July 23, 2002

National Train Show News

Here are some pics and brief descriptions of new products unveiled at the show.

Tall Circuit Bds are for Aspect Testing and Debugging

Digitrax

The long awaited, Loco Net compatible, Signal System is coming. An N Scale, yard type display demonstrated all the working components. The system can function with or without a PC and is designed to be modular, flexible, expandable and can drive all possible combinations of aspects.

Lenz (buy online)

New Products:

Lenz announced 3 new decoders in the LE1014 series which are in stock and now shipping. These have a great feature set and an even greater value with a very competitive introductory price.

The LE1014 is the second decoder in our Drive-Select line.

• Drive Select - choose Silent Drive for the ultimate quiet drive or Precision Glide Control for smooth low speed operation using a simple CV configuration.
• Selectable for operation with 14/27, 28/55, 128 direct drive or 128 speed table mode.
• Operation on conventional DC layouts is possible or can be disabled.
• Provides 1A continuous motor current.
• Four functions one rated for 500 mA and three rated for 150mA each.
• Special lighting effects including directional, independent, dimming, Mars light, Gyro light, single Strobe, double Strobe, adjustable blinking and full ditchlight control.
• Support for Advanced Consist Control and Extended Addressing
• Support for programming on the mainline
• Support for all form of programming as described in NMRA RP-9.2.3
• Rich set of properties that the user can set to customize the decoder to a particular locomotive.
• Ultra-thin one-sided (similar to our legendary 103 family), NMRA C&I Warrant
• And of course the Industry’s best warranty “goof proof” New DCC first! Same pricing for wire harness and NMRA Plug options.

LE1014-JST, JST Header only, List $21.95, Tony's, $18.50 and 4 @ $17.95. No Ten Pricing.
LE1014-WH, Wire Harness, Thin Profile, List $22.95, Tony's, $18.95 and 4 @ $17.95. No Ten Pricing.
LE1014-MP, Harness/NMRA plug, Thin Profile List $22.95, Tony's, $18.95 and 4 @ $17.95. No Ten Pricing.

Note: The LE1014W replaces the LE080XS.

Price reduction on LE1024W and LE1024MP. New List $32.95 Tony's: $27.95, 4@ $25.95, 10@ $24.95

The great success of these popular decoders has allowed us to lower the price and offer the plug version and wired version at the same price.

RailCom

In our effort to bring more enjoyment to model railroad operations, we are pleased to announce our new developments in RailCom. For the first time the operator can get a real feel of operating the model railroad locomotive.

At the 2002 NMRA National Convention we demonstrated the ability to display the real time actual speed of an operating locomotive!!!! This means that in the future our users will be able to display the actual speed and the actual load on their handhelds or a separate display.

This incredible advancement in model railroad operation is covered by both US patents and Patent Applications. Our company philosophy is to promote model railroading so that the overall hobby can grow. We are therefore equally pleased to report that we have donated this technology to the NMRA should they desire to use it for possible standardization. The technology as well as the reference designs to implement this technology is being freely shared with all the NMRA DCC manufacturers who wish to implement it.

Digital plus products that implement this revolutionary technology will begin shipping in late 2002.

ALSD - Analog Locomotive Safety Device, (ALSD)

We all know that operating a non decoder equipped locomotive on DCC is not all that friendly for the motor. The motor squeals and produces a lot of heat. Operating such a locomotive on DCC also produces a lot of RFI noise.

While placing a decoder in the locomotive is the best answer, decoders require you to isolate the motor and still cost more than many end users desire for all their locomotives. For some users and clubs the lack of a totally safe way to use non decoder equipped locomotives on a DCC layout is a very serious issue.

The ALSD is small low cost simple circuit that installs in the non decoder equipped locomotive. It only requires access to the track pickups and one motor lead. It removes the RFI noise for both DC and DCC operation, quiets the motor noise in DCC operation, eliminates the motor heat when locomotive is exposed to a DCC signal and allows the locomotive to be used on a layout that uses RailCom.

Lenz will begin shipping the ALSD in early Fall.

Soundtraxx

The "Surroundtraxx", surround sound system was demonstrated.

Getting Started with SurroundTraxx

SurroundTraxx can be used with one speaker to provide under-layout sound for locomotives and environmental effects as shown (right). This requires no additional hardware other than a speaker and will get you up and running in no time!

Grow your SurroundTraxx system as needed, by adding Digitrax Transponders, Block Detectors and up to a total of six speakers for six sound zones as shown below.

SurroundTraxx is mfg in the US and will be available for delivery in early 2003.