Can you help me identify the manufacturer for a N Gauge decoder?

[Bart1701]

This is a decoder that I have in an Atlas N Gauge locomotive.  I am pretty sure the decoder was already installed when I bought it. On the top of the board it shows "637-X010R5". I am assuming this is the part number/model number. Does anyone know who made this decoder?

Thanks,
Bart

[nickelplate759]

Do you have access to a DCC system?  The easiest way might be to look at CV8.
That said, Atlas has used more than one manufacturer for DCC , but with the code of 127 for "Atlas" rather than the manufacturer.  I have Atlas engines with boards by NCE report 127.

Can you tell us anything else about the decoder or the engine it is in?   A photo would help a lot.

[Bart1701]

Do you have access to a DCC system?  The easiest way might be to look at CV8.
That said, Atlas has used more than one manufacturer for DCC , but with the code of 127 for "Atlas" rather than the manufacturer.  I have Atlas engines with boards by NCE report 127.

Can you tell us anything else about the decoder or the engine it is in?   A photo would help a lot.

Here are some photos. The markings I mentioned are actually on the underside of the board.

The locomotive is a GP-40-2.

CV8 came up with a value of 127.


Hope this helps!

Bart

[drbnc]

127 = Atlas.  Probably Lenz.

[nickelplate759]

It's definitely a Lenz-made board.  I just opened up one of my Atlas SD9 with a Lenz board and it looks the same.

They're not great boards.  The later NCE-made Atlas boards are much better.

[peteski]

Yup, it is the old Atlas decoder made by Lenz.  That was before they started using NCE decoders.

Here is the "offcial" NMRA cross reference of manufacturers and the CV8 value.
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/appendix_a_s-9_2_2.pdf

127 is Atlas, but it is a decoder manufactured by Lenz.

[Bart1701]

Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out!

Bart

[nickelplate759]

Yup, it is the old Atlas decoder made by Lenz.  That was before they started using NCE decoders.

Here is the "offcial" NMRA cross reference of manufacturers and the CV8 value.
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/appendix_a_s-9_2_2.pdf

127 is Atlas, but it is a decoder manufactured by Lenz.

The NCE boards made for Atlas also use the 127 code.  Just to keep things interesting.

[mmyers]

Here is a list of Atlas decoder applications on their N scale models. http://download.atlasrr.com/pdf/Atlas_N-Scale_Decoder_Applications.pdf
Oddly there is no mention of the one offering using a Digitrax made decoder. I have a couple in my collection. GP40-2 was originally introduced with a Digitrax DA120 decoder manufactured for Atlas. https://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/cms/media/documents/decoder-spec-sheet/DA120.pdf

Martin Myers

[peteski]

Here is a list of Atlas decoder applications on their N scale models. http://download.atlasrr.com/pdf/Atlas_N-Scale_Decoder_Applications.pdf
Oddly there is no mention of the one offering using a Digitrax made decoder. I have a couple in my collection. GP40-2 was originally introduced with a Digitrax DA120 decoder manufactured for Atlas. https://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/cms/media/documents/decoder-spec-sheet/DA120.pdf

Martin Myers

Maybe someone from Atlas (like @EmdFan ) should be made aware of this omission, so they can correct that document?

[mmyers]

The biggest if not the only difference between the Lenz built board and the Digitrax version is Lenz did not make Cv5 and CV6 available on their decoders. So a three step speed table wasn't possible. Any speed curve had to be programmed using the 28 step table. No big deal nowadays with JMRI. Harder to set up back then without it. JMRI was just getting popular at the time and interfaces were harder to come by. Digitrax stopped making that decoder long time ago so Atlas list is good for knowing what to replace it with.

Martin Myers

[EmdFan]

Maybe someone from Atlas (like @EmdFan ) should be made aware of this omission, so they can correct that document?

Thanks for pointing that out. Some of the online documentation need updating. We are shut down next week but when we reopen I'll let the folks in charge of the docs know about it.

Steve W

[peteski]

Thanks for pointing that out. Some of the online documentation need updating. We are shut down next week but when we reopen I'll let the folks in charge of the docs know about it.

Steve W

Great!