Which Decoder

[bulleidboy]

Can anyone recommend a straight plug-in decoder with no harness. I have been using TCS DP2X-UK in most of my loco's as it goes in as a straight replacement for the blanking plate. I have had no problems at all with these decoders, but do find them hard to find - I've bought nearly all of mine while holidaying in the USA. Any alternative must plug-in in portrait mode - length ways down the loco and not across, as some do. If the decoder is in the tender, space is not a problem, but with some tank loco's space is very limited - thanks in advance. BB

[brian1951]

Coastal and Digitrains have them Barry.

[Brian]

Hi Barry

There are several 8 pin direct fitting decoders available.. Gaugemaster DCC29 https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magen ... DUQAvD_BwE
Hattons Direct.https://www.hattons.co.uk/68479/hattons ... etail.aspx
Lenz..https://www.track-shack.com/acatalog/Le ... 30-01.html

[Roger O]

I’ve used TCS decoders and always found them very good, I’ve purchased mine from Australia because their price was better at the time I’ve never had any problem and also very prompt delivery I even had one lot back after ordering on Monday it arrived on Friday, not sure how they managed that.
As a trial a while ago I purchase a Lais decoder from China and I was very impressed with the performance ,quality and most of all the price well worth a try if you haven’t tried them.
Roger O.

[Mike Parkes]

The DP2X-UK in IME is the smallest of the lot in practical terms. DCC Concepts made much of one of theres being the smallest which in overall volume was true but it was taller and in practical terms failed to fit a number of locos that the TCS decoder fits - another was simply too bulky for many locos. I too went down the approach of fitting a DP2X-UK to everything for a while but they have rocketed in price and if a Lenz Standard for example will fit okay then I use that instead. I do not like decoders fitted into boilers as it often makes reassembly difficult so my choice of decoder is normally down to what decoder can be fitted using a sticky pad if necessary to the chassis so as to ensure the decoder/mechanism is a single assembly making fault finding that much simpler. The result has been a number of locos originally fitted with DP2X-UKs receiving other decoders with the TCS decoders being fitted to locos that really need them. Still recently had to bite the bullet and buy a new one for about the twice the cost they use to be.

[bulleidboy]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I might give both the Hattons and Gaugemaaster ones a try. I did buy a TCS DPX2-UK from Coastal recently and it cost £30.00. Interestingly, there is one on ebay from Australia price at £28.75 with postage at £1.78 - takes a week to get here. In the suggestions the Lenz one does look as though it sits "landscape", which would be too wide. I am back in the USA in May, so I might be able to get more TCS ones. Thanks once again. Barry