Decoder Recommendation?

[diburning]

I am spoiled by the easy lighting functions of the soundtraxx tsunami decoder. (F5 and F6 have their own easy to spot pads, light dimming is manual and is activated by F7)

I want decoders for two of my engines but they will not have sound.

This is what I want:

1. 6 functions, must have flashing ditch light effect, must have an LED compensation mode.
2. Lights must be manually dimmable, preferably mapped to F7, but if the dim function can't be mapped to a different key, that's ok as long as the dim switch is manual. I do not want the Rule 17 lighting.
3. I want the ditch lights to be turned on and off independent of the headlight, meaning if I press F0, all I get is the headlight and if I press F5 for the front ditch lights, the ditch lights come on, and if I press F2, they flash.

NCE and Digitrax fail criteria #1, and #3.

I don't have experience with TCS decoders, and I'm having trouble figuring out their manual.

Do you think the T6X will work?

If not, I'll have to wait for the new soundtraxx mobile decoders (no sound) to come out and I'll piggyback two of them to get 6 functions (dammit, soundtraxx, make a 6 function decoder to keep us ditch light people happy!)

 

[julienjj]

aint digitrax have two pad ont rear of the decoder to archieve 6 fx ?
if you arent able to find a decoder that have all the feature you want, you could use a second function decoder. I havent used any tcs decoder, but some people told me that they are better for open frame motor than can

edit: i have a dh163p, im going to check if i am able to put the ditch ligh on f5 and f6

 

[MGWSY]

Try the TCS decoder. That has 6 functions.

 

[diburning]

aint digitrax have two pad ont rear of the decoder to archieve 6 fx ?
if you arent able to find a decoder that have all the feature you want, you could use a second function decoder. I havent used any tcs decoder, but some people told me that they are better for open frame motor than can

edit: i have a dh163p, im going to check if i am able to put the ditch ligh on f5 and f6

Digitrax does not have LED compensation. I installed one into a loco with LED ditch lights and it did not work because the flash logic is based on bulbs and not LEDs.

Mark, will the TCS decoder be able to do everything that I want? I had a 6-function NCE decoder that will not let the ditch lights be independent of the headlight since the logic is hard coded into F0.

 

[MGWSY]

I am not sure as I have not used the TCS decoder and actually have 4 here for an install that I am doing on my 4 CR 8-40B units but others units take priority. Seeing that NCE doesnt make a 6 function board decoder I am stuck with the TCS for all my CR locos unless I dont do the rear headlight then I can go with 5 fucnctions.

I always read the instructions before I work with a new decoder and I believe that the TCS decoder will do what you want but I think there is a way to have the NCE do it to. I will have to tinker with the settings on my NCE locos as I know I had ditch lights independently controlled on a unit in the past.

 

[julienjj]

Would a capacitor be able to replace the use of LED compensation ?keep the led fading down for longer? It would be weird if there is not decoder to fit your needs, you are clearly not the only one who want those feature !

 

[CSX Robert]

Yes, you can have the ditch lights controlled independently with TCS decoders.

 

[diburning]

I am not sure as I have not used the TCS decoder and actually have 4 here for an install that I am doing on my 4 CR 8-40B units but others units take priority. Seeing that NCE doesnt make a 6 function board decoder I am stuck with the TCS for all my CR locos unless I dont do the rear headlight then I can go with 5 fucnctions.

I always read the instructions before I work with a new decoder and I believe that the TCS decoder will do what you want but I think there is a way to have the NCE do it to. I will have to tinker with the settings on my NCE locos as I know I had ditch lights independently controlled on a unit in the past.

From what I've read, NCE decoders all have the ditch light logic hard coded in F0. The only way to get around it is to map the headlight to a button other than F0. I don't want to do that.

Yes, you can have the ditch lights controlled independently with TCS decoders.

Can the manual dimming be mapped to F7?

 

[CSX Robert]

...
Can the manual dimming be mapped to F7?

I don't think so.