Does anyone know of a quick and dirty method online for determining whether a motion decoder is dual mode or not. The most recently updated Digitrax decoder manual (as of 4/4) seems to lead you to believe that all of their decoders can detect DC or DCC on your track and adjust accordingly.
Under 3.10 Final Decoder Test (pg. 22), the Digitrax manual states the following:
- Run your Digitrax decoder equipped locomotive on a regular DC track with the positive polarity connected to the right side wheels. The Digitrax decoder in the locomotive will recognize that it is not receiving DCC commands and automatically convert to analog mode.
Is this true for all Digitrax decoders? Is this a new development, or has it been in place for a while? Or, am I missing some crucial element here? I can’t seem to find anything that states that it is referring to a particular decoder.
I got on both the Digitrax and NCE web sites and couldn’t find anything definitive - either yes or no - apart from digging into each individual decoder manual. I also referred to my DH163L0 manual but wasn’t able to find anything that said it was either dual-mode or that it automatically detected DC or DCC on the track. Not even Tony’s Train Exchange’s Decoder Comparison Matrix has a column listing for that feature.
What I’m trying to do is to locate inexpensive 2-function dual-mode motion decoders for my club so that we can have them available for members who only have DC locomotives but might want to try out DCC.
Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.
Tom