Curt, If they are Kato or Atlas (which is what I have) diesel engines and fairly new then a decoder is fairly easy to install. Steam is a little more work. The majority of the N scale engines do not use the plug in decoders. But slide into slots.
Sound decoders are made for only some of the larger N scale engines as they may have the room. Sound decoders cost a lot more then function only decoders.
Engines with sound decoders in them at purchase will be quite a lot more expensive then just plain DC.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
davidmbedard The term "Decoder Ready" means, at the least, that the motor is isolated from the frame, to most, an 8/9 pin plug for a decoder. David B
The term "Decoder Ready" means, at the least, that the motor is isolated from the frame, to most, an 8/9 pin plug for a decoder.
David B
Keep dreaming. <holds up P2K Alco S1>
Maybe someday the manufacturers will agree on what DCC Ready means, but then again maybe I'll win that lottery I never play. There's a better chance of all locos coming with DCC already installed.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
While there is no published standard, a loco that you find in a retail establishment today that is labeled DCC ready usually is a DC loco that has a plug into which you can plug a motor decoder with no other wiring required. Sound still requires you to install a speaker and very few units have a place for the speaker built in.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Decoder ready or DCC ready is pretty much menaingless, because there is no standard for what it should mean. SOmetimes it means you cna simply plug in a decoder, very simple. Other times it means you can put a decoder in, if you repalce some lights or change around some wires. Since you can theoretically put a decoder in anything given enough time, effort, and money, EVERYTHING is 'dcc ready'. And even in the cases where DCC Ready means you simply plug in a decoder and go, it almost always is referrign to a motor decoder. FOr a sound decoder you also need room for the speaker and enclosure, and not many models come with that, especially in N scale.
Hi,
I still feel like I am quite new to the hobby and I have a question in regard to what exactly "decoder ready" means. I still use DC to operate my trains as opposed to DCC. I have some N-scale locomotives that say they are decoder ready on the box. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean they already have a sound decoder in them, or they can have a sound decoder put in. I am thinking about getting the Tech 6 Sound Controller 2.0, but I guess I am confused about the decoder ready thing. I would appreciate any help I could get??? Thanks.