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Choosing a Decoder

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Winnipeg
  • 234 posts
Posted by Magnum019 on Sunday, May 31, 2009 6:36 PM

 I Myself use & Love Digitrax as I have quite a few DH123's but to be honest if I thought of the future meaning adding extra lights or sound or using the Back EMF and currently Digitrax does not have what I want, I probably would have looked elsewhere.  I do have a couple TCS's with the Back EMF which I really like and I'm still shopping and waiting for the Sound Decoders I want for a reasonable price..........Good Luck.........

 Cary

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bettendorf Iowa
  • 2,173 posts
Posted by Driline on Sunday, May 31, 2009 3:01 PM

rrinker
For a plain simple decoder that's inexpensive but definitely not 'cheap', I like the NCE D13SRJ.

Randy's right on this one. I buy NCE exclusively.

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, May 31, 2009 2:01 PM

 Much as I love my Digitrax system, I don;t use their decoders - the TCS decoders match the price of the DH123 series decoders - except the TCS decoder has BEMF and better lighting effects. It costs more to get the Digitrax DH163 series which have BEMF, but the TCS BEMF is still better as far as I'm concerned. For a plain simple decoder that's inexpensive but definitely not 'cheap', I like the NCE D13SRJ. If you buy a 10 pack you can get them for about $12 each, they are quite reliable, and have decent lighting effects, but no BEMF. They'll run any loco with a decent motor very smoothly - I had one in a Trainline FA-1.

 For a TCS equivalent to the DH123D, look at the T1.

                                        --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
    November 2007
  • From: Houston, Tx
  • 135 posts
Posted by ds137 on Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:21 PM

That would be and excellent decoder for your engine, however because you are a first timer in DCC decoder installation, I would recommend you look at TCS decoders.  They are also very reliable decoders, but their decoders have a no questions asked replacement warranty, even if you install it wrong, they will send you a replacement.  (Just in case.)  The TCS decoders are priced about the same as Digitraxx decoders.  Nothing wrong with Digitraxx,  it's just that the TCS warranty makes it a better value to me.  Just my opinion.... I have both brands in my equipment and they both work great.

I once caught a train in my pajama's. How it got in my pajama's I'll never know... (sorry, Groucho)

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Choosing a Decoder
Posted by ns3010 on Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:09 AM

I just bought a Walthers Trainline GP9m. I plan to convert it to DCC but I'm not quite sure on which decoder to use. After looking at the Digitrax website, I came across the DH123D. It's not anything fancy, just what I need. It's only $20, and it seems perfect.

Any comments on this decoder? If not, any suggestions for a similar one?

Thanks!

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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