I just purchased a Athearn RTR SD60 that is dcc quick-plug equipped. What decoder would be recommended for this loco? I am new to DCC and any help would be appreciated.
A NCE DA13SRJ will plug into the 9 pin socket on the factory board.
Several Digitrax decoders, the DH123 for example, will also fit, along with the MRC 1651. Basically anything that has a 9 pin JST plug. Also, if it is a new enough RTR, the ones that have both 8 and 9 pin plugs on them, you can use any decoder with an 8 pin plug.
Tilden
If you have good soldering skills the Athearn circuit boards come with a location for the 8 pin plug all you have to do is solder in the base (SIPSKT 2.5MM) and plug in any 8 pin decoder.
A TCS T1 or T4X will also fit. Train Control Systems Home Page
The T1 will control front/rear headlights, the T4X will also run extra lights, if equipped. The new ones have BEMF built in, and they seem to run the best on DC. Some of my NCE decoders don’t respond properly, change direction, etc.
Thanks for all of the input! I got a decoder for it from Ebay! Now I can sit back and wait for it to arrive.
All of my dozen or so NCE decoders work perfectly.
They work fine on DCC. DC they don’t work sometimes. One changes direction for no apparent reason.
I have 26 NCE decoders and 4 Digitrax and they all work perfectly.
There’s you’re problem. Its a DCC decoder. Run it on DCC. Yea I know they’re supposed to run on DC and I guess you have your reasons, but if you have a Ferrari, why would you run it at 20 MPH?