| This article pertains to the manufacturers of decoders | | | | install and program with the Digitrax Zephyr. They |
| and sound decoders including controllers, digital | | | | provide very good downloads off their WEB site in |
| readouts, reliability and warranties. The basis of the | | | | decoder use and installation. |
| discussion is my experience as well as eight fellow | | | | NCE has an excellent warranty for their products. I had |
| railroaders in my area. The experience of all of us is | | | | one decoder fail and I returned it with an explanation of |
| between 45 to 50 years as model railroaders. | | | | what happened and it was replaced with no problems. |
| Experience with DCC is three years plus for all of us. | | | | If you explain the circumstances that occurred when |
| First I would like to go over some of the | | | | the decoder failed they will check the decoder and will |
| manufacturers I and my friends have had experience | | | | either replace it or return it to you with an explanation |
| with. We will begin with decoders in general and their | | | | of what went wrong and how to re-install the decoder |
| reliability based on manufacturer. | | | | so it works. |
| We will start with Digitrax and their decoders including | | | | The manufacturer that I now do the most business is |
| the various DCC equipment they manufacture. The | | | | Train Control Systems (TCS). From my perspective |
| decoders are good but I have had more failures with | | | | they are the best producers of decoders and their |
| Digitrax than any other brand. The Throttles are | | | | warranty is "Our Famous Goof Proof No Questions |
| excellent as is the Zephyr Digitrax Command Control | | | | Asked Warranty". |
| Basic Set. I have one and it is the only one among all | | | | They have more decoders to fit any diesel and steam |
| manufacturers' products that has a digital readout so | | | | engine made. Their WEB site is fabulous. You can |
| you can set the CVs and control number and see | | | | download all their decoder data with color pictures of |
| immediately if the decoder has accepted your | | | | each decoder. In addition, you may download a huge |
| commands. The digital screen will tell you if you have a | | | | installation program with colored pictures of each |
| short by blinking across the face of the screen. It tells, | | | | engines' installation and written explanation for just |
| you using specific codes found in the handbook, if the | | | | about every manufacturer's engines. I've done this and |
| command and control is communicating with the | | | | placed all the data in a binder and now have a quick |
| decoder. It should be noted that the Zephyr will talk to | | | | reference for any engine I have. The exception is |
| all decoders discussed in this article. | | | | brass engines. There a breed all their own. |
| The odd thing is that Digitrax does not have the digital | | | | When it comes to sound decoders there are only two |
| readout on their more advanced command and control | | | | that I would recommend for steam sound. For diesel |
| sets. The throttle can be plugged into any of their | | | | there are three I would choose from. For steam sound |
| command and control sets to run trains. | | | | the best is Soundtraxx Tsunami's and Quantum (QSI). |
| Digitrax has very good downloads on the WEB site | | | | QSI has now released the Quantum Revolution |
| for installation, CV usages and other information to | | | | Aftermarket HO DC/DCC Sound Decoder Systems. |
| allow the user to maximize Digitrax decoders. | | | | Quantum Revolution has been developed for |
| The issue I have with Digitrax is that they have the | | | | installation in existing non-sound HO engines. Before, |
| worst warranty program than anyone else. It is the | | | | QSI sold only to engine manufacturers and importers. |
| reason I no longer buy Digitrax decoders. The reason | | | | Lok-Sound is okay in a pinch but the chuff is more for |
| being, that if you do not have you purchase receipt, | | | | European trains. Lok-Sound is manufactured in |
| you must pay a $17.00 fee for a replacement. It is a | | | | Germany. |
| $25.00 fee for the throttle repairs. Even when I had the | | | | Broadway Limited (BLI) now produces their own |
| receipt for a throttle that failed and it was still within the | | | | sound. It's good but you have to buy a decoder since |
| warranty time period, they charged me the $25.00. | | | | BLI does not have decoders built into their sound |
| However, the most grievous part was when I bought | | | | system. BLI once used QSI sound decoders |
| five (5) DZ123 decoders on line from a dealer and | | | | exclusively but a falling-out change all that. |
| they were all bad. The DZ123 had a known problem | | | | Precision Craft Models, a sister company to BLI, uses |
| where the small wires coming out of the decoder had | | | | LOK-Sound exclusively. |
| bad solder joints. I did not immediately try and used the | | | | The MRC steam sound is junk. They use MRC |
| DZ123 decoders. In fact, it was several months before | | | | exclusively which is unfortunate. The MRC CVs |
| I found the problem when I went to strip the leads and | | | | cannot be changed permanently. You set the sound |
| wires just fell out of the decoder. I went through all five | | | | levels where you want them and then you take the |
| and each one had the same problem. | | | | engine off the track. Once you do that, when you go |
| I no longer had the receipt but sent the decoder back | | | | to run the engine again the CVs have automatically |
| anyway without and payment. I learned after I had | | | | rest themselves to factory settings. MRC does not |
| sent the decoder back that there was a known | | | | produce any WEB site downloads. |
| problem with a specific batch of DZ123 decoders. I | | | | When it comes to diesel sound all four manufacturers |
| received a letter from Digitrax requesting payment for | | | | sound decoders are very good. The odd thing is that |
| the replacement. I in turn wrote back about their | | | | the MRC diesel sound decoder CVs can be set |
| admitted known flaw and that I had four other DZ123 | | | | permanently. I have several Athearn Genesis F units |
| decoders with the same problem. They responded | | | | and the sound is great and I set the CVs and |
| requesting a credit card number to pay for the one | | | | everything is copasetic. |
| decoder. Needless to say, I refused to pay twice for | | | | It is the Athearn new steam engines that are causing |
| the same decoder. | | | | modelers to rethink buying them. The earlier steam |
| If it was not for the throttles and command and control | | | | engines came with or without sound. In some cases |
| set I would never do business with them again. This is | | | | you could not get, for example, an Athearn Big Boy |
| sad since the power supplies, command and control | | | | without sound. Several of us model railroaders bought |
| sets, throttles, track block controls, etc., are excellent. | | | | Big Boys with sound and immediately tore out the |
| This is a judgment call and the modeler must | | | | sound system and installed Tsunami's. This was |
| determine for his or herself what to do. | | | | expensive so we are ignoring the Athearn steam |
| The next manufacturer is NCE who produce | | | | engines for now. This is sad since Athearn Genesis |
| decoders primarily. They are very good to excellent | | | | steam engines are excellent but the MRC sound is not |
| and I have had no trouble with them. The are easy to | | | | friendly to the hobbyist. |