General > General Discussion
the next big thing(s)... Next18/18S
cws:
thanks for all the info... :-\
Has anyone seen an official position from RE yet or just assuming? I'm hopeful that something is in the works....
(my query to RE hasn't been answered yet...)
Carl
G8B4Life:
The last official reply I got, which was probably a few years ago now, was "you can use an adapter harness". Not the most helpful answer when it comes to today's models. From memory because I don't have that email anymore is that there wasn't enough market (read models equipped for 21 pin) for him to consider it. I'd say that market ratio has well and truly been reversed but I still don't expect to see a 21MTC/PLuX/Next18 LM anytime soon.
- Tim
cws:
This is the response I received from RE...
The Next18 was obviously designed for N scale and smaller scale locos. The 18 pin plug is small and the defined circuit board area is smaller than for the 21 pin DCC decoder. So the Next18 maybe a reasonable choice for N scale locos. However, we think Walthers choice of Next18 in HO locos (switch engines) was not the best decision. We see that new 4 axle Walthers locos such as GP9 have DCC 21 pin. 21 pin modules are pretty small and we would think would not be a challenge to put into any HO loco (even switch engines). We would not expect the Next18 to be used in many HO locos at all mostly because Next18 supports only 4 light outputs (with sound version). It could be a good thing for Ring Engineering if Next18 becomes a N scale standard because Next18 defines a module size. If that is the case, at least we would know what size module to design for N scale.
If you have a Next18 loco you can of course always remove any circuit boards and wire in a 9 pin wiring harness.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Thank you for contacting Ring Engineering!
darryl.trains:
First there was 8 pin then 9. Then on to 18 with 21 coming. It's still DCC that is at the heart of the matter !
I think change is always out there but for a lot of us hardwiring the modules, there might not be an issue. Doubt if I will be changing any more decoders for our club as most of the engines have be converted to DCC 8-9 pin.
As far as myself, I have converted all most all my engines the RP that I use at home. If fact I might thin the roster as I have just too many engines, can I say that? I know the market is strong for On30 engines but with RP installed?
TOF in Arid-Zona
TwinStar:
--- Quote from: cws on May 06, 2021, 12:52:45 PM ---This is the response I received from RE...
The Next18 was obviously designed for N scale and smaller scale locos. The 18 pin plug is small and the defined circuit board area is smaller than for the 21 pin DCC decoder. So the Next18 maybe a reasonable choice for N scale locos. However, we think Walthers choice of Next18 in HO locos (switch engines) was not the best decision. We see that new 4 axle Walthers locos such as GP9 have DCC 21 pin. 21 pin modules are pretty small and we would think would not be a challenge to put into any HO loco (even switch engines). We would not expect the Next18 to be used in many HO locos at all mostly because Next18 supports only 4 light outputs (with sound version). It could be a good thing for Ring Engineering if Next18 becomes a N scale standard because Next18 defines a module size. If that is the case, at least we would know what size module to design for N scale.
If you have a Next18 loco you can of course always remove any circuit boards and wire in a 9 pin wiring harness.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Thank you for contacting Ring Engineering!
--- End quote ---
Hasn't Ring been 'designing' an N scale decoder now for at least the last 8 years? RailPro is due for a HUGE update/upgrade and yet he can't even release a N scale decoder or an HO one with a 21 pin? Man, and I used to ridicule DCC or being behind the times...
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