who make the DCC for O gauge besides QSI?

The new Proto Sound 3 engines;

Run on AC/DC

Check out the details on line;

http://www.mthtrains.com/news/463

I prefer the DCS and pretty easy to use and very good operating system.

and can be controlled by DCS or DCC

Today, most of us understand that technology doesn't ever stand still.  A quick review of our products will reveal significant changes over the past decade in our evolving onboard locomotive technology.  Despite these improvements, we've always been fully committed to making sure that our products are backward compatible and that each can be operated on conventional layouts while still providing access to many of our most popular operating features.

Since Proto-Sound 2.0's introduction in the Spring of 2000, a few subtle changes have been incorporated into the basic board design including; a different power supply, the ability to operate on AC or DC power, the inclusion of wireless tethers, flash onboard memory, improved microprocessors and improved sound amplifiers.

Regardless of these changes, a year 2000 Proto-Sound 2.0 equipped locomotive runs exactly the same way under the DCS Digital Command Control system as a Proto-Sound 2.0 board built in 2010.  You simply put 'em on the track and run 'em.

And so it is with Proto-Sound 3.0.  Like the different iterations of the Proto-Sound 2.0 boards built over the past decade, new O Gauge Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped locomotives operate exactly the same way as their 2.0 counterparts.  This means they will operate together with 2.0 engines on the same track at the same time when controlled by DCS.

• They will operate the same with any compatible conventional AC transformer as 2.0 engines.
• They can operate on AC or DC power.
• They feature the same conventional control features and include the same command control features.
• Most importantly, no new equipment is required to enjoy any feature found inside a Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped locomotive.

  Like all evolving technological products, there are a number of new features found inside each Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped locomotive that we believe will continue to ensure that M.T.H. locomotives are the most advanced, most universally compatible and most exciting to operate in all of model railroading.

  Chief among these new features is the inclusion of a NMRA Digital Command Control (DCC) receiver.  While not a popular command control choice of O Gauge model railroaders, DCC is the dominant command control protocol in other scales, including HO, N, G and 2-Rail O Scale.

  By incorporating a DCC receiver into our products, your new Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped locomotive can be operated in command control mode using any DCC controller available today.  There are dozens of DCC controllers available from a large number of DCC controller manufacturers.  Many of these devices can control all 28 different DCC functions found in every M.T.H. Proto-Sound 3.0 equipped locomotive.

Only problem is that PS3 boards are not available for purchase at present.

For DCC look at North Coast Engineering (NCE) and Digitrax for starters.

For TMCC, Lionel offers a variety of boards, depending on whether you want sound or not, cruise control, etc.  Also the Electric Railroad Company, started by Lionel's current Chief Technology Officer, Jon Zahornaky, now owned by Lionel, offers TMCC boards.

Any MTH ASC can obtain and sell PS3 boards. PS3 Upgrade kits aren't available as of yet.

To "do" DCC on the cheap why not join MERG and build your own DCC system? Combine MERG & JMRI (open source) then you can control your trains via free smartphone apps 

I am not that interested in sound.   After a few minutes of ooohing and awwwing, the racket gets annoying.   Especially if during an operating session and there are multiple locos running.    So I don't have much experience with sound.   I have some diesels with sound, but not steam.

That said, I have installed various mobile decoders in steamers and diesels.   I think I have done at least 50 installs in the last 5 years.   

I have found that the NCE D408SR decoder is the most stable and well built decoder available for O scale.   The current versions have a 4 amp continuous running rating and 10 amp stall rating.    It is almost impossible to overload and damage one.    Also they give great control of the motor.   I have used them with both open frame and can motors (real cans not round open frames from china), and they have worked great.   

They have at least 6, maybe 8 controllable functions.    I generally only use 2 for the lights.    You can program the others for whatever you want.    They come with wired plugs.   Once you install one, replacing it is easy, you just unplug the old one and plug in the new one.

As for control systems, all the major players, NCE, Digitrax, CVP, and Lenz make robust control systems with higher amperage for O Scale.   NCE has 10 amp boosters available and digitrax has 8 amp.    I think CVP also offers 10 amp and I think Lenz offers 8 amp.

DCC is modular, so if you system is big enough to require more amperage,  you simply add another booster, and block your track.    You still only used one command station to feed/control all boosters.   There is no notice of  when a loco crosses the block boundary.   

Lenz and Digitrax also make decoders rated at 3-4 amps which are appropriate for O Scale locomotives.   

Look into CVP Products.  "Airwire"  G

My "big Alco"  Atlas RSD7 in 2 rail, has two motors...and Atlas says you need a six amp system to make this thing work.  I'm into sound, and smoke too, if I can get it. The unit came with a DCC conversion harness.  I'm also looking for enhanced low speed operation, if possible.  What say ye, hive mind ???

Did some homework and have found that this area is really mud!  Very few people that really know what they're talking about ...and quickly looking to pass the buck off elsewhere.  QSI makes a system that has the capacity, but will it fit in an O gauge hood unit locomotive?   Dimensions????  NCE sounds good, but no sound.   Atlas is hiding in hibernation 'til someone knowledgeable buys the company.  Might have to go with MTH Proto 3 and jump over the AC function.  Not sure how that would work.  Not going to convert this unit to AC / 2 rail operation, as she's a traveler.  

NCE makes a specific board to convert an Atlas  unit from DC to DCC.   An option would be to install one of these for motor control and then piggy back an HO scale sound decoder for sound only.    Or get a sound only decoder, a few mfgs make those.   I find it hard to believe that loco draws 6 amps.    I don't have any Atlas 2 motor diesels, but I have a bunch of Weaver and MTH ones, and non draw more than 2 amps.   In fact, except for a couple of really old ones, most draw less than 1 amp and I have use HO decoders in them.

I would suggest putting that on a test stand test if for current draw.   Put your meter in series with one connection and run the power up, and then place a small block of wood against a set of wheels to put a load on it.   Keep increasing pressure until you stall and see what the meter reads.

Ernie,

Jim never said he was powering AC open frame motors.  He was talking about DC open frame motors like those that came in O-scale brass models from the 1970's and earlier.