New Kato NW2 With Sound

[tehachapifan]

Glad to see Zimo making a drop-in fit for this loco, but I can’t help but wonder if the shell seats all the way down. Unless the chassis (or shell) has been redesigned, there is very little vertical clearance between the chassis and the shell and I just can’t see those big components fitting in that space. As I recall, a drop in (non-sound) decoder didn’t quite fit either and cased the shell to ride high at the front. I installed a Zimo MX660 in a Kato NW2 and, IIRC, had to do a lot of really careful Dremel work on the inside of the shell to make room for the taller components.

[nstars]

Pity the sound file is rather old. Based on info on the Kato site, it’s a more than 10 years old 8 bit file. The newer 16 bit files do have much better sound..

So it may still be a 16 bit MS decoder but it could also be an older 8 bit MX decoder. But it’s certainly an expensive option.$200 extra MRSP for sound? And $100 extra MRSP for DCC? That’s an hefty price tag.

Marc

[mu26aeh]

But it’s certainly an expensive option.$200 extra MRSP for sound? And $100 extra MRSP for DCC? That’s an hefty price tag.

Marc

That's how all the Kato releases have been last couple years.  I'll gladly buy a DC model and put my own $30 DCC decoder in

[nstars]

The 2 largest caps I see (marked 476) are 47µF tantalum caps.  If they are in parallel that is 94µF which is not all that much. ESU uses multiple MLCC (Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitors) and while I have never unsoldered one to check its capacitance (they have no markings on them), I suspect those are either 22 or 47µF each. SO that would be similar to  what Zimo uses (at least on the very small size decoders). That is on the 12V side. Both companies also use capacitor on the internal lower voltage supplies which power the microcontroller. Maybe Zimo uses larger capacitors on the lower voltage side (so the microcontroller doesn't "reboot" on very short track power interruptions).

As I mentioned in another post, I’m not sure if the decoder is an MX decoder or an MS decoder. The positive experience I have is with the MS decoders and these decoders do indeed use larger capacitors on the low voltage side. Fact is I have a couple locomotives which normally come with factory installed Loksound decoders (no stay alive) and have generated lots of comments (including from a friend) on forums about the microcontroller rebooting. Because of these comments I installed Zimo MS581 decoders in my locos and no problems at all with any hiccups. Based on your remarks I get more and more the feeling that the Kato decoder is a MX decoder.

Marc

[spookshow]

Glad to see Zimo making a drop-in fit for this loco, but I can’t help but wonder if the shell seats all the way down.

The shell fits the chassis like a glove.

-Mark

[tehachapifan]

The shell fits the chassis like a glove.

-Mark

That’s good to know! Would still love to see a pic of the coupler height in relation to the MT height gauge.

[peteski]

Based on your remarks I get more and more the feeling that the Kato decoder is a MX decoder.

Marc

Hopefully some info about this new decoder will end up on Zimo website and in the documentation.  The model name of this decoder is nothing like what Zimo uses.  Maybe it was made exclusive to Kato, but I doubt that.

One thing I'm not a fan of with Zimo decoders is that many sound projects require purchase and licensing,  there are relatively few sound files for American prototype locomotives, and the ones which are available are usually rather old.

[pdx1955]

I should read my own encyclopedia more often, I'd completely forgotten that I'd already covered the driveshaft issue 

According to an insert in the box it's a Zimo "NW2_A246" decoder. I don't know if it's a "factory" (Japan) install or if it was installed here in the USA, but it did come from Kato with that decoder installed. First time I've ever run into a Zimo decoder myself,  and I can't say that I'm all that thrilled with their incomprehensible user manuals, yikes 

-Mark

Regular and sound decoders are installed stateside. That's why the cost is relatively steep to  buy them installed.

[nstars]

Hopefully some info about this new decoder will end up on Zimo website and in the documentation.  The model name of this decoder is nothing like what Zimo uses.  Maybe it was made exclusive to Kato, but I doubt that.

One thing I'm not a fan of with Zimo decoders is that many sound projects require purchase and licensing,  there are relatively few sound files for American prototype locomotives, and the ones which are available are usually rather old.

The licensing of the sound file is not a big issue for me. It happens often in Europe and not only with Zimo but also with ESU. The quality and age of the US sound files is more an issue. The new European 16 bit sound files are much better and do show what is possible.

Marc

[nstars]

I just happen to speak today at a train show in the Netherlands to the person who made the sound file for the NW2 and it looks like the documentation on the Kato website is wrong. The sound file is new and 16 bit. This does also mean that the decoder is a new MS decoder. He also mentioned there will be coming more IS sound files. Nice

Marc

[Southern1970]

After checking the Zimo website I noticed there is a new Zimo sound file for the Kato NW2.

Apologies if I’m asking a dumb question, but for those of you knowledgeable with Zimo sound decoders does the below highlighted section mean the new sound file will not work on the Zimo MX660?

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Cheers
Allan

[nstars]

No, it won’t work on a MX decoder, you need a MS decoder. FYI, the sound file is the same as used in the Kato NW2. I’m planning to use it in a BLI NW2 and AFAIK the Zimo MS581N18 has the same internal stay alive as used in the Kato NW2.

Marc

[peteski]

No, it won’t work on a MX decoder, you need a MS decoder. FYI, the sound file is the same as used in the Kato NW2. I’m planning to use it in a BLI NW2 and AFAIK the Zimo MS581N18 has the same internal stay alive as used in the Kato NW2.

Marc

Example of another scoring point for ESU decoders.  Their new 16 bit sound project can be converted (seamlessly by the LokProgrammer) and uploaded to the older LokSound V4 (8-bit) decoders.

ZIMO makes excellent hardware, but their software is not quite as flexible or intuitive to use as ESU.

[nstars]

Example of another scoring point for ESU decoders.  Their new 16 bit sound project can be converted (seamlessly by the LokProgrammer) and uploaded to the older LokSound V4 (8-bit) decoders.

ZIMO makes excellent hardware, but their software is not quite as flexible or intuitive to use as ESU.

The Lok Programmer converts V4 files for use in Loksound5 decoders, not the other way around. There are too many differences between Loksound V4 and Loksound5 decoders to make this possible. FYI, with Zimo it’s almost the same, MX files can be used without any conversion in MS decoders.

Marc

[peteski]

You're right Marc, I had it backwards, but I still stand by my second statement.