Decoder question in MR review (november)

[Anonymous]

So I'm reading a review of the "Broadway Limited" on page 16 of the new MR. And listen to this:!!!

"The...locomotive features a built-in decoder tht automatically senses whether a Digital Command Control (DCC) signal is present and then operates in either DCC or conventional DC mode.....

On DCC, the whistle and bell operate using the apporpriate function butttons. On a DC layout, however, you blowthe shistle or ring the bell on the QSI-built sound system using the reversing swith on your power pack. Move it to 'reverse' and hold it to blow the whistle; swithc it quickly and in and out of reverse to trigger the bell. If you really want to reversethe engine, just bring it to stop, then operate the reversing swtich.

The sound circuits also provide squeling brake, air pump, blow down, injector, safety valve, and blower hiss sounds, among others. The volume can be adjusted via a control in the tender... or electronically....The lights can be switched on and off...." (MR November 2002 P 16-17)

Wow... this is the future... and the loco is $280 so not bad.

The above is a thread I started in the Atlas Forum, the rest of the topic is obvious. But many in the forum thought the electronic detection of DCC vs DC was just your normal standard detection that all decoders do. My understanding is that the decoder is more like the Atlas dual mode decoder, except you don't need to fiddle with plugs. The Atlas dual mode decoder is considerably better than the routine decoder for DCC and DC running. Except, who wants to fiddle with the plugs.

So am I correct, or is this decoder just like other decoders, and unlike the Atlas dual mode jobby.

Rick Nicholson

[Anonymous]

I read the same article and wondered the same thing. Maybe somebody from MR can post an answer.

[Sperandeo]

Rick and Jim,

The DCC sound decoder in the Broadway Limited Hudson works exactly as described in our review. It is obviously not the same as the decoders in Atlas diesels. To explain how it does what it does would take someone with more knowledge of its workings than I have. I can say that all DCC decoders are based on microprocessors, and therefore the software they use makes a very big difference. You can take our word for the actions we described.

So long,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

[Anonymous]

As always, thanks Andy. do you know if any other manufacturers have plans to come out with similar equipment?

[Sperandeo]

Hi Jim,

As of this morning I haven't heard of any other manufacturers who are planning to offer the same features as Broadway Limited. I do think the BL Hudson has raised the bar in HO scale, and especially as other locomotives are introduced in that line there will be competitive pressure for others to equal or exceed BL models. That will be good for all of us.

So long,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine