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I tried a zimo decoder and i am very impressed!

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  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Greece
  • 201 posts
I tried a zimo decoder and i am very impressed!
Posted by Railroad on Saturday, January 31, 2009 1:13 PM

For some time i hear good things about zimo and i decided to try one of their decoder.

I can only say wooooooaou!!!  That decoder is way ahead of their competitors in the control of the motor. It realy moved the locomotive so slowly that i could not see the movement.

Until now i liked the esu decoders but from now on i'll buy the zimo decoder.

I suggest to you to try one to see it for yourself.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 31, 2009 7:42 PM

CT Elektronik are also very good.

Both are very expensive as well, at least in the US. If you need that level of motor control, they are worth it. My only gripe is they they do not do a very good job of explaining the various CVs that control the motor drive - and I know just enough German to poke through the German language manual instead of the English one and there's no more explanation there. This is also one case where DecoderPro is no real help - whoever made the CT Elektronik definitions just copied what it says in the manual. I assume a much more detailed explanation in the manual would give away too much of their BEMF algorithm which is probably why they don't explain it.

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 228 posts
Posted by mike33469 on Saturday, January 31, 2009 8:56 PM

Several years ago I new an old timer who really knew DCC, he ran a high end by appointment only shop.  His layout was Zimo, and all he sold was Zimo and Lenz.  At the time I knew nothing about DCC and I had another guy install a Digitrax decorder in one of my engines. Long story short I couldn't program it and it ran poorly.  I took it to the old timer and he installed a Zimo decorder.  With no programing it ran like a charm.  After he tweaked the CV's a little I was truly amazed.  Unfortunately a couple of year later I fried the decoder (totally my fault) but I too was really impressed.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Miami Florida
  • 157 posts
Posted by sundayniagara on Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:19 PM

mike33469

Several years ago I new an old timer who really knew DCC, he ran a high end by appointment only shop.  His layout was Zimo, and all he sold was Zimo and Lenz.  At the time I knew nothing about DCC and I had another guy install a Digitrax decorder in one of my engines. Long story short I couldn't program it and it ran poorly.  I took it to the old timer and he installed a Zimo decorder.  With no programing it ran like a charm.  After he tweaked the CV's a little I was truly amazed.  Unfortunately a couple of year later I fried the decoder (totally my fault) but I too was really impressed.

 

Are you talking about Carroll Duffy?  He, (he passed away several years ago) was the most knowledgeable DCC person I ever met.

 

PS:  He never liked Digitrax!

http://www.hon3forums.com http://www.americandragracing.com http://www.sundayniagara.com http://www.yorkreunion.com BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 228 posts
Posted by mike33469 on Sunday, February 1, 2009 1:56 PM

Yes it was Carrol, I used to visit him in his little shop almost once a week.  He taught me alot from laying track to DCC.  I really miss him, you are right he was very knowledgable.

 

P.S. Boy, you are sure right about his dislike of Digitrax, in  fact he gave me the Zimo decoder for free.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Miami Florida
  • 157 posts
Posted by sundayniagara on Sunday, February 1, 2009 2:50 PM

mike33469

Yes it was Carrol, I used to visit him in his little shop almost once a week.  He taught me alot from laying track to DCC.  I really miss him, you are right he was very knowledgable.

 

P.S. Boy, you are sure right about his dislike of Digitrax, in  fact he gave me the Zimo decoder for free.

 

 

I understand his layout was destroyed when that Hobby Shop in WPB went out of biz.

http://www.hon3forums.com http://www.americandragracing.com http://www.sundayniagara.com http://www.yorkreunion.com BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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