Years ago, I purchased two EMD E7 locomotives from Walthers with QSI version 7 sound decoders. They run fine, but compared to my other more recent locomotives, the features available with this decoder are limited. Would it be worthwhile to replace these decoders with something more modern? How hard would this be to do? Does QSI offer a newer version and would that be easier to install? (There website is not very helpful.) I welcome your suggestions.
Define “worthwhile”. I have never felt the need to replace a QSI decoder, and I have several of them.
Rich
Some of my other decoders offer a function for road crossing horn. Other decoders offer automatic horn for go forward, backward, and applying the brake. These are just two features I appreciate having, but if the cost is outrageous to upgrade or replace the decoder, then I can live with what I have.
So, that is very interesting and, as you know, features not available on QSI decoders. They were pretty impressive in their time, but today’s decoders put them to shame, but a the cost of programming complexity.
Rich
In an ideal world, I would love to have all my locomotives using the same brand of decoder with similar features. It would make programming them easier especially setting all the functions to do the same thing for each locomotive.
I recently updated two of my BLI steam locomotives to newer Paragon decoders matching my othger BLI steam locomotives. Now they are all programmed with similar functions.
Failing this ideal, I would just be happy to upgrade some of my older locomotives to more feature rich decoders.
Yep, that is the ideal situation, and it seems from
Postings that more and more guys are doing just that - converting all of their locomotives to a single type of decoder. Usually, that occurs with sound decoders. Me? I am quite content with whatever the manufacturer initially installed.
Rich
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The latest versions of JMRI DecoderPro make decoder programming so simple even I can do it.
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I replaced the QSI decoder and speaker in an early P2K Geep because it was extremely difficult to MU with other locomotives. It isn’t difficult and just depends on whether you can do the work and are willing to pay for new hardware.
JPD,
Using my steamers as a guide, replacing a decoder in a sound loco costs about $150. That’s a TCS WowSteam with Keep Alive from Yankee Dabbler (including shipping). Price is the same for their similar diesel decoder (sound and keep alive). If you have to add speakers it will be ten to twenty bucks more unless you want really great speakers, then it will be more.
If having the additional functions is worth the cost to you, go for it.
TCS has installation instructions for many locos, including some BLI. Here’s a link to the list for HO: HO Scale Installations | Train Control Systems. BLI is about a third of the way down the page (you’ll have to scroll).
TCS also offers decoder kits which include a decoder (mostly 21-pin, I think), motherboard, keep alive and usually a speaker for various locomotives.
(I don’t work for TCS, but I use their decoders whenever I can.)
Another advantage you’ll discover if you change out the decoder - motor control algorithms have improved greatly over the past decade or so. You’ll probably have better slow speed operation with a newer decoder of almost any brand.
I’ve replaced several decoders for various reasons. Generally it will take some soldering, but once you get past the intimidation factor on the first one you’ll discover it’s pretty easy.
Good luck!
@Pruitt as someone slowly working on a couple sound decoder installs for steam locomotives, what drives your decision to use TCS over other brands?
I really like their motor control algorithms, and they have what they call “Audio Assist,” which lets you program the sounds using the function buttons on your controller. No need to mess with CVs (though you can if you want).
As much as possible I’m standardizing on them.
But I have some locos without enough room for the TCS decoders. I’ll use ESU Loksound on those because they’re much smaller (and I have a friend who knows how to program the sounds into them).
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My reason for replacing 6 QSI decoders was I was unhappy with their sound files. I’ve just never thought they sounded anything like an EMD 567 of 645. They also seemed to go into “a coma” for no reason (I didn’t put them to “sleep”), requiring the 3 CV reset process. They did however run well enough to my liking. But the sound files had to go. Using a Decoder Buddy with 21 pin capability made the installs (my firsts ever) pretty easy.
Regards, Chris
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@Pruitt thank you. Right now i have a couple of bachmann engines with TCS factory-installed, a non-sound digitrax, and a Soundtraxx installation I’ve almost finished. It probably does make sense to consolidate to one brand!
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I finally decided to replace the QSI decoders in my two EMD E7s with ESU LokSound 5 decoders. I had Larry Linger of Solo Contracting Facebook do the installation. He did an excellent job and you can view his work on one of my locomotives at Walthers Proto E7A DCC install - YouTube.
I went from 11 functions to 31. The sound file (S0583) works well and sounds great. I could never get the lights to work the way I wanted them to when consisting with the QSI decoder and DecoderPro. With the ESU chip and programmer I now have the lights operating as I want them to consistantly.
Ideally, I would love to have all my locomotives converted to ESU, but I am not that wealthy. Most of my diesels are now ESU and when I purchase new diesel locomotives if they have an ESU chip I am more inclined to buy.
As for my steam locomotives, all from BLI, I have all but one of them using Paragon 4. I recently had my two Mikados with the Blueline sound decoders and Digitrax motion decoders upgraded to Paragon 4 which makes programming them so much easier. The one remaining locomotive using Paragon 3 I rarely run on the layout and do not plan to upgrade. I have standardized all the functions so they are the same for all my steam locomotives.
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It sounds as though multiple-unit operation isn’t a big deal for you but that is another consideration. I have found it difficult to consist QSI decoders with other brands. The old QSI units I had also drew much more current than more recent decoders by other makers.
I found it difficult to consist QSI locomotives with other QSI locomotives. I would get the lights working just the way I wanted them to and then the next time I ran the consist the lights were screwed up again. For example, when going forward, I do not need the headlight on the reversed E7 showing. I set the lights the way I want them to operate with the ESU chips and they work fine. I do not consist many of my locomotives except for some F7s, E7s, and E9s.
I standardized on ESU LokSound decoders several years ago, and I think you’ll be pleased with V5.0 decoders in your F-units. I also invested in a LokProgrammer, which allows me to load sound files and customize the heck out of the decoders. Never regretted going to ESU, and, of course, this means that I have yanked out some QSI decoders, although they were severely obsolete decoders that were probably twenty years old that came from the factory in Atlas locomotives. Much better!
DFF