What is the best decoder for an Athearn SW1000 "Quick Plug" switcher. I went to the Digitrax site and looked in the choose a decoder area. They don't seem to ask for this particular locomotive in their site for choosing a decoder. They mention "Bluebox" and "Genesis" locos. The Athearn instructions for this loco mention either an 8 pin or a 9 pin plug.
I am new to DCC and am somewhat confused about the decoder requirements for this particular loco. I do not need sound..........just want to get my layout going using DCC using this loco as a "guinea" pig after rewiring for DCC.
Thanks for any input.
If Athearn uses the tern "quick plug" then I would venture to guess that you need a 8-socket decoder with a harness.
Whichever decoder you end up choosing, asta - since it is a switcher - make sure you get one that will give you the best low-speed response. You'll want to find ones that are described as having excellent "back EMF" (Lenz, Digitrax) or "torque compensation" (NCE).
NCE and Digitrax decoders a very good. Lenz "Silver" or "Gold"-series decoders are, IMO, the best at it. They are a bit pricier though. Shop around because you can normally find them discounted from online vendors.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Athearn uses Quick plug for 9 pin. The below link shows the 1500 which is suppose to be the same as the 1000. You can see the 9 pin and 8 pin. I have read before that some of Athearn's locos now come with both connectors. TCS has an excellent replacement policy I have read.
http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Athearn/SW1000/Athearn_SW-1000_RTR.html
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Anything with a 9 pin plug. The NCE D13SRJ (same the wires and socket for other installs), TCS T1A (A suffix is no harness, about a buck cheaper than oen with wires you don;t need), Digitrax DH165, these all have the 9 pin plug and will fit right in the Athearn (after you remove the 'dummy plug' currently connected to the 9 pin plug).
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks guys. I just purchased the NCE D13SRJ decoder. I installed it easily. Since I don't have my layout hooked up to my DCC system, I plan on taking the loco to a friend to program it so that I will have it to test out my layout on DCC.
I just put the TCS T1 in my SW1500 and it runs as good as you can expect from Athearn, which is OK. Was EZ install but could not get the top of the shell apart so had to remove the whole shell . again , quite ez