ESU sound decoder for a PA

[carlso]

For the sake of N-scalers everywhere (installing V5 micros in their models) it woudl really be helpful if ESU re-spun the V5 micro decoder with soldered on lead instead of the Next18 connector.  Does anybody have enough pull with ESU to make this happen?

If people, who purchase their products, can't make that point then my guess is there is nobody with "enough pull". Also, if Kelley doesn't swing enough pull then we are screwed. Sad, but that probably applies to many manufacturers.

Be well,
Carl

[woodone]

Right now I am working on a devise that will re-move the NEXT 18 socket. Been at this ever since I first saw the micro V-5 decoder.
I did call Matt at ESU in the US and talked about this at length. I also asked if (ESU) could narrow the decoder .
Don’t know where this all went.
Maybe if more people on this forum would call with these concerns something might change?

[nightmare0331]

If people, who purchase their products, can't make that point then my guess is there is nobody with "enough pull". Also, if Kelley doesn't swing enough pull then we are screwed. Sad, but that probably applies to many manufacturers.

Be well,
Carl

I want to tread carefully here as it's not my business to go around talking about such things, but there is a solution in the works from ESU.  It's just going to be a couple of months until they announce it however.

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[Steveruger45]

I did hear a rumor many months ago that ESU were planning on replacing the v4 select micro direct 73100 and 73199 with a v5 version.  If that turns out to be the case it won’t help much with the PA install.

[RBrodzinsky]

I did see, somewhere (can't find now) a reference to a LokSound 5 Micro KATO decoder

[woodone]

Well at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
I have to find a way to complete this PA, has I don’t think my client wants to wait 2 months or longer to get his loco back home.
I would think this will be awhile before we are able to get our hand on the newer version.
A new version will take time so the dealer network can getup to speed with inventory.

[reinhardtjh]

I did hear a rumor many months ago that ESU were planning on replacing the v4 select micro direct 73100 and 73199 with a v5 version.  If that turns out to be the case it won’t help much with the PA install.

When the Loksound 5 was introduced, ESU said it would make a new version of these after their stock was gone.  My theory on this has been that ESU probably had a large inventory of these based on Atlas and IM announcements of sound equipped locomotives.  Then that Chinese factory they (Atlas and IM) were using closed and those announcements were thrown off schedule.  IM has never yet recovered in N scale and Atlas is way behind, leaving ESU with a pile of these decoders to sell through regular retail venues.  It would be nice if the inventory were dwindling to the point where a LokSound 5 version could be made. Hopefully soon.

[Sharky_McSharknose]

I did see, somewhere (can't find now) a reference to a LokSound 5 Micro KATO decoder

Go to http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/software/lokprogrammer/ and open "Additional informationen" (sic), that will bring up the list of compatible decoders with LokProgrammer. The three we'd most likely be interested in are:

LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct
LokSound 5 micro E24 DCC
LokSound 5 micro KATO

My guess is the LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct will be the replacement for the 73100 & 73199 Select Direct micro boards. I'm esp. interested in the 73100 replacement. Most of my sound conversions are to Atlas hood units and there are some weird design choices on that board.

I've no clue what the "E24" means in LokSound 5 micro E24 DCC. Thoughts?

I'm glad to see the LokSound 5 micro KATO. I spoke to a Kato rep. a couple of times, once last year when they visited Hobby Emporium in Tyngsboro, MA, and once at the last Amherst show. They said the Japanese leadership was hesitant to make factory DCC a regular option because DCC isn't as popular in Japan. Hopefully encouragement from the US Kato team + all of us making aftermarket installs moved the needle there.

[jdcolombo]

Well at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
I have to find a way to complete this PA, has I don’t think my client wants to wait 2 months or longer to get his loco back home.
I would think this will be awhile before we are able to get our hand on the newer version.
A new version will take time so the dealer network can getup to speed with inventory.

@woodone

I've got a couple of Select Micros that I bought when they were still available, since I was worried about diesel installations like the Kato PA and Atlas RS-3 not being doable with the LokSound 5.  If you need one to finish the PA, I'd sell you one.  I'm not having any operating sessions on the layout during the pandemic, and anyway I'm running an all-steam roster for fun and will do so for at least a little while after the pandemic ends, whenever that may be.  But it's not going to be any time soon, so I think I can part with one of my LS Micros for you to make this installation work, and hope that by the time something breaks on one of my engines, ESU has solved this problem (actually, if need be I could salvage a Select from one of my engines that would take a LS5 decoder).  PM me - or I think you've got my gmail address, and if you do, e-mail me directly at my gmail account.  We'll work it out.

John C. 

[reinhardtjh]

Go to http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/software/lokprogrammer/ and open "Additional informationen" (sic), that will bring up the list of compatible decoders with LokProgrammer. The three we'd most likely be interested in are:

LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct
LokSound 5 micro E24 DCC
LokSound 5 micro KATO

My guess is the LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct will be the replacement for the 73100 & 73199 Select Direct micro boards. I'm esp. interested in the 73100 replacement. Most of my sound conversions are to Atlas hood units and there are some weird design choices on that board.

I've noticed in my LokProgrammer software downloads that the "LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct" has been listed since the earliest V5 (of the software) so the design may be ready and waiting to go. Perhaps has even been prototyped.

LokProgrammer4 - Release Notes
=============================================

Version 5.0.0:
==============
- Neue Features:
  * Neue Decoder - LokSound 5, LokSound 5 DCC, LokSound 5 micro, LokSound 5 micro DCC,
                   LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct, LokSound 5 L, LokSound 5 L DCC, LokSound 5 XL.

[woodone]

The 73199 & 73100’s might fit with modifications, I will have a look see.
But in reality they would not fit the Kato PA’s.

[woodone]

John Colombo~ sent you a PM.