[Rail-Rider]

How things change when not regularly visiting web sites.

I haven't been to Kato for a few months - these might be of interest to some members.

Kato Decoders

 

[Dennis David]

I was going to ask the nice girl at the Kato booth in Nurnburg about those decoders but or some reason I forgot to ask ...

 

[neil_s_wood]

I wonder why

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Does she conform to NMRA standards I wonder

 

[Oakydoke]

QUOTE (Lancashire Fusilier @ 21 Jun 2006, 06:39) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does she conform to NMRA standards I wonder

It looks like she meets my standards alright!

Corrrrr !

Oops Sorry folks.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (Oakydoke @ 23 Jun 2006, 01:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It looks like she meets my standards alright!

Corrrrr !

Oops Sorry folks.

You know I was trying so hard not to say just that.

 

[Dennis David]

Now that we've totally trashed any semblance of an intelligent thread let's get back on subject. It looks like those decoders are specifically for Kato locomotives. What I have never really understood is why a Japanese company like Kato is so behind the times when it comes to DCC? In fact they have been left at the station so to speak.

 

[neil_s_wood]

Good point, usually the Japs are pretty well into their technology. It seems odd that they have not waded into the DCC area. Or maybe they have and we just don't know about it?

 

[Dennis David]

If they had we would know about it. Maybe they couldn't find anybody to steal it from.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 23 Jun 2006, 12:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If they had we would know about it. Maybe they couldn't find anybody to steal it from.

I guess they're waiting till an established quality system corners the market than they will copy it and sell for half the price.

 

[Dennis David]

Now Neil and I don't really believe that but it does seem queer. In fact I have seen ads that had them teaming up with Digitrax.

 

[Rail-Rider]

The beauty of the Kato units is that, because they are specialised, this makes them properly plug'n'play. Being designed specifically for their own models makes conversion a relatively easy proposition - perhaps something of even greater value in N-Gauge than HO/OO.

It appears that Kato's parent company is actually an electronics company, Sekisui Kinzoku Co. Ltd, so the future could be interesting

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Japanese are probably working already on the next generation of wireless control with long life batteries that require no power OR control to come from the track, just a recharging section of track at the end of the siding where you park up your locos for the next operating session and which are compatible with existing DCC technology and a per loco price to install their system of around 8 quid a pop.

Just a thought....