how long 4 $5 decoder?

[pedromorgan]

i have a large collection of loco's and am waiting for the decoder price to hit $5 before i take the plunge. how long do you think i will have to wait?

Peter

[Anonymous]

A long time, probably -- I don't think we'll ever see the cost of manufacturing get so low that someone can make and see a decoder for that price and still make a profit. Decoders are probably at or around the lowest price point we'll see, with some very good decoders (i.e., TCS) selling for less than $20 each, and most of the rest in the $20 - 30 price range.

[jrbernier]

How many of those engines are even worth putting a decoder in? By that I mean are they good runners to start with, or are they nice looking models that are displayed for the most part?
I have a collection of engines from the late 60's on up. I even have a Mantua 'General' with a Cary conversion boiler - looks nice, but will not pull itself up a 3% grade without taking a 'flying start'. I also had a lot of older Athearn(GP(/SD7) that was detailed & custom painted. I was going to install decoders in them, but all of the nice P2K engines have made that a moot point. I sold off all of them via the train show/flea market route. All I have left that is Athearn is a WSOR(Wisconsin & Southern) GP35.
I have about 50-60 engines, and I really on need about 16 to 'operate' the layout. I have 20 engines 'decoder' equipped. Anything else 'may' bet run once in while on address '0' when I just have to 'run' something.
I have really cut down on my roster after going DCC and having to convert/upgrade engines that I never run anyway. Right now I have the following roster:

2 - BLI 2-8-2
2 - Spectrum 2-8-0
1 - Spectrum 4-6-0
9 - P2K GP7/9
7 - P2K SD7/9
2 - Walthers SW1
1 - Atlas S2
2 - Atlas RS1
2 - Kato RSC2
1 - Kato RS2
1 - Kato NW2
1 - Athearn GP35
1 - OMI SDL39
1 - Mantua 4-4-0
1 - Model Power 4-6-0
2 - Atlas/Roco FP7A
1 - Genesis F9A

That is 37 engines, and only 20 have decoders. I am planning on installing decoders in about 6 more engines this winter. That said, decoders cost about $50-$60 each back in the 90's. They can now be had in the $15-$25 range, depending on what functions/features you may need. That Kato NW2 runs great, but has not been painted/detailed because the decoder install will be tough(usually a frame 'milling' is involved. The SW1/FP7A installs are quite simple for a non ' DCC Ready' engine.

Jim Bernier

[davekelly]

$5.00 decoder? Hmmmmm. Remember when DVD players were over $400 for the most entry level model? Saw one in Walmart yesterday for about $40.00. Went to get new ink for my inkjet printer . . . was cheaper to get a low end one . .. was about $30.00. I think the $5.00 decoder is definately doable within the next 5 or so years. I do not believe, however that we will actually see $5.00 decoders. Improvements in features (ie sound, BEMF and who knows what else) and increased miniaturization will most likely work to make decoder prices stablize in the $20.00 range, $15.00 at the least. When the cost gets to the point where the price could dip below that, I believe improvements will be made to maintain that price piont.

Just my opinion. I'd love to see $5.00 decoders however!!

[grayfox1119]

Lower costs will only come when Mfg costs are lowered. They lower via VOLUME of units sold. When a company can make tens of thousands instead of a few hundred as an example, the cost to mfg one (1) unit goes down, in other words the more you make the cheaper it costs to build.
Compare DVD players to Decoders. Many millions of DVD's are sold. That is also why we have so many companies selling them. The bucks are there!!! How many Decoders are sold each year in comparison? Not that many. That is also why you see 20 compan ies all making decoders.
There is a good mark up on Decoders. The cost for resistors, capacitors, PC board, is dirt cheap, pennies. IC's of course cost more. If you want $5 Decoders, design and build your own, and you can do for $5. You just have to know your electronics.

[MisterBeasley]

My guess is, you'll see $5 decoders in a year or 2. But, they won't be new ones. They will be the leftovers of today - gotta-have-the-latest guys who are pulling out their old decoders and installing new ones, or remainders from retailers who realize that they can't sell last year's 5-function decoder for $30 when a new 10-function decoder only costs $25.

Those old locos, though, can only stop and go and wink their single cyclops headlight, so an old 5-function decoder should pretty much cover it.

Another warning, though. I've been looking at DCC information, but I've got a bunch of 60's-era stuff. The word is that the motors back then drew a lot of current, and the low-end decoders will not handle it. The high current draw also limits the number of these old things you can run under a DCC system. By the time you re-motor and add DCC, you might as well go out and get a new one. (I really hate to admit that. Those old engines are like old friends, aren't they? Maybe I'll turn one into a diner or something.)

[davekelly]

Mister Beasley,

Excellent point. I don't know why I didn't think of it being that my computer is exactly what you describe. I always make it a point of buying the "just been outgunned" model. Yeah I have to replace it a little more often than if I bought the brand newest machines, but I do save a bunch in the long run.

[Anonymous]

A guy on Ebay has a 10 pack of MRC D13SR decoders for auction. Starting bid is $105.95, with a buy-it-now of $136.95. Try bidding, you may end up at $11 each.