In January, Jeff Mutter, on the MRH forum, posted this discussion with Scale Trains concerning using a non-ESU decoder in one of their engines. The following is his explanation and the responses from Scale trains to his concerns. This author considers the discussion to be important enough to re-publish it as it effects us all.
I just bought two of the new Scale Trains GP40s, in “DCC-Ready” format, because I prefer to use SoundTraxx decoders. After opening one up to install an ST 21-pin decoder, I found that you must change two dip switches in order to use a non-Loksound decoder. According to the manual, this disables the provided keep-alive, and renders most of the auxiliary lighting features unusable. When I emailed Scale Trains to ask about function mapping and resistor values so I can replace their proprietary motherboard with a Decoder Buddy, they told me they don’t have that information “yet from our China facilities”, and oh, by the way, because we don’t supply SoundTraxx decoders, if you install one you void the warranty. Here’s their email (I added the emphasis):While I understand your frustration, this information required research throughout different departments, including one of our four owners. The finding was this data is not yet available through our facility in China.As a friendly reminder, it is your choice to upgrade your locomotives to aftermarket decoders, which I might add, voids your manufacturer warranty since we do not inventory SoundTraxx components. Please be aware of that. (emphasis by Jeff Mutter)
This a reply received from ScaleTrains owner:"This is also an old complaint. With all that we are trying to do with our models in regard to sounds and lighting effects other brands of the decoders cannot keep up. In fact, in some instances, the ESU decoders do not keep up. This is the reason we have and extra IC on many of the our motherboards that the decoder communicates with to achieve the desired effects. Unfortunately, that comes with some proprietary software from ESU to do it. We have had many discussions with customers about this subject. You will see this as a standard response from Soundtraxx supporters. My unpopular example is that, you purchase an automobile but do not like the factory stereo system and want to put in a aftermarket model. Is it the auto manufactures responsibility to build the car to accept any possible after market system? No, it is up to the aftermarket company to build a system that works with the car. "I find this attitude extremely customer-unfriendly, and feel they are egregiously misrepresenting their product when they call it “DCC-Ready”. If they won’t warrant their product with another manufacturer’s decoder installed, then it most certainly is not “DCC-Ready”. Perhaps “Loksound Ready”, but definitely not DCC-Ready.Although I have a bunch (6-8 or so) Scale Trains locomotives, I am now a former Scale Trains customer.Jeff Mutter, Severna Park, MD
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