TCS having a decoder sale

[Steveruger45]

For those interested, TCS are having a CN and CN-GP decoder sale.  50% off.
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[mu26aeh]

I haven't bought any of these in quite a few years, just noticed the regular price over the weekend when I rang one out at the LHS I work at.  I had to do a double take, thought it rang up wrong.

[peteski]

TCS decoders were always pricier than Digitrax, but at this point the American manaufacturer's decoder prices are on par with the much better European made decoders (liek ZIMO or ESU).

[C855B]

Thank you for the heads-up on these.

I think I have a half-dozen CN-GPs in inventory that were acquired to convert a bunch of Kato SD45s I've picked-up along the way. That project is on hold pending release of Atlas' version 2023Q4 (more likely 2024Q2). I have three LL GP20s I could convert plus an unknown number of "classic" Atlas Geeps hiding in storage boxes. I guess I really should spend about an hour going through those and see if I ought to pick-up a few more.

TCS used to be my go-to, but their prices have gotten pretty scary in the past couple of years. I use ESU LokPilots now, creating the problem I've discovered that ESU and TCS don't play together all that well in consists.

[thomasjmdavis]

Thanks for posting, Steve.

Once again, procrastination pays dividends.  I have several projects I was putting off because I couldn't bring myself to shell out $250-300 for the CN/CN-GP decoders I needed, and here they are at half price.  At this price, I am tempted to order a couple more, just to have on hand in case I come across some unnumbered zebra stripes.

[mu26aeh]

Told my buddy about the sale, he responded with " must be something new coming ".  Didn't think about it, but poses the question if they might have a new version possibly and are moving out inventory ???

[C855B]

Told my buddy about the sale, he responded with " must be something new coming ".  Didn't think about it, but poses the question if they might have a new version possibly and are moving out inventory ???

Why would it matter? It works fine as is. Unless they're superseding it with a sound version... which Luddites like me have no interest in.

[Tom4884]

Thanks for the info,  these greatly simplify Kato SD40 & SD45 installation,  done a bunch and they work great for me!

Tom

[sschnabl]

This just shows me how long it's been since I bought some of these.  I think today's sales price was the retail price I was paying when I bought a handful...  Oh how times have changed... or not.

Scott

[signalmaintainer]

Told my buddy about the sale, he responded with " must be something new coming ".  Didn't think about it, but poses the question if they might have a new version possibly and are moving out inventory ???

Methinks you have nailed it.

[jagged ben]

This just shows me how long it's been since I bought some of these.  I think today's sales price was the retail price I was paying when I bought a handful...  Oh how times have changed... or not.

Scott

I recall $35, but in essence you are right.

If these had better color LEDs than the ones I bought back then I would be more enthusiastic. Anybody know if they've improved?

[thomasjmdavis]

Told my buddy about the sale, he responded with " must be something new coming ".  Didn't think about it, but poses the question if they might have a new version possibly and are moving out inventory ???

Maybe they are doing something for Atlas, so that they will finally have a decoder equipped RS-1? As to why Atlas has been unable up to now to re-design the RS-1 is beyond me, since the GP-7s were made board compatible over 15 years ago. (And I think the RS-3s are also available with DCC--- aren't they?). That is the only reason I can think of for re-designing a decoder that otherwise only serves locos that are fairly old technology. 

[reinhardtjh]

Maybe they are doing something for Atlas, so that they will finally have a decoder equipped RS-1? As to why Atlas has been unable up to now to re-design the RS-1 is beyond me, since the GP-7s were made board compatible over 15 years ago. (And I think the RS-3s are also available with DCC--- aren't they?). That is the only reason I can think of for re-designing a decoder that otherwise only serves locos that are fairly old technology.

There is a June 2022 announced run of RS-3 and RSD-4/5 that are sound equipped.  http://archive.atlasrr.com/NLoco/arc-nrs3.htm  Nothing for the RS-1 yet though.

[woodone]

Ben, for that kind of $ I guess I could change the LED’s if it really bothered me.
I got away from using them because of the price- good decoder just too much $$.