ESU new Next18 Nano decoder

[TW877]

For all those out there looking for a smaller footprint sound decoder, ESU has just announced a new LS5 Nano sound decoder with Next18 interface. At only 9.5mm wide this should make installing in narrow hood diesels easier. It is shorter as well, only 15mm.
Item number is 58928, release planned in Q2-24.
https://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-5-nano-dcc/

Chris

[daniel_leavitt2000]

This new decoder will work inside the BLI Stealth SD40-2. I'll need to check

[tehachapifan]

For the record, the nano decoder itself has been available for quite a while now (since 2021). It's the connector that is announced for 2024.

[peteski]

For the record, the nano decoder itself has been available for quite a while now (since 2021). It's the connector that is announced for 2024.

True, but this is more than just new connector, The entire PC-board dimensions and component layout were redesigned.

Up to this point "nano" was describing one specific decoder board (with E24 connector). The only differences were the adapters that came included with the basic nano decoder. 

While I'm happy to have more small LokSound  decoders, I  wish they wouldn't call them all "nano".  They are all larger than "nano". To me that makes things more confusing.  Maybe "sub-micro" name  could have been used (since they are smaller than micro, but larger than nano).

[Steveruger45]

I have a feeling that we may be seeing a nano decoder evolution in progress and eventually all nano variants will be sized like this latest one.

[peteski]

I have a feeling that we may be seeing a nano decoder evolution in progress and eventually all nano variants will be sized like this latest one.

You mean larger than the current nano with E24 interface?
What makes you think that?  I don't know why ESU would do that.  If you look at decoder history, manufacturers strive to miniaturize (not enlarge) their decoders designed for small scale models.

[kiwi_al]

Thread drift >>>   ESU should be going for a Pico footprint instead of their fat Nano 

[peteski]

Thread drift >>>   ESU should be going for a Pico footprint instead of their fat Nano 

I like that! 
I agree that the fat nano with a wire-adapter was a step backwards for DCC  installers doing wired-in installs.  LokSound4 micros with wires soldered directly tot he decoder was a better solution.

[Steveruger45]

You mean larger than the current nano with E24 interface?
What makes you think that?  I don't know why ESU would do that.  If you look at decoder history, manufacturers strive to miniaturize (not enlarge) their decoders designed for small scale models.

The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with E24 interface has a size of 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 3.2mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with single wires has a size of 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 5.3mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with PluX16 interface has a size of von 21mm x 11mm x 6mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with Next18 interface has a size of 15mm x 9.5mm x 3.5mm.

[tehachapifan]

I guess I haven't been paying attention for a while. Did they do away with the bulky connector/dongle thingy and go with wires that are soldered directly to the board on this latest version. Seems it's considerably narrower (height wise).

[peteski]

The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with E24 interface has a size of 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 3.2mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with single wires has a size of 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 5.3mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with PluX16 interface has a size of von 21mm x 11mm x 6mm.
The LokSound 5 Nano DCC with Next18 interface has a size of 15mm x 9.5mm x 3.5mm.

Yes, I saw that Steve. I was just puzzled by your statement "I have a feeling that we may be seeing a nano decoder evolution in progress and eventually all nano variants will be sized like this latest one."

Well, the latest (newest) ones are 21mm x 11mm x 6mm and 15mm x 9.5mm x 3.5mm when the original nano (with wires)  is 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 5.3mm and bare decoder 19.6mm x 8.5mm x 3.2mm.

The way I took your statement was that all nanos will grow to 21mm x 11mm x 6mm.

I guess I haven't been paying attention for a while. Did they do away with the bulky connector/dongle thingy and go with wires that are soldered directly to the board on this latest version. Seems it's considerably narrower (height wise).

Russ, no, there is nothing new as far as the wired decoder goes.  The only new ones are the ones with on-board PluX16 and Next18 connectors (and as shown above, they are wider than the original nano.

[kiwi_bnsf]

I'm happy to see a Loksound V5 Nano with the NEXT18 interface. This gives me an upgrade option for locos equipped with the older connector — like my earlier ScaleTrains locos 

The new NEXT18 Nano has support for 12 channels of audio (an improvement on the 10 channels with the Micro family). . [CORRECTED - SEE LATER POSTS]

[peteski]

I'm happy to see a Loksound V5 Nano with the NEXT18 interface. This gives me an upgrade option for locos equipped with the older connector — like my earlier ScaleTrains locos 

The new NEXT18 Nano has support for 12 channels of audio (an improvement on the 10 channels with the Micro family).

The ESU LokSound 5 micro with Next18 interface has been available for quite some time. Is that one too wide for your models?

[kiwi_bnsf]

The ESU LokSound 5 micro with Next18 interface has been available for quite some time. Is that one too wide for your models?

To be more specific — I will be upgrading my locos from the Loksound Micro V5 Next18 to the Loksound Nano V5 Next18 in order to get two more channels. [INFO OBSOLETED LATER IN THIS THREAD]

I have some quite exotic requirements in terms of sound channels due to a high number of sound slots used for complex lighting and consist logic, and these use up channels when active even though they don't play a sound.

[peteski]

To be more specific — I will be upgrading my locos from the Loksound Micro V5 Next18 to the Loksound Nano V5 Next18 in order to get two more channels.

I have some quite exotic requirements in terms of sound channels due to a high number of sound slots used for complex lighting and consist logic, and these use up channels when active even though they don't play a sound.

I thought that functionally both LokSound 5 micros and LokSound 5 nanos were identical. They are both 5th generation LokSound. Are you saying that the nano so more feature-rich with more advanced sound capabilities?  I don't see any such differences in the LokSound manual.

As for the AUX outputs, since they use Next18 connector, both will have the same number of AUX outputs on the connector (plus whatever solder pads are on the PC board.