Loksound Select Direct Micro 73100 availability?

[narrowminded]

I was checking Streamlined Backshop for stock on either 73100 or 73199 and couldn't even find the listing for them.  Is it my inability to do a simple search or is there a problem?  If it's not just me I'll send Brian a note.

[RBrodzinsky]

You are correct, they are gone!   Must be stock has finally run out, and we can finally look forward to the new LS 5 versions of these.   There was a discussion about them on the ESU Facebook group, and the ESU folks simply added a smiley emoji into the discussion, so.....

[jdcolombo]

Pretty sure they are gone at SBS.  I hope the V5 versions will add one major improvement: pads to connect a keep alive!

John C.

[nscaler711]

To think I bought the last 73199, and almost immediately fry it... 

[narrowminded]

So there's going to be an equivalent, similar installation method.  This might be good news and good timing.    Anybody speculating on availability?

Because certain folks here have introduced me to this sound thing that I never knew I needed, but now know, I am going to have quite a few of these to install and was hoping to standardize on a few basic install types.  This immediate interest was for six Bachmann RS-3's that I was going to do soon using the narrow board, not requiring shell grinding. 

It  will actually make a pretty nice install with room for caps, board, and a sufficient volume speaker enclosure.  Very minor machining of the chassis will be required and the plan is to machine the board attachments as brass components that will make servicing easy(er) and will probably replace most if not all of the weight lost to clearance machining.

[reinhardtjh]

I noticed a few weeks ago that the 73100 and 73199 were gone from Streamlined Backshops.  Then Yankee Dabbler put them on "Pre-order".  Other places also have no stock and say "Back ordered".  I saw the ESU Facebook page post also saying "Good things are coming in 2021" so hopefully the LS5 version is in the pipeline.  I would imagine that there would have to be a 73199 equivalent so that Atlas and IM don't have to re-tool their chassis once again.  Hopefully there is a 73100 equivalent for retrofitting older frames as the 73199 format doesn't usually fit as well.

[peteski]

This is a timely thread for me as I was about to pop this exact question. I couldn't find either 73100 or 73199 anywhere.  I hope a similar shape decoder gets made soon. Also, judging by what hints we got from the industry people (like @nightmare0331 ) there might be another plug-n-play ESU decoder coming from Kato. That would be the ballz!

[tehachapifan]

With whatever replaces the 73100, here's to hoping we don't get any dimensional surprises....like a board that is thicker/taller than the 73100. I guess there's no need for a bulky connector on these boards, so hopefully that's not an issue.

[RBrodzinsky]

If anyone is in urgent need of 73100s, I have 4 of them in my decoder drawer, brand new.  Don't have any locos waiting for them, so PM me if interested.  $90 each, plus shipping.  Don't have any 73199s anymore.

[tehachapifan]

Although there's a certain amount of anxiety that goes with these boards running out-of-stock everywhere, it was a necessary step to finally get the the V5 versions. For quite a while there, it seemed there was an endless supply of the 73100's and 73199's. Not that I'm complaining...I love the 73100 board!

[nightmare0331]

This is a timely thread for me as I was about to pop this exact question. I couldn't find either 73100 or 73199 anywhere.  I hope a similar shape decoder gets made soon. Also, judging by what hints we got from the industry people (like @nightmare0331 ) there might be another plug-n-play ESU decoder coming from Kato. That would be the ballz!

From my understanding....

73199 will have a similar V5 counterpart eventually I believe.

73100 was designed to fit an engine that AFFA then changed the design of the mechanism on.  Those actually never ended up in anything besides aftermarket installs (and what I did for Kato..I machined the ES44's they offered with Loksound to take those.  I actually got the last of those from ESU).  There will be no replacement of this exact design in the V5 family.

Now wink wink nudge nudge for something that is coming in the next month or so that I've had quite a bit of input on.  :*

Anywhoo...Happy New Years everyone.  I'm crawling back into my cave to continue installing V5 micros in lots of SDP40F's as the spice must flow....

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com 

Soon.

[reinhardtjh]

73199 will have a similar V5 counterpart eventually I believe.

That's good because there will no doubt be Atlas Silver locos that might need retrofitting and again, I'm sure that Atlas and IM don't want to re-design their chassis once again for a new LS5 Micro Direct.

73100 was designed to fit an engine that AFFA then changed the design of the mechanism on.  Those actually never ended up in anything besides aftermarket installs (and what I did for Kato..I machined the ES44's they offered with Loksound to take those.  I actually got the last of those from ESU).  There will be no replacement of this exact design in the V5 family.

I'll reiterate what I said above, I hope there is a 73100 equivalent because the 73199 doesn't work well in a lot of retro installs.

Now wink wink nudge nudge for something that is coming in the next month or so that I've had quite a bit of input on.  :*

Hopefully this "something" works for more than just Kato frames.  See above

[tehachapifan]

No replacement for the 73100? Nooooooooooooo!

[narrowminded]

From my search marathon the other night I stumbled on some remarks that sounded like the results of some of the warnings I found here where short circuits due to the close fits of some of the parts were creating a warranty nightmare for ESU.  Not really their fault, although at some level... but enough to justify a whole new design.  This may be a really good thing for all involved.  Now I'm anxious.   

And of course, this comes from something I read on the net.  The same net that is used to get folks to shoot themselves in their own feets, so...

[tehachapifan]

....BTW, are we sure they're really, really gone? I seem to recall they were OOS everywhere at least once before and then they reappeared.