Saw this on the latest DCC Guy video and at Streamlined Backshop...
ESU is soon releasing a v5 sound decoder with the PowerPack (their version of a keep alive) already installed as part fo the board. Atlas/Atheran style board form factor.
SBS has them prices at $25 more than t v5 in AT board format, which is $15 less than the price of the decoder plus the external PowerPack. ESU list price is $30 more for the built-in PowerPack version, and the list price for the small PowerPack is $50.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Any pictures of the decoder layout and size -- including whether people who want still more keepalive time can get to the terminals to add supercapacitor capacity in parallel?
Not much since it hasn't been released yet
ESU 58921 LokSound 5 Direct NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - AT-Style Adapter Board w/ Integrated PowerPack (sbs4dcc.com)
Who knows if the description is completely accurate but it says there is connection for an external PowerPack. Though why you need more when most keep alives last for WAY too long is still beyond me. At least since this is ESU's Powerpack design, the run time is configurable for less than "until the energy is drained".
Athearn/Atlas - it's in the shape of the factory boards commonly used in those locos, with mounting holes to fit the clips that held the factory board in the loco.
It is my understanding that all of the rivet counter ScaleTrains engines released with Loksound 5 come factory equipped with power packs, so I've been told. FWIW. Hopefully this new part with the onboard PP will mean new engines from Athearn and Atlas will feature power pack from the factory as well in the future.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
If Athearnm switches to Loksound. This IS more expensive, so the price of the loco will have to go up to cover the increased cost of the decoder. Supposedly even with the capacitors hanging off the ends, it's actually the same overall length as the plain AT form factor Loksound decoder. So it should be an easy substitution, though because of the caps ont he end, all the connections are along the side, not just the motor connections.
rrinker If Athearnm switches to Loksound. This IS more expensive, so the price of the loco will have to go up to cover the increased cost of the decoder.
The latest announcents just released include Genesis F7's with Tsu 2 sound, but yes the prices are going up without switching to Loksound.
An AB set with sound announced in 2019 was MRSP $559 and the new batch are just announced are MRSP $619. Thats a pretty hefty jump. Labor in China and perhaps newer higher shipping costs are probably to blame.
riogrande5761Hopefully this new part with the onboard PP will mean new engines from Athearn and Atlas will feature power pack from the factory as well in the future.
This might be a good time to think about integrating the keep-alive power differently to different parts of the circuitry; for example ensuring long powering of wireless connection, reasonably long duration for sound, relatively less run time for motors.
This not being the same thing, necessarily, as providing a path to external dead-rail power connection.
OvermodHave we heard from other decoder makers if they plan to make 'competing' functionality?
Broadway Limited Paragon 4:
https://www.broadway-limited.com/whatisparagon4.aspx
For HO, we built our GoPack! power continuity capacitors into the decoder. They are enough to provide several seconds of run time to get past dead spots in the track, but unlike external keep alive type products, we can control the capacitors with software.
And THIS should be a welcome feature:
COMPREHENSIVE BUG FIXES
We also took the time to fix every bug and problem we were aware of with our decoders.
Good Luck, Ed
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