New Sunset F3 DCC question

What was Scott's response when you emailed him this question?

ecd15 posted:

What was Scott's response when you emailed him this question?

Haven't received a response. Hence the post here. Would you like to post another snarky reply or are you good?

Who on this forum, besides Scott, do you think would have an accurate answer?  I'm trying to figure out why you think you'll get a more accurate response here than from Scott?

The forum would probably only be gossip!

And to add to it, at some point in the not too distant foggy past (my fog), I remember reading that QSI had split into two companies.    One was going to deal with directly with individual consumers, and one was going to deal only with OEM customers, ie importers and manufacturers.     Then I seem to have heard that one of them was having financial problems.   They both used a version of the QSI name.

I have been personally pleased with the QSI decoders in the Sunset diesels.   They work well, and I have figured out how to program them and I can't tell the sound differences that well.    I have been very successful with dealing with QSI and I have gotten good customer support 2-3 times.    I like them.

PRRJIM ... you, yourself, have spoken with QSI customer support?

Your Sunset engines have the decoder harness connector, like the others?

I was also planning on installing ESU decoders.

Thanks

PRRJIM,

You make a good point. QSI Solutions was being run by a young guy named Josh. He had the aftermarket boards and software updates. His company no longer seems to exist. If I'm wrong, please tell me but I know several people who say he has gone AWOL. Nobody can reach him that I know of. I haven't received a response from him in years. He was the one developing the sound files and software as far as I know so I think that would affect the OEM side as well.

That was kind of the point of the question was to see what Scott planned on doing going forward. Maybe Scott has different info on the status of QSI? I'm just trying to sort it out because it makes a big difference to my purchase plans.

I don't remember whether I spoke with Josh (Shedaker?), or just exchanged emails.   I did that a couple of times about the E7s,    I have spoken on the phone directly with Kelly Dorf and exchanged emails.    I have not had reason to since sometime last winter.   so my information is some months old.    Kelly did repair an FT board for me.

I just checked my bookmarks.   The link for QSI Solutions does not work.    However, the link for Q.S. Industries works very well.   It has an update date of 8/22/17,    apparently QSI solutions is gone, and Q.S.Industries still exists and is operating.    The screen dump below is from their website.

the link I used is listed below.

http://www.qsindustries.com/contact.html

Ok. That makes sense. It looks like they have the hardware boards available. Not sure about the software and sound file updates. So I think I have my answer in an indirect way. If Scott replies to me I will update it here as well.

Jonathon, thanks, keep us posted on what scott says, then he won't get emails from all of us.

I personally have never been a fan of QSI in any loco and they are a huge pain in rear to program and little to no support available. The QSI documentation requires three engineering degrees to interpret sometimes.

I am a huge fan of the LOKSound boards from ESU and install dozens of them for my customers. The sound great, are crazy easy to program, especially if you have the programmer. The sound from the ESU products are phenomenal and they run like silk

I've never had a problem using or programming QSI boards, from vQ1a to vQ3, if you follow the CV schematic profiles.

As referred to, QSI Industries in Oregon, the designer and license owner, is alive and well and has posted to the Yahoo group they are stepping up to market to the public a couple Titan versions. For whatever reason, QSI Solutions in Vermont could not keep his operation going, and is no longer in business. QSI Ind has stated they will assist owners as best they can. The best way being through the Yahoo group.

I believe QSI is not going away, but in the process of finding another partner to handle aftermarket sales. Good news as I think they have a superior product, that has caused others like SoundTraxx to step up their game to compete.

Another very important point about Sunset diesels vs the MTH and Lionel.    Sunset uses a single motor drive with ball bearings in shafts and axles.     This is much much more important than the decoder.     Single motor drives that I have all run much better than the 2 motor drives.    I have 7 units currently with 2 motor drives and I have sold off 2.    I have many more with single motor drives.    On the two motor drives, the 2 motors never quite stop and start at the same time, causing a jerk in each case.    Also at low speeds they tend to stall on curves or under load.      A single motor starts to power both trucks at once.     Modern motors have plenty of torque to power the locos.   

Also, my single motor drives all came with reduction gearing, as do all the current sunsets.    this means there is a gear box or sprocket assembly between the axle gears and the motor that reduces the RPM the motor is turning to that used by the trucks.    Think of this like a car transmission.   Your car has more than one gear because the motor has more torque at higher RPM to move the car.   Hence it starts in low gear (reduction gearing) and works up to speed.     The same is true of the models.     The motors have more torque and run better at higher RPMs than barely turning.    When the motor is connected directly to the axles ala lionel, mth, weaver, the motor must turn very slowly to run the loco at realistically slow speeds and gentle starts and stops.   Most of these do not do that well, they stall.    Then you crank the throttle, and the loco takes off much faster than you want.    With reduction gearing, there is  more chance to the  motor turning at an RPM with enough ntorque to maintain and control slow speeds.

I have a significant number of QSI powered DCC locomotives (several from Sunset 3rd Rail) and have found them to be very reliable, smooth running,  and good sounding. The QSI Programmer made setup a piece of cake.   The demise of QSI-Solutions (the one man Vermont licencee offering aftermarket decoders produced to QSI-Industries (Oregon) designs) led me to look for a new suite of decoders to standardize on for future installations.  My choice is the Soundtraxx Tsunami2 family of 1, 2 and 4 amp decoders).  They are designed and manufactured in the USA, have cutting edge features (I especially like the load sensing chuff), and their tech support is the best I've experienced.  

 The beauty of DCC decoders is that there is no need to have only one brand decoder on the roster - they interoperate.  My perspective on standardizing is not based on operational need.  I do my own decoder installations (I have a large number of older brass locomotives that need decoders) and  having a "standard" makes for easier/faster installation and setup.

When Sunset is at a point of needing to produce new decoders I would suggest Scott consider teaming with Soundtraxx (like Athearn, Bachmann,  and others).  They have the production capability and tech support that would enable him to focus on the model - not the electronics.

prrjim posted:

Another very important point about Sunset diesels vs the MTH and Lionel.    Sunset uses a single motor drive with ball bearings in shafts and axles.     This is much much more important than the decoder.     ....

Regardless of the mechanical drive system, there are a variety of reasons some folks prefer the ESU decoder.

Its not a deal breaker for me .... I'm only buying a couple of engines, so I'll spring for the Loksound decoders and change-out Sunset's QSI's. Honestly, I was kinda expecting (hoping) that these new product announcements would include a change of decoder brand.

That was my EBT, I agree.    I won't change out decoders  until they fail however.    The mechanical systems are the most important.   I have old max grey steamers that run like smooth watch.   they have been remotored and converted to DCC, but the rest of the mechanicals are in place and functioning well.

According to what I was told by Tony's Train Exchage a month ago,  QSI Solutions is gone, but QSI lcated in Oregon is strong and active.  

As I understand it, QSI Solutions made the aftermarket stuff (decoders) and QSI Oregon did all the factory install work for manufacturers.  If I am wrong, somebody correct me.  I have 20 plus O scale engines on QSI Titan aftermarket decoders that I installed 4 years ago.  All but 2 operate 100% and the other 2 have lost a single secondary function.  Once they are programed and set up, they need nothing more than any DC engine for mechanical maint.  I won't be tearing any out and throwing them away just because QSI Solutions is gone.  If I came across anymore Titans, I would not hesitate to pick them up.  I run my trains alot and they have done very well.

QSI (Oregon) looks like they are going to offer the decoders to individuals too.   Their website seems to imply that.   New titans etc.