Analogue or low cost DCC option for a 21 pin decoder socket?

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Analogue or low cost DCC option for a 21 pin decoder socket?

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5HorizonsRR		#1 Posted : 15 November 2025 07:13:57(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 3,037 Location: CA, USA		Hi all, I suspect the answer to this is "no" - but I have a locomotive with a 21 pin sound decoder, which I would like to steal and use in a different loco. The problem is then what I do with the existing loco. I don't want need sound in it, but to get right to the question: Do I have any other option just to run the loco than putting in a non-sound 21 pin digital decoder ? I wasn't sure if there were any interesting options out there which plug right in. Even something cheap and analogue would be fine.
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PeFu		#2 Posted : 15 November 2025 08:18:04(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,296		You may search for ”21MTC decoder” which should provide some options for your area. ESU LokPilot is ”the best” if you have an ESU LokProgrammer available, and you want to use the Mfx or MM protocol instead of DCC. I am using some cheap function decoders from the Chinese brand ”Lais DCC” that are OK, but never tested their motor decoders. They have a 21MTC at fair price, hower, only the DCC protocol is available. You will find them e.g. via AliExpress. Both decoders above can be programmed using a CS3 or CS2.
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EB421		#3 Posted : 15 November 2025 09:41:18(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: UK		Originally Posted by: 5HorizonsRR Hi all, Do I have any other option just to run the loco than putting in a non-sound 21 pin digital decoder ? Sure, you could put in a 21-pin blanking plate - but you would obviously have to use a DC controller on a completely separate track from your DCC (or unplug the DCC controller, of course). Unless you already have all this, a basic decoder is cheaper. Quote: I wasn't sure if there were any interesting options out there which plug right in. Even something cheap and analogue would be fine. I agree with PeFu's suggestion of an ESU LokPilot. They're about $40. If you have a Roco Z21 system, then a Zimo decoder is better because these can be firmware updated (and sound loaded if you buy a sound decoder) direct from a computer on your network. These are also Railcom equipped. LokCommander II decoders are also popular and have railcom, but are definitely of a lower standard (and price) than the first two. The other option is; Hornby HM7000 decoders. They're much poorer quality than ESU or Zimo (no Railcom, and the box label saying "run on DC controllers via bluetooth" turned out to be a flat mistruth) but they're half the price of sound decoders from other brands; and as long as Hornby offer the sound you want (currently only UK trains) then you can just upload it via bluetooth. Also; while you can't run them off a DC railway controller - you can just plug 15VDC directly into your track, and run it on that, controlling the loco from a phone. HM7000 is wacky. But, cheap! And still much better than LaisDCC. Oh; and to be clear - except for the ESU, all of these are DCC only (and ESU sell DCC-only chips too) so be careful if you want MFX compatibility for a Marklin controller.


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kiwiAlan		#4 Posted : 15 November 2025 13:03:31(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,583 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot		Originally Posted by: EB421 I agree with PeFu's suggestion of an ESU LokPilot. They're about $40. Or the equivalent Marklin mLD/3 decoder at a very similar price. Originally Posted by: EB421 The other option is; Hornby HM7000 decoders. They're much poorer quality than ESU or Zimo (no Railcom, and the box label saying "run on DC controllers via bluetooth" turned out to be a flat mistruth) You can use a DC controller, just don't turn it up to maximum, that is what destroys them. See this Sams Trains video for a review of the HM7000 - and the gotcha they don't tell you about, about its size.


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EB421		#5 Posted : 15 November 2025 13:45:21(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: UK		Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Or the equivalent Marklin mLD/3 decoder at a very similar price. Also good! I use LokPilots for most things, but I'm putting an mLD3 in an old DELTA loco that I'm converting to 2-rail; mostly for the included PCB and mounting solution. Quote: You can use a DC controller, just don't turn it up to maximum, that is what destroys them. This is just a little off topic, but TL;DR the updated manual says don't do it.


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