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Post by riogrande on Mar 11, 2015 7:10:37 GMT -8
This coming year I'm going to have to start allocating funds to putting decoders into more engines, as I only have about 10 or so set up for DCC so far. I do have in storage some older Digitrax and NCE decoders, which should be usable, some wire only, some light board, some quick plug.
Besides Tony's Trains, who are the best vendors to buy in bulk for decoders? I have used some TCS T4's I got at show prices for $16 each, but I've noticed even at discounters like Tony's, they are a good deal more expensive than they were a few years ago.
Digitrax now is offering (Tony's price) DH126P/PS for $18 singles and Soundtrax has a 4 function light board decoder (for some of my older ?Atlas/Stewart/KATO?) decoders for under 19.95. Some places will discount further if you buy in lots of four or ten too. I'm not finding it easy on Tony's new website to find the info on bulk discounts.
NCE HO 524103 (D14SR) Decoder seems to be a board decoder that will fit many of the below - 4-packs at MBK come out to $18 ea.
Recommendations? Below are some loco's I'm going to need to outfit, some have plugs others will need light board style I assume.
Atlas Redbox GP40's
Atlas blackbox GP40's - latter day.
Atlas GP40-2's
Atlas redbox RSD4/5
Stewart F7's (KATO drive)
KATO F40PH, GP35 and SD40-2
Athearn Genesis F3, F7, F9, GP9 and GP40-2
Plenty of Athearn SD45's and tunnel motors left (a few already fitted with TCS-T4)
Opinions of NCE, Digitrax, TCS - current batch of decoders at a similar price point?
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Post by tdspeedracer on Mar 13, 2015 5:36:00 GMT -8
The cheapest decoders I've been able to get my hands on are the NCE D13SRJ. Madison Hobby Stop has them for $12 or $13 each.(madisonhobbystop.com, you'll have to call to order..) They will plug into Athearn dcc ready locos, but you would either have to hard wire the other locos, or solder a plug on the wiring harness.
I typically use the NCE DA-SR in all Atlas, Kato, and Stewarts. Best deal I can typically find on those is around $70+/- for a four pack.
Trevor
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 13, 2015 7:30:20 GMT -8
I use the NCE DA-SR in all my Atlas diesels except the GP40-2, which has an area reserved for a speaker that prevents me from replacing the board with the NCE decoder. The DA-SR is the same size and shape as the factory Atlas board, so it's a simple process to pull the old board and install the new decoder.
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Post by riogrande on Mar 13, 2015 7:50:27 GMT -8
Thanks Trevor and Ryan,
I do have 4 Atlas GP40-2's that need decoders, so the NCE DA-SR won't fit it due to the area reserved for the speaker?
I'll take a look at the NCE D13SRJ to see if it would work well for the DCC ready pnp engines.
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 13, 2015 9:08:56 GMT -8
I don't know if they are all like that, Jim, but the one I got from the Chessie Historical Society is (it's from an unnumbered special run). For that model I ended up using a TCS MC2P-SH, which fit and works like a charm. In fact, even though they are a little more expensive, I have seriously considered standardizing on TCS T1 decoders going forward.
I don't do sound, so that's not an issue, but lighting effects are. I'm going to try out some of the T4X decoders for my SSW and BN locomotives with gyralight or flashing beacon lights. I realize that's only a four lighting function decoder, but I have no intention of lighting the UDE lights on my SSW diesels.
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 13, 2015 9:09:45 GMT -8
Oh, forgot to add....
The D13SRJ works fine in Athearn locomotives. It's my standard go-to decoder for Athearn RTR stuff.
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Post by riogrande on Mar 13, 2015 10:16:16 GMT -8
One of my Atlas GP40-2's is from the Rio Grande Historical Society - also unnumbered special run.
What is it you like about the TCS decoders? I do have a few TCS T4's and a T1 or two, same thing but fewer functions. So far they seem good. One person I talked to use the T1 in SP and D&RGW diesels but just use F1 for the regular lights and F2 for the gyra lights, no UDE and no rear. At least thats an option for budget minded.
I'm not worrying about sound for most of my engines either.
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Post by grabbem88 on Mar 13, 2015 10:36:32 GMT -8
I don't know who else but Eric Friske at Tony's. that's the only person I deal with especially when I had a mix up on a rs1 project I was doing.
For silent I use TCS nce and loksound
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 13, 2015 13:48:30 GMT -8
One of my Atlas GP40-2's is from the Rio Grande Historical Society - also unnumbered special run. What is it you like about the TCS decoders? I do have a few TCS T4's and a T1 or two, same thing but fewer functions. So far they seem good. One person I talked to use the T1 in SP and D&RGW diesels but just use F1 for the regular lights and F2 for the gyra lights, no UDE and no rear. At least thats an option for budget minded. I'm not worrying about sound for most of my engines either. It's hard to say with a sample size of one, but the one locomotive I have with a TCS decoder in it runs exceptionally well. I have several other Atlas locomotives with NCE decoders that I run with the GP40-2. They run well, too, but the GP40-2 runs better. One thing I like about the NCE decoders I have - and I'm sure this is true of all the decoders out there - is how I am able to control the headlights independent of direction traveled. I am also able to dim them or turn them off. In other words, the same options I have on the real thing I have on my models. For my needs, functioning rear headlights are a must. My Cotton Belt and SP operations are movements around the Fort Worth terminal, so transfer trains with power returning light to the yard are the rule. I will not model a scenario where the train is in emergency, so the red lights serve no purpose for me. |
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Post by riogrande on Mar 13, 2015 17:23:31 GMT -8
I hear you and and thanks for the feed back. My Chief system has been in storage a long time and I just got the DT402D last year to augment. I have some decoders that were in storage I can use too (digitrax and NCE) but they are older and probably don't have some of the newer features like BEMF or silent running etc. although they do have lighting effects.
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