Am thinking MTH and Digitrax? Is that a reality yet for 2-rail?
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I have a newer MTH GP-35 that can switch from DCS to DCC, although I've never used it in DCC mode. I'm currently switching from 3 rail to 2 rail and have been wondering if I can run DCS and DCC simultaneously on the same track. I have both systems (MTH and Digitrax) and think the ability to use both would give me alot more flexibility in the brand of engines I buy and decoders I install.
Joe
Originally Posted by joedaddy:
I have a newer MTH GP-35 that can switch from DCS to DCC, although I've never used it in DCC mode. I'm currently switching from 3 rail to 2 rail and have been wondering if I can run DCS and DCC simultaneously on the same track. I have both systems (MTH and Digitrax) and think the ability to use both would give me alot more flexibility in the brand of engines I buy and decoders I install.
Joe
After a quick search of the forums I was able to find that DCS and DCC cannot reside on the same rails simultaneously.
Joe
PS 3.0 locos are DCC capable.
MTH is also working on a Chip to plug into non-MTH Engines and give them DCS Functions and DCC..
Originally Posted by GARDNER:
MTH is also working on a Chip to plug into non-MTH Engines and give them DCS Functions and DCC..
Could you please elaborate on your statement.
Thanks
Originally Posted by GARDNER:
MTH is also working on a Chip to plug into non-MTH Engines and give them DCS Functions and DCC..
I thought that was in HO scale only??!!
Originally Posted by CRH:
Originally Posted by GARDNER:
MTH is also working on a Chip to plug into non-MTH Engines and give them DCS Functions and DCC..
I thought that was in HO scale only??!!
I had heard that one, too, but then again, Proto-3 started out in H.O. and made its way into the O gauge/scale and #1 Gauge product lines.
Mike Wolf said specifically that it would work in 'O', 'HO' and 'G' Gauge..
Originally Posted by suzukovich:
Originally Posted by GARDNER:
MTH is also working on a Chip to plug into non-MTH Engines and give them DCS Functions and DCC..
Could you please elaborate on your statement.
Thanks
Mike Wolf was at the TCA MUSEUM...can`t remember what date,but it`s on YouTube...and mentioned that MTH is working on a Plug-in Chip with DCS and DCC and EMF detection for Speed Control... He then mentioned a number of Manufactures and Gauges it would work in ... Thanks..
Does MTH have 2-rail DCC-ready locos?
Rail Dawg
The common usage of "DCC-ready" means that a locomotive comes from a manufacturer with conventional control and an NMRA standard plug for easy user installation of their choice of DCC decoders that also come with an NMRA standard plug.
The direct answer to your question for MTH locomotives is:
Yes for HO
and
No for two rail O scale.
However, all 2 rail O scale MTH locomotives equipped with Protosound 3 will operate in 4 modes. Those modes are AC conventional, DC conventional, DCS command control and DCC command control. As stated above, going from DCS to DCC simply involves flipping a switch on the locomotive.
There is a great deal of information that can be determined from an MTH locomotive product number.
The product number prefix denotes the product line. They include:
10- for tinplate
20- for O scale Premier
30- for O gauge Railking
80- for HO
The middle 4 or five digit portion of the product number is unique to a particular item or road name.
The suffix on a locomotive product number indicates features. The suffixes are:
-0 for no sound. This was used in the early days of Premier and Railking O. Today it is used for traditionally powered tinplate locos and in HO for DCC Ready locomotives.
-1 for sound. Depending on the era this may indicate original Proto Sound (sound and conventional control, no command), Proto Sound 2 (sound, conventional control and DCS command control) or Proto Sound 3.
-2 for 2 rail O scale. These came with conventional control in the 1990s and Proto Sound 2 or 3 since about 2005.
-3 for dummy units.
-5 for HO locomotives intended for 3 rail track, ac conventional power and DCS as well as Marklin command control.
As others have said, MTH has talked about offering Proto Sound 3 decoder kits but, so far, MTH has not yet offered Proto Sound 3 electronics for separate sale in any scale. They have talked about offering Proto 3 kits with BEMF for motor control feedback for ease of installation in locomotives not equipped with DC can motors or flywheels. Hopefully they will offer Proto 3 kits in HO and O with BEMF and their optical tachometer so the user can go with the tach option for repeatable speed control. Consistent speed control has been the most distinguishing feature of Proto 2 and Proto 3 locomotives and it is the reason all MTH locomotives come out of the box speed matched and are easily consisted. It is well worth the effort to install an optical tachometer in most locomotives to get accurate speed control.
At the recent York DCS users group meeting MTH VP Andy Edelman said that MTH is developing new Proto 3 hardware for upcoming S scale locomotives. The hardware will be smaller than that used to date in O scale and the S scale F units and will have higher amperage capacity than their HO Proto 3 decoders. I can't wait until we see those locomotives and I hope S scale Proto 3 kits aren't too far behind. The S scale Proto 3 decoders could be very useful for smaller O scale models.
Originally Posted by Ted Hikel:
The hardware will be smaller than that used to date in O scale and the S scale F units and will have higher amperage capacity than their HO Proto 3 decoders. I can't wait until we see those locomotives and I hope S scale Proto 3 kits aren't too far behind. The S scale Proto 3 decoders could be very useful for smaller O scale models.
Maybe this will pave the for the long requested 44 TONNER in 'O' Gauge...
