Hornby Sapphire Decoder

3913 Views 12 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Oakydoke, Aug 11, 2007

Gary

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

To quote Hornby:-

QUOTE The Hornby Sapphire will offer many, if not more features, including RailCom® than the Digital enthusiast would expect from a top of the range decoder

What are your expectations?

What one feature if missing, would be a BIG dissapointment?

Lets assume that the Hornby Sapphire Decoder is a product that will carry a DCC logo in one form or another and keep this discussion free of conformance chit chat.

There are rumours that it will have Lenz architecture.

And what sort of price would you expect Hornby to offer this product at?

Remember size is an issue and decoders that can take more current are bigger.

Happy modelling
Gary

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Bilbo

· #2 · Jul 22, 2007

They would regain a bit of credibilty they have lost in some peoples eyes if it was as small as their present offering with the features
of a Lenz Gold.

If they introduced a direct plug in version like the TCS DP5X it would be absolutely brilliant.

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Doug

· #3 · Jul 22, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

We have talked about this - not too long ago...

I think that there is no point making the Sapphire if it has a lower spec that a Lenz Gold.

For it to be better than the Lenz Gold, it has to be at least the same spec and at least £10 cheaper than the Lenz Gold.

Also, for it to fit into most new Hornby locos, it would have to be smaller than the Lenz Gold - more like a Lenz Mini Gold.

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Ravenser

· #4 · Jul 22, 2007

What's actually needed by many is a decent Back EMF decoder with 4 digit addressing/4 functions for around £14 - showing a meaningful reduction on the Silver.

That said , what Hornby need is a good decoder they can factory fit to DCC Fitted locos , which will be good enough and reliable enough that established DCC users will not wish to replace. A Gold mini for £19 might be what they seek

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neil_s_wood

· #5 · Jul 22, 2007

Given the current PR disaster that is Hornby digital I would expect them to get it right this time and be selling discounted rebadged Lokpilot, hopefully V3 when it comes out, or Lenz Gold. I really hope they have learned that DIY DCC is not their forte. They really can't afford any more stuff ups.

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Graham Plowman

· #6 · Jul 23, 2007

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 23 Jul 2007, 08:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Given the current PR disaster that is Hornby digital I would expect them to get it right this time and be selling discounted rebadged Lokpilot, hopefully V3 when it comes out, or Lenz Gold. I really hope they have learned that DIY DCC is not their forte. They really can't afford any more stuff ups.

Agreed on all points.
I've got a few ESU Lokpilot's. Absolutely Rolls Royce performance both on DCC and DC.
I fitted a Lokpilot to a Lima DMU. The DMU performance was totally transformed compared with the TCS M1 previously fitted. I never realised that a Lima pancake could actually run so well if properly controlled as it is with a Lokpilot!
I'd highly recommend USE decoders.

Graham Plowman

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Richard Johnson

· #7 · Aug 9, 2007

Hello Graham

You need to try the new TCS T-1 (stock now arrived).

The back EMF they have added is absolutely exceptional - no exaggeration, and I thought I'd never see it happen, but its actually better then the ESU decoder, and in my first few installs in a variety of locos its streets ahead of the Lenz Silver or gold in "out of the box, no adjustment slow running".

Even makes a hornby tender drive acceptable!

ALL of the TCS line will get the BEMF added over the next couple of months - with no cost penalty.

Amazingly low price: Goof proof warranty too... So in fact, to get back to the thread subject, Hornby will need to be very good and very very cheap to get a look in!

Richard
DCCconcepts

QUOTE (Graham Plowman @ 23 Jul 2007, 12:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Agreed on all points.
I've got a few ESU Lokpilot's. Absolutely Rolls Royce performance both on DCC and DC.
I fitted a Lokpilot to a Lima DMU. The DMU performance was totally transformed compared with the TCS M1 previously fitted. I never realised that a Lima pancake could actually run so well if properly controlled as it is with a Lokpilot!
I'd highly recommend USE decoders.

Graham Plowman

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BromsMods

· #8 · Aug 9, 2007

I have to agree with Richard - we had our first T1s with BEMF a couple of months ago. I put one into a Heljan 33 alongside a similar loco with a Zimo MX620 - on speed step 1 they both crawled at exactly the same speed. The Zimo is a 4 function decoder and slightly better than the ESU Lokpilot, but much smaller than the T1 and much more expensive.

Regards

John R
Bromsgrove Models

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Brian Considine

· #9 · Aug 9, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

John/Richard - does it have any form of constant braking distance or any other features useful for automation please ?

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ME 26-06

· #10 · Aug 10, 2007

What would I expect... hmmmmm... that´s a hard one.

Given that the DCC decoder market has Lenz, ESU, Uhlenbrock, Zimo and then some offering their products, and given the botched reputation Hornby has regarding DCC, I´d expect them to buy and rebadge, say, a LoPi 3.0, or, better yet, leave the market to the aforementioned companies and concentrate on what Hornby does best - produce affordable 00 rolling stock, and make their products truly "DCC ready", with an 8- or 21-pole socket where a customer could easily fit any decoder he´d want.

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rb277170

· #11 · Aug 10, 2007

QUOTE Hornby will need to be very good and very very cheap to get a look in!

Unlikely. Hornby don't do cheap!

Russell

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Ravenser

· #12 · Aug 10, 2007

Sounds like the revised T1 could be just the decoder I was hoping for. I think there may be an order coming on...

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Oakydoke

· #13 · Aug 11, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

The Sapphire will have to be good enough to be installed in the factory fitted DCC on-board models, where replacement with a Lenz Silver/Gold (or equivellent) will not yield any advantage.
i.e. It will have to match the best £15 to £25 decoders.

Back to the OP.....
The one feature that must not be missing is full compatibility with the NMRA standards and RP's.
It must work with all NMRA DCC systems.

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