Electronics and DCC

So I went to my LHS here in Phoenix to check out DCC.  They told me they no longer stock DCC as no one is buying them these days.  I said what???  They said well...no one is buying them from the store as everyong has their own taste with the loco/decoder combo.  The store would stock maybe an Atlas with the QSI...and they would like the Atlas but not the QSI or the other way around.  So the guy then told me everyone wants Tsunami decoders as the sound is so good.

I have been very happy with my QSI but I would like to try a loco with a Tsunami decoder in it and since I cant seem to buy one local, I wanted to poll you folks on what you like and where you like to buy from.

Tonys Train exchange looks good with the Athern line of trains...

thoughts?

There is no best, only what works best for you.

Check with Micro Mark, Caboose Hobbies as a start. There are other good online comanies. You did not say Diesel or steam? N scale or HO scale? You will get many hits. Come back here and ask about the company selling the locos.

Do a Google search for diesel tsunami or steam tsunami. Get on the Athearn email list. Athearn/Roundhouse are going to the Tsunami decoders. Go to the Athearn site and look around.

I got an email from Athearn some months ago about the Tsunami decoders being put in their locos.

Bachmann right now has the Tsunami decoders in their steamers.

Be advised, the products come form China and come in batch shipments and can be sold out in about a year.

Right now some are waiting shipments so the products may not be available yet.

Best bet is to do some homework and search the Internet.

I have no idea about other manufactures of other locos.

Rich

ooops I should of said some more specifics...  Diesel and HO... mainly SP, UP and BNSF... 1970 to present.  Good idea on the mailing lists!

Just brought home a Genesis F45 ATSF with a Tsnaumi decoder in it.  Haven't done this breed of decoder yet, so look forward to the usual hassle of programming it.  All the rest of my sound units, about 25 out of 250 diesels are sound with the Atlas system.  Those are great.  I am not a big fan of sound, so have done just a few for when I am on tour or having guests.

Bob

 Here is what I found at Athearn. Not until May 2010 though.

http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=dcc

You might ask pastorbob where he got his with Tsunami.

Rich

No one's buying from the LHS because they can get a better price online. I ordered a Bachmann 2-8-0 with Tsnaumi from Trainworld on Sunday evening and ups delivered it on Tuesday midday. Although it is steam the sound is fantastic. 

I'll add that while Caboose Hobbies is a good source (and very big!), Tony's Trains is very DCC-oriented (almost too much so haha) and if you call them, they'll be very happy to discuss decoder and sound options with you. They were so helpful, I ordered an extra decoder from them even though I won't use it for months!

Brian