Poll: Which decoder's do you prefer to use?
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NCE
16.67%
1 16.67%
TCS (Train Control Systems)
83.33%
5 83.33%
Total 6 vote(s) 100%
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NCE or TCS for decoders?
#1
Guys, tell me which decoder's you prefer to use in your engines, TCS or NCE?

What do you like about them?
Josh Mader

Maders Trains
Offering everyday low prices for the Model Railroad World
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#2
I have one TCS decoder - cheap and simple to install.

One of the guys at the local club swears by them since TCS offers a "no questions asked" exchange -- even if you "let the smoke out" they'll replace it for you. Wink Big Grin

Hard to beat that.

Andrew
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#3
MasonJar Wrote:I have one TCS decoder - cheap and simple to install.

One of th eguys at the local club swaers by them, since they offer a "no questions asked" exchange, so even if you "let the smoke out", they'll replace it for you.

Hard to beat that.

Andrew

Thanks for your input Andrew, i also heard about TCS's no questions asked goof proof exchanges.


Does NCE do this too where they will replace a fried decoder no questions asked for free?
Josh Mader

Maders Trains
Offering everyday low prices for the Model Railroad World
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#4
Hi Josh,

I have installed plenty of TCS decoders and have the peace of mind as Andrew said if you let the smoke out they will replace it all it costs is shipping to them ........ dont know of any other manufacturer that provides this service ........ i have used NCE with no problems with the board type never done a hardwire using NCE.

Out of the two i have found TCS easier to programme the CV's than others especially if your starting out in DCC.
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#5
Why the either/or? There's lots of decoders out there. I haven't tried TCS yet, but they appear to be pretty cheap for what they offer, and the goof-proof warranty is nice.

I've used a few NCE decoders, and while I like their motor-drive (very smooth and quiet), I don't like the wire they use... it's very stiff, and breaks with a few flexes - usually at the solder tab on the PC board.

So far my workhorse decoders have been the Digitrax DZ125 and DH123. Simple, solid, decent motor drive, cheap and reliable (so far).
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#6
I can't agree with squidbait, Digitrax decoders are the weak links of my DCC decoder roster.

NCE decoders are pretty good, you won't have any bizarre weird problems with them like you do some other decoder brands.

That said, TCS has something that NCE decoders don't- Back EMF. while alot of high end sound decoders feature this (like Loksound), as do Lenz decoders, they don't seem to be used in anybody else's decoders that i'm aware of.

this allows greater motor control, and can squeeze out power. For example, my Atlas ALP44 with an older TCS product (the DP5X, which is also pretty good), has no Back EMF. at most, it can pull 6 Walthers Horizon cars on a straight track, but forget about push mode, and it pretty much stuck to more like 5 cars.

My friend has an ALP44 that is running with a TL6, a new TCS decoder with Back EMF. other than this decoder, the running gear and weight are the same (it may actually be lighter due to other modifications). However, his ALP44 can pull an 8 car train of the Horizon cars, AND can push them. Back EMF makes a real difference in the performance of your locomotive.

For a little midget commuter engine, this is impressive.

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#7
Well, I have used MRC, Digitrax, NCE and TCS.

I prefer NCE.
I have had 1 MRC decoder fail and I have 2 digitrax decoders which I keep saying I am going to replace with quality decoders everytime I have to put them back on my program track.
Will Annand
CVR in N Scale
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