Just purchased the two products below and need help recommending a decoder for each. Both items were purchased within the last 3 months and say "DCC Ready" on the box. I believe the CF-7 says something about a "9-Pin" type which I am familiar with. Thank you for your suggestions:
HO Scale Athearn RTR CF-7 Engine Product #89914 Decoder Mfr./Model #-___________________ HO Scale Atlas Track Cleaning Car Product #20 000 374 Decoder Mfr./Model #-___________________
For the Athearn, TCS T1A (no harness) will plug right in to the 9 pin plug, after you remove the 'dummy plug' currently in place. Simple install. Remove shell, unplug 'dummy plug', plug in decoder, replace shell.
Track cleaning car - nothign fancy, a cheap Digitrax DH123 or an NCE D13SRJ, just so you can have control over the motor speed, fast for vacuum mode, slower for the polishing heads.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Excellent. Thank you for the suggestions. I wish someone published a spread sheet type chart of all products and various manufacturers decoders for each product, but that would be a lot to track and manage!
Yes, because there are so many different decoders and thent here's how do you define "fit"? For example, Digitrax has a drop in decoder for most of my Proto 2000 locos, but I prefer to install TCS T1's and solder the wires myself. The T1 "fits"...
Another example, for the Athearn, if you don't care about Back-EMF, you can get an NCE D13SRJ and it will plug in just as easily as the TCS T1. The D13SRJ you can get for under $12 each if you buy a 10 pack.
There's just too many combinations and new decoders coming all the time that an "all time" list just isn't practical. Each of the major manufacturers usually has a chart for their particualr decoders. TCS has TONS of pictures - pick your loco and they will likely have a series of photos showign which decoder fits in and how to do the install.