Where's the Tsunami Decoder ?

[Anonymous]

I was wondering what the delay is on this. Anybody got any info ?
Seems like a year or so has passed since the original speculation release date.

[Anonymous]

I was just speaking with Tony's about this. He has no idea.

Jim

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

As posted last month, it's slated for a September 2004 release.

Looking forward to it!

[Anonymous]

It was demonstrated at the NMRA Convention Train Show in Seattle.

[Anonymous]

Is there anything comparable in the pipeline by other manufacturers ? This decoder seems like the bomb,but it would be nice to see some competition to get prices down.

[AntonioFP45]

Rororo, Most of us share your same sentiments!

Looks like for now, Soundtraxx and QSI are at the top of the food chain. And since QSI is not selling high performance decoders on the market, Soundtraxx is it. [sigh][8)]

[barrydraper]

Does anyone have any idea why ESU doesn't import their Loksound decoders into the United States? I've heard good things about them from British modelers, but I can't find out how to buy one in the U.S. [:(]

[Anonymous]

Barrydraper

The LOK sound decoder will not allow you to blow any other whistle sequence than the one programmed. I don't thing it would be popular if they imported it. Another wounderful feature of the LIK sound as installed in the Trix 4015 is when you blow the whistle, the other functions have to stop. If you have the bell ringing and blow the whistle, the bell shuts down and then the whistle blows. Same with the injector or any of the other sounds. It is toy train like to me, but some others may like it.
At least that is the way the Trix 4015 Big Boy works. I have already sold my Trix 4015 because everytime you blow the whistle, it blows a set of sequences that is not recognizable to any railroad on the planet and it does not chuff like a four cylinder engine, I talked to LOK sound by email and they confirmed it could not be changed.

I have the new Tsunami ordered for my other Trix 4013 Big Boy and another of the units for one of my Daylights. The new decoder for the Daylight also has the big horn and the whistle.

I hope it comes soon, but it has been delayed for almost a year now.

[Anonymous]

Latest update over @ yahoo groups has it coming out in November. They're getting dangerously close to missing the whole season. Must be the MTH stuff,holding up production.

[jfugate]

When at the National Train Show in July, SoundTraxx was very cautious about Tsunami information. We (MyMemoirs Video, the guys producing my Siskiyou Line video series, and I was with them, help promote my video) asked if we could video the demo they were doing for people at the show and they said no.

The impression I got was that they are being extra cautious because of the MTH litigation and it has definitely thrown them a curve. Their designers appear to be scrambling trying to do their homework so they don't release something into the market and then immediately get slapped with a lawsuit.

So their issues don't appear to be technical, but more legal. It's too bad it's come down to that, but were I in their shoes, I'd be doing *exactly* the same thing.

[AntonioFP45]

[#ditto][sigh][sigh] Good insight, Joe. Regardless if one supports or condems the lawsuit, Mike's Train House has done a job in putting a damper in DCC's advancement.

As mentioned above the release is slated for November 04. On a bright note, those of us that intend to purchase Tsunami decoders can "tweak and fine tune" the locomotives that we want to install this decoder in. We can also start budgeting now so that more than one can be purchased.

Wish Soundtraxx hadn't stopped producing the DSD 150 until the Tsunami had been introduced and selling. I'd rather have the combination of motor control and sound in one decoder rather than having to get two separate decoders. HO and N locomotives are pretty cramped as is, especially scale width 4 axle hood units. This is why I've stated before that the the Blue Box Athearn U Boats offer a tad more amount of space and the excess hood width is not as noticeable as in the EMD models.

I salute you modelers that install sound decoders inside of diesel switchers! What patience!

Cheers!

[robengland]

the other technology that seems to be held up for similar reasons is SurroundTraxx, originally slated for 2002 release (do a google to find out more). A pox on MTH.