TCS vs. NCE and Digitrax Decoders

[rrinker]

 The ESU Lokpilot has the same motor drive as the Loksound, so since I use only Loksound in my sound locos, it's sort of a natural, although the TCS I already have installed run perfectly fine with the Loksounds, so I probably will not go back and swap them out. That can get expensive..

                    --Randy

 

[riogrande5761]

Most of the silent decoders I have installed so far have been TCS T1 or T4 decoders I picked up a few years back.  I'm getting to the point where I'm going to need to get serious about installing more decoders this year and I've started looking at the current crop out there by different companies and noticed the sharp increase in TCS vs. some others and it will likely affect my purchasing decisions as cost IS a factor for me on a limited budget.

I haven't thought of using silent deocders from sound companies, but if they offer good motor control etc. as a more economical choice, I'll gladly consider them, such as ESU, NCE etc.

[rrinker]

 The BEMF in TCS is auto adjusting, no fiddling with CVs, just run the loco for a little while.

 ESU's is similar, but it's manually activated - the loco then runs itself forwrd and backward and the decoder sets the optimal values in all the motor control CVs.

 I haven't had any decoder by anyone fail, and I have some now over 12 years old. Digitrax, NCE, TCS, and ESU.

                      --Randy

[tstage]

SouthPenn

TCS makes a great decoder, but they are a little pricey. Their motor control might be better but I have yet to see it on my antique engines. Besides, I would rather run my engines instead of trying to fine tune a decoder.

South,

You don't really need to fine-tune the TCS decoders.  Their motor-control is great right out of the box.  The only fine-tuning I do is for lighting effects (e.g. Rule 17).

Tom

[SouthPenn]

I have settled on all NCE. It makes it easier to program as you become familiar with the brand. Having all the same brand seems to make consisting easier.

TCS makes a great decoder, but they are a little pricey. Their motor control might be better but I have yet to see it on my antique engines. Besides, I would rather run my engines instead of trying to fine tune a decoder.

I used to have a lot of Digitrax decoders but most have failed. Something like 12 in three years. Of course, they were all out of warranty. 

One of the things that I think is odd, is one manufacturer says their decoders maintain speed when going up hill. IMHO, not very prototypical.

[rrinker]

 It's been a while since I bought decoders, I've always used TCS for non-sound, but I saw how much TCS raised their prices in the past couple of years - sticker shock. I will likely be using ESU for both sound and non-sound going forward, but that doesn't help N scalers, ESU doesn't have decoders in all the different form factors for specific locos like TCS, NCE, and Digitrax. TCS used to be only a couple of dollars more than NCE, and about the same as Digitrax and it was a no brainer for the better motor control.

                               --Randy

 

[Stevert]

tstage

TCS does offer a "goof-proof" policy - i.e. they will replace your decoder for FREE in the event that you cook it while installing it in your locomotive.  Whether that justifies the additional price increase for you is your choice.

Tom

 

 

Digitrax offers a similar goof-proof warranty, not only on their decoders but on basically everything they sell.  From their home page:

 

<quote>

Digitrax gives a one year "No Worries" Warranty against manufacturing defects and accidental customer damage on all Digitrax command stations, boosters, throttles, decoders, power supplies and layout control devices.

</quote>

 

Having said that, I agree with Tom that any of the decoders you mention should work well. 

[tstage]

All three decoders should work well for you.  That said, I really like the motor-control of the TCS decoders.  I also like their quiet operation and lighting effects.

TCS does offer a "goof-proof" policy - i.e. they will replace your decoder for FREE in the event that you cook it while installing it in your locomotive.  Whether that justifies the additional price increase for you is your choice.

Tom

[KisNap]

Hi Everyone,

     I was looking for a DCC decoder (without sound) and found one from TCS, NCE, and Digitrax.  The TCS decoder was around $15 higher than the other two.  I noticed that in general their decoders are more expensive. Why is this?  Are they that much better than the other two?  Below are the three models I was looking at.  Are their decoders more configurage for advanced operation?  Any input would be great.  Thank you.

 

TCS: 1302 ALD4

NCE: 524120 (N12A0)

Digitrax: DN163A0