It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Testing, testing, one-two-three... - Klaus has been testing and working with the new decoders I have been talking about for a while. Yours Truly and Famous Klaus have been on the look-out for new and improved decoders and sound (decoders) to keep all LGB Operators running here in the USA. And the results are in.
Klaus decided on these driving decoders, which are in stock and ready to ship out of Santa's, ahh, Klaus' workshop
Uhlenbrock IntelliDrive Deluxe 77 500 , 3Amps continuous capacity and 5Amps in peaks for analog and digital operation. US$ 116.00
Most outstanding feature: works with old and newer LGB control systems like MTS and with the old LGB sounds. Plus: provides very smooth driving operation (no more studdering in slow operating mode)
Pros: SUSI Bus (to connect -via"plug"- to smoke or sound from "any" manufacturer), silent motor control, 8 function outputs, can control A/C motors (!) like in some Adlers or other. Address range 1-9999. No heat built-up. Various light functions. Mapping&dimming for outputs.
Cons: none so far
On second came in the Digitalplus By Lenz GOLD maxi: (US$ 110.00) with pretty much the same basic technical features as the Uhlenbrock, but no LGB compatibility to old analog sounds. Its most outstanding feature is a very well written and easily understandable American english manual that even Yours Truly can read and follow easily.
Pros: performance in slow speed (digital) operation is excellent, SUSI Bus, functions for many light effects like Gyra, MARS, Strobe etc, functions for fire box light, mapping+dimming for outputs
Cons:  limited LGB MTS operation (only parallel commands)

Klaus also tested the ESU LOKSOUND digital decoder which as of right now is a complete compare to the Massoth sound decoders (XLS), with a better price tag at US$ 244.00 and pretty much the same sound library. NOTE: ESU is working on an improved sound decoder version to be available in February 2012. That new decoder will combine the excellent driving operation features of the Uhlenbrock/Lenz decoders with the excellent sound quality of the ESU decoders. We don't know the price tag yet, but do know that ESU loves to compete....
By the way: all three manufacturers are German companies located in Bottrop (Uhlenbrock), Giessen (Lenz), and Ulm (ESU). Klaus is in personal contact with their resp. General Managers. All three of them come across as very professional and knowledgable about their own product and market(s) combined with a keen understanding of the future needs of G -Scale operation.
 
Well, LGB fans, that sums it up for today. Detailed information and photos will be available on our webpage, soon or a bit later- Yours Truly is preparing for Christmas as well....In the meantime just call Klaus (770-886-6670) for further information or ordering.

Merry Christmas to All - and to ALL a Mogul Good Night