Which decoder should I get

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russell

russell

Member
I have an Atlas Silver-Master GP40 locomotive which Atlas describes as DCC ready. See the photo below. Also, I plan on getting a NCE Power Cab.

What sound decoder should I get for an easy installation? Also, will programming the decoder be a problem with the Power Cab?

Is my hope for EASY in all of this a pipe-dream? :eek:
 
I also have the NCE Powercab, love it, much easier to use than digitrax in my opinion. Most of the local guys use digitrax as thats what the local hobby shop carries, but I find it confusing and difficult to use. My NCE is very staightforward, can program on the main including sound units without anything extra to buy and the manual is written more in laymen's terms than the digitrax system. Both QSI Revolution and the Soundtraxx Tsunami are excellent sound decoders with dual mode ablities. You need the 2nd generation EMD 645 sounds for that engine. For non sound decoders I use mostly TCS and NCE decoders. Mike
 
you will like the NCE throttle. way ahead of Digitax in the user frendly department. I have a MRC and its pretty simmilar. I was able to use both before I even looked into the manual. regarding the sound I agree soundtraxx or QSI will be your top of the line decoders. I advise that you see if it has a 8 pin or 9 pin plug before you buy the decoder. you want to make it as simple as plug and play as you can. Most newer systems will program/read the sound decoders. I dont know what the power output is on the program track for the NCE system...
 


First of all, thank you both.

Imacattack, you wrote,
Most newer systems will program/read the sound decoders.
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Will the NCE Power Cab have enough power to do this without buying something extra like a booster?

You also wrote,
I dont know what the power output is on the program track for the NCE system...
Click to expand...

When you say 'program track,' does track refer to a real physical rail track as in a test track, or does it mean a track within the NCE Power Cab?

I'm sorry if I seem thick. It might be that Canada cold freezing me up. :)
 
Most systems give you the option to program you locos on the layout "main" and on a isolated track called the "Program track". The program track normaly is on a work bench not connected to the layout. The Program track is mostly used when you want to read back the CV settings or check the address of your loco.

Im not 100% sure if the powercab needs a booster or not. I know my MRC needs a booster to read some of the higher end sound decoders but will read motor only and some of the lower end sound decoders just fine. It seams these newer sound decoders need a "boost" of power to wake them up for the system to read them.
 
My stock PowerCab has had no trouble with either the Tsunami decoder I put in my Bachmann Heavy Mountain nor the Paragon2 decoder in my SW1200.

One thing I have noticed is that DCC ready does not necessarily equate to "we built in space for a speaker" :) It might just mean it has a decoder plug in.
 
I'd go with a TCS A4X or A6X for a standard decoder with extra light functions (if you're going to put on ditch lights or need some beacon or something). I hardwire mine in. Since the LEDs for the lights have resistors already, you wire it like you would a 12v bulb (meaning you use the pickups on the ends of the decoder, not the pads on top of the board).

If you're going for sound, then the Soundtraxx TSU-AT1000 EMD 645 Turbo. I have Atlas Gold GP40s with the QSI, and although I like the sound of the horn better on the QSI, the Soundtraxx sounds a lot better for everything else.

For programming, I went to JMRI, and never do any programming on the throttle (I use Digitrax). JMRI is so much easier.
 
Get NCE if you like navigating through menus. Get Digitrax if you want to have a button for everything :D

If you are getting an NCE system, I'd suggest that you either get a TCS decoder (they're nice) (TCS T1 will work as long as you get one with a harness that terminates with an 8-pin plug)

If you're going to stick with NCE decoders, you can use a D13SRP.

All of the above have 2 lighting functions (front headlight and rear headlight) and are basic decoders that will work. If you are adding additional functions such as a Mars light, Gyralight, etc, then you may want a decoder with more lighting functions.
 


Thanks again to all. It's like camping, sitting around the campfire, chatting and learning. I'm here, sipping my steaming coffee, and eager for spring. I can smell it.

What I'm learning is that things are seldom the way they seem. Toyguy wrote,
One thing I have noticed is that DCC ready does not necessarily equate to "we built in space for a speaker" It might just mean it has a decoder plug in.
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I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to pry the shell off of that GP 40 and see.

Then there's the vocabulary and the acronyms: QSI, dual mode abilities, 2nd generation EMD 645, TCS, programming on the throttle :eek:, JMRI, you wire it like you would... -OMG: eek:. The last time I tried to wire anything, the fire department threatened to ship me to Guantanamo via UPS. :) ... and I don't even speak Spanish, other than knowing how to ask for a cerveza :D.

Also, lighting functions have been brought up. This brings up issues about what is available, what I want, and what I must do.

For now I'm not willing to solder. Either it's plug into the pins and maybe tape it down if the decoder does not sort of snap in. Otherwise, it's, I'M NOT TOUCHING IT, because it's such a smooth and quiet runner that I don't want to damage a locomotive I already enjoy.

The bottom line is that I'm not like other people. I want it all, I want it cheap, and I want it easy. :rolleyes:

Thank you all and do not be shy to keep the advice coming. :)
 
russell said:
I have an Atlas Silver-Master GP40 locomotive which Atlas describes as DCC ready. See the photo below. Also, I plan on getting a NCE Power Cab.

What sound decoder should I get for an easy installation? Also, will programming the decoder be a problem with the Power Cab?

Is my hope for EASY in all of this a pipe-dream? :eek:
Click to expand...

Hey,

I have an Atlas GP38-2 and the NCE PowerCab and put a NCE 13SRP in it and it works flawlessly. Very easy to install and operate. Enjoy,

Brad
 
Sorry. To clarify:

QSI = a decoder maker that supplies Atlas with their sound decoders

2nd Generation EMD 645 Turbo = the prime mover (the diesel engine which supplies electrical power to the motors in the trucks which move the locomotive) made by EMD (Electromotive Division, a former subsidiary of General Motors) that came out in the 1960s. The 645 means the size of the prime mover (as opposed to 567 or 710), and the first 645s were Turbo ones, which were put in the GP40 locomotives. The turbocharger has a different sound than the later non-turbo 645s.

JMRI = a computer program that is free and open source which provides a way to program your locomotives (amongst other things) with your computer, instead of having to figure out the right setting on your DCC throttle.

A TCS A4X or A6X is what I prefer. It looks like the light board that is in your locomotive now, and is about the same size. The 8 pin connectors, to me, aren't as secure as I'd like, so it's no sweat for me to put one in. I also solder the connections, as any kind of short will cause erratic operation at best, and be frustrating to chase down.

In your case, an 8 pin like has been stated will be what you want (if you do it yourself) and not have the confidence yet to solder or anything else.

Be careful in pulling the shell off. There is a technique to Atlas locos that I haven't mastered yet.
 
Most decoders don't come with speakers, so you may well have to solder the wires to that. I have seen some with pre-wired speakers but I wouldn't suggest it - they are usually too small and sound crappy.

If you just want DCC with no sound, a plug in decoder is a piece of cake typically. Plug it in, find a spot for it and tape it in or use double-sided sticky foam tape. I like the foam tape because it insulates the bottom of the decoder from whatever its sitting on. You're done.

With sound, the speaker is the issue. If the loco has a spot for it, you're good to go once you get the right sized speaker. If it doesn't, you get to "fiddle" with it.

If there's no plug, then you get to "fiddle" with a lot more stuff better left unsaid for now :)
 
yes. speaker room is often the hardest part of installing sound into it. Most diesels have the motor and weight inside the shell. this leaves little space to add a speaker. I have installed speakers in the fuel tank after removing metal from the frame to allow it to fit. some locos may have room in the cab or in the nose. I dont have much time working on atlas locos so cant say where to add a speaker.
 
russell said:
For now I'm not willing to solder. Either it's plug into the pins and maybe tape it down if the decoder does not sort of snap in. Otherwise, it's, I'M NOT TOUCHING IT, because it's such a smooth and quiet runner that I don't want to damage a locomotive I already enjoy.
Click to expand...

You can always have someone else do it for you :D

When I first started out, I didn't know how to solder, so I always had the club electrician wire in decoders for me. After watching him numerous times, I tried it and realized how easy it was. Now I'm installing decoders for other people :D
 
Most of the later Atlas Silver's have a vertical speaker opening with a small circular weight inside of it. The Silvers are basically the same as the Gold, but without factory QSI sound. Just take the weight out, install two outward facing 1 1/4 inch speakers with your sound decoder and you are good to go.

Any questions, PM me. I just installed a Tsunami Soundtraxx and flashing ditch lights in a Conrail C40-8CW that is an Atlas Silver.
 
Not all of the "silver" editions had the speaker frame. Some of the silvers had the old frame and some had a DCC decoder on board with the old frame. The Atlas Dash 8s all have the speaker frame.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post them here. We're here to help! And, other people get to read the advice that we give out.
 
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