New atlas SD-9 Decoder

[nstars]

True, but it is (or was) planned bu ESU.  The 59925 LokPilot decoder mentioned here is supposed to fill that role, but the availability of it is not known.
It is listed at https://www.eurorailhobbies.com/ESU/ESU-59925 but the photo is of a LokSound nano.  I suppose that it might be made like some of the LokPilot V4 decoders for narrow hood diesels where ESU used the same board as for LokSound, but they simply left all the sound-related components off the PC Board.  It was a neutered LokSound. 

It may be planned, but it’s also mentioned nowhere on the ESU site. I guess it would not be the first time plans changed.

Marc

[Ngineer]

Do you know which ESU decoder is being used in the Atlas SD7/SD9? Their list of decoders is rather long:

LokSound 5
LokSound 5 DCC Direct
LokSound 5 FX
LokSound 5 micro
LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct
LokSound 5 micro DCC Kato
LokSound 5 micro DCC Kato USA
LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy
LokSound 5 Nano DCC
LokSound 5 L
LokSound 5 XL

And if somebody buys an Atlas Silver Ready model ("Atlas Silver Sound Ready models are equipped with a speaker for easy conversion to sound with the addition of a decoder."), which one should be used?

BTW, my SD7 arrived, but I can't figure out all sounds. Shutter? What shutter? Or load?

Cheers

   Javier

[ridinshotgun]

Do you know which ESU decoder is being used in the Atlas SD7/SD9? Their list of decoders is rather long:

LokSound 5
LokSound 5 DCC Direct
LokSound 5 FX
LokSound 5 micro
LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct
LokSound 5 micro DCC Kato
LokSound 5 micro DCC Kato USA
LokSound 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy
LokSound 5 Nano DCC
LokSound 5 L
LokSound 5 XL

And if somebody buys an Atlas Silver Ready model ("Atlas Silver Sound Ready models are equipped with a speaker for easy conversion to sound with the addition of a decoder."), which one should be used?

BTW, my SD7 arrived, but I can't figure out all sounds. Shutter? What shutter? Or load?

Cheers

   Javier

There is only one (well actually two since they are the same decoder one just has a removable harness as peteski pointed out) the Loksound 5 nano #58925 that has the E24 interface.

https://tonystrains.com/product/esu-58925-loksound-5-nano-dcc-with-e24-interface-sound-decoder-n-scale

I believe this is the one he was talking about that has a harness attached to the E24 connector:

https://store.sbs4dcc.com/ESU58923LokSound5NanoNMRADCCSoundDecoder-Hardwire.aspx

[ridinshotgun]

Oh it's funny Atlas just sent me another response to my email to them, saying that "the lokpilot decoder for these boards should be available from my favorite distributor in 3-4 weeks".  I guess someone forgot to tell ESU and my local pusher dealer that they are coming since ESU says they aren't even on production and my decoder dealer doesn't know about them either.

[Wolf N Works]

Well we could always hope that this is a custom run of product just for Atlas and normal DCC dealers would not know....
We all have to keep the faith.... just keep telling yourself..... .... Trying for a "Silver" lining.

[tehachapifan]

I received my sound equipped SD9 in SP colors yesterday and like it so far. The sills, walkways and handrails aren't quite as laser straight as my earlier version and don't fit quite as perfectly with the shell, but it's pretty good. The sound is noticeably more tinny that when I do my own, custom installs with custom enclosures, but it's not too bad.

Unless I'm missing them, one thing I've noticed is there appears to be no provisions to add additional lighting to the light board (a must when you model SP!). There's only a tiny LED on each end of the board that, IMHO, aren't near bright enough for the headlights. It does look like an LokSound Nano that is plugged directly onto the bottom of the board but, as I recall, that particular decoder has no solder pads (it normally comes with a "dongle" with wires for lights, etc.). This is really unfortunate, as that decoder has plenty of great lighting effects.

[peteski]

Unless I'm missing them, one thing I've noticed is there appears to be no provisions to add additional lighting to the light board (a must when you model SP!). There's only a tiny LED on each end of the board that, IMHO, aren't near bright enough for the headlights. It does look like an LokSound Nano that is plugged directly onto the bottom of the board but, as I recall, that particular decoder has no solder pads (it normally comes with a "dongle" with wires for lights, etc.). This is really unfortunate, as that decoder has plenty of great lighting effects.

So the light board has no solder pads for things like AUX outputs or U+ and GND?  That's a real bummer.  Like you said, the nano has oodles of AUX outputs available, and it will be pretty much impossible to tap into the microscopic E24 connector.  IMO, someone made a bad decision.

Can you check the bottom of the light board?  Maybe there are some solder pads there?

[tehachapifan]

I'll take a peek on the underside next time I take it apart again, which is a bit of a chore. This might be the tightest fit between a shell and chassis yet!

...there are some peculiar connectors(?) on the top of the board (one at each end). You can see them in the first photo in this thread. They are open on one side and look like the will receive some sort of connector.

[peteski]

Yes, there are connectors - I forgot about that photo.  There are some legends on the PC-board. I can't decipher them all, but I think one looks like V+. So there is hope that there is access to some of the nano's features.  What are the other legends?

[tehachapifan]

I just spotted that too! Missed it before. Can't tell what the others say though in the photo. Will look on mine.

[peteski]

I just spotted that too! Missed it before. Can't tell what the others say though.

Can you take a sharp closeup photo of all the connectors and post it here?

[ridinshotgun]

I thought the loksound 5 nano had all kinds of solder pads on it?  Never had one in hand but the schematic I have seen posted shows 8 Aux pads.

There are zero pads on the light board.

[peteski]

I thought the lolsound 5 nano had all kinds of solder pads on it?  Never had one in hand but the schematic I have seen posted shows 8 Aux pads.

No, nano has no pads - only E24 connector.  It is designed like a daughter card to sit on some sort of motherboards.  Tt does have bunch of outputs, but they all have to be accessed through the E24 connector.

You are probably thinking of the wired nano, with its wire adapter. It some bunch of solder pads in addition to the wires (whciih are just soldered to other pads on that adapter).

Russ, looks like there are more connectors on the bottom of the board.



It would be handy if Mark posted photos with the details of the light board, so one could make some guesses as to the full functionality.

[tehachapifan]

Can you take a sharp closeup photo of all the connectors and post it here?

Yes, I'll open it back up tonight. Meanwhile, from the above photo, it kind of looks like "HDL 1" and "HDL 2" (headlight 1 and headlight 2, perhaps?). Can't tell what the last one says ("HNI" or "HNL"?).

[peteski]

Yes, I'll open it back up tonight. Meanwhile, from the above photo, it kind of looks like "HDL 1" and "HDL 2" (headlight 1 and headlight 2, perhaps?). Can't tell what the last one says ("HNI" or "HNL"?).

Ok.
If I had the board in hand, I could trace the connector pins to the E24 connector. Since we have the pinout for that connector, we could find out where the connections are.  I also noticed several on-board resistors, Those could be current limiting resistors for additional LEDs.