Model Train Talk South Africa

Model Train Talk Workshop => DCC Forum (Digital Command Control) => Topic started by: BigEd on November 27, 2014, 10:34:39 AM

Title: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: BigEd on November 27, 2014, 10:34:39 AM

Pick 2 from the list. Reason is I for one use 3 brands mostly - one for the drop ins and another for the wired which mostly predicts size issues too.

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: capeklr on November 27, 2014, 12:43:20 PM

I had to vote other, as all my loco's with the exeption of one have the older style Märklin decoders.
One loco, my dual motor Santa Fe has a ESU LoksoundV3.5. This decoder can easily run 2 motors.
The ESU decoder can do both DCC and Märklin Motorola.

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: BigEd on November 27, 2014, 04:04:11 PM

Fixed :thumb:

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: Rene on November 29, 2014, 08:53:29 PM

What decoder brand - for me first choice is Tran fro ct elektronik, then second choice Zimo - they make wonderful small decoders and sound decoders, impossible not to find space in n scale loco's to fit a decoder - third choice esu, magic possibilities, only sometimes too big.

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: LooVille on December 17, 2014, 07:48:58 AM

Hi all,

Most of my diesel Loco's run Digitrax, I have one TCS and my D51 have a Doehler & Haass DH10.
Was quite a challange to setup, but once it was working.... Really awesome and extremely small.

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: Freightcars on December 17, 2014, 09:36:28 PM

Hi Everybody,

My personal preference is ESU.  They have fantastic running capabilities.  Been able to load custom sound projects into the Loksound decoders is a great bonus when you want to have your SAR locos sounding right.  Things like whistles and horns are pretty distinctive.

My second choice is TCS. These also run pretty good with no need to goof around to get them to work the way you want.

later,

Niel

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: ColinTT on January 18, 2015, 09:20:22 AM

Which decoders do I use? 

For sound equipped locos the ESU Loksound is good and easy to set up in locos that came without sound. Finding space for the loud speaker can be a problem.  However it is better by far to buy the loco with sound fitted by the manufacturer, and it is less expensive and risky.  For all other non DCC locos the TCS M1 and T1 decoders are very economical and easy to fit, and goof proof, self tuning, no problem.  But for fancier applications the USU LokPilot has it all.  For just lighting applications such as the driver/trailer coaches in DMU and EMUs, the TCS FL2 and FL4 meet all requirements. But they may need some extra programming.

Cheers, Colin

Colin TT

Title: Re: What decoder brand do you mostly use?
Post by: BobB on January 18, 2015, 12:50:11 PM

Would it be possible to adjust the poll so that we can see the decoder and the gauge ? The reason I suggest this is that the availability of 6 pin (N gauge) is a bit different to OO/HO 8 and 21 pin decoders down here in SA.

I used to use Bachmann's 8 pin when I modeled in OO but their N 6 pin stuff was not a success for me so I switched to Digitrax.

They seem OK but there are no frills with them !