No longer a rumor: ESU's new sound board and other DCC news from the NTS

[jdcolombo]

Hi folks.

Finally cornered Matt Herman today at the National Train Show, and can confirm that a new Loksound decoder will be available in the late fall that should be a drop-in fit for a lot of narrow-hood diesels.  The new board will be based on the board being done for the Intermountain SD40-2, only without the headlights.  I held the Intermountain board in my hands, so they definitely are real.  The "generic" board will not come with LEDs on it, so that it can be adapted to a variety of different-length chassis, but it will have keep-alive capacitance on-board (I didn't get a chance to ask how much, but I counted at least four caps in addition to the usual bridge rectifier).  Matt didn't give me exact dimensions, but extrapolating from the Intermountain board, the new one looks to be about 8mm wide and about 40mm long (without LEDs) and about 3mm high. So it should fit pretty much anything other than the tiniest switchers.

I also spent some time talking with folks from Zimo and learned some interesting things there.  Zimo already has a sound decoder that is just 9mm wide, 23mm long and 4mm thick.  What I didn't realize is that they are actively expanding their US prototype sound files.  They have recently added dedicated files for the 12- and 16-cylinder EMD 567 and the 645E and E3 prime movers, and the ALCo 16-cylinder 251C (from a C425).  There are also several US steam files, although most of these are files from an independent developer that you have to pay extra for.  What I could hear of the EMD 645 file they were demo-ing at the show in an HO loco sounded excellent, so those of you who can't wait to put sound in your first- and third-generation EMD units might want to check out the Zimo option.  I'll probably wait for the new ESU board, although I might try one of the Zimo MX649's to satisfy my curiosity.

Finally, it struck me that the Europeans are just light-years ahead of the US companies in moving toward wi-fi throttles, computer integration and more approachable interfaces than The US companies like NCE and Digitrax.  Don't know why, but it is what it is.  If I were buying a new system today, ESU and Zimo, along with some other European entries would be on my short list.

John C.

[reinhardtjh]

That's terrific news. I wonder if it will be only the Select version or will there be a fully programmable V4 also?  I can see a case for either.

I don't suppose you asked him about the steam version of the Full Throttle sound files?  I never did email him.  I'd love to know if they will put out files with a true PRR Banshee and 3-chime whistles.  I know the PRR whistles aren't your area of interest.  But the steam files in general would be.

[jdcolombo]

No, didn't ask about the steam files.  I didn't get a chance to talk with him long.  ESU didn't have their own booth; Matt was just making the rounds and I caught up with him at the Scale Trains display while ogling the UP Turbine (ESU is doing the sound for this, BTW).  When I introduced myself, he immediately whipped out the Intermountain board as if to say "I know what you're going to ask, so here it is . . ."  .  Then he was off to somewhere else.

Digitrax, TCS, NCE and Soundtraxx also,all had nice displays, but nothing momentous for N scalers there. I did see the new Tsunami 2, which sounded great in HO scale locos, but the form factor is the same as the Econami, so that's not really going to help with N hood diesels. 

Also saw Bryan Vianco (Streamlined Backshops); he's secured his own supply of 8x12mm speakers, which is good news for us N-scalers.  He was including one "sugar cube" speaker free with each sound decoder sale, so I have four of the 8x12mm's with his custom enclosures that I'll try out.

John C.

[johnb]

I am down for a pair in my SD40-T2's

[peteski]

Yes, ZIMO decoders (sound and non-sound) are really good products.  Prices aren't too bad either (comparable with TCS), and their motor control (especially with coreless motors) is excellent.

They also feature all sorts of current technology such as SUSI and the ability to directly control RC servos.

[jdcolombo]

Yes, ZIMO decoders (sound and non-sound) are really good products.  Prices aren't too bad either (comparable with TCS), and their motor control (especially with coreless motors) is excellent.

They also feature all sorts of current technology such as SUSI and the ability to directly control RC servos.

I think Zimo's motor control is the best in the industry.  Up to now, I've avoided using their sound decoders only because of the lack of US prototype sound files.  The list is still thin, but for first-generation geeps and the 645 E and E3 prime movers (GP/SD 38's and 40's), the files are available.  I'm going to try one in a GP9; if the sound is good, there may be situations in which the Zimo MX649 is a better solution than the new ESU board.

John C.

[mu26aeh]

So we might finally see the SD40-2's after 2 years of delays ? 

[POVC]

So we might finally see the SD40-2's after 2 years of delays ? 

Intermountain had a loco with the soundboard installed "making noise4" at their booth.  I was told they have the kinks out and are ready to go into production.

Tim

[mu26aeh]

Intermountain had a loco with the soundboard installed "making noise4" at their booth.  I was told they have the kinks out and are ready to go into production.

Tim

That's great news, except I just spent my credit I had at the LHS that I had been saving to help pay for one of these.  Maybe I should have spent it sooner, and we'd all have them already

[basementcalling]

... the ability to directly control RC servos.

Please elaborate

[Bruce Bird]

I asked specifically about delivery dates on the run of WM Circus F7s.  IM stated that they are slotted behind the SD40-2s and that everything had been waiting on the ESU board that was delivered this weekend.  Estimated time on the F7s of next spring with the SD40-2s prior to that.

What was also interesting is that new frames to house the sound decoder will be available as a separate piece in the future, so you can convert older models to sound by porting the motor, gears, etc. to the new frames.

Bruce

[Kentuckian]

What was also interesting is that new frames to house the sound decoder will be available as a separate piece in the future, so you can convert older models to sound by porting the motor, gears, etc. to the new frames.

Bruce

I do like the "sound" of that!

[wmcbride]

John,

Do you know about the wiring on the new Loksound N board? 8-pin like the select micros?

[wmcbride]

Also any sense of where Intermountain is putting the speakers in the SD40T-2's? I seem to recall reading fuel tank somewhere.

[peteski]

Please elaborate

I haven't looked at the details but from what I read in their small decoder manual, the decoders have function outputs which can be used as the control signal for driving standard RC servos.

The section about servos is on page 33 of http://www.zimo.at/web2010/documents/MX-KleineDecoder_E.pdf . Wiring diagram is on page 55.
There might be more detailed info in other manuals for larger decoders. The manuals are at http://www.zimo.at/web2010/documents/handbuch.htm (make sure to download the English manuals unless you understand German). 

Few other useful features of Zimo decoders is that they are all capable of having their firmware updated by the user and they also support asymatrical DCC signal breaking (Lenz ABC).

Also, they all have built-in temperature sensor which will give a warning when the decoder temperature is too high (the headlights will start flashing) or if the temperature goes above critical value they shut down until they cool off.