Now Available: NEW Keep-Alives®!
Those of you that visited us at the Amherst show got a firsthand look at our reintroduction of the KA1 and KA2 line of Keep-Alive® devices. We're excited to announce that these new Keep-Alive® devices are NOW SHIPPING! ORDER HERE
Almost perfect for our N-scale faithful, the redesigned KA1 and KA2 Keep-Alive® modules are smaller than our existing KA3 and KA4, but still hold a powerful charge - enough to keep your HO and N scale locomotives running across dirty and faulty trackwork.
The new Keep Alive® devices are considerably smaller than the KA3/4. Considering the overall cubic volume of the devices, the KA1 is 55% smaller than the KA3, and the KA2 is 49% smaller than the KA4. At roughly half of the original size, these miniaturized devices will enable modelers to fit Keep Alive® in smaller spaces and use them for a wider variety of installations - especially in N scale!
Though the new KA devices are smaller, they still pack a powerful punch! Both the KA1 and KA2 sport roughly one third of the power of the KA3/4, which is enough to keep even HO-scale sound decoders cruising across dirt, dust, gaps, and anything else your rough rails send its way. Remember: the number of lighting functions in use and motor activity will drain the Keep Alive® at different rates.
These new Keep Alive® devices are available now! Head to our store to place an order today!
Dimensions:
| Product | Dimensions (Inches) | Dimensions (Millimeters) | Cubic Volume (MM) |
| KA1 (New!) | 1.063" x 0.35" x 0.244" | 27mm x 8.9mm x 6.2mm | 1,490mm3 |
| KA2 (New!) | 0.35" x 0.35" x 0.61" | 8.9mm x 8.9mm x 15.5mm | 1,227mm3 |
| KA3 | 1.02” x .45” x .347” | 25.9mm x 11.43mm x 8.81mm | 2,608mm3 |
| KA4 | .52” x .52” x .45” | 13.22mm x 13.22mm x 11.55mm | 2,018mm3 |
See a clip of our announcement at Amherst here:
Keep-Alive® devices are compatible with most DCC decoders. Please consult your decoder manufacturer for compatibility with other devices.
Find out more about Keep-Alive devices on our KA page.
Now Shipping! Six New WOWDiesel Prime Movers
We are very excited to release six new and very much in-demand prime movers!
These include a GEVO, ALCO 539-T, and four Baldwins. Chances are, if you've ordered a WOWDiesel decoder in the last week, you will already find these on your decoder! All decoders leaving the facility from this point forward will be loaded with these new sounds. Don't miss your chance to play with a WOWSound GEVO or 539-T - get some decoders on order today!
In addition to the six new prime movers, we also included some other useful sounds like horns and bells. Check out the full list:
Hear these prime movers in action! We showcased the Startup Sequence, Idle, Notch 4 and Notch 8 sounds - as well as their intermediate transitions - in the video below:
Follow this link to view the entire list of available sounds on WOWDiesel decoders!
Head to our Shop to pick up some updated WOWDiesel Version 4 decoders to outfit your fleet of Baldwins, GEVOs and more!
UPGRADES
Don't worry - we won't leave you behind! We are offering upgrades to current Version 4 decoders for customers. Please visit our Warranty page and register your decoder for this upgrade. Please note: A $25 upgrade fee and shipping fees apply.
Introducing the Understanding Audio Assist® Series!
Join us for our tutorial series Understanding Audio Assist®. Audio Assist® is the TCS-exclusive auditory feedback menu system that you'll find on every WOWSound decoder. Many of our users take advantage of the basic features of Audio Assist® and want to know more about the complex operations that this programming method can handle. Others don't know much about Audio Assist® at all, and would like a quick and easy way to learn.
Join TCS engineer Dan as he explains how easy it can be to program lighting functions, sound features, button mappings, factory resets, and more - all you have to do is listen along with the voice commands and press the corresponding buttons. Videos will be released in the coming weeks that detail each of these operations in turn, giving you the tools you need to quickly and easily get the locos in your fleet looking and sounding their best.
Head to our videos page to watch the series, or check out our playlist on YouTube.
Watch the introduction video here!
An Inside Look at the WiFi Command System
JD Forsythe and Dan Mycio weigh in on the development of the TCS Universal WiFi Throttles and Command System. Fresh off an entire week of dedicated development with the full team in-house, they share thoughts on LCC, WiFi, and the benefits of using universal protocols and technologies.
Watch the video:
Perspectives from our Throttle Development Team
Throughout the first week of February, our WiFi Command System development team - comprised of Stuart Baker, Balazs Racz, and John Socha-Leialoha - spent more than a week working from the TCS shop in Blooming Glen, PA. The worked alongside our TCS staff to make great progress on the development of the Universal WiFi Throttles as well as the Command Station.
In the interview below, they share their perspectives on the upcoming systems and throttles, including thoughts on LCC, WiFi, ergonomics, protocols, and more.
The command station team also interacted with users throughout the week on various forum threads and shared their experiences. The week culminated in a testing session on Rich Murray's HO scale layout. Testing went very well, and we are now moving onto the final development stages. Keep an eye out for announcements as we finalize development and testing, enter production, and prepare for release. The Universal WiFi Throttles will be here before you know it!