PS2 VS. PS3 Whats the Difference

Supposedly PS3 performs better with a marginal track signal. (Signal strength has been an issue with some large layouts.)  I don't believe they added any new features though.

In a 2-rail context, PS3 locomotives aren't polarity sensitive -- i.e., they'll pick up the DCS signal on either rail. PS2 picked up on the engineer's side by default and you had to throw a switch to pick up on the other side. PS3 supports DCC operation. As to sound, I have some PS2 engines with better sound than some of my PS3 engines and vice-versa. PS3 electronics are somewhat smaller than PS2 electronics. 3-volt PS2 and PS3 engines can run on DC track voltage, though you'll only get engine sounds and lighting.

 

PS2 5-volt, PS2 3-volt, and PS3 engines may be consisted together and operate smoothly.

 

My take on it is that if there's an engine you really like, a PS2 engine (I prefer the 3-volt as they were more reliable) is fine, unless you're running 2-rail DCS or DCC.

And I might add I would not look into upgrading a ps2 equipped loco to ps3 in 3 rail. Not worth it. Just replaced the ps2 batery when it does with a bcr

PS-3 uses all LED lighting.  PS-3 has a super capacitor vice battery.  It can operate via DCS and Also DCC.

 

It has more hardware features available, expanded memory, better processing so newer sound files can have more stored information.

 

For steam it uses a separate boiler board so now even RK can have more lighted features independently controlled in the engine.  Before you were limited by the 10 harness wires or the 2 channel MUX board.

 

Plus those issues Matt mentioned.

 

G

Wireless drawbar and LED lighting are standard.  IMHO the sounds are far more robust.

Supposedly PS3 performs better with a marginal track signal.

This is absolutely true. It's because PS2 engines used an ASIC chip for the digital signal processor (DSP) and PS3 engines use an FPGA chip instead. The FPGA is a much faster chip and therefore can "listen" better to DCS signal.

 

This is the same major difference in the much improved performance of Rev. L TIUs over previous models, since only the Rev. L has a FPGA and all older models have ASICs.

 

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

I find PS3 to perform better in conventional operation vs. PS2. Both perform very well but PS3 has a few little "quirks" that give it the extra notch over PS2 on my conventional layout. The only thing I don't like is the occasional "premature start-up" with PS3 in conventional.

Here's my experience.

 

PS2 spans a pretty long delivery period. Earliest have the 5v boards that can fail and later PS2 has the 3v which are more reliable so it's good to ask or check the model year on the MTH website.

 

Sound is better with PS3 although some PS2's can have very good sound.

 

For steam engines, the PS3 wireless tether can come loose although there are easy fixes for this. Keep this in mind if you run your engines hard.

 

Pretty sure all PS3's have LED lamps and are much brighter than the PS2 lamps.

 

In general my PS2 fleet smokes better than my PS3's. Diesels and Steam.

 

I run DCS and Legacy together and have noticed that the PS3's can be fickle when a Legacy engine is on the track. No problem with the PS2's.

 

Crew talk sounds. On some of my PS2's diesels, the crew talk sounds like its recorded from real world dialogue. I like it. On my latest PS3's it sounds like two MTH employees reading from a script. Ugh.

 

If you are buying used engines, keep in mind that a used PS2 may need a new battery, new traction tires, lubrication and a really good cleaning to get it the way you want. This is less likely with a used PS3.