The CFO bought me the NCE PH-Pro-R DCC system for Xmas!!! Now all I need are decoders in my diesels. I want to put 6 function 8 pin decoders into my Atlas Silver Dash 8CW engines. Which decoders work best??? Thanks
Well, there’s a lot that work well, and would fit in that particular loco. NCE, TCS, Digitrax, ESU, and Lenz all make appropriate decoders that would work.
–Randy
I prefer NCE and Lenz, personally. Both are smooth, quiet and easy to program. Of course, the Lenz Silver and Gold series (a bit more $$) work SUPER well right out of the package at low speeds (back-emf)… gotta love 'em on your nicer engines. In all reality, any will work… if you use NCE on your NCE system, light setup (mars, gyralight, etc.) is VERY easy. Spoken from experience since I have the NCE Pro 5A system myself… I am jealous of your radio…although I only have a 15x12 room so don’t need one, yet…
Brian
Wow
Great Christmas present. It must be nice to be you. [8D]
Cheers and a Happy New Year
Tim
Install one sound decoder before you do any others. I’ve got “quiet” decoders in most of my engines, and I realize that sooner or later I’ll be replacing at least some of them with sound. I bought one engine with factory sound, got hooked, and I’ve already upgraded one of my others. So, might as well do it right the first time.
One thing I discovered about TCS decoders, at least the cheap ones. They won’t let you MU them in the “reverse” direction, only forward. I can live with that, because I’ve got one in a Geep and one in an F7, so my 2-Geep or F7 consists can always have the TCS decoders in the front. But, if I had nothing but TCS, I wouldn’t be able to build consists very well at all.
surf tony’s train exchange. There are listings all over their website that list many decoders and what locomotives use them. I’ve used NCE, digitrax, and TCS decoders but have found the digitrax and NCE’s to work the best and easiest to install. Be sure you read the literature that comes with the decoders and then installing them will be easier. tony’s also has a handout that you can print from a PDS file that will show you how to install decoders in different locomotive manufacterers.
You may want to consider downloading decoderpro. You’ll need to download a Java program and then JMRI’s decoderpro to your computer. (You’ll also need an interface so that the computer can talk to the programming track. I use the locobuffer but my system in digitrax.) The decoderpro program is free and makes writing to the CV’s a whole lot easier. …chuck
I have installed Digitrax, TCS, MRC, Lenz/Atlas/Bachmann and Soundtraxx decoders in my locomotives. I also have a couple of BLI locos with the QSI system installed.
Most of the major manufacturers make decoders with a wire harness that have to be soldered in. Most make ‘drop-in’ or ‘plug-in’ decoders for the “DCC Ready” locos available today. Either way it is not that difficult to do.
Most of the on-line vendors will give you detailed instructions for installations. There are a ton of sites on the net where you can get detailed photo instructions for installation.
My personal preferences are: For sound decoders, Soundtraxx. For ‘silent’ decoders i prefer Digitrax or TCS, mainly because I am more familiar with these decoders.
I too recommend that you try a sound decoder first. Or purchase a sound equipped locomotive to see if you might want to go the sound route. After my first sound decoder installation (Soundtraxx DSD-100LC) in an F7, I was hooked. Sound is the way to go, for me at least.
Your choice of decoder is largely a personal decision. Base it upon your needs and personal preferences. You can’t go wrong with any of the major manufacturers. They all produce good decoders. Its just a matter of features and functions.
Good luck with your new DCC system. You will never regret the change to DCC.