I have two Kato N AC4400CW locomotives and Digitrax DN163K1B decoders in both of them. According to Digitrax, these decoders are supposed to fit without any modifications to the shell. They're WRONG!!! With both locomotives, the back part of the shell does not go down all the way and the back coupler is higher than it should be. Rolling stock will not stay coupled to them on my Unitrack's Superelevated curves because the coupler is too high. It looks like the hole (socket) where the silver exhaust stack on the locomotive snaps in is too thick and causes the shell to stick up enough to throw the back coupler off. What should I do? Is the dremel the only answer?
I contacted Digitrax and they told me to file down part of the LED and part of the shell. I really do not want to do this, because I don't want to risk doing any damage to anything. They should really stop listing this decoder as compatible with the AC4400CW because they are not. I tried to get them to just let me return them for two DN163K1C replacements but they won't do it. I had to work with them once before on a damaged decoder and they were really good to work with, but this time is very different.
You should call them back and complain LOUDLY, tell them that modifying the shell is unacceaptable, and you want a decoder that fits. How is the DN163K1C different then the one you got?
If you have to, get real upset when you talk to them. At some time they will give in. And if they don't, tell them not only will you never buy their products again, but tell them you will post this issue on one of the hobby's biggest forums about this. (which you already have, LOL ooops)
Good luck...
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
WOW! Thank you very much for your support! I figured that someone would probably post about how this is all my fault and how I need to fix it myself even though this is the manufacturer's defect. To be fair, there are many problems that arise that are not the manufacturer's fault, but this is their fault and they're refusing to make it right. When I sent them an e-mail, I even copied and pasted the exact text from their website and the manual that said the decoder fit without any modifications needed. I've generally heard good things about Digitrax, but this problem has caused me to look elsewhere for a better DCC system. I'll probably sell my Digitrax stuff and go with another manufacturer's product. Also, to answer your question, they said the DN163K1C has a smaller LED and is designed to fit the AC4400 better. If you go on their website, they have a chart that lists the DN163K1C as the recommended decoder, but I bought these about a year ago and if you look on the DN163K1B's manual, it specifically says it is designed to work in the AC4400CW without any modifications needed. They said that the DN163K1B worked fine in older Kato units but not newer ones because Kato made modifications to the shell. Regardless, this is still their fault. I offered to pay for shipping and handling if they'd give me replacements and they send me a reply telling me to file down the LED and shell, so I'm ditching Digitrax and going with another manufacturer. I don't want to risk damaging the shell or Decoder. If I do some filing and the problem still isn't fixed, they won't repair it, and I won't be able to get any return on my investment if I decided to sell them. Who would want to buy a decoder that's been filed on? No one.
Another issue that I've had with the system I bought is the F2 key won't always stop blowing the horn after I release it. I have a sound unit, and a few weeks ago, I had a friend over who wanted to try out the sound locomotive. It worked fine for a while, but then, all of a sudden, the horn stayed on and wouldn't go off. I shut the system down and unplugged it. I turned the system back on and the horn was still on. I guess I'm just one of the few people who've had a bad experience with them, but I do plan on switching to another DCC system.
Woww - the web site shows that they made a modification to the decoder so that shell mods to the AC4400 are no longer required. How about you blame your dealer for selling old stock? Instead, over ONE DECODER FITMENT ISSUE you are goign to compeltely sell off your Digitrax equipment and go with someone elses? Because everyone else's system is JUST PERFECT and you will NEVER EVER have an issue.
WOW
Just, WOW.
The DN163K1C isn't going to fit. And looking at the TCS K1D4 which they list as the one for the AC4400CW, it looks like the difference is the LED is soldered to the bottom of the board. Neither instruction set on the product page for the DN163K1B is the new one, they are both the same file. No where in the manual does it say no modifications are needed - it says that on the web site product page for the decoder - the new version of the decoder. Compare your function output locations with the illustration on the Digitrax web site - you probably have the OLD DN163K1B and unless you bought it direct from Digitrax it's NOT their fault. This is like buying a 2009 model car and saying it is the manufaturers fault that it doesn't have the features of the 2010 model.
And most decoders will have issues, the newer boards for RoHS compliance are thinner than the older ones, and may have contact issues - ALL brands. And if you think you can just take 5 minutes and slip a board in any N scale loco and have it decodered, think again.
Edit: and the horn is NOT a Digitrax problem, it's the sound decoder not responding to the F2 off when you let go of the button,. You don't have to reset anything with this happens, just tap F2 so it sends another F2 off. I've monitored this in JMRI and unless you hold the horn on for a LONG time (it WILL then latch - but this means you were just holdign the horn for WAY too long), F2 IS off when you let go of the button. JMRI can view the status in the command stationa nd see what it's doing. My Loksound decoders do this too, IF the whistle is held longer than normal. But F2 shows off in the slot monitor, it's sending F2 off, but the loco isn't responding. NOT a Digitrax problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have the manual in print that came with the decoders I bought. This is exactly what it says: "DN163K1B Fits Kato SD40, C44-9 and AC4400CW Locomotives". It can't get any clearer than that. With the F2 issue, I did press the F2 button again and again and again and again and again and the horn would not stop. This has happened more than once. I could live with the F2 issue but not the decoder issue. I don't know what their website said a year ago when I bought these decoders, but I can guarantee you that I would not have bought the DN163K1B if I saw on their website that they recommended the DN163K1C. I remember looking at that chart when I bought these and used that to obtain what I thought was the correct decoder. Also, I read on another forum that another individual had this same problem and notified Digitrax about it. I believe the person said that Digitrax changed the chart of recommended decoders because of this, which was after I bought the ones for my AC4400CWs.
http://trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?p=596673 This conversation took place in May 2009. I bought my decoders in March/April 2009. Digitrax told this individual then that they would change their website to recommend the K1C instead of the K1B for AC4400CWs. They even offered to send this individual a replacement K1C, which is what I was hoping for. So, there's my side of the argument. I have a very valid and solid claim.
One thing that Digitrax will never be famous for is updating their web site. There are two iterations of the K1B. The document that comes with each decoder is the same. Early model one fit early AC4400's. I have two and they do fit. The later model decoder fits later and old model AC4400's. Don't see a problem there. Kato made a change. Digitrax did the same. You; unfortunately, got one of the older decoders for a newer AC4400. According to that trainboard thread, your argument was valid 15 months ago. How long is Digitrax supposed to wait for you to call?
The K1C decoder has surface mount led's. It fits later runs as well.
Martin Myers
nscsxcrrailfan http://trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?p=596673 This conversation took place in May 2009. I bought my decoders in March/April 2009. Digitrax told this individual then that they would change their website to recommend the K1C instead of the K1B for AC4400CWs. They even offered to send this individual a replacement K1C, which is what I was hoping for. So, there's my side of the argument. I have a very valid and solid claim.
I read this last night and almost shot off a response that was not altogether very nice. Having slept on it, I really do think the crux of the problem is the elapsed time. 18 months between purchase and a complaint is way beyond reasonable IMO. If you were aware of the problem back in May 09 why on earth did you not do something about it then?
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Oh I didn't realize the OP waited 18 months before trying to install the decoder. I guess I'll take back my statement.
Way too much time has gone by for you to have a valid argument for Digitrax to make things right.
Kato changed the shell, and Digitrax didn't come get you documentation and fix it? It almost sounds like that is your complaint! If you work in N scale very long, you are going to find that "perfect" is not always easy. It's small, and the tolerances are small, and when you cross time, and manufacturers, things that might have been true a year ago might not be quite as true today.
From the practical side, filing the LED is easy, and it will work. You can see the "guts" of the LED, so it's easy to not get into it. The lens is soft enough to file easily, but not so soft as to allow you to file out of control. Be gentle with the shell, and you will be file.
As far as the F2 issue, I would be more suspect of the decoder than the control station.
On your philosophy....
If you are going to abandon Digitrax because of this, you might as well find a new hobby. The hobby is full of mostly small companies doing the best they can. But none of them keep everyone happy all the time. Digitrax responded to you in a timely manner (actually, that's more consideration than you gave them), and gave you a solution that will absolutely work. That's certainly in the top half of customer service.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
I would tend to agree that the time frame is too long. I would write off that decoder and just get the new one or buy one from another manufacture, (and you don't have to get rid of the whole system, all decoders from any manufacturer are interchangable between systems, ie. the decoders don't have to be from the same system).
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums