How much of a difference are there between the blueline SD7 and the PCM SD7? I just ordered two of the Blueline but I would like to know if any have had any chance to compare them? There is quite a price gap so i would like to know how much of a difference there is?
Magnus
The Blue Lines are DC-only, with sound decoders installed. If you want them to be DCC you have to add a second decoder, which introduces other issues. See Joe Fugate's "12 Years DCC" thread on page 21 at the following link, 3rd post from the bottom, headlined "BLUELINE DECODER PROGRAMMING WOES": http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/21/467545/ShowPost.aspx#467545
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Go with the PCM Unit if it comes with everything in it's Loksound.
Blueline has caused pages and pages of woe on forums at the BLI website and other locations. Some folks even consisted the motor decoder and a sound decoder as a multiunit lashup to get a Blue line going.
That I will need a decoder is OK, I don't do any programming on them anyways so I do not really care if there is a problem with that. How about the detailing level? Do the PCM look or run better? Heck, I'm thinking of getting two PCM's as well.