Atlas Forum MT SW1500 DCC Thread #2 :)

[bbussey]

Well, it's very clear that AT BEST the idea of putting a decoder in it was an afterthought.   And unless I am mistaken there is NO DISPUTE that the switcher only has a front headlight, but no rear headlight.   To me, "current standards" includes both of those features, and it's pretty surprising to me that MTL doesn't consider them important.  (not important enough to be listed as a feature, that's a fact.)

If the loco was announced with Rapido couplers, wouldn't that be just as ludicrous?   Same concept.

All of this "preemptive bashing" is irrelevant speculation until the item is released.  You're getting worked up over issues that the manufacturer has said would be addressed.  This is a non-issue, certainly until the item is released at the least.

[Alaska Railroader]

All of this "preemptive bashing" is irrelevant speculation until the item is released.  You're getting worked up over issues that the manufacturer has said would be addressed.  This is a non-issue, certainly until the item is released at the least.

This is a totally new concept for a "forum", members should not discuss a topic in detail, especially when it might offend a manufacturer who recently made an announcement devoid of important details?
Definition of of the word forum, top choice from Google:
fo·rum 
/ˈfôrəm/
Noun

  1-  A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
  2- An Internet message board.     

Heaven forbid that should you have multiple participants asking questions on a topic that may impact their wallets, for this is called "preemptive bashing"? Really?

[Rossford Yard]

Yes, I would be interested in what percent of the N scale loco market really is DCC.  I was just laughing with my LHS guy.  Back at the Cincy National Train Show, I saw him in the aisle talking to Paul G from Atlas.  He was describing what a low percent of his N scale customers were into DCC.  As he saw me, he started the sentence "Here's Jeff, one of my odd N scale customers....: and (presumably given the context of his conversation) got cut off before finishing with "who uses DCC in N."  But, I will never know for sure! Nor do I know the exact percent of N scalers in DCC.

Random thought, but how many NTrak modules are DCC, or are they usually just standard DC?  That might tell us something.

If the DCC percentage is suitably low, MT could stall off all this by offering DCC in the second batch, with free upgrades (or free rerun of original road number on a shell) for those who want them.  Or, just claim that was their plan all along......with second road # and DCC option in the second run of BN, UP, etc.  (Although the Z scale DCC readiness sort of undercuts that argument)

As someone mentioned, many new loco mfgs have offered less than ideal product in the first round, presumably again, to get the cash needed to further development.  While we seem to be getting away from that kind of thing, MRR is still a small, low profit business and MT may have felt that was their best option.

That said, I am still sticking with the newb in marketing who didn't really understand the market is what got MT in this PR mess.  It's not like they don't understand N, as the one time "Cadillac of N Scale" mfg., even if many others have surpassed them overall.

[bbussey]

This is a totally new concept for a "forum", members should not discuss a topic in detail, especially when it might offend a manufacturer who recently made an announcement devoid of important details?

Heaven forbid that should you have multiple participants asking questions on a topic that may impact their wallets, for this is called "preemptive bashing"? Really?

Discussing the product and asking questions is far different than stating outright the manufacturer is going to release an inferior product without any evidence to support that statement.  There is clarification on page 4 of this thread that there will be DCC on the model, yet the bashing and baseless assumptions have continued for another few pages.  It's moved from queries and constructive criticism to outright bias at this point.

The manufacturer has officially stated that is it addressing the DCC concerns originally posed at the beginning of this thread, so that issue is closed until the product comes to market.  If the product isn't DCC-ready when it hits the market, then there is legitimate reason to gripe.  And, to also show your displeasure by not purchasing the product.  This isn't a death-and-taxes situation where you're forced to buy it.

[tehachapifan]

Uh, oh! I think I hear the Moderator digging through his stash of padlocks!

[CBQ Fan]

I wish those who hate MT would just stay out of these threads and stick to what they like and be productive there.  We have run off a valuable contributor to this forum because some of us are acting like children who can't sit and wait until all the final details are released.  I personally think that if MT put a large banner on their website saying the SW1500 would be DCC ready, the same people would find something else to harp on and be just as militant.  It seems to me that quite a few here would rather be treated like Walthers and be ignored completely than be able to have a spirited adult debate around topics that treats one another with respect.

[MichaelWinicki]

I wish those who hate MT would just stay out of these threads and stick to what they like and be productive there.  We have run off a valuable contributor to this forum because some of us are acting like children who can't sit and wait until all the final details are released.  I personally think that if MT put a large banner on their website saying the SW1500 would be DCC ready, the same people would find something else to harp on and be just as militant.  It seems to me that quite a few here would rather be treated like Walthers and be ignored completely than be able to have a spirited adult debate around topics that treats one another with respect.

Yeah some folks would still gripe about something.  But for many of us the DCC issue IS the elephant in the room.  I was one of the folks that pre-ordered a couple of the Walthers' SW1200's based on the initially information that the DCC install would be no problem. 

I was leary and even called their tech support and asked about the DCC install, and at that point they were looking at something like the RS2 install, where the decoder has two overhanging brass ears and the whole thing would slide down and each ear would cover one of the contacts coming off the motor.

I preordered two locomotives.

Then to my surprise the things are eventually released and the DCC install is just like the old version.  Sigh.

I know I felt taken advantage of.

Thankfully I don't have a horse in the race when it comes to the first release of road names.  Others will get the pleasure of playing the "Well maybe it will and maybe it won't" game.

And from a business perspective the more ambiguity that exists around the DCC thing the more folks are going to keep their credit cards in their wallets when it comes to preordering.

[learmoia]

Comment Removed.

[Alaska Railroader]

Do you think Ben (at Micro Trains) is watching this thread quietly with a     waiting for the finalized plan from Digitrax?

~Ian

Ben is awesome. And there is no hate of MTL here, we are a dealer. To say be quiet until the product is released I have a problem with because now is the stage for the buyers to say what is on their wish list or even their expectations list.

The topic of the thread is "First Roadnames for MT SW1500s" so it should go back to that. Road names is what we have to silently wait for to find out.

[Denver Road Doug]

Discussing the product and asking questions is far different than stating outright the manufacturer is going to release an inferior product without any evidence to support that statement.  There is clarification on page 4 of this thread that there will be DCC on the model, yet the bashing and baseless assumptions have continued for another few pages.  It's moved from queries and constructive criticism to outright bias at this point.

The manufacturer has officially stated that is it addressing the DCC concerns originally posed at the beginning of this thread, so that issue is closed until the product comes to market.  If the product isn't DCC-ready when it hits the market, then there is legitimate reason to gripe.  And, to also show your displeasure by not purchasing the product.

1.  I didn't state outright the manufacturer IS going to release an inferior product...I said I *think* that is what is going to happen based on everything I've seen.  That is far different. 
2.  No evidence?  Baseless assumptions?  Are we reading the same MTL announcement and comments by people unofficially and/or officially linked to Micro-Trains here?
3.  There is ZERO clarification that there will be DCC on the model in this thread.  At one point outside the thread there was a "suggestion" from an MTL rep that it would but then that since morphed into "we're talking to Digitrax".   Big whoop...that tells me nothing.  Frankly I care less about the DCC piece than I do the headlight, but neither should have been an afterthought.  And I certainly wouldn't consider the issue "closed", by any stretch.

This isn't a death-and-taxes situation where you're forced to buy it.

Come'on, really?    None of this is.   Have some perspective...I don't think anybody "hates" Micro-Trains here.   But that doesn't mean we shouldn't have an opinion about one product they have announced.   As was mentioned, this *IS* a discussion forum, and I think it's a poor attitude to say "hey, let's just say nothing and wait until the manufacturer hangs itself by releasing a product that doesn't meet the standards of the majority of the market."   

Now, if you disagree that's the majority of the market, that's fine...I'll concede that point.      But, from my experience that is the case.

[sundowner]

Wow, am Atlas forum thread on TRW

[learmoia]

Comment Removed.

[peteski]

Random thought, but how many NTrak modules are DCC, or are they usually just standard DC?  That might tell us something.

There is no such thing as a DCC N-Trak module.    Any track on the module can easily be DC or DCC controlled. The reason, about a decade ago, why N-Trak converted from using Cinch-Jones connectors to PowerPoles was for increased reliability when running ... DCC!

We, the Northeast N-Trak, usually run the red line as DCC at the train shows we participate in. Most (if not all) of the large national N-Trak layouts are set up for at least one DCC track.  DCC in N scale is alive and well.  Actually, due to decreasing prices, smaller decoders, and increasing availability of DCC-friendly, DCC-ready, or DCC-equipped locos, DCC marked seems to be growing steadily.

[GaryHinshaw]

If you have further comments or information about the road name artwork that has been posted, please feel free to share it here, and send it directly to MTL, if pertinent.

If you're anxious about the loco being DCC friendly or having directional headlights, tell MTL directly!  We on the Railwire have already heard it loud and clear - and we're not a conduit to MTL.

Thx.

[Ike the BN Freak]

There is no such thing as a DCC N-Trak module.    Any track on the module can easily be DC or DCC controlled. The reason, about a decade ago, why N-Trak converted from using Cinch-Jones connectors to PowerPoles was for increased reliability when running ... DCC!

Bingo, the N trak club I was in in Vegas did all 4 tracks DCC, as we had mountain line.  Here in Spokane we do all DC as most of the members don't want to convert.  There has been talk of allowing one or more tracks to run as DCC, but between the 4 members with DCC, I run Digitrax, 1 has an NCE system, and 2 have MRC.