Opinions on Best Budget HO Decoders

[Otis]

I've got too many locos of the same general type (early GPs, late GPs, F series, E series, Dash 8s, small switchers of various types)  to put $60 (or more) sound decoders into all.  I've got sound in one of each type and would now like to put budget 2-way decoders into the rest and just use a DSX decoder in a connected boxcar for sound when I want sound with these.

What is a good budget decoder to use....I mean in the $15 or so range?  I have some 1000 series Lenz that I haven't tried yet, but I don't even know if one can use consist addressing with these, or set start and stop rates etc.

So I guess I would like a budget decoder that would have some good silent running circuitry, voltage controls, and consist addressing.  Not much worried about lights except on and off....maybe dimming.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I dont know about "Budget"

I faced the issue of going sound/dcc with all of my analog engines and it was not cheap. My solution was to sell all but three on ebay and seed the new QSI units one at a time over the years.

Two of those units are getting soundtraxx decoders this year. The cost is already 100+ and rising. When combined with the price I paid for these units (Less than 70-) im still in good shape compared to factory run Sound/dcc units or very expensive customer install Decoders.

Im not going to repeat three nasty letters of a company that likes power packs. I believe that they should stay with powerpacks and not dabble in decoders.

[Otis]

I have gone pretty much the same route, except that I did not divest myself of analog locos, I still collect them and DCC ready....most of the time at less than 1/2 of the retail of the lowest seller I know....trainworld.com....and, of course, much less than a factory installed system.

I have 3 locos, 1 steam, and 2 diesels with factory QSI systems.  I have installed 4 tsunamis and 7 soundtraxx of various diesel generations.  My Tsunami installs are on par with the QSI for the most part, particularly when I can get the 28X40mm speakers in....and the tsunamis have better quality engine sound.

But I am an incorrigible collector....so I have more than a dozen very slightly used or NIB analog and DCC ready locos and want to just get them moving and lit with simple, good decoders, and use DSX sound only installations in some boxcars.

 With this post, I hope to get some tips on those simple good decoders that won't cost me a bundle.

[tstage]

...Correction...

---

Otis, 

NCE makes a good 2-function 4-function decoder - the D13SRJ.  Tim Smith @ Empire Northern Models sells them for $12.95.  A 10-pack will run you $11.99.  Very nice decoders!

Tom 

[jbinkley60]

NCE makes a good 2-function decoder - the D13SRJ.  Tim Smith @ Empire Northern Models sells them for $12.95.  A 10-pack will run you $11.99.

Tom 

The Digitrax version is DH123D.  They sell for around $15.50 a piece in quantities of 4 or more.

 

[reklein]

I agree with Binkley, the Digitrax are hard to beat. Ya don't wanna got too cheap, Caveat emptor here.

[jbinkley60]

NCE makes a good 2-function decoder - the D13SRJ.  Tim Smith @ Empire Northern Models sells them for $12.95.  A 10-pack will run you $11.99.

Tom 

The Digitrax version is DH123D.  They sell for around $15.50 a piece in quantities of 4 or more.

 

But the DH123x is a 2 function decoder and does NOT have BEMF like the NCE decoder.  It is wrong to compare them as equals.  You would have to quote the DH143x....but that dosent exsist. 

David

Agreed that it doesn't have BEMF.  I'll let the poster decide if they feel that feature is important or not and avoid a Digitrax vs NCE debate.  When someone wants cheap, they always have to make some compromises for instance is BEMF more important than transponding ?  

 

[tstage]

Jeff,

I don't think there really is much of a Digitrax vs. NCE "debate" when it comes to decoders.  They're both great products.

Tom 

[cacole]

The Train Control Systems T-1 or M-1 are also good bulk decoders, comparable to the Digitrax and NCE decoders.

[jamnest]

I use both Digitrax and NEC decoders depending upon the application.  I find them both to bee good products at a good price.

JIM

[Gandy Dancer]

NCE makes a good 2-function 4-function decoder - the D13SRJ. 

These are the decoders that our club buys in bulk.  Very reliable.  Probably the best for the $$$.  I believe in about 300-400 of them we have only had two known failures (one was the members own fault).  Both of which NCE fixed up immediately.

[MisterBeasley]

The Train Control Systems T-1 or M-1 are also good bulk decoders, comparable to the Digitrax and NCE decoders.

I've got a couple of TCS T-1 decoders.  They work fine, BUT...

When I put these engines in a consist, they will only enter the consist in the "forward" direction.  So, they must be the front engine in the consist, unless you want to run your consist in reverse.  I typically consist these with a sound engine, so I have to be conscious of which engines go into the consist in which direction or it just won't work right.  I usually run my consists with the cab number of the front (sound) engine, so I can control headlights and sound without having to switch engines to do so.

I use Digitrax 123's for most of my non-sound engines.

Another BUT...

Other than in consists, I find I hardly run my non-sound engines.  Before you go out and equip a large fleet with low-end decoders, try it with a few and see if you actually use them.  You may find that even decoder-equipped engines sit on the sidelines while your sound engines get all the jobs.

[jktrains]

NCE makes a good 2-function decoder - the D13SRJ.  Tim Smith @ Empire Northern Models sells them for $12.95.  A 10-pack will run you $11.99.

Tom 

The Digitrax version is DH123D.  They sell for around $15.50 a piece in quantities of 4 or more.

 

But the DH123x is a 2 function decoder and does NOT have BEMF like the NCE decoder.  It is wrong to compare them as equals.  You would have to quote the DH143x....but that dosent exsist. 

David

Agreed that it doesn't have BEMF.  I'll let the poster decide if they feel that feature is important or not and avoid a Digitrax vs NCE debate.  When someone wants cheap, they always have to make some compromises for instance is BEMF more important than transponding ?  

 

Time to toss my hat into this discussion.  I'll agree with David () - the DH123 is NOT comparable to a DA13SRX.  Your talk 2 functions versus 4 functions.  If the user wants just headlights then the DH123 is OK, but just yesterday I had to explain to someone why the ditchlights on their SD70 wouldn't work when they worked on my loco.  Why? a DH123 as the decoder, only 2 functions!

IMO BEMF is more important to the basic user than transponding.  For all the talk about Digitrax decoders having transponding, I've yet to meet anyone or even seen posts from anyone who is utilizing transponding.  The amount of additional hardware needed to do transponding is generally seen as the cost outweighing the benefit.

IMO go with either the DA13SR or a basic TCS decoder.  TCS has a great replacement warranty, something important for newbie.  Some TCS decoders have built in resistor for 1.5v bulbs.

jktrains

[steffd]

I've got too many locos of the same general type (early GPs, late GPs, F series, E series, Dash 8s, small switchers of various types)  to put $60 (or more) sound decoders into all.  I've got sound in one of each type and would now like to put budget 2-way decoders into the rest and just use a DSX decoder in a connected boxcar for sound when I want sound with these.

What is a good budget decoder to use....I mean in the $15 or so range?  I have some 1000 series Lenz that I haven't tried yet, but I don't even know if one can use consist addressing with these, or set start and stop rates etc.

So I guess I would like a budget decoder that would have some good silent running circuitry, voltage controls, and consist addressing.  Not much worried about lights except on and off....maybe dimming.

Thanks

 

I too have several Locomotives and other rolling stock that incorporate decoders. My theory is that they don't all need to be installed at once; this way I install quality decoders without sacrificing performance and features.

Although I've since shied away from sound decoders because quite frankly I can't tolerate them in confined spaces anymore (Even in a 40'x50' basement), the LokSound decoders do offer great sounds and with the separate LokSound Programmer Set you can easily re-program your decoder to simulate a different prototype.

Personally I have chosen 4 function ESU LokPilot V3.0, 1.1 amp decoders with back EMF. They work great and offer good value in my opinion plus ESU's technical service department is top notch. They sell for $20.99 for 5 or more. http://www.loksound.com/

 

Regards,

Stephan

 

 

[Anonymous]

As far as a bargain goes, the NCEs cant be beat. TCS and Digitrax have a very comperable decoder lineup as far as generic decoders go (Digitrax has more loco-specific decoders). Personally I use TCS decoders almost exclusively for non-sound applications. They arent quite as good a value as the NCEs, but they come with an absolutely bulletproof warranty (free replacement, no questions asked). I have used the warranty several times over the years, sometimes due to installation errors on my part but more often due to me running through an open turnout and circuit breakers not doing their job. I also sent some back to them after many of the decoders in my fleet were, lets say, "frazzled" when my house was hit by lightning. They do offer a plug-in which regulates light outputs to 1.5v, but its cheaper and not much more difficult to just solder in resistors. I have not noticed any consisting problems with my decoders.