irishthump

Hi Mark, I've been using the Lokprogrammer now for several years and use ESU decoders in all my locos. Mine are all V4 as I haven't tried the V5 yet! If you're comfortable with what you've seen of the programming process then I'd 100% recommend getting the Lokprogrammer and there's several reasons why... Yes, the V4's are no out of production but as you said the V4 files will work on the V5 decoders. I also noticed that the V5 is no more expensive than the V4, a nice surprise! One thing I disliked about buying sound projects from other manufacturers such as Wheeltappers is that if you don't like the sound project then you're stuck with it unless you sell the decoder or send it back to the supplier for it to be reprogrammed with a different file. This doesn't happen if you have a Lokprogrammer, if you don't like a file you can rewrite it immediately. Adjusting settings or rearranging the functions on a decoder is also super easy with the Lokprogrammer. It can be done without one but manually changing the CV's is time consuming and easy to mess up. Regarding those files you linked in your post for the 071 and 201. These files can be used for other locos simply by changing the engine sound. ESU have a library of loco sounds which can be switched around in a file simply by dragging and dropping. Their library of files for US locos is very large and contains plenty of engine variations suitable for Irish locos. All of my Irish loco sound files are built by using the 071 file as a template and changing the engine sound and maybe the horn. Wheeltappers' sound files are the same. ESU seem to have a policy of making any soundfile they produce for particular loco available for download. Whether they do this for the A class remains to be seen. Another point is that ESU often update the functionality of their decoders to add extra features this requires the firmware of each decoder to be updated. This is a simple process with the Lokprogrammer and would necessitate sending your decoders to an ESU dealer otherwise! ESU have also stated that the V4 decoders will continue to be supported. While they won't produce any more V4 sound projects, they will always be there for download and the V4 projects will work with the newer V5. Lastly, consider the cost of the Lokprogrammer. It's around 140euros and blank V5 decoders will run you 100euro each while buying a preloaded decoder from suppliers will usually cost you around 120-130 euro. If you're planning on sound equipping 5 or 6 locos then the Lokpogrammer practically pays for itself. Hopefully some of that info will be helpful to you! If you have any other questions just give me a shout. I'm no wizard at the Lokprogrammer but I'll help where I can! Graham.

Ok that makes more sense. ESU make the Loksound Direct (mainly for the US market) which is a board with an integrated decoder. It’s designed as a drop in replacement on HO locos where space is limited. Perhaps this is the solution for the shortage of space inside the 121....

I’m hoping PM will go back to ESU for these decoders as he did with the 071 and 201. ESU make the Loksound Micro which is a smaller decoder designed for N scale, but I’m not sure If it comes in 21 pin configuration which the 121 will need.

That's a health risk right there....

Judging by the news we'll all have plenty of time to work on our layouts....

Personally, I found this to be too much of a hassle to sort out so I switched to the "between track" Kadee magnets. They work great if you can get over the look of them.

They’ll be easy to spot on their face masks!

Especially since seasonal flu has a mortality rate of .1% but yet we’ve had >20 deaths this flu season.

I’m 46 and still don’t care!

Not commercially. But I've seen homebrew versions like this.

I'd hardly call them "game-changing".... they're bloody magnets!

Lovely work, Richie. If you can manage it, a full how-to would be much appreciated!

Any decoder with enough functions will be suitable for the 121, but they will have a lot of separate lighting configurations so reprogramming will be a daunting task if you're not experienced. I was never worried about space inside these locos to be honest. I mean the US manufacturers can fit everything, decoders and speakers, inside slightly smaller HO models.

The locos in those pics appear to already have the Loksound installed so I wouldn't worry about space. Anyway, ESU produce a smaller decoder which is readily available. I'm sure the likes of Wheeltappers would supply those decoders if required.

D.C. kits also stock it... https://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=89_92&product_id=1258

I agree. I think sufficient running will sort the problem if some people would prefer not to tinker.

Just my two cents on this.... This morning I had a good look at my own wagons and to me the problem seems to be that the axle caps themselves appear to me binding where they sit into the side frames. There is actually red oxide paint residue on the axle caps where they have been rubbing on the side frames. I removed the axles and with a small, fine file shaved down each axle cap. A couple of strokes of the file while rotating the axle is literally all it takes. This immediately made the wheelsets free running. I also added a tiny amount of Peco oil for good measure but I felt it probably wasn’t needed. I then gave the wagons a good 30 min run on the layout without any more issues.(Previously I had derailments over pointwork and a 071 loco spun its wheels trying to pull the rake of 8 wagons around a curve.) I know this type of “surgery” isn’t to everyone’s taste, but maybe it will help some of you.

Yeah got my card yesterday too. Nice little touch, lads! Happy Christmas to all at IRM.

Got my own copy a couple of weeks back through an Ebay seller. Only got a chance to peruse it last night, but it's a wonderful book and an excellent resource.

Got home from work yesterday and found mine had been delivered. Haven’t had a chance to run them yet, but they are gorgeous!

No, the vacuum pipe hangs low on the container flats.

Well you'll never know, that's for sure!

That's funny, I remember talking to PM at the Blackrock show and asking him about fitting a sound chip in the 121. The space looked REALLY tight in the samples that he had and the ESU Loksound are a little bulkier than other decoders. He said it was going to be a tight squeeze but they'll have it sorted.

Great news, Fran. Roll on Christmas!

Id say the vultures are already circling....