"Simple" DCC decoders

[Jacktal]

I have an interesting fleet of "active" locos that I run on a regular basis and since I have purchased a DCC system,I'm having them retrofitted with decoders.Needless to say that my future purchases will have factory installed decoders whenever possible.

However,I have quite a few engines,mostly steamers,that I like to run occasionally.Although DCC allows me to run them on adress 00 for a short moment,I found out that they get real hot after a very short while.Worse yet,I can't leave them parked on a live track without having them baking their motors.Having them equipped with decoders is the best solution indeed,but although technically possible,this would make a serious dent in my budget.I'm just wondering if there is a decoder (wired type) with only the basic operation which would come affordable.I don't need all the bells and whistles of advanced programming,etc.Just throttle and direction,and may be lighting toggle would do fine.

[tomwatkins]

Check out www.loystoys.com for good information on decoder availabilty, features and costs. They're good people to deal with.
Hope this helps,
Tom Watkins

[cacole]

I think the most basic and cheapest, yet good quality decoder you can get, is the Train Control System (TCS) model T1. Sometimes places like Loy's Toys or Tony's Train Exchange has sales on bulk purchases of TCS T1 decoders in lots of 10 or so for just over $12 or $13 each.

[rrinker]

I don't know of any cheaper than the TCS T1, yet they are very good decoders. I've installed two so far, and will pretty much standardize my fleet on them. The only place I am thinking of NOT using a T1 decoder at this time is for those locos where someone makes a direct board swap type of decoder - like Proto200. Even for those locos that have a DCC socket - you can buy 8-pin plugs and solder the wires on, or remove the socket and solder the decoder wires in the existing holes, or, as I did in one case, cut the shorting traces on the stock jumper plug and solder the decoder wires to the proper pins and make your own plug with nothing extra to buy.
This does not permanently attach the decoder - the TCS T1 decoder has a 9-pin plug on it so you can still remove the decoder and install a dummy plug to revert the loco to DC operation.

--Randy

[nslakediv]

cheap is not always better though. beware

[rrinker]

No but the TCS decoders have some features that you only get if you buy the highest priced versions of other manufacturers decoders. And they have a goof-proof warranty - even if YOU screw up and blow it out while installing it, they will repalce it for free.
Other companies have 'economy' decoders but they often lack noticeable features like silent drive and back-emf. I see NO reason to spend huge sums on certain brand name decoders.
And another note on the 'cheapness" - there are at least 2 major brands of high-priced decoders that can't seem to be bothered to package their decoders in some sort of insulating material. Yet another item for you to do, if you REALLY want to make sure the decoder won't short against something. TCS decoders already wrapped.
This is not 'cheap' like the MRC sound decoders which might be better than no sound, but compared to other sound offereings are absolutely horrible.

--Randy

[Pennsy58]

Couldn't agree more on the TCS T-1 decoder. I have many of them installed on my old Athearns, Bachmann Steamers, and so on. Very happy with their performance and never had a bad one. Having two function outputs is sufficient for my needs. All I usually need is forward and reverse lighting. Being a wired decoder makes it easy to retro-fit into engines. At the same time the decoder itself plugs into the wiring harness. So, if you desire you could change it out down the road without soldering over.

In my opinion it is a low cost decoder, not a cheap decoder.

[Pennsy58]

Couldn't agree more on the TCS T-1 decoder. I have many of them installed on my old Athearns, Bachmann Steamers, and so on. Very happy with their performance and never had a bad one. Having two function outputs is sufficient for my needs. All I usually need is forward and reverse lighting. Being a wired decoder makes it easy to retro-fit into engines. At the same time the decoder itself plugs into the wiring harness. So, if you desire you could change it out down the road without soldering over.

In my opinion it is a low cost decoder, not a cheap decoder.

[Modeloldtimer]

I havn't used any of the TCS T-1Decoders as yet. but I have used DH123D Decoders Priced $16 at
Train Buddy Products
1200 Jenkins RD
Wake Worest NC 27587-9066
http://www.trainbuddy.com/
[:D]