[Brian]

Hi all
I've been wondering over the weekend if its me that's just unlucky or the fact that the LE1000 decoder as supplied by Bachmann etc is just utter rubbish!

I have so far got through four of these little blighters in different locos and all have stopped working for no apparent reason and I can no longer read back their settings on the Programme track (Using a Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance). Bachmann supplied me a replacement decoder after I sent one to their service dept. This lasted about 30 seconds!!!!

So, the question is has anyone else suffered the same or is it just me?

 

[mikeg]

Brian

I've got 8 only had one go wrong, they are all in Lima O gauge locos though, with the prodigy, running very good, have one gold that will have to go back, funny smell then stoped working. Have 3 standard gaugemaster decoders they are in O locos with 1833 motors and control almost as good as the gold, also they are almost a £5 cheaper. I think your control set may be faulty, unless you have other decoders that are fine.

regards mike g

 

[Brian]

Mikeg
Thanks for the prompt reply.
Only problem seems to be with the LE1000's I have others - Lenz Gold & Silvers four NCE's (imports) plus a couple of Gaugemasters and they are all ok
I must say I too find the Gaugemaster decoders exeptional. While I have the small double sided versions one of them runs a Bachmann class 40 loco like a dream.

 

[Doug]

The LE1000 may be cheap, but it does not support CV5 (Max speed) and CV6 (Mid point speed) neither does it support Speed tables - so in my book it is not worth anything at all as you cannot program speed in relation to the controller.

I tried some, but ended up replacing them with LE1014W decoders - the next best thing at the time.

 

[neil_s_wood]

I bought one of them because they were cheap and now I know why they are cheap. They are rubbish. After the experience I've had with this I wont be scrimping on decoders again.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Are there some decoders that are more suitable for some particular types of locos more so than any others? For instance obviously space is an issue but surely some run better in a Bachmann than a Hornby or are they all different?

 

[spongebob]

Which is the le1000 is it the single function one (MacCoder)? Could explain why it has been ditched in favour of the 2 function one.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE Are there some decoders that are more suitable for some particular types of locos more so than any others? For instance obviously space is an issue but surely some run better in a Bachmann than a Hornby or are they all different?

Decoders should work equally well in any loco regardless of brand it is more likely the type of motor which is an issue. But they will only work as well as they are capable of. I made the mistake of buying the bargain basement Bachmann and Lenz decoders because I had a lot of British OO to convert. I have found the running quality variable due to things like the type of motor and have been advised that if I used better quality decoders such as the Lenz Silver I would not have this problem. The cheaper ones are also quite large and this is a big problem with Hornby steam locos as there is limited space in the boiler. For specific locos seek advice as there will be someone on this forum who almost definitely has done this before and can advise you on what decoder is best for which loco. I wish I had done this before I bought a bunch of crap ones.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Hmmm, makes a lot of sense. I have heard good things about the decoders that ZTC market as well as the Lenz Gold decoders. Apparently there is a company here in Perth that make or market DCC equipment too that I must follow up with and see what they are promoting. Do you think the new Hornby system and corresponding decoders will be a suitable option for converting the Hornby locos to DCC?

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE Do you think the new Hornby system and corresponding decoders will be a suitable option for converting the Hornby locos to DCC?

We'll have to wait and see what they are like when they are released. The Hornby system is a bit basic though. If Bachmann are anything to go by the fact that they sell decoders and locos does not mean the decoder will fit in the loco. It all depends on the size available in the loco. Decoders are best made by specialists in digital equipment. I would not expect too much from Hornby. They will probably only sell a couple of basic decoders whereas Lenz etc sell quite a wide variety.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Hornby wont be making there own anyone will they? More than likely to be using someones technology maybe rebadged. I guess I am looking for the dummies guide so to speak and happy to pay whatever as long as I know that a perticular one is good and don't need to think too much more about it.

 

[dwb]

The way I see it is that over time your largest investment is going to be in the decoders, not the central control system. The best thing about DCC is that the control standard as been agreed and adhered to by all manufacturers, so your decoders should continue to work even if you decide to change the master controller. So buying a low cost controller to see if you like it is not going to be such a big write off as buying a lot of decoders that you later discover don't meet your needs. Controllers are probably more re-saleable too.

David

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I agree with that. That is why I thinkit is good though to find a quality product you can be assured is a good worker in all loco types so you don't need to assess it each time you want a decoder.