Useless ESU decoder?? 58925 Nano- pay attention to what you're buying.

[u18b]

I'm having a hard time liking ESU decoders.  They have great sound... but good grief.

The newest problem is the Nano.

The Nano came out as 58923.  And it had a huge clunky NEXT 18 interface.   I hate that interface (in N scale).

But then, ESU came out with the smaller E24 interface.  Made the whole package smaller!  Great!  But..... the late E24 version still has the SAME stock number as the earlier.  Therefore, you must be careful when ordering- you might get the wrong one.... and many sellers use the same generic photo with no board pictured.    Why on earth did they keep the same stock number?

So last week, I ordered 2 new Nanos and the description specifically mentioned the E24 interface.  OK, great.   That's the interface I want.  I did not even look at the stock number, and not sure it would have mattered if I did.

So my two 58925 arrived.   They are Nano decoders with E24 interface.... but with NO interface board.    Yep- ZERO.    So how can I install this thing?  I'm not even aware of any N scale locos that have an E24 socket just waiting for a snap in decoder.

Searching, I have not (so far) found out how I can buy just the E24 interface boards with wires so I can install these.

(anybody know if they are available?)

This is very disappointing.
But I will be happier if someone can help me find E24 boards with wires.  (heck, I'll be satisfied even with no wires- I can add them myself.)

I recently had a new Nano with a bad amplifier that needs sending back for warranty.  I feel like keeping the E24 board!


/end rant

[TW877]

I'm having a hard time liking ESU decoders.  They have great sound... but good grief.

The newest problem is the Nano.

The Nano came out as 58923.  And it had a huge clunky NEXT 18 interface.   I hate that interface (in N scale).

But then, ESU came out with the E24 interface.  Made the whole package smaller!  Great!  But..... the E24 version still has the SAME stock number.  Therefore, you must be careful when ordering- you might get the wrong one.... and may sellers use the same generic photo with no board pictured.    Why on earth did they keep the same stock number?

I have a little hard time following you, it seems that you might be mixing up a few things about the different interfaces (E-24 vs. NEXT18)

The Nano (589xx numbers) always had the (ESU proprietary) E-24 interface, the NEXT 18 is on the Micro series of decoders (588xx numbers); these are two completely different interface plugs. The initial release of the Nano 58923 had a fairly clunky E-24 (to wire) interface board, which made it the same size as the Micro (with NEXT18 wire adaptor board). That, after drawing a lot of criticism, was revised to a slightly smaller footprint.

So last week, I ordered 2 new Nanos and the description specifically mentioned the E24 interface.  OK, great.   That's the interface I want.  I did not even look at the stock number, and not sure it would have mattered if I did.

So my two 58925 arrived.   They are Nano decoders with E24 interface.... but with NO interface board.    Yep- ZERO.    So how can I install this thing?  I'm not even aware of any N scale locos that have an E24 socket just waiting for a snap in decoder. 

Which is as it is mentioned on the ESU website.
58923 - Nano decoder with (E24 to) wire adaptor board (possibly with different revision versions of that board depending on age of stock at your dealer)
58925 - Nano decoder only, no adaptor, direct plug to E24 socket

Unfortunately many retailers just use a (wrong) stock photo of the decoder, especially when there are several different interface options (not just limited ESU, ZIMO can be even more confusing). It is essential to carefully check the stock numbers.

The first locos are starting to show up with that E24 interface. Atlas SD9 seems to have it, Scale Trains announced their new AC4400 with it. A few more here in Europe as well. Also ESU's offering for Kato wide-body locos (ESU 58941) uses that decoder.

Searching, I have not (so far) found out how I can buy just the E24 interface boards with wires so I can install these.

(anybody know if they are available?)

This is very disappointing.
But I will be happier if someone can help me find E24 boards with wires.  (heck, I'll be satisfied even with no wires- I can add them myself.)

Tried to contact ESU? Maybe they do have that adaptor as spare part despite not being listed on the website.

[peteski]

Yes, the standalone LokSound 5 nano (58925) is pretty much useless without some sort of an adapter with E24 connector.  The lone nano decoder is a recent addition to ESU decoder selection. They only started selling it as manufactures (Atlas in USA and maybe some others in Europe?) started making models with e24 connector on their "light boards".

When the nano was first released (I think it has been couple of years ago at this point), it was only sold with one of the ESU's adapter boards.

If you need a wired nano then you would not buy the bare nano decoder but the one with attached wire adapter (58923).   That one has been available since the nano's introduction, although the early examples were sold with a a different wire adapter card (did not have as many AUX pads on it as the current adapter board). 

But it is true that neither the LokSound 5 micro with Next18 and wire adapter or nano with E24 wire adapter are as thin as a decoder with wires directly soldered to the decoder board (like it was done on LokSound V4 decoders).

I have also seen dealers using wrong photos depicting the micro with Next18 connector instead of the real nano.  There is no LokSound 5 nano with Next18 on-board Next18 connector. Best to go to ESU website and verify.

Here is the main decoder page.
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/

And nano's page.
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-nano-dcc/

Nano is also used as the "brains" of other ESU decoders using their E24 interface.  If you look carefully at the photos of any of the following decodes, you'll see the small nano board piggybacked onto a larger decoder board.
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-micro-dcc-kato-usa-widebody/
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-dcc-direct/
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-dcc-direct-with-integrated-powerpack/

[u18b]

Thanks for the thoughtful (and patient) responses.  Sorry I got a point or two wrong.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice poor advertising by sellers who use the wrong photo.

And while my reference to the NEXT board was wrong, my point was still the same- early Nanos have a large clunky board (which defeats the advantage of the smaller decoder).  We could assume that by this time the old stock is sold out- but I don't like assuming.

No, I haven't contacted ESU- I received the Nanos on Christmas Eve.  Maybe they will have a solution for me with an extra board.

And I'm glad the new interface is starting to be used.   Personally, I like it.   I just need a few boards with wires!   

[peteski]

And while my reference to the NEXT board was wrong, my point was still the same- early Nanos have a large clunky board (which defeats the advantage of the smaller decoder).  We could assume that by this time the old stock is sold out- but I don't like assuming.

I agree that ESU did not do the decoder installers with very limited space any favors when they stopped making LokSound decoders with wires soldered directly to the board, but I also understand their thinking about a universal decoder which can be utilized in several configurations.

ZIMO makes a really nice compact sound decoder with wires. But unfortunately their range of American sounds is rather limited (and many sound projects have to be purchased from 3rd parties at additional cost).  Their programming interface is also not quite as easy to use as ESU's.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

FWIW, the new C39-8 does have the E24 socket. Since I have a sound equipped engine, this has a Loksound nano. This board is so small, it looks like it was intended to fit switchers like an S2 or scale width SW1500.

[peteski]

FWIW, the new C39-8 does have the E24 socket. Since I have a sound equipped engine, this has a Loksound nano. This board is so small, it looks like it was intended to fit switchers like an S2 or scale width SW1500.

Yes, the bare ESU nano LokSound decoder is very small.  But it is useless without an adapter board, so it automatically is thicker and/or larger.

[memen]

As far as I know, there is one place that has an E24 adapter board: LightMyTrain. It is also a very thin adapter, which results in a 3.3mm total thickness including decoder, whereas the original adapter is 5.3mm total. Wires have to be soldered on manually and locate on the side of the decoder (making it all wider). However, since the adapter board is so thin, it can be (cautiously) bent into the available space.

[Wolf N Works]

https://shop.lightmytrain.com/e24-adapter-platine.html

Interesting, they even say you can cut off unused pads… I would like this even more if it was inline with the decoder instead of off to the side, but still interesting

Thank you memen

[peteski]

https://shop.lightmytrain.com/e24-adapter-platine.html

Interesting, they even say you can cut off unused pads… I would like this even more if it was inline with the decoder instead of off to the side, but still interesting

Thank you memen

Interesting find.
Exactly! The thin flexible circuit board adapter would be 1000% more useful if the e24 connector was in-line with the pads area (not off to the side). Especially for narrow hood N scale installs. Even if the pad area can be folded over the decoder, it will still increase thickness.  The price seems a bit steep for just a bard with a connector.