What's the verdict on the Atlas FA-1 gold (first run)?

[bbussey]

Digitrax decoders to me have been difficult to consist with ESU. Plus the model was designed for ESU, don’t know why you would deviate from that.

Also inexplicable why you are having trouble with a disproportionate number of stock units, if they are untampered with. I have 10 and no issues with any of them.  Also some are from the first release and others the second, and they all run together.

I will say that the first run was equipped with the Walthers style contoured face wheels, while the second run was equipped with the Life-Like style flat face wheels. But that is the only component difference between the two releases.

[OldEastRR]

[bbussey]

So Atlas locos can run ONLY with ESU decoders? Funny, I thought we had free choice here in America. Guys with big salaries can buy the highest level product with all the extras, others have to look for sales and substitutes.

There's a funny quirk when running a DT non-sound decoder in a Atlas FA with a NCE controller: pressing the "bell" button on the handset turns the numberboard lights on and off. Pressing the "headlight" button once brings on the headlight separately; press again and the headlight starts blinking. Huh.

Don't be a jerk.  You know what I meant.  You want to fight with having DigiTrax and LokSound decoders sync up?  Have at it.  If you want to save a few hours of aggravation, keep all units in a consist with the same brand of decoders.  Digitrax decoders don't work well for me in consists of more than two units even when all of them are Digitrax, so I prefer ESU whether with sound or silent because they consist without issue.  I have some Digitrax decoders installed, but only in stand-alone units that never will consist such as my EP-3.  I used LokPilots in the two EP-4 electrics though, after fighting with a quartet of Digitrax boards in a pair of MU'd FT sets.  I then pulled the Digitrax decoders from my O&W F3 A-A pair and upgraded to LokPilot -- much better performance, and the eventual O&W caboose will have a function-only decoder which would have caused me consist issues because it would have exceeded three decoders.

Regarding the functions in the FA -- they work flawlessly with an ESU decoder.  But feel free to waste hours trying to debug the Digitrax functionality, which will cost you whatever money you think you saved and then some by not getting an ESU decoder or not buying a Gold FA unit in the first place.

[peteski]

So Atlas locos can run ONLY with ESU decoders? Funny, I thought we had free choice here in America. Guys with big salaries can buy the highest level product with all the extras, others have to look for sales and substitutes.

There's a funny quirk when running a DT non-sound decoder in a Atlas FA with a NCE controller: pressing the "bell" button on the handset turns the numberboard lights on and off. Pressing the "headlight" button once brings on the headlight separately; press again and the headlight starts blinking. Huh.

While the electrical connectivity is a fairly well defined standard, except for the front and rear headlights other function mappings ARE NOT!  Blame NMRA for not defining those, and decoder and model manufacturers for not getting together to define a more common standard.  This is especially true for more complex decoders with sound and extra functions.  Then Europeans use different function definitions than American manufacturers.  And of course there are also independent sound project creators which defined their own functions. So yes, appears that Atlas Designed their models for ESU decoders for best compatibility, but that also use Soundtraxx decoders.

DCC design is also flexible as far as function mappings (although the NMRA remapping standard is rather limited, and Digitrax follows that standard), so any user can remap what effects map to which function key.  You could do that too, if you educated yourself on the process.

So in this instance DCC is not as easy as a "2-wire and go" setup. You need to learn to do some programming buddy!

[Dave V]

So Atlas locos can run ONLY with ESU decoders? Funny, I thought we had free choice here in America. Guys with big salaries can buy the highest level product with all the extras, others have to look for sales and substitutes.

Dude.






Dude.

[OldEastRR]

[bbussey]

What is your problem?

[Chris333]

He's got a problem for every solution 

[dem34]

So Atlas locos can run ONLY with ESU decoders? Funny, I thought we had free choice here in America. Guys with big salaries can buy the highest level product with all the extras, others have to look for sales and substitutes.

There's a funny quirk when running a DT non-sound decoder in a Atlas FA with a NCE controller: pressing the "bell" button on the handset turns the numberboard lights on and off. Pressing the "headlight" button once brings on the headlight separately; press again and the headlight starts blinking. Huh.

There is like a $5 difference between a nonsound Digitrax Mobile decoder and a Lokpilot

[davefoxx]

I still don’t understand why you keep complaining but have not provided Atlas with the opportunity to rectify the situation.  I have had nothing but success from Atlas when I sent something back.  As I explained in a prior post, they repaired two locomotives that had been dropped and returned to a vendor, who put them back into stock.  Atlas did not question me, nor did they even require me to make contact with the vendor.  They fixed those two locomotives at no cost to me (except maybe shipping- I don’t remember).

Call Atlas for a return authorization and send it in under warranty.

DFF

[peteski]

There is like a $5 difference between a nonsound Digitrax Mobile decoder and a Lokpilot

Yes, if you shop around, both Digitrax DN167N18 and ESU LokPilot 5 Next18 decoders are around $30.  LokPilot is superior to Digitrax pretty much in every aspect.

[OldEastRR]

I'm done with this topic.

[davefoxx]

I'm done with this topic.

You’re not the only one! 

DFF

[Dave V]

rectify

DFF

Rectify? I hardly even know her!