Atlas Dual Mode Decoder

[richhotrain]

I see that Atlas has reissued its UP SDP35 locomotive, this time two versions, one in DC (DCC Ready) and one in DCC with Sound.

Years ago, I bought the Atlas UP SDP35 with a Dual Mode Decoder.  You move a jumper on the circuit board to run in either DC or DCC.

Anyone know why they dropped the Dual Mode Decoder in favor of DC which is now DCC Ready?

I have never had a problem with the Dual Mode Decoder, and it saves the time and effort of having to add a decoder.

Rich

[locoi1sa]

If I had to guess I would say it is cheaper to satisfy the DC users without putting a decoder in it. The cost of a light board with plug would be a lot cheaper.

   Pete

[simon1966]

It could be anything from cost, supply (the vendor of the dual mode would no longer produce it) or even customer preference, discovering that many folks prefer to put their brand of choice into the loco? 

[rrinker]

 Depending on who made those old decoders nt he Dual Mode locos, they were kind of limited in features. Not even analog conversion - hence the jumper to switch between DC and DCC operation. There were also plenty of posts here on how to get them to work since a more common usage of the dual mode terminology was/is for decoders that can just operate on either without any sort of jumpers. ALways someone who lost or failed to read theinstructions that told them to move the jumper. I wonder how many calls Atlas got over that?

 The nice thing about the new way is, if they offer the loco as a Gold and Silver, the silver will have an 8 pin plug for a decoder AND the speaker frames fromthe gold chassis, so you can easily add motor only or sound, as you desire, using whichever decoder you prefer.

                             --Randy