Thank you for posting that tjdreams. ESU rep didn't say anything about any other drop in boards. The ESU 58721 is it for older Atlas engine owners like myself. 1997, 2001, 2006..... It is the replacement for the 73100. Need to mill out the top center of the halves of older Atlas engines for the thick portion of the 58721 to drop in. Nano I can see will work (hopefully) for the small time switchers. I'm not a big fan of the loksound 5 micro w/manual wires because of the narrow hoods I have. In regards to the Nano physical dimensions I believe Sumner is correct. ESU is advertising the size to be 19.6 X 8.5 X 3.2mm. Says so on the ESU website. Until it actually comes available and in our hands... maybe it might be off a bit. .. who knows, but I doubt it will be off by much.
That’s my big question still! Is this new ESU sound decoder applicable for the 1997,2001,2006,& etc frames out there? Hopefully we will know soon enough!
I don’t know how much clearer to state this: the 58721 is NOT easily used in older split frame Atlas narrow hood diesels. Not 1997 frames, not 2001, not 2006, not etc. One can, with significant frame modification, probably make it work. Or, one can wait for the Nano and we will all see together. Yes, the Nano is a wired decoder, not a “drop in” board, but in these frames, the smaller size of the Nano should result in less frame modification than the 58721 will require.
I should have made myself clear. We all know that the new ESU 58721 decoder is worthless for atlas. I was referring to the ESU Nano 5
I wouldn't hold my breath on ESU coming out with a replacement for the 73100 board. Here's their response. "Unfortunately the 73100s did not sell very well so Germany has decided to not make a replacement for it. I do not agree with decision, but I do not have any say in production." As any company they make decisions like these each day which I get. They target products that will sell. N scale owners are competing against other scales and other engine manufacturers for a piece of the loksound pie. In summation we will have to work with what we have. That's all she wrote.... for now. I suppose I should be thankful for not being a Z scaler. I feel for them. Yikes.
