BLI

Does not list them for separate sale, and as the line is their sole property, I'm going to guess no.

. . .

So what dies he do if say his decoder dies ?

BLI  parts request form : http://bliservice.com/customer-request-part/

On same page they have a  " Upgrade your BLI engine " form.

He might as well write BLI and ask.

Marc

Request Form

That was about USELESS. They took me to some sing and dance form wanting all this additional info that I had no knowledge of.

I tried to reach the 'other item' section or whatever you call it and that did not work. What happen to KISS for us seniors that don't understand all this modern computer mambo-jumbo !!!

I'm not actually asking this info for myself, but rather I have someone who is interested in obtaining a paragon 3 decoder for his engine,...and I was considering selling one of mine from one of my new locos, and then installing a WOW decoder in its place.

Upgrading Older BLI Paragon Engines

Is it the BLI does NOT want anyone be able to upgrade their earlier engines to the newer sound, ....but rather require them to purchase a whole new engine. ??

It's called Proprietary

Brian: I have noticed that a lot of decoder mfgr are going that way. They do want you to buy "only" their decoders. And to buy the proprietary software to adjust sound, etc. Look at LokSound. And Digitrax has been that way for a long time. For me, it's a matter of cost. I hate to buy a $400 BLI/or less at discount and then buy another decoder to replace Paragon. I do know there's an individual under contract with BLI that will take your Paragon 2 and replace it with a Paragon 3. But that's another huge cost I personally don't want to indulge in. If you "must" replace a P 2 or 3, then by all means do so. But get a better decoder. Like TCS, LokSound or such. It's your choice as to how much money you are willing to spend. If QSI were in better financial shape, and was more available, I'd even get a few of theirs to try. Again, they need a special programmer for sound manipulation. But if you standardized on them, would be a good choice/IMHO. They have features that no one else has. Like speaking to you about the CV's when POM.

You just might be better off to replace...

...with a decoder from someone else,Paragon had parts from QSI,which may no longer in business.

Decoders like Paragon or MTH have become "oddballs" and may no longer have support from the factory

QSI has just about disappeared from the hobby.

My approach

was to merely remove the Paragon systems and replace them with suitable Tsunami items and Scale Sound Systems speakers.  Not a big deal. But as a result, my BLI purchases are restricted to their passenger cars.