ESU Announces V5 73199 Kato "K1" style, and new Nano Sound Decoders

[RBrodzinsky]

While it is not ESU, Zimo makes all 3 Kato form-factor decoders (including sound). ZIMO decoders are similar in quality to ESU.  Seems like Kato and ZIMO have some sort of joint venture, since those decoders are sold under Kato's name (just like Kato sells the Digitrax-made decoders in their form-factor).  I hoe that the fans of Kato Japanese prototype are buying more ZIMO than  Digitrax version.

More info at: https://www.dm-toys.de/en/list/manufacturer/Kato/category/control_decoder.html

While the Zimo FL12 and FR11 decoders are drop in equivalents, their EM13 equivalent is not.  It cannot be used in most of the Japanese models, but works fine in the European ICE trains.  (I tried really hard)

[peteski]

While the Zimo FL12 and FR11 decoders are drop in equivalents, their EM13 equivalent is not.  It cannot be used in most of the Japanese models, but works fine in the European ICE trains.  (I tried really hard)

What is the problem with ZIMO EM13 and just being compatible with the ICE?

[RBrodzinsky]

They have the "motor" side divided into multiple pads, and most of the Japanese small locos have the motor contact tabs positioned differently (works fine with the large strip on the "top" of the EM13).

[reinhardtjh]

I see today that Streamlined Backshop is announcing the new decoders "Coming Soon"


ESU 58923 LokSound 5 Nano NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - Hardwire

ESU 58741 LokSound 5 Micro Direct NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - Kato USA Type

ESU 58721 LokSound 5 Micro Direct NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - Atlas-InterMountain Type

ESU 58731 LokSound 5 Micro Direct NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - Kato Japan Type

I can't find the Sound FX only decoder so it must not be "coming soon".

Update:
I contacted Bryan at SSBS and he doesn't have any other delivery information other than the "Q2/21" listed on the ESU site.  He is taking pre-orders though.

[peteski]

I see today that Streamlined Backshop is announcing the new decoders "Coming Soon"

I can't find the Sound FX only decoder so it must not be coming soon.

I don't see much of wide use for that one. At least in N scale.  I also imagine that its price will not be much lower than a standard sound decoder (since the most expensive part of the sound decoder is the sound-generating section). 

[reinhardtjh]

I don't see much of wide use for that one. At least in N scale.  I also imagine that its price will not be much lower than a standard sound decoder (since the most expensive part of the sound decoder is the sound-generating section). 

I can't think of any uses for me at this moment.  On the video Matt talked about sound cars such as stock cars and such or stationary sounds like stations or factories but there are cheaper solutions for that.  Lacking the motor circuitry I can't imagine that these would be any more than around $10 cheaper.

[EspeeGoldenState]

I don't see much of wide use for that one. At least in N scale.  I also imagine that its price will not be much lower than a standard sound decoder (since the most expensive part of the sound decoder is the sound-generating section).

I could see it used for the obvious reefer cars or just generic train car noise.

There are other options out there, like the UPP Power cars, or even business cars for that matter as a lot of their own cooling/heating systems, though you really here those when you are virtually next to them when the train is stationary or barely moving.

I could see them for use as cab car for the Metra sets, as well as installed in the various other cars with Christmas music loaded onto them because that's how the prototype actually does.

Railroad crossings with the bells, and even some of the newer crossings with wayside horns.

Not a lot of people have dummy power, but that an option as well. The one I'm surprised that no one has attempted is a refrigerated container with sound.

Chris

[jagged ben]

The most obvious use for sound only decoders is cab cars.

[peteski]

Soundtraxx has been selling small sound-only decoders for some time now, I think they are called "Sound Bugs". They are relatively inexpensive (they cost fraction of standard sound decoders), and they can be purchased in multi-packs.  Yes, they are ideal for sound effects (that's what they were designed for).

Friend of mine put 3 of them into one of his Kato pasenger train cars and they are set to emit flange squealing and braking noises. While subtle, they are quite effective in adding to the overall sound experience.  Hopefully ESU version will be similar in price (and have the same sound effect capability).

But yes, sound-only decoder woudl be good for a horn and bell effect (and lights too) in a cab-coach of a push-pull commuter train.

[tehachapifan]

Another use for a sound-only decoder is putting one in, say, a caboose that stays coupled with a switcher that doesn't have room for a sound decoder. It was a fairly common practice for SP to run locals with a caboose coupled to the loco, so this arrangement is/was prototypical to some degree. I currently have 3 cabooses with MRC "sounders" in them for this very reason, though I wouldn't mind upgrading them to Loksounds if the price is right.

[TW877]

Apparently the first LS5 Nano decoders are showing up here in Germany. That what I could see so far is a little disappointing.
Again, the wires are NOT soldered directly to the decoder, instead, as with the LS5 micro, most of the connections are on an adaptor board. So overall length of the LS5 nano is not what is being advertised – it in fact is the same length as the LS5 micro (with the adaptor board of course).
The updated German decoder manual available on ESU's website tries to hide this in the technical drawing describing the connections. The decoder outlines in black are partly hidden by the grey adaptor as not to see the additional length.

A video on YouTube comparing the LS5 micro with the LS5 nano clearly shows this (German only though) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxlcMnVAGAg
So those hoping for a shorter decoder will be disappointed. Only if length was not an issue but the width then the LS5 nano will open up new possibilities.

[trainzluvr]

In all honesty, I cannot see how could ESU possibly claim an omission on their part with regards to the presented dimensions. They very well know the sizes of N Scale, the space available in most locomotives, what all the modelers are looking for, etc.

If thery deliberately obscured details in their photos, brochures and spec, that's the kind of dishonesty which is not looked upon lightly these days.

In some other area of life, this kind of thing happening with something else, the company would've had their a$$ served in Social Media, and then some...

[peteski]

To me it would be thickness (not the length), and as secondary the width of the decoder that is the most important for wired-in decoders.  the V4 with its Next18 wire adapter was just too thick for many  installs.  So what is the thickness of this V5 wired-in nano decoder?

[reinhardtjh]

To me it would be thickness (not the length), and as secondary the width of the decoder that is the most important for wired-in decoders.  the V4 with its Next18 wire adapter was just too thick for many  installs.  So what is the thickness of this V5 wired-in nano decoder?

No specs yet, but looking at the video it looks a little thinner, but that thinness was gained by stretching the connector board out which is why it makes the overall length of the Nano about the same as the Micro.

Here's a screen shot of the layout from the German language Manual dated 3/16/2021


These are screen shots I took from the Youtube video

Top side of Nano and connector:


Bottom side of Nano and connector.


Given this new information about the Nano, I'm curious what that "Ultra" is (the farthest from the ruler)

[peteski]

I'm definitely not happy.  Seems like ESU didn't  listen to the customer's pleas for thinner and smaller wire-in decoder.  They took the easy way out by installing a connector on it which makes it universal.  But their design simplification makes it tougher on custom decoder installers.  I guess that a true wire-in decoder is the thing of the past.