I know there have been posts about this but none of them really tell you what decoder to install. I am looking for a drop in decoder for it. It is DCC ready. I need one with ditch lights capability. Any Idea who makes one that drops in? I looked at NCE no luck unless I can use the one they make for Kato drop in. Any ideas? Need info by tonight
If it’s DCC ready, you might just have to get a regular decoder with the NMRA plug if there’s no ready-made “drop-in” decoder available. As far as ditch lights, etc., most any decoder you get nowadays (including basic NCE decoders) have ditch light capability, meaning there are extra functions available on the decoder, and you can program the CV’s to simulate ditch lights.
I do know that the Soundtraxx DSD-100LC does not support ditch lights - those decoders only accept CV’s to do on/off and dimming only (at least that’s what I understand. If somebody knows otherwise, please let me know, because I would be seriously interested in putting one of these in an F7 [:D]). To get ditch lights, you have to upgrade to the more expensive Tsunami - which is probably why they designed the 100LC to do limited lighting features.
I think this would be a good choice.
http://tcsdcc.com/decoder/A1.html
Its not quite a drop in but its very easy to install, in the spectrum it would just be a case of moving wires around. This supports ditch lights.
http://tcsdcc.com/decoder/T4X.html
This decoder you could order with an 8 pin plug and then it would be drop in. This also supports ditch lights.
Hope this helps.