What is your least favorite Decoder Manufacturer, Locomotive, and Why?

DCESharkman Oct 27, 2019

  1. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    In preparation for running ins several shows this fall, I had decided to make sure all the locomotives I was planning to use were up and running. Much to my dismay, many of the decoders that had worked well in the past no longer worked. I tried every way I know to resuscitate each decoder and decoder install.

    Of the many I was able to fix, they were all Kato using un-soldered motor leads. Like the SD70ACe, SD70M, and the Kato SD40-2 Mid Productions etc.

    These rank as my least favorite locomotives because I have never had any serious issues with the soldered motor leads on the decoder. Not sure why Kato did this but in my mind it is a step backwards. I do know how to correct these but it is an extra step that is unwarranted.

    As for the decoders, I will say most of the bad decoders, are Digitrax (188 bad decoders), followed by TCS (112 bad decoders).

    I have yet to see a bad decoder in my older locomotives using a Lenz Silver-Mini, And my experiences has been very good with all my Zimo (1 defective decoders out of 88) and ESU decoders ( zero issues so far).

    It is sad the Lenz has left the American market. The Silver-Mini was ahead of it's time!

    I still have many decoders from all brands and locomotives that are working fine. It is just these units that I wanted to run was my priority and the source of my frustration.

    On a positive note, I was able to fix 68 locomotives that were not working, so it was a productive but frustrating effort. I will need to replace 28 decoders......
     
  2. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    What would be the best decoder to use for a N scale steam locomotive? I have a Bachmann IR system. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

    Joe
     
  3. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    best would depend on whether you wanted sound or just motion. Sound would be the ESU Loksound series of decoders. For motion only, I would suggest either the LokPilot or the Zimo decoders.I have and use the Zimo decoders and have been very impressed with their performance on my diesel locomotives. And I guess which one also depends on the locomotive you are looking at and if it has an interface in place for a decoder.
     
    Joe Lovett likes this.
  4. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    the worst [in my book] is Arnold, and the reason is quality ..
     
  5. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you for the tip on decoders, David. I will keep them on my mind. The locomotive I'm going to put it in is a Bachmann 2-8-0.

    Joe
     
  6. Leon Kernan

    Leon Kernan New Member

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    Worst decoder overall? DCC Concepts.
    Way too many failures and poor running.
     

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