Large Scale Central

A New LargeScale Decoders from TCS

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I have been a fan of Train Control Systems (TCSDCC.com) decoders for many years.

TCS has only had one Largescale decoder for many years called G8. Been using them in my engines and can says they are rock solid.

http://tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Products/Decoders/G-Scale/G%20Series.htm

Now TCS will be introducing two new Largescale Decoders (WOW501), one for Steam and Diesel in September. 2015.

http://tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Customer_Info/Whats_New/What’s_New.htm (Go to bottom of the page)

If you never heard one of these new sound/decoders before you will be surprised. I took one of the WOW121 Steam decoders and installed it in a Bachmann Largescale Forney engine with a large speaker. It turns heads at shows when people hear it and all the possibilities these decoders have in sound files. The sounds are real recordings loaded onto a micro SD card and can be removed if needed.

I do not know right now what Steam or Diesel engines will be available for the WOW501’s but hope it will be narrow gauge steam engines. They did announce this was going to be available in HO this month

Dennis in Tennessee

#2

Thanks for the heads up. About a month ago I heard this was going to be around $150 sound /motor decoder. Unfortunately it looks like another $200 one, (QSI and Zimo are in the same range) but I’m all for more options.

http://tcsdcc.com/Zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=760

Thanks

Steve

#3

I miss the old Sierra sound boards. I am a DC guy that wants decent sound at less then $200+ a pop.

#4

Cool! I talked to the TCS guys a year or so ago at a show, and we got to discussing their new board’s potential for the large scale market. At the time, it was “on the drawing board,” and they were gathering ideas from large scalers. I really liked what I heard on their HO sample, so I look forward to playing with this in large scale. Now, all I’ve got to do is get busy on my 2-6-2 so I have a loco to put it in…

Later,

K

#5

Hi Dave, I miss the old Sierra boards too. But the Phoenix P8 (battery/DCC) I sell for $162 and the new Dallee sound track/battery with built-in Super Caps is $129. Currently the Diesel sounds are available with the steam should be out in September.

Don

#6

Steve, you may want to check out Soundtraxx’s new “Econami” decoder. They’re bringing out a 4-amp version, with an MSRP of $150. The reports I’m hearing from the Soundtraxx forum is that this is a few steps up from the older Tsunami. I haven’t heard one in person.

Later,

K

#7

Steve Mitchell said:

Thanks for the heads up. About a month ago I heard this was going to be around $150 sound /motor decoder. Unfortunately it looks like another $200 one, (QSI and Zimo are in the same range) but I’m all for more options.

http://tcsdcc.com/Zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=760

Thanks

Steve

TCS decoders are very compact, just what is need for limited space engines even in Largescale like the Bachmann Climax. Already have the G8 installed in the Climax and now I can just replace it with the WOW501 and have sound. Takes no more space then the G8.

I have also talked to TCS about making decoders with the WOW sound, so I guess enough of us said “please” and they listened.

TCS warranty IMHO is the best in the industry.

I will be checking dealer prices, when available, as they are always lower than the price on the TCS website, Figure it should be around $150-160.

#8

Thanks to age, (mine) and children, my depleted gray matter got the TCS confused with the Soundtraxx’s, sorry. That would be great if these both came out in the $150 price range.

Steve

#9

Dennis, have you used custom speed tables with the TCS yet? I run Z scale, and match the locos to scale speed. The TCS z scale stuff will not let you do an arbitrary speed table, changing one step affects others, and the loco will often run out of control.

I’m hoping they did not use the same code in the large scale stuff. This bug is easy to see if you use custom speed tables.

Greg

#10

Greg Elmassian said:

Dennis, have you used custom speed tables with the TCS yet? I run Z scale, and match the locos to scale speed. The TCS z scale stuff will not let you do an arbitrary speed table, changing one step affects others, and the loco will often run out of control.

I’m hoping they did not use the same code in the large scale stuff. This bug is easy to see if you use custom speed tables.

Greg

I have on one engine, my Goose #2. This has a G8 & Phoenix Big Sound 97 board and wanted to activate the engine start up before the Goose moves, took the first 3 speed steps and set them to 2, this was just enough voltage to activate the engine startup and not let the goose move.

I have not seen the speed table act up using DecoderPro.

Dennis in Tennessee