for diesels -On board sound is of little or no importance to me. I have been wholly unimpressed with any on-board sound unit I've heard, in any scale, up to this point. If it gets better I will consider it. I will "rank" the decoder manufacturers I've had experience with, and "rate" them on a scale of 1 to 10... 1. Digitrax - (8.0) Great performance 2. Lenz (Gold) (8.0) Great performance 3. LokSound (7.0) Excellent support 4. TCS (7.0) Solid products, warranty 5. Lenz OEM (Atlas) (5.0) Performance Average 6. NCE (5.0) Installation Issues
Do we have a line for TCS decoders? I am wondering if TMC above is a typo of TCS? I haven't much experience with decoders, yet. From a newbie installer perspective, I like the warranty that TCS has. I have been buying mostly TCS just because of that. Also, I am putting decoders into some difficult locos that are not DCC ready, and I like the fact that the M1 has back-EMF, a small size, and a "goof-proof" warranty. Adam
I changed TMC to TCS. I voted TCS as the M3's are what I am currently installing in hard-wire installs. I have had no problem with these decoders and they have programming features that are easily accessed. I also have a MP15 fitted with a TCS MP15N drop-in, with an operating rotary beacon, which was a seamless install (bar getting the beacon's LED sitting in the right position!). I really like the TCS products. I also have NCE decoders, both hard-wired and drop in, that haven't given much grief. The primary problem I have with the drop-in style (and this is not a NCE only issue) is the thickness of the circuit board used, which is less than the OEM lightboard used in Atlas locos. I imagine this is what Doug may have been alluding to. Otherwise, very similar features and performance to TCS. I have one Digitrax decoder, a drop-in for Atlas that came with a second-hand loco. I haven't set this up fully as yet - I think I may have had some problem programming initially and set it aside. I need to re-address (no pun) this again. I have several Atlas OEM (Lenz LE063XF) decoders that came with second-hand locos. The two used in the RS-11's have been a pain to programme as they don't support low-mid-high so each speed step needs programming. I have a PowerCab so no DecoderPro access... yet. I would suspect a majority of smaller DCC systems would not have PC connections so setting user-defined speed tables will always be a pain with these decoders. I even went as far as creating an Excel file that calculates the (linear) speed step value to assist in setting these up. The SD60 I have also uses a similar decoder (LE062XF) which has the same annoyances as above. All of these have the 2kHz 'buzz'. I should note the two RS11's work beautifully except for the buzz.
I prefer using Digitrax decoders. They make the most plug and play decoder for my scale N. I also replaces all the Lenz decoders that came with my Atlas decoder equiped diesel and stop buying decoder euiped diesel because they dont work as good as the Digitrax decoders.
I am narrowing my decoder selection. Currently I use Digitrax and CT, because Digitrax makes the drop in decoder for the MTL GP35, and CT because they make make the smallest decoder.
Need more info... Transponding? M3's ? A little more info please. I'm leaning towards TCS. Reading the technical advisories, they seem to offer a good product. I don't own any... yet... but I think that any 'drop-in' decoders will be from TCS... unless I hear some really bad news about them before I begin to get them. Obviously... any other manufacturer that does 'drop-in' decoders for certain DCC ready engines will get 'the nod' if TCS doesn't have a corresponding drop-in for certain model engines. PS: The second choice thus far is Digitrax because they have decoders for just about every engine I have. At present I only have a second-hand RS-2 with a hardwired Digitrax decoder (I don't know which one) I have the Athearn Challengers which have MRC brilliance DCC/Sound decoders factory equiped. I have two RS11's with the factory installed Lenz decoders. I have PCM E7's with... I don't know what they use.
I normally use Esu Lokpilot 3.0 DCC decoders. They are small enough, very versatile, easy to programm and very tunable to the motor characteristics. I do have some exceptions. I use TTX/NCE decoders for LL-SW's (ease of installatin) and a NCE for an Atlas S4 and a Digitrax (Z-version) for a LL - S1. The main difference between European and US decoders is that the small scale versions allow for a higher current before starting to smoke. This makes them the natural choice for digitizing small locos. Gino
Transponding is the decoder reporting back to the command station. One use is with block detection with a PC interface where a diagram can show train position by name/number. Think bi-directional data if you wish. The M3 is the 3-function TCS micro decoder. There is a M1 2-function and M4 4-function decoder in the same series. They are great products. Biased opinion of course... I have a simple Excel spreadsheet for calculating the speed steps, in a linear speed 'curve', for the simple (read non-start/mid/high speed curve setting) Lenz decoders used in most Atlas factory DCC-equipped units. Put in the start and high value and it gives you the speed step values for the intermediate 26 steps (assuming 28 step settings) rounded to the nearest whole number. PM me if you would like it emailed.
