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| Decoders for Athearn RTR SD40T-2, SD45T-2 and SD45 | ||
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| Author | Post | ||
| Jim Fitch |
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 Registered Member #783 Joined: Sat Jan 05 2008, 09:02PMPosts: 22 | I read somewhere on this forum what Joe recommended as a fairly low cost decoder to use for the Athearn SD units, a decoder that can do the light effects and run the loco's well. Might have been TCS brand? I currently don't have a layout but do have a Digitrax Radio Chief system in the box and hope to use it in the next couple years, and will need to outfit my growing fleet of loco's. I tried to find the posts where Joe discussed Athearn RTR SD decoders but it my be burried deep in that long topic. Thanks. Rio Grande - The Action Road | ||
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| Jack W. Lajoie |
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| Registered Member #679 Joined: Fri Jul 20 2007, 10:53AMLocation: Trois-Rivieres Qc Canada Posts: 27 | Jim I had an Athearn RTR SD40-2 NS High Hood that ran terribly at slow speed. I replaced the motor 3 times to no avail. Finally a TCS with Back Emf solved the low speed problem. Jack W. | ||
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| Jim Fitch |
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| Registered Member #783 Joined: Sat Jan 05 2008, 09:02PMPosts: 22 | Thats nice to know. Where those the same kind Joe was recommending for use in the SD40T-2 RTR from Athearn? I don't own any SD40-2's at present. Rio Grande - The Action Road | ||
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| Jack W. Lajoie |
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| Registered Member #679 Joined: Fri Jul 20 2007, 10:53AMLocation: Trois-Rivieres Qc Canada Posts: 27 | The decoder I used in the SD40-2 is a TCS T1 with Back EMF, this is the same decoder Joe recommend. Just make sure it is the new one with Back EMF. Jack W. | ||
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| Jim Fitch |
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| Registered Member #783 Joined: Sat Jan 05 2008, 09:02PMPosts: 22 | Super! I needed the Decoder model # for when I order some. And thanks verifying it is what Joe recommended for the Athearn RTR tunnel motors. I think he said those decoders have a good gyra light circuit in them and were economical too. I have a growing fleet of Athearn tunnel motors and SD45's (about 22 and growing), and will eventually need to outfit them all with decoders. Athearn has been very prolific and yet more are on their way next year too! Sweet models and a great time to be an SP and D&RGW model RRer. Rio Grande - The Action Road | ||
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| joef |
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   Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Yep, TCS T1 - that's the ones. Last time I checked, I could get them for about $17 each at Litchfield Station. Honey of a decoder, with some very configurable lighting effects. My preferred decoder for the new Athearn Tunnel Motors for sure! If you check out issue 2 of my new Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine, in the DCC article I have a video clip that demos the differences between my two decoders of choice: NCE D13SRJ TCS T1 I demonstrate the speed control capabilities and the lighting effects (or lack thereof in the case of the NCE). So if you want to see the T1 in action, just go download issue 2 of MRH - it's free! URL: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/mrh2009-Q2/download [ Edited Tue Nov 03 2009, 06:32PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting!  In video ... | ||
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| Jim Fitch |
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| Registered Member #783 Joined: Sat Jan 05 2008, 09:02PMPosts: 22 | Joe, those TCS T1 decoders look like they have gone up in price over the last couple years from $15 ea in bunches to $17-18, but they do look to be the best for the Athearn RTR tunnel motor line of diesels. I'll try to see my way clear to a few to get me started on my growing fleet. The video you linked was a good demonstration! The one thing that confused me is the first gyra light example was labled the TCS T1 and the gyra lights barely flickered, but in the second example it was labeled the cheaper NCE decoder "what you see is what you get" but it looked pretty good. Were the examples backwards because the gyra light in the first example didn't look very impressive. I have a question about which TCS-T1 decoder to order. There are three listed: 1) Harnessed, 2) Harnessed with NMRA plug, and 3) without harness. I assume one of these will plug right into an Athearn SD40T-2 DCC plug built into the loco out of the box. So... which one is it? If its the NMRA plug decoder, these are a good deal more expensive per decoder. Anyway, an explanation about these variations would be very helpful. Here is a place that is selling the TCS-T1A (no harness) for $15 - would this one work? http://acculites.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=259 BTW, have you obtained any of the newer Atlas sound equipped GP40-2's, which have DCC. If so, how do they sound and how are the DCC lighting effects? [ Edited Sat Nov 07 2009, 09:19AM ] Rio Grande - The Action Road | ||
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| joef |
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| Registered Member #3 Joined: Wed Dec 08 2004, 09:01PMLocation: Portland, OR Posts: 2112 | Jim: Get the $15 one - the new Athearn tunnel motors already come with a harness that just plugs right into the T1. Haven't seen an Atlas sound-equipped GP40-2 yet ... Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 200,000 hits and counting! In video ... | ||
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| pjcxb |
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 Registered Member #880 Joined: Sun Apr 13 2008, 02:50PMPosts: 1 | Another option and my preference is the new Lenz Standard MP+, which is about $19 from Litchfield. | ||
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| zgardner18 |
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  Registered Member #318 Joined: Tue Feb 14 2006, 11:04AMLocation: Glendora, California Posts: 114 | Joe, Do you recommend the TCS T1 for all Athearn RTR units? What about blue box Athearns? How are those Digitrax DH163AT, has anyone used them and liked what they got? I'm just bring the Digitrax decoder up because it is set up with the clips and everything for the Blue Boxes. --Zak Gardner    http://DansDepot.railfan.net | ||
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