July 23, 1999

DCC News from NMRA National Train Show in Minneapolis.

Soundtraxx

Your wishes will becomming true. Soundtraxx will be creating three new levels of the DSD, Digital Sound Decoder.

The first level will be a lower priced DSD, about $99.00 list or about $75.00 at Tony's. The unit will be somewhat comparable to the current DSD units but will have two less lighting functions, less prototype options, and be thinner and shorter. The unit will have dual sevice options, the user will be able to program several steam or diesel sounds from the same decoder.

The second level, almost identical to the current DSD units in price and performance, will have what we have all been wating for: load compensation/back emf. This new unit will be thinner than current DSDs and cost about the same.

The third level, for "Big Operators", is a 5 amp DSD/EMF unit.

The long awaited plug'n'play unit for HO, DCC ready steam locos, should be shipping in September.

The sound only, DSX units will remain as is.

Digitrax

The "Asian Connection". A 5 Amp DCC power supply being displayed at the show represents Digitrax's first off-shore venture. The unit is enclosed, has input/output protection and is to list for about $49.00. Now that this offshore link is primmed, can we expect $12.00 decoders?

The DZ121 pre-production units are also on display. Expect full production by September. The load compensated feature debuting in the DZ121 will be introduced throughout the line, in the future.

The UR-90 and the Signal System are still under development!

No news on the DT300!

The Digitrax DCC book is also debuting at the show.

More information on System One, Lenz, and NCE Corp. to be released soon.