Loksound 73100 in an N Kato E8/9

[RBrodzinsky]

Yes, the PA shells don't have the same height as the E or F shells.  Matt Hermann says that a wired LokSound 5 DCC micro is on the way.  But I'm not clear whether the wires are soldered directly to the board, or are on a Next18 plug that still will result in thickness issues for some installations.  The HO-size V5 wired decoder doesn't use a Next18 plug.  So I'm hopeful. 

John C.

They are the same type as Kelley received, so same height issue. It would be great if they could make a new board, with pads/wires in the area currently taken by the Next18 connector.

[nightmare0331]

They are the same type as Kelley received, so same height issue. It would be great if they could make a new board, with pads/wires in the area currently taken by the Next18 connector.

Exactly.  These are the 58823 decoders in question...it's basically a hardwired harness plugged into the next18 plug.

I've cut away just about everything I can reasonably cut/machine from the PA1 to make one of these fit to no avail.

If this was as simple as pulling the plug off and soldering wires to the board itself, I'd be ecstatic....it's not.  (I'd be doing that like mad if I could.  lol)

Certainly Matt and ESU are aware of the issue...it will be interesting to see what longer term solution presents itself.  (in the interim I'm going to install a few 73100's in PA1's to see about the feasibility of this when I have a few minutes).

Never a dull moment!

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[reinhardtjh]

We just need for them to run out of the 73100/73199 and come out with the LokSound 5 versions. 

[Jbub]

We just need for them to run out of the 73100/73199 and come out with the LokSound 5 versions. 

It's one of those crappy situations. We want the new stuff and they only have the old stuff and will only make the new stuff after moving all the old stuff first. Hopefully there's a loco manufacturer out there that can use up the remaining v4 micro select directs.

[peteski]

Yes, the PA shells don't have the same height as the E or F shells.  Matt Hermann says that a wired LokSound 5 DCC micro is on the way.  But I'm not clear whether the wires are soldered directly to the board, or are on a Next18 plug that still will result in thickness issues for some installations. 

Looking st the size of the Next18 solder pads, I doubt that any average human was able to solder 30 AWG "decoder type" wires to them. 

[jdcolombo]

Exactly.  These are the 58823 decoders in question...it's basically a hardwired harness plugged into the next18 plug.

I've cut away just about everything I can reasonably cut/machine from the PA1 to make one of these fit to no avail.

If this was as simple as pulling the plug off and soldering wires to the board itself, I'd be ecstatic....it's not.  (I'd be doing that like mad if I could.  lol)

Certainly Matt and ESU are aware of the issue...it will be interesting to see what longer term solution presents itself.  (in the interim I'm going to install a few 73100's in PA1's to see about the feasibility of this when I have a few minutes).

Never a dull moment!

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

Sigh . . . I hate it when newer is worse-r.  Glad I got my PA's converted with the old Select Micro before the "New! Improved! NOT!" version came along.

John C.

[carlso]

Peteski, you are right, an old guy like me and young guys like you have, to some degree, problems soldering to small tabs. The OP is a super hero in my book for the new wires he added. Hell, I have trouble soldering the speaker wires to the middle of the 73100's small crowded tabs. You should know as I sent you one that I mucked up very thoroughly. IMHO, ESU has made a huge screw up that hopefully they will rectify SOON.

I have a question for all. I just today changed a loco address in a new N Scaler and new to ESU as well. It was a KATO SD70M and the label said there is a V5 "installed by KATO". Kurt said he just purchased it. So  my question is this: is KATO factory doing installs or has it been done by our friend Kelley??? If it is Kelley, what V5 was he able to install. Perhaps, there is enough available space in that loco and possibly easy to mill and make more space. As another poster said it is getting more confusing regarding which ESU decoder we can install.

As a young punk I always felt that when I could not run with the big dogs anymore, I would have to sit on the porch and watch. I sure hope that day is not here now. Come on ESU, let's get it simple again as I think you have just about the best product but to be honest some of the other brands are looking/sounding pretty good.

[peteski]

...
It was a KATO SD70M and the label said there is a V5 "installed by KATO". Kurt said he just purchased it. So  my question is this: is KATO factory doing installs or has it been done by our friend Kelley???

Yes, Kelly is the crafty gnome (no disrespect implied  ), sitting in a deep dark basement workshop* doing "official" decoder installs for Kato USA.    He is the man, the legend, the Oracle of Kato. 

*I believe at this time he has moved to a new spacious and bright worshop.

[reinhardtjh]

Looking st the size of the Next18 solder pads, I doubt that any average human was able to solder 30 AWG "decoder type" wires to them. 

Looking at mine, it seems like they could cut nearly 1mm off the thickness if they could just solder the flat ribbon directory to the Next18 plug without the PC board.

[nightmare0331]

<snip>

I have a question for all. I just today changed a loco address in a new N Scaler and new to ESU as well. It was a KATO SD70M and the label said there is a V5 "installed by KATO". Kurt said he just purchased it. So  my question is this: is KATO factory doing installs or has it been done by our friend Kelley??? If it is Kelley, what V5 was he able to install. Perhaps, there is enough available space in that loco and possibly easy to mill and make more space. As another poster said it is getting more confusing regarding which ESU decoder we can install.
<snip>

There are no V5's installed in SD70M's by Kato.  There are a bunch of select direct installed versions and there should be a slip of paper stating an ESU Select Direct 73199 or 73855 (reprogrammed 73199).  There actually arn't that many SD70M's with sound out there by Kato...by the time I was rolling the SD70ACe's with sound Kato was mostly out of SD70M's (same frame as the SD70ACe...hence why they got built up) except for a handful of UP and NS units...maybe a 100 total in the wild?

As for 'easy to mill' with the right tools and some forethought, it's pretty straight forward.  With the wrong tools, you'll bend/snap frames.  I've toyed with offering a frame exchange for the SD70ACe/SD70m since it has been a problem in the past for some people.

The only units that currently have V5 micros are F units which utilized the 58823 decoder.

The term 'factory installed' is used incorrectly by lots of people.  I'm Kato's go to person (or business, depending on how you look at it, although I also work for the company) for converting mass quantities of stock to sound for their Kobo program.  All of the -DCC units (TCS installs) are now done in house in Schaumburg, IL.  It's a truly strange arrangement that makes me scratch my head at times, but that's what Hiroshi wants.

Anywhoo...Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[nightmare0331]

It's one of those crappy situations. We want the new stuff and they only have the old stuff and will only make the new stuff after moving all the old stuff first. Hopefully there's a loco manufacturer out there that can use up the remaining v4 micro select directs.

Don't worry...I'm working on it.  I have 750 select direct decoders sitting about 5 feet from me.

The ultimate irony...I'm using a decoder (73199) that was designed for IMRC and Atlas locos by modifying the locomotive itself.  (in this case, the Kato SD70ACe)

They probably have a few thousand more however.

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[diezmon]

750??

Yikesorama! 

[carlso]

Kelley,

I was wrong. The two locos that had the slip of paper stating V5 installed were F7 Milwaukee Road units. Sorry 'bout that.

Carl

[MK]

Don't worry...I'm working on it.  I have 750 select direct decoders sitting about 5 feet from me.

750??

Yikesorama! 

Queue the Dunkin Donuts commercial but featuring a sleepy, moping Kelley muttering "Got to install the decoders.  Got to install the decoders."

[nightmare0331]

Queue the Dunkin Donuts commercial but featuring a sleepy, moping Kelley muttering "Got to install the decoders.  Got to install the decoders."

Naa...by about 200 I'll be fueled with Jack Daniels and rage. 

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com