I am considering buying the atlas b23-7 and i dont know whether to buy a dcc equipped model or a dcc ready model and install a separate decoder?
To me, it depends on total acquisition cost of option A or B. If it were a Bachmann DCC ready, I would say definitely put your own in, but Atlas is pretty good quality. If you don't have sound in mind. If you want sound, I would buy the DCC ready and put in Soundtraxx.
Richard
Hi,
From experience I would always buy the factory installed DCC or sound version if I can afford it.
Recently my wife bought me an Atlas silver U30B DCC ready. I put a plug in decoder in it but there is not much room for the decoder. Then I decided to put sound in it. So I got the Tsunami Atlas drop in board decoder (AT1000).
Now, when I got the sound decoder that replaces the main board, the sound decoder was longer than the original board, so to make it fit I had to cut down the weight in the nose, thus removing the number board light. I soldered the board in (which I found very fiddly as the wires are very thin and I am not very good at soldering). I got the loco running forwards and backwards. Then I wired in the headlight and backup light. First they did not work so I swapped the wires round. The backup light then worked correctly, but the headlight was on all the time. I then tried to sort the headlight out and fried the decoder! I am now left with a dead loco and a big hole in the wallet!
I have now ordered the factory sound equipped version for much the same price as the loco plus decoder. So, if you can afford it, save yourself the hassle and buy the factory installed version.
Paul
Does Atlas sell any of their models that are just DCC equipped, or are they Sound equpped? There's a big difference between these two terms.
I always get a sound equipped version if such is offered instead of trying to add my own after the fact. If it's just DCC ready, plugging in your own motor control decoder is no problem at all.
I just purchased an Atlas Trainman RSD-36. Even though their literature does not indicate whether or not it is DCC ready, it does have a NMRA 8-pin socket so putting a decoder into it was a simple matter of plugging one in.
You didn't mention the scale you are in. I would buy the loco as decoder ready and purchase the better decoder of your choice. I do not like the Lenz decoders that Atlas installs in their locos so I just get them decoder ready and buy Digitrax decoders. I have found it harder to speed match Lenz decoders when matching to a Digitrax decoder.
The Atlas Silver series are the DCC ready versions of the GOLD loco's. Everything is the same except for the decoder and speakers.
The QSI decoders that are installed in the Golds make it worth getting IMO. If you plan on installing sound anyhow it's cheaper to get the Gold version vs buying a decoder and speakers and putting it in yourself.
some have to though because not all road names etc are available in the Gold.
Oh and welcome to the forums floridaboy
Springfield PA
I bought the Pan Am GP40-2, #350 with Qsi sound for under $200.00. I believe it cost be about $165.00 about eight months ago. About $188.00 now.
Great running ans sounding. Definitely less cost by buying with sound or non sound and less hale if you have not done DCC installs before.
If you get a DCC ready, you have to remove the couplers before you can open the shell. You can install a plug and play eight pin decoder.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
PaulWhitt20 Hi, From experience I would always buy the factory installed DCC or sound version if I can afford it. Recently my wife bought me an Atlas silver U30B DCC ready. I put a plug in decoder in it but there is not much room for the decoder. Then I decided to put sound in it. So I got the Tsunami Atlas drop in board decoder (AT1000). Now, when I got the sound decoder that replaces the main board, the sound decoder was longer than the original board, so to make it fit I had to cut down the weight in the nose, thus removing the number board light. I soldered the board in (which I found very fiddly as the wires are very thin and I am not very good at soldering). I got the loco running forwards and backwards. Then I wired in the headlight and backup light. First they did not work so I swapped the wires round. The backup light then worked correctly, but the headlight was on all the time. I then tried to sort the headlight out and fried the decoder! I am now left with a dead loco and a big hole in the wallet! I have now ordered the factory sound equipped version for much the same price as the loco plus decoder. So, if you can afford it, save yourself the hassle and buy the factory installed version. Paul
Agree
Get factory installed and save yourself future grief
Cost is the same and even less if you find sales
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O
If it's N scale (we may never know) buy the DCC ready unit. The stock Atlas decoders are basic no frills decoders. The extra $10 you'll spend on a better decoder will pay off for years. if you want sound, it's not offered out of the box for N scale.
mfm37 If it's N scale (we may never know) buy the DCC ready unit. The stock Atlas decoders are basic no frills decoders. The extra $10 you'll spend on a better decoder will pay off for years. if you want sound, it's not offered out of the box for N scale.
Agree with this. I'm HO and don't do much sound. Atlas decoders (Lenz I think) are very no frills, I don't purchase equipped locos and add my own (NCE) decoders. Any equipped locos I did buy, I replaced the decoders.
Entirely up to the person buying, if the decoder meets buy it.
Larry
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I have an Atlas Dash 8 with QSI Gold Series. It is OEM sound equipped. If I were to buy another Atlas, particularly an EMD model, I would buy the DCC ready and install Soundtraxx. QSI doesn't have notching, F11 braking(see this months MR), etc. QSI will be coming out with new improved decoders soon. I suspect their sound processing will be better. Not all OEM installed sound is the best sound available for a particular model. And the decoder mfg doesn't guarantee the sound will be good as speakers and their installation are very important. That's why I now listen to every loco before I buy.
Yeah, several here including me assume he's talking about sound. For non sound it probably doesn't matter much since decoders can be had for cheap.
If you want sound, buy the Gold series factory fitted.
If you don't want sound, and see an Atlas Master or Silver series with factory fitted DCC, make sure it runs well before buying. All four of my "DCC fitted" Atlas locos were poor runners until I replaced the decoders with NCE or Digitrax. Now they're almost as smooth as Kato.
Ian