Digitrax dn1137e24 programmable sound with e24 interface

[u18b]

I just saw that Digitrax has released a new N scale sound decoder with the ESU e24 interface.
Thus this board will fit the newer locos (like from Atlas) which are using the e24 interface.

What I thought was interesting from what I read on the Digitrax website is that the firmware can be updated- which I assume means that sound files can be loaded onto it.
And..... it costs about 1/3 the price of an ESU Nano.

Nanos run over $100 on the street.   Digitrax is selling this for street price of about $30 bucks.  (N Scale Supply has them for 28.80).

I'm not commenting on which is "better" at this point, but it seems to me that this kind of competition may lower prices possibly in the future.   ESU has a head start in this market.  But will they keep their prices at that point with this kind of pressure from Digitrax?

I think this also points to the fact that, at this point in history, the e24 interface is becoming a standard.

Interesting days.


EDIT:    Sorry for the confusion.  What got me was poor formatting by Digitrax and quick reading.    This is what their page said:

New Mobile and Sound Decoders for August 2024!
Aug. 28, 2024

DN1137e24 Mobile Decoder Features:

    Fits E24 socket locomotives

    N-Scale Mobile Decoder

    13 FX3 Functions, 200mA capacity

    Motor drive at connector capacity

That first statement I now see is a header for the whole page.  BUT... it sits in the same box with this decoder.   I would have formatted the page differently.   Sorry for the confusion.

https://www.digitrax.com/news/2024/08/28/new-mobile-and-sound-decoders-august-2024/

[C855B]

Glad you brought this up - I've got a bit of a mystery with the SD45 about to hit the shelves. You say that Atlas is doing e24 on their latest releases. However, their product page for the SD45 says 21MTC on  the Silver versions. Now I don't think that's possible since 21MTC won't fit in N scale hood units. I suspect it might be a classic cut-and-paste error from an HO product description.

You (or anybody else) have any intel on this? If I can get verification on the e24 (or NEXT18 is okay), maybe I can have my dealer include decoders with the loco shipment.

[peteski]

Ron, that $30 DN1137E24 decoder is not a sound decoder - it is just a plain decoder.  Digitrax makes other decoders with sound capabilities, but they also fgor for around $100.

E24 interface is not only for sound decoders (although it has all the required speaker connections).  BTW, ESU now also has a LokPilot nano decoder for around $30.

I'm glad that Digitrax has jumped onto the upgradable firmware decoders bandwagon.  It is good to  have the ability to upgrade the FW (for new features, etc.).

[peteski]

Just to complete the story, Digitrax does make a e24 sound decoder too.  I mentioned that some time earlier this year:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57939.0

Digitrax's sound decoder names are prefixed with "S" (for sound). So "SDXN" is a sound decoder, and "DN" is non-sound decoder.

[GM50 4164]

The Digitrax sound decoder with the e24 interface is the DIG-SDXN1137e24 and it is selling for $52 at NScaleSupply. It doesn't come with a motherboard like the Nano, it requires a factory lightboard to plug into. Nice to see other manufacturers supporting this interface.

https://www.digitrax.com/media/apps/products/sound-decoders/sdxn1137e24/documents/SDXN1137e24.pdf

[peteski]

Just don't expect a Digitrax sound decoder to be anywhere near as configurable as ESU.  For example function remapping is very limited compared to ESU.  Basically you get what you paid for.   Like a Ford Focus vs. a Rolls Royce.

But I agree that it is a positive development that other decoder manufacturers are jumping onto the E24 bandwagon.

[reinhardtjh]

Just don't expect a Digitrax sound decoder to be anywhere near as configurable as ESU.  For example function remapping is very limited compared to ESU.  Basically you get what you paid for.   Like a Ford Focus vs. a Rolls Royce.

And if you go the Digitrax route, a very good thing would be to sign up on the IO Group "AnPRR" https://groups.io/g/AnPRR  The group owner, John McMasters is a wizard with making the Digitrax decoders perform even better than Digitrax themselves ever did.

Digitrax has come a long way, I think.  I remember the first and second generation (The current is 7th) had power issues - like when you blew the horn, the loco would stop because the audio took power from the motor drive.  So you had to turn down the volume quite a bit and John figured out a way to reduce the draw by how the sound was programmed.  But they really didn't become usable until the 3rd generation.

[peteski]

I experimented with early Digitrax decoders some years ago.  The (then new) SDN144 was one of the smallest sound decoders on the market.  The plan was to install it in the tender of the Model Power 4-4-0 locomotive.  I abandoned that project, but I might get back to it and install one of the contemporary sound decoders which are even smaller and are much more advanced.



I still have that decoder.  I installed a home-brewed PC board daughter card with those Tantalum caps to replace the bulky electrolytic cap that came with the decoder.  That is the 4th generation decoder, but even the new 7th generation decoder still only has the basic function remapping.  Why do I keep mentioning that? Because the sound effects are permanently tied to functions.  So even if you map some function output to a rotary beacon, if that function also has a sound assinged (like coupler clank) assigned to it, every time you turn the beacon on, it will also produce a coupler clank sound.

[CRR Chase]

Just don't expect a Digitrax sound decoder to be anywhere near as configurable as ESU.  For example function remapping is very limited compared to ESU.  Basically you get what you paid for.   Like a Ford Focus vs. a Rolls Royce.

But I agree that it is a positive development that other decoder manufacturers are jumping onto the E24 bandwagon.

Its almost time to get together and install some of these on my locos.. they're on hand just in a drawer.. Got some TCS KA's to add with them... SD-40's mainly.. but some others will be in there too..  I just need you there as a life preserver lol...

[skytop35]

Glad you brought this up - I've got a bit of a mystery with the SD45 about to hit the shelves. You say that Atlas is doing e24 on their latest releases. However, their product page for the SD45 says 21MTC on  the Silver versions. Now I don't think that's possible since 21MTC won't fit in N scale hood units. I suspect it might be a classic cut-and-paste error from an HO product description.

You (or anybody else) have any intel on this? If I can get verification on the e24 (or NEXT18 is okay), maybe I can have my dealer include decoders with the loco shipment.

The new Atlas SD-45's have a NEXT-18 connection. We just got them in at Lombard Hobbies and I opened one up to take a look since I know I'll be asked this question in the store at some point for people wanting just DCC and not sound.

[C855B]

Right answer, Bill! Thank you!

I have a stack of (well, four) NEXT18 LokPilot 5s sitting on the bench blindly bought for a brace of ScaleTrains SD40-2s, which turned out to be e24. Nice to have a self-solving problem for once.